Lynnea + Patrick's Intimate Colorado Wedding

What better way to pull family from across the nation and celebrate big love than to bring them together for an intimate Colorado wedding in the garden of the god’s three days before Christmas.

This wedding was full of magic.

For one, it was my family. My sister-in-law Lynnea was wedding the man of her dreams. Patrick; the mans man from Nebraska.

Secondly, my husband was officiating. Wearing his Dad’s old (burly, wonderful) Alaskan coat and doing what he does best.

Third and excitingly, we were doing this together. The dream of officiating and photographing. Living in our strengths.

And fourth, it was in Colorado, at the garden of the gods; the very same place that we got engaged 6 years earlier.

I was photographer/fill-in-just-in-case-bridesmaid for my very pregnant other sister-in-law Rachelle.

Coming from the mountains of Alaska, and living in Nebraska (they only live in places that rhyme), Colorado was a perfect compromise. Not even compromise; it was the perfect destination.

Snow wasn’t forecast, but we prayed and we window-watched, and it did.

The day itself was a treasure; calm and intimate.

Generations got ready together, I talked the hotel into giving me one of the bouquets from their lobby, and we left; bundled and beautiful for the garden of the gods.

It was freezing. My nephew wedged himself between two rocks to keep warm, and passes-by watched and gazed, awe-struck and bright as Lynnea walked, happy and confident for her father-daughter first-look, and then toward her future-forever with her family on both sides.

Wedged in a rocky outcrop, they gave their vows, exchanged rings and joined families.

It was everything to love about intimate weddings; the unpredictable outdoors, the closely-huddled family (squeezing together 50% out of love, and 50% for body heat), the peaceful calm of the last minute change of plans, and the focus on what it’s really always all about: the two of them becoming one of them together.

The next morning we all donned Christmas sweaters, opened presents, cut wedding cake and ate a hotel breakfast. It was, from beginning to end, about the things that real life is made of; family.

The garden of the gods will always hold great significance for me, now, for two reasons. My own engagement, and the gain of new family: my now and forever brother—in-law.