Vail wedding deck Archives - Holland Photo Arts - Worldwide Travel Photographers

Megan & Chad’s Wedding at Vail Resort & Donovan Pavilion

Weddings

You may have seen Malia & Bryson’s surprise wedding (guests thought it was an engagement party) last week, where I (Bill) guest photographed with our good friend Kent Meireis. We have a couple more to share with you from a full weekend spent shooting two weddings in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. First up is Megan & Chad’s Jewish ceremony held at the mountaintop at Vail Resorts wedding deck. And because it was a Colorado wedding, a dog was involved, natch. I totally fell in love with Kona and nearly brought her home with me. Such a great dog. Callie the cat may not have much appreciated our sudden adoption, however.

Enjoy some of the favorite images from their wedding!

These folks all worked so well as a team to make this event so memorable:
Ceremony: Vail Wedding Deck
Reception: Donovan Pavilion
Flowers: Vintage Magnolia
Catering: The Gourmet Cowboy
DJ: DJ RIPM
Getting ready: Arrabelle Hotel

Wedding dress hanging at Arrabelle Hotel at Vail

Nothing starts a wedding day off right like some ever-so-smooth Macallan 12-year.

Pouring Scotch for groomsmen on wedding day at Arrabelle Hotel at Vail

First look…

First look on wedding day at Arrabelle Hotel at Vail

Bride's dress on wedding day at Arrabelle hotel at Vail

Wedding day flowers at Arrabelle Hotel at Vail

Their ketubah signing was a blast and full of humor. Rabbi Eliot J. Baskin rocked it!

Ketubah signing with family on wedding day at Arrabelle hotel at Vail

Bride and groom gondola ride at Vail on way to wedding deck

Kona took the opportunity to give her mom some love and kisses…

Bride and groom with dog on gondola ride at Vail on way to wedding deck

Bride and groom with dog licking bride's face on gondola ride at Vail on way to wedding deck

Ring bearer with bridesmaids in background at Vail wedding deck

Flower girl with bouquet at Vail wedding deck

Huppah with flowers and aspen branches at Vail wedding deck for Jewish wedding

Wine glasses for Jewish wedding at Vail wedding deck

Bride processes to vail wedding deck

Bride sheds tear as she circles groom during Jewish wedding at Vail wedding deck

Bride smiles at groom during Jewish ceremonyt at Vail wedding deck

You wonder sometimes what goes through the minds of kids during a wedding…

Flower girls appear bored during Jewish ceremony at Vail wedding deck

Couple with Rabbi with mountains in background at Vail wedding deck

You can’t beat these views, really.

Expansive view of rocky mountains during Jewish ceremony at Vail wedding deck

Bride and groom crush glass during Jewish ceremony at Vail wedding deck

Bride, groom, and dog recess with Rocky mountains in background from Vail wedding deck

Views of Rocky mountains from Vail wedding deck

These little boys weren’t even part of Megan & Chad’s wedding. They were simply waiting patiently for the next ceremony at the wedding deck. Still…a cute scene.

Young boys wait for ceremony at Vail wedding deck

Bride's vail flies in wind at Vail wedding deck

Megan & Chad met in the singles line at the Born Free Express lift, so of course we captured a wedding portrait of them there.

Bride and groom wedding portrait at Born Free Express at Vail

Beer bottle caps at Donovan Pavillion

Bagpiper pipes in bride and groom at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Challah bread at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

White decorated wedding cake at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Bride and groom prepare for first dance at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Cake cutting at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

First dance at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Bride laughs with guests at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Groom's mom shrieks with delight during hora dance at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Bride and groom dance with guests at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Megan did a traditional Polish dance with…well…just about every guest in attendance.

