Alyx + Brendan {Colorado Wedding – Part 1}

This is a fairytale, however it may not start like the ones you’ve heard in the past.  Because these two technically met because of Tinder.  Alyx’s roommate Keshia and Brendan’s coworker Dan met on the dating app, and when they met up for drinks, Alyx and Brendan came along as each of their wingmen! Although it didn’t lead to much more for Keshia and Dan, Alyx and Brendan hit it off!
One of their first dates was at a little sushi restaurant in St. Louis. They sat at the bar and quickly became friends with the entire staff.  Next thing they knew, the owner was feeding them shots of sake and insisted that Alyx arm wrestle one of the very young, very fragile looking waitresses! (Alyx lost) It was without a doubt the weirdest night ever- but they quickly learned they could let loose and be their goofy selves around each other!
One cool March evening in Colorado, they were walking across the Platte river bridge on their way to dinner.  Brendan stopped to give Alyx a gift which happened to be a lock with their initials on it (the bridge has turned into a love lock bridge!). They were celebrating their anniversary and had just put an offer on a house, so Brendan talked about how he wanted to officially call Denver home and start the rest of our lives together there. As Alyx was putting the lock on the bridge, Brendan got down on one knee and asked Alex to be his wife.  Alyx completely blacked out she was so overwhelmed by the moment, but she managed to say yes!
Alyx is from the small town in Illinois where we live, and we’ve seen her from time to time throughout the years we’ve lived here.  She’s always been bright and full of life, but we never really knew her well.  When the Facebook announcement went up of their engagement, I did hope she would consider us for photography, but didn’t get my hopes up because I knew she’d have plenty of great options in Colorado to choose from.  So when she did contact about wanting us to capture her day we were elated.  We love Colorado, and to get the opportunity to capture such beautiful people in such a beautiful setting was incredibly exciting!  But we had no idea.
Getting to know these two over the past year has been an experience we treasure.  The two are so warm, caring, and downright lovable.  I loved chatting with Alyx about her day and exchanging texts and ideas (and several hilarious photos found on the net for “inspiration”), so when we got together while they were home this spring to discuss their day we knew there was no way we could fully settle on cramming their photo needs into one day.  There’s just not enough hours to possibly capture the depth of these two, and the beauty Colorado holds.  So they kindly listened as we suggested they opt to get into their wedding attire and see one another a couple days before the wedding for an epic first look, and agreed this was the way to make their photo dreams come true.
We decided upon a first look at the beautiful Red Rocks area, followed by a trek up one of Colorado’s 14ers – Mt. Evans.  We spent the day with these two and had an experience that we will never forget as we joyfully traveled across the beautiful state to make photo magic.  Enjoy Alyx and Brendan’s magnificent first look pre-wedding day!

Our first stop was Red Rocks where in a secluded area we had scouted in the park, the two did a first look.  We drove around the park to some spots we’d chosen the day before when we scouted and LOVED the way the locations photographed.  The day prior was rainy and gloomy, but this day was picture perfect.These two are so beyond gorgeous!!We headed up to Mt Evans on a drive that was literally breathtaking.  We winded up the mountain roads above tree-line where the atmosphere was so thin it made your lungs burn. (Especially for a couple of flat-landers)  We went from 90 degrees in the area of Red Rocks, to 45 degrees on the mountain top.  Roger had prepared me for wind or to be enveloped in clouds, but he couldn’t have prepared me for this…If it looks like we are amongst the clouds it would be because we quite literally were.  The beauty of it all was so magnificent words nor photos can do it justice.  Isn’t it fantastic that there are places that just have to be experienced first hand??  Alyx and Brendan were so in awe by the moment that when Alyx trembled and tears filled her eyes – it may have been partly the cold, but it was mostly the moment.Alex and Brendan picked a date which they would say “I do” under the Blood Moon coupled with a lunar eclipse.  This combo has spiritual meanings of closing one door and another opening.  It was perfectly Alyx and Brendan, so we were SO excited to grab this image with the full moon showing in the background!Alyx’s ring is a cruelty-free diamond that is absolutely stunning.  When I heard that Brendan chose a “green ring” for Alyx I knew that he would be just as fantastic as she is, and I wasn’t wrong.

On top of Mt.Evans the ground cover was all different types and sizes of succulents.  What an absolute wonder you are Colorado.
As perfect as this day was, there was so so much more magic in store!!  Alyx and Brendan’s wedding day is next!