Diana + Andrew’s Intimate Wedding + Dinner Party
… made possible by top-notch Crested Butte wedding vendors!
The Love Story
“I first fell in love with Diana after our first trip away with each other to Lake Champlain, Vermont,” Andrew said. They had the lake house mostly to themselves from where they explored the area and cooked romantic dinners together. Diana even tried to catch some fish to cook, but, unfortunately, the fish weren’t biting. Spoiler alert: Andrew didn’t care.
Diana, whose family is from Puerto Rico, fell in love after meeting Andrew’s family. “His family was so welcoming and reminded me so much of my family. I loved seeing Andrew interact with them all and seeing how well our morals and values aligned.”
They first met at college. But their paths wouldn’t cross until five years later — in a bar in Boston. Andrew tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she remembered him from Villanova. They spent the rest of the evening catching up.
After she asked him to a baseball game, she realized she really liked his confidence and sense of humor. Andrew remembers her black, flat-brim baseball cap, which to him, signaled that she was down-to-earth and easy going. “She was friendly and easy to talk to, and obviously very pretty.” Sounds like a successful first date!
Diana told me she loves his patience and laid back personality. “It balances me out perfectly.” So when Andrew surprised Diana with candles, flowers, champagne, and a ring when she returned from a business trip, she joyfully accepted his proposal.
The Wedding Plan
The young couple chose Crested Butte for their micro-wedding, and from these photos, you can see why. Neither of them had ever been to this gorgeous Colorado mountain town, but were planning a trip about a month after they hired me as their wedding photographer.
Since the Boulder residents knew little about Crested Butte, I gave them suggestions for lodging, places to eat, and vendors to meet, and offered to take them out scouting for the perfect ceremony location. We had a great time together, and it was so fun getting to know them before the big day.
When their September wedding date came around, they still hadn’t locked down their ceremony location. With so many great options, they were still hunting for their perfect place from my list of locations. I scouted a bit more in July and met them again in September right before their wedding.
FYI—
It’s always so great to meet my couples before the big day.
Our video consultation breaks the ice, but by driving around together,
discovering and debating ceremony locations,
I get to know your personality, your sense of humor… And that helps me
capture your true vibe in your wedding photos.
Diana and Andrew loved so many of the locations we visited and couldn't choose a favorite! The morning of the wedding, I nervously texted, "Do we have a winner!?" They had finally decided, and I was so stoked on their choice!
The Big Day
When I arrived at the wedding party’s home base (a stunning, private vacation rental in the mountains), Diana was getting ready with her mom, sisters, and friends. Amethyst McDowell of New Moon Salon was chosen to do Diana’s bridal hair and makeup, and she did a fantastic job!
Andrew was in the same chalet, getting ready with his parents in another wing. The couple opted out of the “First Look” tradition. The young couple wanted to see each other in their wedding attire for the first time at the ceremony, and that’s what’s so great about designing an intimate wedding that’s true to you!
It was about a 40 minute drive from the BnB to the ceremony spot. Family was arriving and the procession began under a bright, sunny, late-summer sky.
Diana's father joyously walked her down the “aisle” of tall grasses and the last wildflowers of the season. The intimate ceremony was officiated by Diana's sister and only witnessed by a small handful of close friends and family.
Andrew popped a bottle of celebratory champagne, then music, dancing, and lots of laughter followed. After a few family portraits at the stunning ceremony location, the newlyweds and I took off to get some romantic portraits in the golden-hour glow of the alpine scenery.
When the couple arrived at the BnB, the talented pianist Chris Caruso was playing beautiful organ music which beckoned us outside on the deck. While the party continued outside, in the kitchen chef Garlic Mike was getting dinner ready; he and his staff pulled off an incredible reception dinner in the home.
Outside, the sun was going down but the party on the deck was heating up. The newlyweds surprised their guests with a totally rehearsed Salsa number. Talk about a memorable First Dance!
Then came the Father-Daughter Dance and Mother-Son Dance. The couple cut the gorgeous cake made by Crumb de la Crumb, and signed the marriage certificate with their nearest and dearest as witnesses. They actually asked me to sign their wedding album (something an artist in Puerto Rico had made especially for them) so I was so honored to be a witness of their marriage as well as their photographer!
If you’d like to talk about your own unique Crested Butte micro-wedding, call me. You can also check out more vendors, venues, and BnB’s in my complete
Hair & Make-Up: Amethyst McDowell
Flowers: Bramble & Bloom Floral
Wedding Party Lodging: Private VRBO vacation rental
Reception Music Performed by Pianist Chris Caruso
Wedding Cake: Crumb de la Crumb
Reception Dinner: Personal Chef Garlic Mike + Staff of Garlic Mike’s Italian Cuisine
Micro-Wedding Location: Crested Butte, Co.
Photography: Andrea Enger Photography
Congratulations again, Diana and Andrew!
Getting Ready
The Intimate Ceremony
Married!!
Champagne Toast!
The Micro Wedding Party
Newlywed Portraits
Let the Party Begin!
Congratulations again, Diana + Andrew!!
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Ready to Book?
Elopement Photographer Andrea Enger (Portrait by Jennifer Garza Photography)
If you’re ready to get the ball rolling to secure your photographer, let’s do it!
You can do that by contacting me through my website, emailing me directly at andreaenger.photography@gmail.com, or by calling or texting me at (720) 739-0784. I look forward to hearing from you!
If you’re still in the research phase, I hear ya! Here are some more resources that my couples have found helpful. I hope you do, too!