This morning, I woke up to a blast from the past — an email from a client I worked with back in 2015!
It was just after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex weddings that Christie + Lauren reached out (through Yelp of all places, talk about a throwback) to plan a secret elopement with just the three of us. The elopement ceremony itself was held at the Cheesman Park Pavilion, one of my favorite Denver locations for photos. Afterwards, we rolled through Union Station and the Tattered Cover bookstore inside the terminal.
These have long been some of my favorite Denver elopement photos for so many reasons. Christie + Lauren’s elopement was the first same-sex marriage I ever documented! I’m so excited to relive a few today here on the blog.
Take a peek at a handful of images from Christie + Lauren’s private, intentional, and memorable downtown Denver elopement below. Stay tuned for Christie’s kind words after the jump!
x Ash
Downtown Denver Elopement Photos | Ashley Kidder Photo
A note from one of the brides:
“Ashley,
I am cleaning out my email box and came across this email that I found. You shot Lauren’s and my “secret” wedding super last minute the weekend the Supreme Court [legalized same-sex marriage]. You met us at Cheesman and then we went to Union Station. It was the MOST MAGICAL day!
Here’s the email I found…
“AMAZING experience, BEAUTIFUL photographs!!!
There aren’t enough words to describe the gratitude and joy my heart has for Ashley!!! Have you ever tried planning a wedding in under 48 hours? Well, that’s what my wife and I did when the Supreme Court ruling was sent down on June 26th, 2015.
I scoured Yelp and every other place I could think of hoping I’d find someone who would document our fabulous day. I knew it was a long shot but the universe was looking out for me and I spotted Ashley. I was hoping she would be available on the Monday following the SCOTUS decision — she was, and WOW we were thrilled.
Ashley has a calming air about her and did everything possible to make sure our day went off without a hitch. Since we had so little time to plan it was pretty much her and I doing the planning. She met us at our venue and then followed us to Union Station where we were staying for our “honeymoon,” all the while coming up with unique, creative shots that would last a lifetime.
We never once felt “on stage.” It was like she was just one of our friends hanging out taking photos. It was all very natural, an important component to my wife and I. From our casual conversations she picked up on subtle details of our personalities and made sure she found the perfect shot to showcase them.
The experience itself was marvelous. We truly felt like the only two people in the world and she was focused completely on us! Ashley is a tender, kind, and thoughtful woman who knows her shit!
Now, I know you want to hear about the photos themselves….GORGEOUS!!!!! Every angle imaginable, the perfect moments all frozen, she even captured my wife’s super squinty, “I’m ridiculously happy” grin. All of our photos were edited beautifully and were sent to us in color and black and white. She has even offered to help us with getting prints!”
Thank you Ashley! We are forever grateful that the Yelp universe threw you in our path! Much success to you! Cocktails soon ;-)”
