Carrie & Michael- Chautauqua Park Wedding

It was such a blast to be part of Carrie & Michael’s intimate wedding day at Chautauqua Park in Boulder. Their day was perfectly “them” from the minute it started.  I loved how Carrie and Michael were totally focused on each other and their love for one another throughout the whole day.  They weren’t superstitious about seeing each other before the ceremony, Michael breezed in and out of the Morning Glory cabin after his run as Carrie was getting her makeup done. They each enjoyed pre ceremony time with their family members who came into town to join in the celebration. Carrie requested that I get a shot of her awesome shoes, but felt no need for other traditional shots like her dress hanging or a staged first look. She reiterated, we just want to be normal and let the day unfold naturally. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.

Carrie and Michael planned their timeline so we were able to take all the family formals and have time to walk up towards the flatirons for photos of just Carrie and Michael before the ceremony. Taking care of all of the formal portraits before the ceremony allowed Carrie and Michael to fully immerse themselves with their guests for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Their ceremony was officiated by their two siblings and it was personalized and heartfelt. One of my favorite details was the family cup.

The first Jewish blessing that Carrie & Michael incorporated into their ceremony was the blessing over wine. But this blessing was taken in a very special cup.  Benj, Carrie’s brother describes it here.
“What’s a blessing of wine without a cup to drink it from?  The cup that Carrie and Michael are going to drink from has a history going back many, many years. This cup was originally owned by BW Fleisher, Carrie’s and my great-great grandfather on our mother’s side. BW died in 1925 and about ten years after his death it was decided that each of his nine children would engrave their names and the names of their spouses on the cup when they married. That tradition then extended to all of BW’s descendants. I know I’m on here, oh and Belinda you’re here too!  And my parents are on here too I think…is anyone else on here?  Please stand up if you are…”
And at this time over half of the attendees stood up. What a neat sight to see. The other wonderful thing to note is that not only is the cup fully covered with names, there are so many people in the family that have used this cup in blessing their wedding that they had to extend it to a plate. What a beautiful piece of family history and what a wonderful thing to incorporate into the ceremony.

After the ceremony Carrie and Michael joined all of their guests for drinks and appetizers on the Dining Hall’s patio. Once the sun began to set it was time to head inside for a gorgeous meal and some great toasts. In lieu of a cake, they incorporated one of Michael’s family traditions with his mother, doughnut making! And boy was that doughnut bar a hit!

Carrie and Michael, thank you for allowing me to capture your wedding day for you. It was a such a joy to be part of an event that was focused on the most important aspect of the day- your love for one another and your bond in marriage. I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Best, Rachel