The Pines at Genesee Wedding Photographer in Golden, CO

    Long Distance Relationships Can Work | Johnny and Naomi’s Wedding in Golden, CO | The Pines at Genesee Weddings | Apollo Fields

    Many take the idea of having a long distance relationship as a futile effort at romance, but Johnny and Naomi have proven that nothing can stand in the way of love and communication.  For the past several years, they have each been stationed at Air Force bases in different states, only managing to see each other once or twice a month. Yet the irony of their relationship is that the distance between them brought them closer together.

    Johnny and Naomi’s first date was actually on Johnny’s birthday five years ago at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  That’s a lot of expectation to place on a Tinder date—but obviously his gamble paid off. They met up for coffee, spoke about their respective trips to Israel, and took a short walk to Naomi’s favorite waterfall.  Their conversation was natural and fluid and Naomi thought the date went really well until Johnny said at the end, “we’ll keep in touch,” which was not exactly the most reassuring of phrases to conclude a romantic evening.  Naomi would later learn that phrases like these were just quirks of his personality.

    Over the next few years, as distance became an issue, the small moments they did share obviously became more valuable.  In the pre-wedding questionnaires we gave to them, they both spoke about times where they were about to spend an extended amount of time apart, and each of them said or did something that made them realize they really loved one another.  For Naomi, it was when Johnny returned from summer break one year and asked if she “wanted to spend every night together,” knowing that in the near future he would be shipped off to Air Force training. For Johnny, it was when Naomi was training for ROTC and began getting very nervous.  She was so stressed that she started talking to her socks, and it was then that Johnny knew that they each represented a calming presence to each other. It was because of these timing restrictions that they learned to express their appreciation of one another.

    Naomi and Johnny like to joke about a time they went canoeing when Naomi would just put her paddle in the water to make them go in a zigzag or circle pattern rather than floating in a straight line.  I like to think about that story as an analogy to their relationship as they maneuvered through the difficulties of long distance dating with attention and appreciation for one another. They say that they almost hit a boat of fisherman—just like I’m sure there were points in their relationship that seemed like they thought they were going to crash.  But because of their effort, trust and honest communication, they were able to carve out time for one another and laugh as they floated through time like they floated down that river.

    Working as a wedding professional, I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as a “perfect relationship,” where every moment of every day is like the song “So Happy Together” by The Turtles is playing in the background.  Like every other great thing in life, a solid relationship requires work, and more often that not the path of our canoe is going to zigzag or go in circles. The important thing is having a partner that can work towards a shared goal and laugh while doing it.  If you can manage to find a partner like Johnny and Naomi have in one another, then you can embrace every adventure and hardship with an equal hand; where the serenity of a mountain lake with a beer in your hand is that much more sweet, and the sunshine reflecting off a field of yellow flowers is that much more bright.  Distance is only an obstacle for your relationship, but with the right amount of effort and love, it can be conquered and wind up bringing you closer together.

---

Hey, it’s us!

We’re Heather & Terrence— the husband-and-wife team behind Apollo Fields. Feel free to reach out and say hi or sign up for our newsletter below!

The Vendor Team:

Photography: Apollo Fields
Getting-Ready Venue: The Dove Inn
Ceremony Venue:  Pines at Genesee
Party Planner / Day-Of Coordinator:  Vivian Weinress
Officiants: Rev John Witkop & Debbie Kintish
Florist:  Fleur de Liz
DJ / Band:  Drake Dawson "DJ Drake" 
Dress : Allure Bridal | Purchased at The Bridal Boutique
Veil was made by "the Button the Needle and the Wardrobe" (alterations), everything else is Etsy!
Suit: Dillards
Rings : Goodman & Sons in Virginia | Engagement ring was Johnny's grandmothers
Hair and Makeup: Prodigy Salon
Invitations and Save The Dates:  My Big Day Designs

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

New York Wedding Photographers on Long Island

New York City Wedding Photographers | Colorado Weddings | Apollo Fields Photojournalism | NYC Photography

“Did you guys miss New York?”

This is one of those questions we have been asked by everyone since moving back East.  And it’s a good question, but the answer is complicated… When we moved to Colorado in 2016, we were veryready to move.  But it wasn’t because we hated NYC, it was just time.  It was time to be in nature and time to be in an unknown place together.  Big moves like that can make or break a relationship, and for us I guess we got lucky. 

When I first moved to New York City a few years before that, I barely knew anyone and the people that I did know were in different boroughs.  Despite always having the city close by, the UWS was as much of a mystery to me as if I had moved to Los Angeles by myself.  I learned a lot about myself in that first year while I was getting my MA and living in a tiny studio apartment on 105thStreet.  It was just me and Riddle, a mini fridge, an oven that leaked Carbon Monoxide, and a sort-of-view of the Hudson River if you hung your head out of the prison-sized window.  

I was still living in that death trap of an apartment when I met Terrence.  I was riding out my lease before moving farther uptown, but I can still remember one of our first dinners together there. We were eating on the couch because I only had one dining room chair and Terrence was cautioning me about how he didn’t eat onions, fish, tomatoes, etc.  I had no idea how to feed such a picky eater, so I just went ahead cooking like I normally did anyway.  How far we’ve come since those days.  
 

