backyard denver colorado wedding | david + georgia
let me set the scene a bit...
we drive through the edge of cherry creek colorado up to georgia's parents house for david + georgia's backyard wedding. the drive to georgia's parents house is a street much like the "father of the bride" street with tree's lining the two lane road giving a high arch that you drive through dotted with large stately and unique homes you can tell have had years of investment and care put into them. as we arrive to georgia's home I have to smile a little. I could tell that my sister's description of a "backyard wedding" was anything but what I had previously thought of a backyard wedding to be. their home was most obviously an architect-who-loves-their-occupation home. I'm a huge fan of mid-century modern/scandanavian architecture and this home showed off that genre in spades. the long horizontal lines throughout the home lead you in and welcomed their guests as soon as they stepped foot on their property. the large expanse of the many glass window panes took advantage of their dramatic full-of-vegetation backyard views and showed off their natural landscaping well making this natural-light-photographer exceptionally happy to photograph in and around and through their home. as we made our way up to where david + georgia were getting ready, I couldn't help but notice that their living space really wasn't defined by walls, doors and hallways and flowed together as part of one contiguous interior space, the space alone encouraged a casual and relaxed atmosphere and of what the day was going to hold.
**side note - I'm just reiterating that architecture is most definitely art and emotion-provoking when done well...and the brown family as a whole are incredible artists.**
as we walked up the stairs to the upper floor, more natural light bathed the rooms we were to photograph in. carefully curated art and portraits lined their walls, architectural magazines and books were stacked neatly near night stands, and in the middle of all this was georgia. now, I don't get the privilege of getting to know my sister's clients before I show up to assist her for the day. typically, I arrive via airplane the night or morning of the wedding day and she debrief's me on important details throughout the day...all this to say, I'm basically a stranger outside of my sister's clients relationship with her. I say all this because aside from a few I think I could count on one hand, I've never been treated as a stranger. ever. which I think speaks volumes about my sister and the people she attracts as clients.
**another side note - my sister kicks butt as a photographer. really. I told her this last wedding I assisted her with cause I thought she should hear it, but I will tell the rest of you because you should know. I don't know of another hard-working-driven business woman who is as good as her job as she is. from the start of her interaction with her client's to the very last shred of beautiful light on their wedding day she is 110% engaged. she wants the very best for her clients because I think she see's a little of herself as a bride in each and every client...that's an incredible trait to have as a wedding photographer. so yeah, she kicks butt and I love getting to work with her when I can.**
as soon as we walk in to greet georgia, her mother, sister + david, they all welcome us almost as old friends. to be fair, we did get to know them throughout her older sister's wedding the previous year...but outside of a professional relationship, that really was our only contact with them. but it was obvious that that isn't how they treat professional relationships...they treat you as an old friend, interested in conversation and fully trusting and excited to see how you'll photograph their day.
their welcoming attitude set the tone for the entire day and with each of their guests. and it was sweet to watch david + georgia as they interacted with each other...his vocal gregariousness + affection to her gentle fun-loving wit complimented each other perfectly. I think one of my most favorite moments of the day was near the end when it was just the two of them in the courtyard as crickets sang and in the distance you could hear clinking wine glasses, laughter and guitar serenades...in that moment, it was just the two of them in the whole world...happily breathing each other in, content to be each others.
thank you, elizabeth for having me to assist...you are incredible at what you do and I love getting a front-row seat to watching you "work". for those of you who have yet to follow her work you can find her here.
and to david + georgia...you two are incredibly kind-hearted talented people who it was a pleasure getting to photograph you surrounded by your sweet family and friends...congratulations!
