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Anna and Jim were married on a beautiful September day at Shupe Homestead in Longmont, Colorado.

Anna shares, “Jim and I got engaged in May of 2021 and we picked our venue almost immediately after. I knew with covid and everyone postponing their wedding we were in serious competition. Shupe was the first place I looked. I found it so charming immediately, but looked at about six other places before taking Jim back with me for a second visit and pulling the trigger. The property is naturally beautiful, wedged between farmlands with the mountains in the distance. They have all these quirky and unique touches like chandeliers and sofas around the property. We loved how much flexibility the venue provided, but also how much was included. Shupe came with all the tables, chairs, linens, flatware, barware, plus its own service staff. It felt like a fair deal for the price, plus we had so much flexibility with choosing our own vendors.

Neither Jim nor I consider ourselves to be “fancy,” so we loved the mom and pop vibe of Shupe and its natural beauty and charm.

Weddings are so weird because you put all this time and energy into this one day and I was pretty anxious leading up to it. Everyone told me that the day of it will all just melt away and I didn’t believe anybody. But it was weirdly true. When the weekend finally showed up and there was little I could do to control it anymore, you kind of just let go and let the adrenaline carry you through.

My favorite part of the whole wedding was the ceremony. I was kind of freaking out because, as my bridal party was walking, it was drizzling! I kept saying “wait, it’s raining!” and the planner just told everyone to keep going. As I turned the corner, holding my brother’s arm, I saw everyone standing up for me and immediately went into emotional shock and sobbed the entire way down the aisle. I was basically ugly crying out of pure happiness. It was so intense, and so magical. Everyone clapped for me once I made it down the aisle because I was such a hot, happy mess.

We had two llamas at the wedding, Liberty and Bandit, who were probably my second favorite part, next to marrying my man!”

Anna and Jim danced their first dance to Friendship by Chris Stapleton, “We got friendship, the kind that lasts a lifetime.”

Congratulations Anna and Jim!

Check out their engagement session at Brainard Lake here.

Special thanks to the team:

Photographer: Jessica Schmitt Photography with Eric Swartz
Venue: Shupe Homestead
Coordinator: AYS, At Your Service, Jim and Tricia
Officiant: Kris Klauber
Caterer: McDevitt Taco Supply
Cookies: Moxie Bakery
DJ/Band: DJ Dancin’ Shoes
Florist: Juniper & Twine
Invitations: The Knot
Makeup: Beth Walker
Hair: Kailey
Llamas: Lightning Ridge Llamas
Rings: Sarah O. Jewelry, Adamas Fine Jewelry
Bride’s Dress Designer /Shop: L’Elite (Boston, MA)
Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Groom’s Suit: Bonobos
Bride’s Reception Dress: Rent the Runway, Dress the Population

Ellen and Mitch met at CU Boulder and knew they wanted to plan their engagement session in Chautauqua, surrounded by the Boulder Flatirons.

The couple met when Ellen and her roommate Leah (who will be their officiant) were looking for a roommate at CU Boulder. Mitch ended up moving in and their friendship turned into a lot more.

Ellen shares, “One of our first dates was at the Denver Aquarium as I love sharks and I’m definitely a beach girl. One of my favorite things about Mitch is how kind and fun he is. He is always willing to go do something around town or with friends. Mitch says his favorite things about me are how caring, funny, and goofy I am.

Our engagement happened on a COVID birthday trip. We decided to go camping as something fun to do over my birthday. I am very big into celebrating my birthday. There were a couple of iconic Colorado hikes we were interested in doing. We got day passes to Maroon Bells and went super early to be the first couple of people to hike the trails. Getting up this early came at the insistence of Mitch. I didn’t realize at the time why he was pushing to get up so early, but he was able to propose at the top of the hike with no one else around. I was definitely not someone who wanted a big, public proposal so it was the perfect intimate setting for us.

We are not people who go over the top on a lot of things. We knew we wanted a smaller wedding in a cool place. We decided against a destination wedding as that seemed too much to coordinate. We choose the Milk Market/Dairy Block since that is one of our very favorite spots in Denver. The food, atmosphere and shopping all in that one block are just so fun and we definitely love the city.”