For as much as I learned about myself being single in NYC, I think we learned as much about each other when we made the move to the mountains together.  We had very few connections in CO when we first moved and had to learn how to lean on one another in ways that we hadn’t before. Even though we had lived together in New York, we always had additional roommates (such is life in Manhattan). We had a very familiar neighborhood in New York filled to the brim with drinking buddies, walk-able pubs, and enough libations to stay busy until 4am any time we felt like it.  

We landed in Colorado and everything quieted down.  We only had each other and our little cottage.  We found ourselves less intrigued by urban life and much more content hanging at a local brewery in town with a couple beers and a board game.  We got bikes and went hiking, we spent afternoons at the dog park and evenings cuddled up on our couch.  Life was good and it was hard to miss NYC at that time. 
 

We were still flying back East multiple times a year for weddings and holidays.  We were always happy to come back to familiar faces and good ethnic food.  Distance helps you weed out the drinking buddies and bring family to the surface, or at least that was the case for us.  Don’t get me wrong, we can still throw back a few shots at a dive bar, but suddenly, we were more interested in making a push for spending time with our siblings instead.     
 

Our decision to move back was multidimensional.  We are looking to buy a farm to turn into a wedding venue and the numbers just weren’t adding up in Colorado.  The real estate market there was pretty volatile: we were part of a huge boom of fellow transplants making the Rocky Mountain move and we got in too late.  By the time we were ready to look at properties, everything was selling above already-high asking prices.  Zoning was a nightmare, and anything with a mountain view was just plain cost prohibitive.  With the average all-in price of a CO wedding coming in at $26k and NY suburbs at roughly $65k+, we weren’t about to take that kind of business risk just to keep our beloved mountains in our backyard.  
 

So as you all know, at the end of September we packed up our little cottage into our Highlander and drove back East.  Animals and cameras in tow, we hit the ground running—getting married, wrapping up busy season, and honeymooning in Jamaica while settling into a new house.  We are finally slowing down (but not for long). 

We’ve moved into a cute yellow house in East Northport, five minutes from Terrence’s dad and stepmom. We went from a 550sq foot cottage to a real house, which after a few Salvation Army raids is beginning to feel like a home.  We are living well by Long Island standards:  fenced-in backyard, walking distance to the LIRR, and a ten-minute drive to the North Shore.  

Despite being an hour train or car ride from the city, this is a very different lifestyle than when we were actually living in NYC.  We are very much in a commuter / family town.  The delis and pizzerias are good, but that’s about it in the way of local flavor and small town charm.  It is nice to be closer to family again.  We have been into the city a few times and it’s been great.  We hit The Whitney for the Andy Warhol exhibit and gorged ourselves on international food.  We ride the subways like nothing has changed, and traversed up and down the blocks with the sharp cold air lingering on our cheeks.  

New York will always be our city, even though if we’re being honest I don’t think I’ll ever live in it again.  It doesn’t fit our lifestyle, business trajectory, or relationship anymore. In a perfect world, we won’t be on Long Island for very long, either.  We would love to end up on a farm in Bucks County PA or upstate NY. We have big dreams of hosting weddings, homesteading, and photographing more and more amazing couples.  We envision an old barn, a big fireplace, chickens and kiddos running through the fields, and a labor-of-love property that gives us as much as we give it.  

So the short answer is, yes we missed New York but we also miss Colorado.  We like walking through museums as well as walking up mountains.  We love our family here and love our friends in CO.  We miss the big western skies and the “300 days of sunshine” that we got so used to.  But we’re glad to get a decent bagel again.  We are lucky because we get to experience such a range of landscapes, and because of our business, we don’t have to choose one or the other.  We get to go back to the Rockies for work and play, and in the meantime we are stoked to start to look to the future to find the quirky farm venue that will turn into the biggest passion project we’ve taken on so far.  

Boulder Creek Wedding Photography at Wedgewood Weddings

Erica & Matthew's Wedgewood Wedding at Boulder Creek | September Weddings | Colorado Wedding Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers

Erica and Matt are a fun loving couple who love to have a good celebration! I first met Erica downtown Denver for coffee and to chat about wedding planning and photography. I loved her energy and I could tell that she was super organized about wedding planning and really excited to incorporate her kiddos in the day. We immediately clicked and I was so excited to work with this fun couple!

I was excited to shoot their engagement session at Standley Lake in Arvada because they wanted to really reflect their lifestyles. It was important to have the kids a part of the session and we had a blast with them and bringing in their dirt bikes since they are avid dirt bikers! We had such a blast at the engagement session that I knew the wedding would be no different.

The day started with the guys and gals in separate locations. I had my second shooter head over to Matt and his groomsmen while I met Erica and her bridesmaids at their hotel in Boulder. Everyone was busy getting ready and it was a really fun start to the day. Then we went over to Chautauqua in Boulder for their first look. It was a busy day on the trails (weekends tend to me, just a heads up) so it took a bit of careful planning to choreograph their first look without a bunch of photo-bombers! This is where having a second shooter can be SUPER helpful because Sarah was able to monitor the traffic like a champ while I snapped away.

