Rollins Pass Nederland Colorado Engagement Session
Mercie & Dan’s Engagement Session | Rollins Pass Nederland, Colorado | Mountain Engagements | Apollo Fields
As night gave way to day, rays of sunshine swept away the shadows on the trees, lifting golden purples and greens to contrast with the muted blue sky. The morning chill still lingering in the air brought our breaths and bodies closer together as our reflections shivered upon the reservoir’s still surface. Movements warm our bodies just as emotions stir our souls; and there’s always that one look during these engagement sessions that reveals this inward dance in the eyes of our couples—a sort of intimate revelation—that leaps from their irises like the first light over a dark horizon.
Mercie and Dan were first set up in high school and their relationship still shines with an optimistic and exuberant young energy. Bolstered by their strong and confident characters, it’s hard not to be enamored by the story of how Mercie asked Dan to prom by spelling it out in sushi at Dan’s first experience with the Japanese culinary tradition. Cuter still is how Mercie doubled down on this romantic gesture when asking Dan to marry her! (If that doesn’t immediately make you think of a scene in a romantic comedy I don’t know what does.) Their happiness during their engagement shoot in Nederland was as palpable as the smiles on their faces. Kind of like what Dan said about the first time she told Mercie she loved her (at prom), “[the words] just sort of fell out of my face.”
Bearing witness and documenting relationships like Mercie and Dan’s is just one of the many reasons why Heather and I love running Apollo Fields. Whether it’s the privilege of connecting with such loving people, or appreciating a love in an idyllic yin-and-yang, conditional-meeting-unconditional balance that serves as a reminder for Heather and I’s own symbiotic relationship, or perhaps the most practical and paramount point— what these photos mean to them. Around every corner of every moment of these engagement sessions are parts of life to be appreciated. We promise to never to forget that. For our sake—and for Apollo Fields’ sake.
Mercie and Dan aren’t sure where or when they are going to get married, but we hope to be there. They’re moving to California in a couple months and we’d follow them coast-to-coast, hell maybe even continent-to-continent if they asked us. We’re so excited for them to start this next journey together and know that they have all of the support they will ever need.
Sometimes in life you take leaps and sometimes you take bruises. “You learn to figure things out,” Mercie said, “I am who I am through trial and error.” I believe that the freedom to explore the world inside and outside ourselves is the key to finding enduring happiness and supportive partners. By staying close to home, or refusing to acknowledge the movements of the emotions inside our bodies and minds, our worldviews become myopic and close-minded. Learning to take risks and choosing to be brave opens an entire world of experiences, so if you’re looking for that little push—just remember—that first light is just on the other side of the dark horizon.
Here’s to you Mercie and Dan!
Colorado Engagement Photography:
Colorado Wedding Photography | Apollo Fields
Harry Potter Themed Wedding at The Highlands Ranch Mansion
Micaela & Shane’s Wedding | Harry Potter Themed Weddings | Highlands Ranch Mansion | Highlands Ranch Colorado | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
I wish I could rate my couples online because these guys would be 5 stars across the board! First of all, they were a photographer’s dream - super easy to work with, very kind, easy going, and also GORGEOUS (the icing on the cake right). But most of all, they were a super down-to-earth easy going couple that just loved each other.
I’ve shot a few weddings at the Highlands Ranch Mansion so I have a few spots that are my go-to’s for that amazing golden light. I vividly remember getting ants in my pants during the ceremony because we were close to losing the golden light (they had a late summer ceremony so the light was absolutely DREAMY during the ceremony and we were going to lose it fast). Their officiant announced them as husband and wife, they kissed, celebrated down the aisle, and I immediately scooped them away for a few natural light romantics.
Micaela and Shane were such good sports about it, too. I knew that if I didn’t steal them for * five minutes * that we would lose that epic light and guests would want to storm them so it would be impossible afterwards. I always joke that golden hour is my catnip, but for a synesthetic photographer, it really makes my skin tingle and I just get totally high on it. These guys rolled with all of that energy and gave me the best five minutes that I could have ever asked for. I loved these shots because I felt like we just punched so much love and emotion into – literally – the last few moments of light and the photos are so indicative of that.
