Aspen Wedding Photos
Wes & Shelby’s T-Lazy-7 Ranch Wedding in Aspen landed right in the heart of peak fall season, and they truly couldn’t have planned the timing more perfectly for their Aspen wedding!
The night before their T-Lazy-7 Ranch Wedding, Shelby and Wes gathered with their favorite people for a laid-back welcome party at Tipsy Trout in Basalt. It was the perfect start to the weekend celebration.
Almost a year earlier, we photographed their engagement session at Kebler Pass in Crested Butte during the fall, so reuniting for their T-Lazy-7 Ranch Wedding felt full-circle, same season, same glow, but the start to a whole new chapter.
Shelby got ready at an Airbnb with her mom, sister, and soon-to-be mother-in-law. It was a calm, sweet morning with the kind of happy nerves that show up as laughter and deep breaths. Meanwhile, Wes got ready with his parents at their home nearby. Wes repped an awesome leather vest, one of those details that was so unique to him, and photographed so well in the fall tones.
Shelby and Wes are both adventurous people, so it was no surprise when Wes started showing off backflips on a trampoline in full wedding attire. Truly some of the most fun groom portraits we’ve ever seen, and the kind of candid, energetic moments that made their aspen wedding photos feel alive.
We met up at Conundrum Trailhead for their first look, and the fall color was poppin’! It was literally the perfect time of year to be there, gold aspens everywhere, rich contrast in the mountains behind them, and that soft light that makes Aspen wedding photos look dreamy.
Shelby and Wes were so genuinely happy to see each other for their first look. Then we got greeted by a moose who had been meandering our way, which was… a little shocking and scary. We honestly considered leaving because he kept walking toward us, and when you’re in the middle of portraits you don’t exactly expect wildlife to join in, but I guess that’s par for the course in the Colorado mountains! But after a tense minute, he veered off into the aspens and disappeared – phew!!
If you’ve ever planned a mountain wedding, you know how unpredictable the weather can be. Somehow Shelby & Wes landed on one of the prettiest fall days you could ask for. Shelby walked down the aisle with both of her parents, and it was such a special moment. You could feel how much this day meant to them, especially after years of long distance due to medical residencies. They were so happy this moment was finally here!
After their ceremony and family photos, we headed back for their T-Lazy-7 Ranch wedding reception, and the whole place felt warm and buzzing with excitement. Guests settled in with drinks, the last light dipped behind the mountains, and the evening unfolded exactly how an Aspen wedding should. Speeches and toasts had everyone laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next, especially as friends shared stories that showed just how long Shelby and Wes had waited for this day.
Once dinner wrapped, the energy shifted fast, the dance floor opened, and the fun party began! Open dancing was a blast, and the newlyweds looked like they were having the time of their lives out there (not to mention they had an epic first dance). And for their grand exit they rode off into the night on mountain bikes with “Just Married” on the back. Congratulations, you two!
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