We were able to squeeze in some epic shots at Chautauqua before the rain came hard, so we all hustled back to our cars — and their awesome Corvette — to head over to the venue. Wedgewood Boulder Creek is tucked away into the mountains in a beautiful location right on the river. We were lucky because the weather lifted as soon as we got there (typical CO) and we were able to continue on with the ceremony outside. Everything was beautiful and we were so happy to be able to capture such awesome memories for this great couple!

AS SEEN IN COUTURE COLORADO MAGAZINE

Boulder Wedding Photographer: Heather Huie with Apollo Fields

Colorado Wedding Venue: Wedgewood Boulder Creek

Florist: Painted Primrose

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding Photography

Allison & Michael's Wedding | Highlands Ranch Mansion | Colorado Mountain Weddings | Denver Photographer

Alli & Mike didn't miss a beat with their beautiful Highlands Ranch Mansion wedding.  Everything was gorgeously planned and executed, and the day was spent amongst friends and family.  They had a first touch where they prayed, back-to-back and hand-in-hand, with the sweetest whispers of their love for each other.  The ceremony was just as beautiful.  Alli and Mike exchanged their handwritten vows in front of the people who mean the most to them.  They made promises to each other, and held hands while tears fell silently.  

Their reception was so much fun.  You could feel the love from all of their guests and family members, as heartfelt speeches filled the space, and they lovingly cut the cake with a little smash to top of the fun.  They danced and partied, and when the sun begin to set into the mountains, I snagged them for the most epic golden hour light.  The way the beams of light fell through the tree leaves was magical, and Allison and Michael enjoyed their own private dance out behind the mansion while the light began to fade.  

This fun couple met in the Air Force and are devoted to their service work.  They lived in Colorado Springs while finishing their degrees from the Air Force Academy.  I don't know how she pulled it off, but Alli actually graduated just a few days before their wedding!  Impressive, to say the least.  They honeymooned at Disney Land and then made their way off to Hawaii to soak up the beach and sunshine.  Seeing their pictures in Hawaii made me so jealous and now I'm dying to visit myself!  What a dream... 

Allison's big, bubbly personality shined throughout the day.  She just beamed with joy amongst her bridesmaids.  You could tell that their bond is tight, the whole group was smiling and laughing the whole day.  Michael is more stoic, but it was easy to see how is quieter bond with his groomsmen was just as genuine.  Their family members showered them with well-wishes, and the love was palpable.  They had the most fun dancing, mingling, and making silly faces in the Photo Booth.  An epic day to say the least!  

VENDOR TEAM:

Photography: Apollo Fields
Venue:  Highlands Ranch Mansion | Highlands Ranch Colorado
Event Planning:  Jennifer Wetterlin | Denver Event Pros
Videography:  Lavender Haze Wedding Films
Florals: Kimball Floral
DJ: Encore Events & Entertainment
Catering: All Love Catering
Dress: Something New Boutique

Cherry Blossom Engagement Session at City Park in Denver

Eve & Bobby's Cherry Blossom Engagement Session | City Park, Denver | Spring Engagement Photos | Colorado Wedding Photographer | Apollo Photojournalism 

Eve and Bobby and are fun loving couple who are able to roll with the punches.  They wanted their engagement session to be outdoors and since they live close to City Park in Denver, shooting there seemed to perfectly reflect their lifestyles.  They are laid back and go-with-the-flow, which was great when the weather was freezing cold, overcast, and rainy on the day of their engagement session.  

Rescheduling wasn't an option, so we crossed our fingers for a break in the weather and met up in the park.  I'm so glad we did, because the shots are so beautiful!  It never warmed up and the sun never poked through, but you can't even tell in the pictures.  And we had the cherry blossoms all to ourselves, an almost unheard of luxury this time of year because their season is so short.  

This was my first cherry blossom session that I have done and I was surprised by how much I love the color palate.  I am usually more drawn to earthier tones than pastels, but I found that Eve and Bobby's outfits worked so well with the setting that I really enjoyed the pinks, whites, yellows, and light greens of the grove that we shot in.  

We moved quickly through the session because the skies kept threatening a harder rain, and with frozen fingers and no golden light to play with, I wanted to get these lovebirds back in their warm car as quick as possible!  They made my job easy because they have such a great balance of playfulness and tenderness.  They were just as happy to be dancing under the trees as they were to cuddle up with each other and have a quiet moment together.  

Peaking at my viewfinder on my camera and I knew that despite the weather (and the cranky geese) we had some gems to work with!  I was so excited to get home to warm up and offload all these beautiful pictures from their engagement session.  I'm so excited to shoot their wedding this season!  

Denver Engagement Photographer:  Erny Photo CO | Apollo Fields
Wedding Coordinator:  Jennifer Wetterlin | Denver Event Pros
Location:  Denver, Colorado | City Park