After the ceremony and epic romantics, I was able to take the back seat a little and snag relaxed family shots, cocktail hour, and intros. Micaela and Shane did a great job balancing a ‘themed’ wedding without feeling like a college party (haha). They are both huge Harry Potter fans and did such a tasteful job of showing this off and having fun with something that has shaped their relationship. Their friends and family were so much fun and I really loved working with this awesome couple!
Photography: Apollo Fields | Wedding Photographer
Wedding Venue: Highlands Ranch Mansion | Colorado
Published on Wedding Wire: Micaela & Shane’s Wedding
Skylight Weddings in Denver Colorado Photography
Kerry & Patrick’s Wedding | Skylight Denver Wedding Venue | Santa Fe Art District, CO | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
Kerry and Pat had a great urban wedding at one of downtown Denver’s newest wedding venues. Skylight had just opened up and this fun couple managed to book their wedding early to be one of the first real weddings happening in this cool, urban space! Skylight has great white brick walls with tons of natural light and makes a great canvas for creativity.
I was so excited when they wanted to do a first look because it affords us so much time and flexibility for the rest of the day! The photos are also so sweet and intimate so it’s basically a win-win. We found the perfect urban spot between where they were both getting ready (Kerry was prepping at Skylight and Patrick was over at the Monkey Bar with his buddies). It was fun because I was co-shooting this wedding with Lindsey and we were able to toggle a bit and really coordinate everything in the afternoon.
We had also found the PERFECT alleyway with these awesome edison lights and were so excited to surprise them with this epic location! We stumbled upon it when we were scouting and decided to keep it on the DL since we weren’t sure we could get back in. We were so excited when we were able to show off this awesome spot and get great pics before everything got started.
I loved all of their fun custom signage and personal touches that they had incorporated into the venue. One of my other favorite parts of the day was when they were able to get their pup to walk down the aisle with them and hang out for the ceremony! I knew how much they loved their dog (who doesn’t) from their lifestyle engagement session that we had done a few months prior so it was great to see their doggo a part of the day, too!
They had their ceremony against the white walls with a beautiful custom floral piece that they had made and installed. It had a great boho vibe and the venue was able to seamlessly flip the room for cocktail hour and then move right into the reception afterwards. They had a fun taco bar for dinner which felt really easy and a huge crowd pleaser and then moved into special dances and an awesome party! We were so excited to work with this sweet and vibrant couple!
Kerry & Patrick's Urban Wedding | Skylight Wedding Venue | Denver, Colorado Photographer | Santa Fe Art District Photography
Kerry and Patrick were one of the first couples to officially get married in one of Denver's newest downtown venues, Skylight. This venue is tucked into the bustling part of the Santa Fe Art District, and is fun, hip, urban, and trendy. Along the main strip are fun art galleries, always popping with new events and shows. There are breweries, coffee shops, and a bunch of eclectic little stores all surrounding this busy venue.
Skylight boasts white brick and an urban design, tailor made to modern couples. They are able to bring in all of their own vendors, free of exclusive vendor lists, and have a lot of free rein in their planning process. We started the day with Kerry getting ready at the venue and Patrick getting ready at a local bar down the street with all of his groomsmen. The vibe was fun and upbeat, and both of their personalities made it easy to just snap away, capturing details as the room was being set, and finding fun and candid moments to shoot in between.
We did an official first look at a fun graffiti wall up against an old southwestern looking chapel. The bright and artistic vibe fit their personalities so well. They enjoyed a private and intimate first look, and then we brought them down into our secret find that we were so excited for: a quiet and skinny little alleyway that had these awesome market lights strung across the top! A photographer's dream.
Their ceremony was heartfelt and full of love and tradition. Their sweet dog walked down the aisle and joined them at the altar. They passed around the rings and had their guests and family members charge them with their well-wishes and positive energy. It was the perfect blend of combining their own type of ceremony while honoring their family's religious roots. Their officiant was fun, vibrant, and so full of positive vibes that it was impossible to not feel the love in the room.
Patrick and Kerry had a fun and heartfelt reception, with sweet speeches by family members and the wedding party. They enjoyed a sentimental first dance, and then finished the night strong with dancing, laughter, and lots of hugs!