Notre Dame Catholic Parish, Denver, Colorado

Kelly and Gabe were married on September 19, 2009 at the Notre Dame Catholic Parish in Denver, Colorado. It was a fairly traditional Catholic ceremony, and the church provided a serene and calm background for the marriage vows. Kelly and Gabe were both glowing in the excitement of the moment, but they were also both peacefully composed throughout the ceremony, as if respecting the sanctity of the moment as well. Kelly was escorted down the aisle by her mother and brother.





The ceremony was later in the afternoon, so we lost the natural light to do portraits outside. However, the light inside the church was very warm, and I was able to capture some wonderful moments between the new husband and wife.




The reception was held at The Holiday Inn in Golden, and it quickly became a dance party in celebration of Gabe and Kelly. There was a lot of laughter and emotion, particularly as Gabe toasted his new wife and they had their first dance.




Gabe and Kelly were great people to work with, and here's to happiness and joy in their future together!

Donovan Pavillion, Vail, Colorado

Ah, Brooke and Kevin's wedding in Vail on September 5, 2009. This wedding was unique in so many ways, and this was largely due to the bride being a wedding coordinator herself. In addition, Kevin and Brooke were married at the Donovan Pavillion, one of our most favorite wedding venues in Vail, Colorado. Here is an example of what made this wedding so unique and memorable: Aspen trees were a large part of the wedding detail, as seen in the aspen branches that were the centerpieces on each table and the aspen trunk that served as part of the champagne tree in the main entryway as well. The couple also planted an aspen tree on the property after the ceremony. Finally, the arch that was present at the ceremony was made by the bride and groom and their families from aspen trees that were on the bride's family's home property.

We were thrilled to hear that Brooke and Kevin would see one another before the ceremony, as there are many fantastic photographic opportunities in Vail, particularly for a bride, a groom, and their wedding party. Below is one of the shots taken when Brooke and Kevin saw one another for the first time.


We were able to capture some pictures of the entire wedding party as they moved through Vail Village before it started to rain.


Below are some photographs that we took of Kevin and Brooke in Lionshead, Colorado at The Arrabelle at Vail Square, a gorgeous resort at the bottom of Vail Mountain.




The ceremony was classy, simple, and moving. The bride's brother was the officiant, and much of the family was involved in the ceremony itself.




There are a few reason why the Donovan Pavillion is one of our favorite venues in Vail. It is surrounded by aspen trees with the river rushing by the ceremony site. It has great lighting, both outside where the ceremony takes place and inside where there are large windows and a lot of natural light. It also is very intimate, even with the high ceilings inside, and this makes any wedding reception seem like a small cocktail party, filled with only the closest family and friends.




We had a fantastic time photographing the wedding of Kevin and Brooke, and it was a memorable event for us. They are both genuine and considerate individuals, as were their families, and we wish them well in their years ahead together!

Local Art Show

Stephen Sanderson Photography is proud to announce that we are showing a collection of fine art pieces at Natural Balance Integrative Health, a local Denver business that focuses on acupuncture, skin care, and massage therapy. A variety of our prints were chosen, including our Blue Series, Dune series, and Aspen Grove printed on a large canvas print that is showcased in the waiting area. All prints are for sale, and discounts are given for multiple purchases.

Feel free to stop by at any time! In addition, Natural Balance Integrative Health is hosting a Night of Indulgence on Friday, December 11 from 7-9pm. They will be offering free samples of their services as well as wine tasting and a raffle. If you are interested in the Night of Indulgence, please RSVP by calling the number below.



You can find information about Natural Balance Integrative Health on their website: http://www.nbihdenver.com

Here is their address and contact info:
Natural Balance Integrative Health
Acupuncture*Chiropractic*Massage*Skin Care
3055 Roslyn Street, Suite 120
Denver, Colorado 80238
P (303) 355-0363
F (303) 355-0368

Garden of the Gods Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wedding - Pritha and Tim - Part III: The Western Ceremony

It was a gorgeous morning at the Garden of the Gods Club for Pritha and Tim's Western wedding ceremony, as the skies were empty of clouds and the sun shone brightly. The bright flowers looked fantastic against the red mountains and the blue morning sky. Simplicity was a key element in this ceremony, as was the natural environment of the surrounding mountains.



Pritha looked elegant in her flowing dress, and both she and Tim appeared very relaxed which was understandable, given that this was their second wedding ceremony.




