Towering hedges. Dappled sunshine. Brilliant flowers in every shade imaginable. And a bride and groom promising to love each other ‘til death and beyond. Talk about a day straight out of a fairytale! But that’s what you’ll get when two beautiful people who adore each other to pieces decide to hold their wedding in a botanical garden! Sarah and Jake’s Denver Botanic Gardens wedding celebration couldn’t have fit their love story more perfectly, and I was thrilled that I had the chance to capture every breathtaking moment on their big day.

Sarah and Jake’s love story started when they met at a party. Four hours after saying hello, they were still talking in the same spot on the couch. Clearly, they’d hit it off in a big way. “My butterflies had convinced me there was something special about him,” Sarah said. But, in typical college fashion, they were held back by doubts about how the other person felt. A few weeks later, they found themselves in a coffee shop with some mutual friends. As they began to head their separate ways, Sarah gave him an awkward side hug and headed toward her car. A split-second later, Jake spun around, jogged back to Sarah, said “let’s try that again,” and kissed her in front of everyone! Sarah says she “floated all the way up to Cloud 9.”

Years later, Sarah and Jake channeled that very same first kiss, Cloud 9 energy at their engagement session at Red Rocks Park in Morrison, Colorado. Even though the snow (and the temperature!) was dropping, they were game to brush the weather aside for some stunning photos. Check out their winter engagement session to see what I mean for yourself.

I especially appreciated how Sarah and Jake knew that photography was an essential part of their approaching wedding day. I met with them many times—sharing our love for great food and Pokémon Go—and gathered all the info I’d need to build a timeline that fit their vision while allowing tons of time for photos.

So when the morning of their wedding day dawned in early September, I knew everything was going to flow absolutely effortlessly from one moment to the next. We began at the Halcyon Hotel in Cherry Creek, where Sarah gathered with her girls to get ready. In a fun surprise twist, even Sarah’s hairstylist, Kenzie Ball from Roots Beauty Studio, qualified as one of “her girls” since she’s been doing Sarah’s hair for many years! While Sarah slipped into her form-fitting gown with a lace overlay, thin lace straps, and a deep sweetheart neckline from Pronovias, I photographed the couple’s matching Jo Malone perfume and cologne set and the elegant ring boxes by Mrs. Box. I love when couples take extra care to pick out the finer details of the day—it really adds that extra something special.

Once they were ready, we headed out to the Denver Botanic Gardens for their first look, surrounded by towering trees. Couples often tell me they are nervous about all the little things they have to do in front of a sea of guests during their wedding ceremony. What if the ring gets stuck? What if we kiss weird? What if we say our vows wrong? A first look is a perfect way to alleviate these worries, and I loved that Sarah and Jake took the chance to do this on their wedding day. They practiced slipping on each others’ rings and even gave their ceremony kiss a trial run! Many laughs and extra kisses were shared, but most importantly, all the worry was totally gone.

With the music of the 5280 String Quartet, “the most sought after string quartet in Denver,” drifting through the air, Sarah practically floated down the aisle. She walked as slowly as she could, which made my job and the videographers’ much easier (thanks, Sarah!), and we kept saying that she looked like she was literally glowing! With her bouquet of white and pink flowers from Simply Petals, she was the perfect picture of a bride.

The ceremony was simple and heartfelt. A small bunny even hopped into view, adding to the fairytale feel! After they said “I do,” we took family portraits around the gardens. Then, I had some time with just Sarah and Jake to explore their favorite places in the Denver Botanic Gardens. From the dense multi-colored flowers to the shimmering pond, Sarah and Jake got photos in every corner of the garden they loved.

Afterward, we headed off to the reception space to get the party started! With a glass covering around the dining area but plenty of outdoor space to dance in, it was the ideal spot for a reception. But their reception was unlike any I’d ever been to! First, a drawing of their dog, a boxer-mix named Chloe, was on the dinner napkins—a nice touch because their pup wasn’t allowed on the grounds. But here’s the kicker: rather than a DJ, they had a silent disco! This meant every guest wore headphones with three different music channel options, making for a variety of dancing all at once—everything from rap to show tunes to the tango!

With a reception like that, you better believe Sarah and Jake’s Denver Botanic Garden wedding day is one I’ll never forget! If you’re looking for an all-encompassing wedding photography experience, whether at the Denver Botanic Garden or anywhere else, I’d love to hear from you!