I had the honor of capturing Madreah and Antonio’s engagement photos in the spring of 2023, and after the dreamiest session, I half jokingly pitched myself to photograph their wedding, whenever and wherever it may be. As luck would have it, they reached out later on and informed me that they had settled on an intimate wedding in Colorado, set for June 1, 2024. Of course, I was all in.

Fast forward to that weekend, and I made my way to Buena Vista, Colorado. We stayed at a quiet VRBO rental with mountain and river views, and I knew it was going to be one of the most beautiful weddings to photograph and be apart of. The morning of the wedding, we visited downtown Buena Vista, enjoyed coffee and breakfast, then returned to the rental to decorate and create flower arrangements.

Before too long, it was time to get ready and get these two married. (Well, married in person. They were proxy married as they are both in the military, but they never got to have their official ceremony and reception that they had always dreamed of.) The attention to detail that Madreah and Antonio incorporated into their day was unmatched. From the rust and juniper color scheme to the handwritten vows and lock ceremony in the mountains, I simply couldn’t imagine a more perfect day for these two. I still think about their vows on a regular basis. They mentioned the concept of the invisible string theory, where their lives have always been connected and brought together at the most opportune moment.

I loved that they opted for a beer man instead of a traditional flower girl. I loved that their family made the sangria and cocktail hour snacks. I loved that they locked in their love and threw the keys into a lake among the mountains. I loved that they got matching hiking boots for their photos. And ultimately, I loved that they trusted me to capture their wedding day in it’s truest form. We may have been strangers to each other a couple years ago, but I’m honored to call these two my dearest friends now, and I am so excited to see them take on this next chapter of life together. (and hopefully get to visit them again this summer for another sweet session!)

Venue: VRBO
Florist: The Flower House
Caterer: Salida Catering
Photographer: Taylor Myers Photography