However, it was a moving and emotional ceremony, as revealed here by Pritha's father. Tears were shed among the smiles and laughter of the morning, particularly as Pritha and Tim said their vows.




It was clear at the end that Pritha and Tim were overjoyed to be recognized as husband and wife, both in the Hindu and Western cultures.


After the ceremony, I was ecstatic to use the natural elements of the morning to capture some moments, such as the gusty wind and the faint outline of Pikes Peak beyond the red cliffs of the Gardens of the Gods landmark. Pritha of course looked like she belonged there.




It was wonderful to work with Pritha and Tim alone at this point, because they were completely relaxed and at ease. Their ceremonies and reception were complete, they were husband and wife, and they had begun to completely revel in what they had done that weekend.





This was a very special wedding weekend to capture for me. Not only did I have the amazing opportunity to photograph two wedding ceremonies and a fantastic reception, but I also had the chance to work with wonderful people. Pritha and Tim are a great couple, and their families were very helpful and supportive as well. I feel fortunate that I was asked to capture such a remarkable event, and I wish Pritha and Tim all the best in their future together.

Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wedding - Pritha and Tim - Part II: The Western Reception

Once the Hindu ceremony was complete, I spent some time with Pritha and Tim and their families, photographing them in the traditional Indian dress at the Garden of the Gods Club. Below is an image of Pritha and Tim, enjoying the view of the mountains.


As their guests and families headed to the Cheyenne Mountain Resort for cocktail hour, Pritha and Tim changed into their attire for the reception. While Tim wore a black suit, Pritha wore a dress that was made from a traditional Indian sari. She designed the dress herself, so that the sari would not have to be cut, as a tribute to her cultural heritage. It was simply stunning. I photographed the newlyweds on the grounds of the Garden of the Gods Club, in their first few moments alone as husband and wife.





The reception at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort can easily be described in one word: elegance. The room was light by tiny white lights and candles, with a few uplit colorful lights on the side walls. The tables were full of gorgeous colorful flowers, in both tall and short arrangements. There were flower petals scattered throughout, and the back of the dance floor was softly lit by strands of white lights behind gauzy curtains.



Pritha and Tim, in their first dance, as the lights behind them added an elegant glow.





The rest of the party went on as usual, with lots of dancing, laughter, and celebration.







And the Western Ceremony, back at the Garden of the Gods Club, in the morning...

Garden of the Gods Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wedding - Pritha and Tim - Part I: The Hindu Ceremony

I feel that I have to apologize in advance, as there quite a few photographs from this amazing and beautiful two-day wedding celebration. I have already chosen to post three different times about the various events that took place, but I am afraid that even this first post has about 18 pictures.
Before I even began this photographing this event, I was thrilled and excited to be a part of such a celebration. It was a two-day celebration in Colorado Springs, with a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on Saturday, followed by a Western-style reception that night. On Sunday, there was to be a traditional Western wedding ceremony, followed by a wedding brunch. Both of the ceremonies took place at the Gardens of the Gods Club, overlooking the spectacular Gardens of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The reception on Saturday night was held at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, also in Colorado Springs. I was particularly intrigued with the Hindu ceremony, and the bride and her family were generous enough to provide me with information regarding the various important aspects and traditions throughout the ceremony. Vivaha, the Hindu wedding ceremony, lasts about two hours, and each step of the ceremony is significant, full of meaning and tradition.

Here is Pritha, being dressed in her wedding sari, by her mother and aunts. All of the women in her family donned saris, as did the women on the groom's side. The men were dressed in traditional Indian wedding garb as well.


This is Pritha's mother placing numerous bangles and bracelets on her arms. There is much singing by the female family members as this ritual is performed.



Here, Pritha's aunt is applying paint on her face for the ceremony. She had done this for the groom as well. In addition, her aunts and mother placed and secured the veil on her head as the final step of the dressing ritual.



This is Tim, all decked out and waiting. He was to fast throughout the day (as was the bride) and not lay eyes on the bride until the ceremony.


The sacred Hindu wedding ceremony consists of prayers, invocations, and vows recited in Sanskrit. It takes place in a "Mandap" or wedding pavilion which is built to represent the universe. The wedding pavilion for Pritha and Tim's ceremony was actually built by her father. In the wedding ceremony, there is a certain sequence of events, and the first three events concern the groom, as the bride is not even present. The groom is welcomed by the bride's family, and then he is blessed by the bride's mother and other female members of her family. The photo below shows Tim in the "Mandap" with the bride's father and the priest. Prayers and offerings are being made to Lord Ganesh for health, wealth, happiness, and prosperity for the new couple.


