Heather and Kevin’s Blackstone Rivers Ranch wedding was one of my favorite wedding days of 2019. I’ve known Heather for a couple of years now after meeting via Boulder Hiker Chicks, and when Kevin proposed and they started planning their wedding, it was natural for me to capture their big day.
When they decided on Blackstone Rivers Ranch in Idaho Springs as their wedding venue, I was super excited. This venue only opened a few years ago, but it was clearly designed with photos in mind – their abundant string lights are a photographer’s dream!
The couple knew that they wanted to exchange vows privately before their ceremony, and after I found a promising photo of a potential location online, Heather went there to explore and absolutely loved it. When the wedding day rolled around and we were ready for their first look, Heather and I were stuck in my Subaru waiting for the rain to pass so we could go outside without umbrellas. Then Kevin pulled up in his car, and the clouds parted immediately!
We really couldn’t have been luckier with the weather for their first look and portraits. Heather’s dog Piper even came along for some photos! Then we headed down off the mountain to Blackstone Rivers Ranch to get ready for the wedding ceremony. Back at the venue, we met planner Pam Zola (one of my favorite people!), who had some … interesting … news for us.
A mudslide had closed off I-70 right east of Idaho Springs, and the caterer, venue staff, DJ, and most of the wedding guests were all stuck on the other side while waiting for the highway to open again!
Now this is where most couples would panic, but thank god for wedding planners! Pam moved some things around on the timeline, and we finished up couples portraits and photos with the wedding party while waiting for everyone. And instead of stressing, the couple was able to enjoy their wedding day and trust that everything was taken care of.
When the road opened up again, we got the ceremony going, and the rest of the Blackstone Rivers Ranch wedding went off without a hitch.
Credit to the vendors of this Blackstone Rivers Ranch wedding:
Venue: Blackstone Rivers Ranch
Planner: Pam Zola Weddings
Florist: Anthia Design
Catering: Occasions Catering
Hair and makeup: Kiss and Makeup + Tangles Hair
DJ: Nufusion Productions
Dress designer: Lovers Society
Bridal salon: Lovely Bride Denver
Bridesmaid dresses: Adrianna Papell
Heather left me the sweetest review after their Blackstone Rivers Ranch wedding
“Where do I even begin with Nina?! Thoughtful, professional, a breeze to work with. From the start, Nina’s process was clearly communicated and very well organized. She checked in with us multiple times along the way, provided us with helpful guides, recommended vendors, came up with a timeline, and made payments easy. She delivered sneak peeks in record time, created little videos out of our gallery images, and used a gallery interface that is simple and easy to use.
Not only did Nina capture breathtaking engagement photos, but we are in love with our wedding photos! She found the perfect first look location and kept her spirits up when it was raining (the sun came out just for us!). Throughout the day, she made sure that we had time to ourselves to soak it all in, capturing stunning images along the way. Looking through our wedding album is truly like reliving the day.
Nina, you think through every detail and we could not be more grateful. THANK YOU!”
About Nina Larsen Reed
Nina is an elopement photographer based in Boulder, Colorado. She plans and captures adventure elopements and micro-weddings across the Rocky Mountains, and loves getting to share the mountains she calls home with couples who want a different wedding experience.
This is beautiful!! Where was the first look done?
I have the same questions as Annie ^, was this first look done at Echo Lake or somewhere closer to BRR?