Bride hugs friend at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Bride and groom surrounded by friends and family at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Twilight at wedding reception at Donovan Pavillion

Engaged! with Sarah & Max at Vail Resort

Engagements, Portraits

We recently found ourselves once again atop Vail Mountain (one of Bill’s favorite places in CO so far) for an engagement session with Sarah & Max, whose Fall wedding we’re shooting back in Washington, DC. Vail holds a very special place in their heart as it’s where they had their first date and they continue to spend many weekends there in the Winter skiing. We could think of worse places.

While the weather seemed at first to be threatening, we held out and got some amazing skies in return. (You may remember almost a year ago, we photographed Joy & Jerry’s renewal up there and had some wacky weather, as well!) We stayed atop near the wedding deck for a few portraits before descending in the gondola for a few more around the village and ending the evening with a nice long dinner together filled with many great stories. (They even brought their adorable dog Tanner for a couple of shots. Seriously, this is one of the sweetest dogs we’ve met in a while and almost convinced Anne that we needed to add to our fur family. Callie the Cat on the other hand, would most certainly not be pleased if we did.) We weren’t done yet, though as we knew we had to get some nighttime shots under the gorgeous cafe lights in the Village outside their hotel – the stunning Arrabelle. Max especially was such a trouper since he had an early morning flight to Iceland for his bachelor party and both he and Sarah were driving all the way back to Denver that very night. Thankfully we only had to go as far as Boulder and I-70 at night isn’t nearly as scary in the Summer than it is in the Winter! Ask us about a trip up there this past March over a beer (actually maybe three) sometime.

We’re soooooo looking forward to this stylish couple’s Mellon Auditorium wedding in a couple of months, and can’t wait to share more with you from that afterward. We already know their wedding weekend is going to be seriously stunning and a lot of fun to boot. Enjoy the complete gallery here, and the password is Sarah’s maiden name.

SMe-2004-30y

SMe-2028-56x

SMe-2100-23y

SMe-2050-04y

SMe-2050-59x

SMe-2151-57x

SMe-2159-33y

Thanks so much, you two and we can’t wait to see you again soon!!

xoxo,
…a&b

Joy & Jerry atop Vail Mountain’s Wedding Deck

Weddings

Those of you who live in or near the Rockies know weather can be, well, a bit fickle. Such was the case with Joy and Jerry, who celebrated their vows once more (first and second times here on the same day) atop Vail Mountain, where Jerry spent some time way back when. The original time for their intimate (just the two of them and their officiant) was set for 2pm, but Jerry was concerned about the near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, so the decision was made to shift to 11am. Well, you can see the results below, but at least his choice in bride was clearly an excellent one. 🙂 During their short ceremony the temperature topped out at a gusty 46 degrees. In August. Not only did Bill have to purchase a last minute fleece pullover, Joy found a sweater to go over her sleeveless dress. Hmm…perhaps the mountain resorts are in cahoots with Mother Nature!

We were lucky enough to be able to let the storm pass with steaming cups of coffee and pictures around Vail Village and then head back up the mountain for some additional portraits with the two of them when the sun came out later that afternoon. Their ceremony was further evidence that a wedding may last only one day, but the marriage is long lasting. Even when it’s briefly interrupted, as was the case here, the base friendship and love survived, and the two of them are back together again. We’re so happy about that and really enjoyed seeing them again.

Their vows opened with a few minutes of meditation led by their wonderful officiant Tara van Dernoot…

Not just rainy, but windy too.

We love the expression on Joy’s face here. It says, “I love you, but I’m freezing. Can we hurry this along?”

Needless to say, the weather at the base was significantly different.

Bikers were driven to distraction (and laying down a bike) because of these two!

Dear j&j,

What kismet, that we would find ourselves in our new adopted hometown of Boulder, Colorado just a few weeks before your re-marriage ceremony atop beautiful Vail mountain. Despite the chill, Joy, you were literally radiating, well, joy and Jerry, you looked so happy and healthy. We can’t tell you how happy we are for you both, that you’ve found your way back to each other, stronger and more in love than ever. It may be cliche, but perhaps love really does conquer all.

Love you guys!
…a&b