The bride arrives with her sister, and hides her face behind leaves. She is carried in on a platform and does not reveal her face to her groom until she has circled him seven times.




With the bride's father and the priest, Pritha and Tim complete numerous rituals and symbolic offerings to further show their commitment to one another. Pritha's father also gives away his daughter to Tim, as seen in the photograph where he has joined their hands together under a yellow cloth. Following this step, there is a knot tied between the bride's and groom's clothing, symbolizing their sacred union.




In the next three photographs, Pritha and Tim are making offerings to Agni, the sacred fire, which is lit to symbolize purity and acts as witness to the union of the couple. They then must walk seven times around the fire, with the bride leading the first three trips, and the groom leading the last four.




In this ritual, the groom puts a red mark on the bride's forehead and powder in the part of her hair. The mark on her forehead is kept to signify her marriage to him. The powder represents the life-giving blood that exists in all of us, and thus, he is promising to cherish her and protect her as if she were his own life. The bride now becomes a married woman.


The end of the ceremony includes blessings from both parents as well as from the priest. Pritha and Tim are escorted out by their families and the throwing of flowers.




This ceremony was simply breathtaking, and I am thrilled that I was able to witness and capture such symbolism. But there is more to come...

Grant-Humphreys Mansion, Denver, Colorado, Wedding - Charlene and Jeremiah

On August 9th, Charlene and Jeremiah were married at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion, just a few minutes from downtown Denver. I have photographed a few weddings at this historic old home (which was built in 1902 for a former Governor), and the place itself provides an elegant, classic feeling to the wedding. It was ideal for Charlene and Jeremiah, as illustrated in the following photographs. Charlene has a great style about her, and her face veil complete with feather hairpin on the side complemented the surroundings of the historic mansion perfectly. In addition, Jeremiah's classic tan suit suited both him and the setting as well.




Charlene and Jeremiah did not see one another before the ceremony, but Charlene was just dying to check out the ceremony site below her. Of course, just as she was peeking out the window, Jeremiah happened to glance up and see her!


Charlene rode up to the ceremony site in a horse-drawn carriage which was quite an entrance. On top of that, she chose to walk down the aisle alone and meet both of her fathers and her grandfather at the end, prior to them giving her away to Jeremiah. It was a very emotional entrance to a very meaningful wedding ceremony before the great mansion.




The first dance took place in the large room downstairs, and while there were many people watching, it was as if the newly wed couple were all alone.



Jeremiah and Charlene were very photogenic, and I thought that they looked stunning together. They looked as if they belonged to the era of the mansion, classy and elegant.



Charlene and Jeremiah drove off in a horse-drawn carriage, and I followed them into downtown Denver to capture a few shots before they headed into the Oxford Hotel for the night. It took a lot of quick thinking and running on my part, but I loved getting the shots of them among the lights of downtown.



Charlene and Jeremiah are a classy couple, and they were easy to work with. Here's to love and happiness in their future together!

Elk Ridge Ranch, Breckenridge, Wedding - Melissa and Ben

One of the greatest things about being a wedding photographer in Colorado is the constant opportunity to photograph a wedding in the mountains. With such magnificent scenery, there is little else that one needs to make it a beautiful wedding. Of course, I was lucky enough in Melissa and Ben's wedding to not only have the mountains as the backdrop, but also to have a stunning bride, a handsome (and funny) groom, and some of the nicest people as their family and guests. Melissa and Ben got married at Elk Ridge Ranch, a spectacular private home in the mountains near Breckenridge. Being at a home, the celebration was intimate, with the wedding deck facing three fourteener peaks in the distance, as was the reception which was under a white tent in the yard adjacent to the house.


Melissa and Ben did not see one another before the ceremony, so I spent some time not only with Melissa but also Ben and his sons.



The look of the groom says it all, as he watches his wife-to-be walk down the aisle for the first time.






Simplicity is truly the key when it comes to outdoor mountain weddings, as the surroundings speak for the majesty of the moments being celebrated. Melissa and Ben played to this element, as they danced their first dance under a white tent, simply decorated with blue Japanese ball lanterns.



Melissa and Ben were comfortable with one another, and this led to them being fairly comfortable in front of the camera, as illustrated by Ben in the following photo.





Elk Ridge Ranch was a fantastic place to photograph a wedding, and working with wonderful people such as Melissa and Ben made it that much more enjoyable. Here's to their future together!