We also drove up Flagstaff Mountain to get some beautiful photos at Lost Gulch Overlook. The panoramic view is incredible!

Happy engagement Ellen and Mitch!

I met Anna and Jim at Brainard Lake for their engagement session. We walked along the lake, played with their sweet pup, Abe, saw an eagle and moose and celebrated their relationship.

Anna shares, “I used to work at a local brewery as an events planner, marketing manager and occasional bartender. During my shifts behind the bar, I noticed a tall man with a charming southern accent who came in often. Most Boulderites who frequent breweries wear flat brim hats and Grateful Dead T-shirts, so I was intrigued by this very well-dressed unicorn of a man who worked in finance. It helped that this man, whose name I came to learn was Jim, was best friends with my friend Kris–a manager of mine from my first job in Boulder.

Jim and Kris came in regularly and sat at the bar. Despite many months of what I thought was extremely overt flirting, Jim somehow never got it. Eventually I just asked him out and he said yes.”

Anna continues, “Two weeks into us seeing each other, I had massive knee surgery and my parents came into town to help take care of me. Jim sweetly brought over a puzzle and was brave enough to come inside and meet my parents even though WE hardly knew each other. (Jim is unlikely to turn down a Gin & Tonic.) A few weeks later, we took an impromptu trip to San Francisco while I was still in an ankle to thigh leg brace. We had a blast eating, drinking and exploring California. From there, things progressed fairly quickly. Admittedly, I was ready to dive in headfirst. I was confident this was the guy I was going to end up with.

We got engaged May 1^st of this year. PEAK quarantine. Earlier in the week, Jim suggested that we do something together “just us.” After weeks of being locked inside the house just us, I thought it was a hilarious suggestion. I enjoyed his company nonetheless and was up for more isolated plans.

That day, I got home from a Target run in what I later learned was Jim’s least favorite item of clothing I owned. Jim suggested I “changed for our walk,” because there “might be a photo op.” I was slightly offended and mildly suspicious. We ventured out with our dog for a stroll. I was irritated because Jim wasn’t listening to me and texting on his phone the entire walk. Once we emerged from the woods into the open space in our neighborhood, Jim bent his knee, said a bunch of sweet things I can’t remember because I was blubbering, and asked me to make an honest man out of him. We hugged and cried and then had a champagne picnic in the park. Every time we take that walk, we have an even more special connection to our home, neighborhood and the love that will continue to grow there.”

The happy couple is getting married next summer. Happy engagement Anna and Jim!

I met Sarah and Zach on a beautiful fall day in Evergreen, Colorado. The Aspen trees were just beginning to turn yellow, the air was crisp and we had so much fun!

Sarah shares, “I got really lucky in how I met Zach. I was hanging out with some friends, and one was going through her matches on Ok Cupid. Zach had sent her a message and, for some reason, she wasn’t interested. I told her she was crazy since he was clearly a great guy – he was goal oriented, loved dogs, enjoyed reading, and was very cute. Five minutes later, she was sending him my number. I thought there was no chance he would text me (after all, he had no idea who I was!), but a couple hours later, he reached out. Two days later, we went on our first date.

Zach continues, “Our first date was great. We met up for dinner and I was immediately taken aback. Sarah had an air of confidence and purpose that was magnetic. Our conversation was natural, and we ended up extending the evening to meet up with some of her friends for drinks. The connection was clearly there from the start, and we were together regularly from that point forward.”

COVID definitely complicated the proposal. Zach shares, “I knew for months beforehand that I wanted to propose, but there was something missing: a ring. I had a custom design made, but due to the shutdowns, companies were unable to physically make the ring. So, for several months I bounced between different people trying to get the ring made. Finally, I found someone local who got the ring built and stone set. From there, everything was very simple. The best piece of advice I received was to write out my thoughts beforehand. Even though I knew the answer, I had never been so nervous! When the moment came I gave her flowers, told her several (of the many) things I love about her, then got down on one knee and asked. I had planned a weekend getaway, so we shared the news with our parents, then went up to the mountains.

