Friday, February 17, 2012
The Carter-Payne Event Center is Colorado Springs' newest wedding location in one of Colorado Springs' oldest churches. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. I've been eyeing this church for many years and for a while it dutifully served as office space in the center of downtown
Colorado Springs. Now, Sandy Vanderstoep, owner of Garden of the Gods Gourmet, an incredible gourmet market and the best catering company in town, renovated the church and returned it to its proper place as an incredible 2,000 sq. ft. space for weddings and events. When I found out
what she had cooking (no pun intended) I immediately called her to see it. And when I got a peek inside, well, the gothic windows and wonderful hammerbeam ceiling had me at Hello:) I immediately made arrangements with Sandy to do a styled shoot and I invited some of the best wedding photographers in Colorado including the wonderful and amazingly talented John Hudetz, Hardy Klahold and Kent Meireis to help me. I also recruited the very beautiful and elegant
Claire and her handsome friend Nathan to be our models. We had so much fun! The light inside The Carter-Payne is amazing and as we worked through the afternoon, the sun got lower and the light got sweeter! We couldn't have pulled this off without the help of many other wedding professionals. Springs Bridal provided a simple but very wonderful elegant gown. Springs Bridal is a consignment bridal boutique in Colorado Springs and it has hands-down
the most incredible deals on a wedding dress you can find anywhere. The selection is wonderful. Felicia Popescu, the best stylist I know of, graciously offered her help and transformed Claire from beautiful to amazingly beautiful! Design Works, a floral studio, provided
the wonderful red roses for Claire's bouquet and Nathan's boutineer. Other wedding businesses that graciously donated their work and time include La Dolce, Dawn's Creations and Sugar Plum Cakes Shoppe. Finally, a huge thank you to our two assistants Lena and Juliet. Both
are photography majors at Pikes Peak Community College, and they volunteered to help us manage all of the details behind the scenes. If you have time, do stop by and see this wonderful wedding location in Colorado Springs in person! — Sean
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
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Maggie and Matt were married Saturday, November 26, 2011 at the historic Pauline Chapel. They celebrated with an evening reception at the Broadmoor's Cheyenne Lodge. The lodge sits in a secluded spot surrounded by Ponderosa pine trees in the hills above the resort. Maggie and Matt's wedding was a family affair and their wedding day 
was the culmination of a week's worth of Thanksgiving events both families enjoyed. Much of Maggie's family traveled from Chicago and many had never visited Colorado before. Their wedding week was perfect for getting to know Colorado. The Broadmoor kicked off their Christmas celebrations on that weekend as well. Angie with Sapphire Celebrations helped with planning their wedding day. Design Works provided the floral arrangements and stunning red bouquet for Maggie that perfectly complimented her dress and the fur coat that belonged to Matt's mother. For the sake of light, Maggie and Matt decided to see each other before their ceremony and we took full advantage exploring the grounds of the Broadmoor. Winter light, for those in the know, can be the most beautiful of all because the sun sits low in the horizon throughout the day. After their ceremony, Maggie and Matt traveled to the lodge for a wonderful evening reception that featured a solo performance by Matt's Uncle, an incredible musician, Irish music courtesy of Maggie's father and two brothers as well as the incredible band VooDoo Syndicate. Thank you Maggie and Matt for inviting me to photograph your wedding day! — Sean 
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Thursday, January 05, 2012
Here's a list of the best places to get married in Colorado Springs. All of these locations host ceremonies and receptions. If you're looking for both church and reception hall, then I have suggested a church pairing for each of these Colorado Springs wedding locations. At the bottom of this post additional locations are listed that are also really wonderful. Click on the name of any location for more detailed wedding information. Thanks, and I hope you find this helpful! — Sean
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Garden of the Gods Club
One of my absolute favorite wedding locations is the Garden of the Gods Club. Its spectacular beauty is an uninterrupted view of the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. In this wedding photograph, above, Mamie and Nick walk together in front of a stunning landscape. This location is perfect for small to mid-size weddings and is centrally located. With a larger wedding (200+) ask about a tented event on the south lawn where this photograph was made. Hands down the best view in the city! Suggested church pairing: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
The Broadmoor
The best wedding location in Colorado! There really isn't anything quite like it. It is a AAA Five Diamond and Five Star Resort with luxury accommodations and unbelievable service. Think first-class spa, a half-dozen of the best restaurants you will ever enjoy, three 18-hole championship golf courses and a handful of beautiful settings for a wedding in Colorado Springs. The Lakeside Terrace is one of my favorites ceremony locations. In this wedding photograph, above, Katie and Justin share a moment during their unity sand ceremony on the Lakeside Terrace. Flowers by Design Works. Suggested church pairing: First Christian Church
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is located in the heart of Colorado Springs. It recently underwent a renovation and addition that allowed the Fine Arts Center to become the premier downtown wedding location in Colorado Springs. The museum is known for its architecture and its extensive art collection. It also offers live theater, art programs and it has a wonderful restaurant and bar. In this wedding photograph, above, Caitlin and Emilio enjoy their first dance in the new wing of the museum. A caterer is required. Suggested church pairing: Shove Chapel
Hillside Gardens
The Hillside Gardens is characteristically Colorado! It is both a plant nursery and a wedding location. It offers a ceremony site with a view of Pikes Peak and an outdoor pavilion for caterered receptions. Larry, the owner, has a knack for collecting things and whenever I am there, there is always a new art piece in the garden. Hillside Gardens also sports the best old-truck-turned-into-bar that I know of and plenty of firepits for the evening. It's a great place for a party and for romance. In this wedding photograph, above, Emily and Billy steal a kiss during their Hillside Gardens reception. Suggested church pairing: Any local
Glen Eyrie Castle
The Glen Eyrie Castle is a real discovery. It is an honest-to-goodness castle (now a retreat center) that sits in a secluded valley just a couple miles from downtown Colorado Springs. The castle was built by the founder of the city and is now enjoyed by anyone who would like to visit. The Glen has it all, incredible grounds, friendly service and a stunning sense of the history of Colorado Springs. The Glen Eyrie does not serve alcohol, but I've never attended a wedding there where everyone wasn't having fun. In the wedding photograph, above, Sigrid and Brock enjoy a moment together on the castle grounds prior to their reception. The Rolls Royce is courtesy of DDG Classics. Suggested church pairing: Air Force Academy Chapel
More of the best places to get married in Colorado Springs: Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs School, The Club at Flying Horse, The Carter Payne, La Foret, The Pinery, Craftwood Inn, Briarhurst Manor, Phantom Canyon, The Cliff House, Venue 515, Spruce Mountain Guest Ranch, Cheyenne Mountain Country Club
