Colleen and Roy’s Engagement + Mt Lemmon Engagement Photos
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Sometimes you just save the best for last. Jake and Stephanie were in Tucson for the holidays and I photographed their engagement session on a chilly New Years Eve afternoon. My last photo shoot of the year 2015. Stephanie is a Kansas City girl, so the cold winter air was nothing to her...
Dress by Pronovias; Flowers by Elaine Taylor; Hair and Makeup by Margarita Go Diva; Ceremony and Reception at The Gallery at Dove Mountain
Kylie and Kyle had a perfectly styled red, black and gold autumn wedding at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. A gorgeous wedding ceremony was held on the Cactus Lawn of the ranch, followed by an outdoor dinner reception on the upper patio. After dinner, all of the guests entered a gold and red lit ballroom for an evening of dancing and fun.
Laura and Alex had actually met at one of my favorite downtown restaurants, LaCocina, so it was a no brainer to start at this gorgeous location on their downtown Tucson engagement session. Who wouldn’t want photos taken at the first place they had met if it was a cool, colorful and happy place like LaCocina Restaurant?
Wedding Planning and Coordination by Meagan Crain of MC Events; Dress by Maggie Sottero; Shoes by Bagdley Mischka; Flowers by In Full Bloom; Ceremony at St Peter and Paul Church in Tucson; Wedding Reception at Hacienda Del Sol; Music by Heart and Soul Band
Amy and Leif are huge Arizona Diamondback fans, so finding a baseball stadium for their engagement photos was a BIG deal. These two came prepared with balls, bats, gloves, hats and shirts – I love me a prepared couple who knows what they want! After a fun session at the stadium, we headed out to the...
Lori and David found Love in San Francisco, but a marriage and a life together in Tucson. And David’s children were some of the most delightful children I have met. Sweet Cassie and the rambunctious but always smiling Zander and Jameson. A gorgeous and warm autumn day set the scene for a beautiful wedding day at Hacienda Del Sol in Tucson. It is always a delight to work at Hacienda Del Sol, but especially with a warm and loving couple like Lori and David. Bright flowers, spectacular food, happy families and smiling children – what more can you ask for?
Anne Bryan of Creative Events had planned a rustic country wedding for them on the lawns at Tubac Golf Resort, but a rare rainy wedding day in Arizona showcased Anne’s amazing skills as she flipped a planned outdoor event to a stunning candlelit indoor event. We had sunny skies for a bit early on, and I was thrilled to be able to pull off all the group photos before the skies opened up and thunder and rain poured down on us as we ran for cover. Dreamy beige bridesmaid dresses, white roses with hypericum berries; vintage lace and twine; candles and mercury glass; farm tables and wine barrels – every detail was perfect. There was a series of toasts after dinner that had me both laughing and crying. Andy Depew of Satyr Entertainment pulled everyone out on the dance floor early on in the evening and then kept them there for an afterparty that I heard went on until 1am….
It never rains in Tucson, except when it pours. If you want your your wedding photographer to love you and you want outdoor photos on a rainy fall wedding day, you should do EXACTLY what Ashley did. As soon as I mentioned that it was thundering outside, Ashley had her dress on in about 5 minutes...
Anna and Tommy live in Phoenix, but wanted trees and fall leaves in their October engagement shoot – which meant there was only one place to go. Mount Lemmon. On a beautiful 80 degree fall day in Tucson, we headed up the mountain and into a crisp cold fall leaf heaven of brilliant yellows and reds. We had only met so far in a Skype meeting, but I felt comfortable right away with this warm and sweet couple. I think I got their personalities right away – Anna is the quiet one, the thoughtful one, the reader. Tommy is the extrovert, the funny one, the talker. They perfectly compliment each other as Tommy draws Anna out and she draws him in. Going up to Mt Lemmon is always a treat and a way to escape the heat of the Tucson summer’s, but this was a day of chilly fall air and amazing clouds gathering in the distance as a storm approached from the west.
Handmade barn doors draped in eucalyptus leaves and roses for the ceremony backdrop, a wall of wooden pallets covered in white flowers behind the sweetheart table, white and beige painted bottles, a lemonade stand , hand painted rustic wood signs – I was in Pinterest heaven And to top it off, everything was handmade by the bride. Haley...
Vanessa and Kevin may live in Colorado now, but their love of the U of A and the Wildcats definitely made an appearance at this fun fall wedding. Instead of trying to ignore the fact that their wedding fell on a game day, they embraced it. Guests waved pop poms as the newly married couple walked down the aisle after their sunset rooftop ceremony at Westward Look Resort. The game was played on a big screen during the party and instead of a signing book, Vanessa and Kevin had a U of A basketball and football for everyone to sign. A custom designed blueprint of Westward Look Resort
Westward Look Resort in Tucson always has a special place in my heart. It was where I photographed my first Tucson wedding and where I discovered how lush and beautiful a desert garden can be. Ann and Jeff had their wedding ceremony in Colorado, but planned a big Tucson wedding reception to be able to share their joy with all their families and friends. We had the luxury of time on this gorgeous September day, so I was able to bring this couple to some of my favorite spots at the resort. All the summer monsoon rain has turned Westward Look Resort into a lush tropical garden and I took full advantage of it. After the cocktail hour on the Sonoran Rooftop
Tubac Golf Club is always a spectacular location. It’s in the desert, but there is grass, trees, a chapel, and amazing food. Dan Marries ‘married’ Ryan and Joleen in a beautifully personalized ceremony in the Chapel at Tubac Golf Club. If I had a good friend named Dan Marries, I’m pretty sure I would ask him to officiate my wedding too – I really do think he might have another career at this if he ever retires from news channel KOLD. Dinner was a Southern Style barbecue buffet that had me wishing I could find a way to smuggle some more food to my room for a late night snack ( this sweet couple had booked me a beautiful room for the evening as well). Andy of Satyr Entertainment brought his own mix of perfect lighting and music for the ceremony and reception – and yes, awesomely done lighting really does make a huge difference.
Summertime engagement sessions in Tucson can be tough. It’s hot, Super hot sometimes. And we’re trying to dodge monsoon rains all while hoping for a perfect sunset. But this was the only time that Ashleigh and Joey would be in Tucson before their wedding, so we escaped the 100 degree heat up to Mt...
A full mass at St Martin De Porres was followed by river photos and an evening reception in the ballroom at The Grandview on the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie. The day was full of Italian and American traditions, family and fun. I also was able to spend the day working with so many loved and long time vendors that made the day such a joy to work. Here’s to David Anthony, Bill from Starlight Video; Enriquez Entertainment, Victor at The Grandview, and fellow photographer, Cheryl Bolton Reuter! Thank you so much Stephanie and Bill for bringing me to New York to share this amazing day with you and your families!
And my love affair with Jimmy Choo shoes continues. This has been the summer of Jimmy Choo for me…..if you’re a shoehound, you’ll know what I mean! Anny and Gary met me at Cassie and Kristen’s wedding in upstate New York two years ago. Every wedding that I have photographed this summer has been for someone who...
New York classic style meets the laid back southwestern desert. Chris and Nick traveled from their home in New York City back to where they had first met at the U of A in Tucson for their spring wedding. Eight years together and travels all over the country, but they came back to Tucson to start...