Sarah adds, “While the plan was definitely to get married, I was completely shocked when Zach proposed. I had no idea that he had been working on getting a ring, so I figured he wasn’t planning to propose until later in the year. In fact, I told him three days earlier that I didn’t think it was happening this summer. Little did I know that he already had everything planned and that the ring was in the house! When Zach first gave me flowers, I thought he was just being sweet. I immediately went to put them in water instead of staying put like Zach wanted. He kept telling me to sit back down, which five minutes later, I finally did. I loved that it was just the two of us at our house. We got to enjoy the moment and not have to worry about an audience. Zach planned a trip for us that was also super special because I had wanted to go on a weekend getaway all summer and never got around to it. It was the perfect way to savor the moment!

Zach shares, “The simplest thing I can say about Sarah is that she makes me content. I now understand what it means when someone is your “rock.” Sarah provides balance and creates certainty that gives me confidence in so many other areas of life. I’m unbelievably lucky to have someone that not only supports my goals, but has equally impressive ambitions of her own. Whether it’s personality, interests, or emotions, we just balance each other really well. I’m excited to see what challenges we get to tackle next, because I know that together we’re capable of handling anything life throws our way.”

Sarah shares, “What I love most about Zach is how steady he is. When COVID hit, my job became very tough, and Zach was incredibly supportive. I am definitely the more emotional one, and he always knows exactly what to say and do to put things in perspective. We have a true partnership in that we understand that there are times in life when one person has to do more than 50%. I love that we have a vision of what we want our lives to be together and are actively working towards making it a reality. I can’t wait to marry Zach and see what comes next!”

Sarah and Zach will be married next summer. Happy engagement, you two!

Special thanks to Blue Linden Weddings.

Elle and Sheldon love Colorado. They traveled from Texas for their wedding and I met them at Lookout Mountain to celebrate their engagement. Their laughs were infectious and their love was palpable.

I had so much fun with you guys!

Elle shares, “We met on a dating app! It was that good ole TINDER, love and care! Our first date was actually at one of the most amazing places ever….Chick-fil-A! Who would have thought we were a chicken sandwich away from falling in love?”

She continues, “Sheldon planned the most AMAZING proposal EVER! He planned a trip to Cali for us in the spring of 2018. We had anticipated our trip for months! He told me he planned a romantic date night and picked out a red dress for me to wear (I never wear red). It was around 7 or 8pm and we headed to downtown LA for our dinner date. We finally make it downtown, and I said, “WOW, the Intercontinental building, can you imagine if we went there?” Sheldon smiled and said, “I can imagine it.” Seconds later we pulled into the Intercontinental parking garage! Talk about MAJOR butterflies; I couldn’t believe it! 

Of course, I had the BIGGEST smile on my face. We headed up to the 71st floor to a restaurant called La Boucherie! My jaw dropped; this place is FANCY! The host took us back to a private section where we wined and dined on lobster and other fancy stuff! I was shaking and just anticipating something crazy to happen (like being proposed to)…but NOTHING! Dinner ended and we left. I just knew he was going to propose after bringing me to a place like that but NOOOO! I was slightly bummed, but still on cloud 9. We drove off and he said we have one more stop!

We drove to the brightest place in downtown LA, “Urban Light.” I was walking around like a big kid amazed at all the lights and feeling grateful to be experiencing something new with my best friend. Sheldon asked if I wanted to take pictures and, of course, I did! I’m a woman! He suggested so many poses, and I was like oooookaaaaay yaaassss I love all of these ideas. Then he said, “take one from the back.” Of course, my response was, “oh yeah, you’d like that huh.” LOL 

I took my shots, turned around to check out my masterpiece, and there he was on one knee. People were applauding, and I noticed a photographer taking photos of everything; even my ugly cry! It was absolutely magical!”

Congratulations Elle and Sheldon!