Meghan and Ryan
Donovan Pavilion
Vail, Colorado
December 19, 2008
My final wedding of the year was a fantastic one. My friends Meghan and Ryan have been together for almost a decade, and they finally got married last weekend. I met them when they moved to Colorado earlier this year, and we became fast friends. It was great to be able to photograph their Christmastime wedding in snowy, magical Vail.
My friend Tamera Goldsmith photographed this wedding with me, and we had quite the adventure. Thank you so much, Tamera!
Meghan and Ryan, I hope the wedding was everything you had hoped, because I thought it was incredible. Congratulations, and merry Christmas!
The guests stayed at Vail Cascade Resort, a beautiful hotel with its own ski lift.
Vail had received three feet of snow in the previous week!
Meghan’s boots were fabulous.
The little flower girl, Emily, did the matron of honor’s hair! Now that’s trust.
A gift from Meghan’s mother. I managed to line up Ryan’s name between her fingers. Sometimes I surprise myself.
Meghan is stunning even when she isn’t a bride.
Meghan’s best friend, Stephanie, had been so busy lacing up the gown that she hadn’t yet
taken a peek to see how Meghan looked. I loved this moment.
Little Emily asked Meghan about her ring. “Ryan gave it to me,” Meghan explained.
Meghan wore beautiful snowflake jewelry.
Meanwhile, Ryan and the guys were ordering Red Bull and vodkas. (Photo by Tamera)
(Photo by Tamera)
Their cake topper
They had so many fun details, like this gingerbread house that Meghan and Ryan had made together.
The place settings were Christmas ornaments.
Meghan’s brother was able to get last-minute military leave to come and walk her down the aisle.
I love this photo of Meghan smiling at her brother. (Photo by Tamera)
Meghan and Ryan beamed at each other throughout the ceremony.
They had a unity wine ceremony.
Ryan’s sister looks on.
This was Meghan’s reaction when the officiant pronounced them husband and wife. (Photo by Tamera)
I loved the setting sunlight coming in through the aspens.
There is a couple kissing in the background of this one.
During the best man’s toast.
(Photo by Tamera)
Meghan’s sister, giving her toast.
First dance
Emily was a party animal, and had some serious dance moves.
(Photo by Tamera)
Mother-daughter dance (Photo by Tamera)
They did three toasts to departed family members, using the honoree’s favorite liquors.
Lucky Emily got to throw the bouquet. I hope she’ll look at this photo when it’s her time to get married.
Of course there were snowball fights!
A sweet moment between Ryan’s parents.
A dance between Ryan, his mother, and his cousin.
(Photo by Tamera)
Come on ride the train.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!So romantic……….
i’m your fan =)
i’m your fan =)
Her dress was completely perfect! It was the perfect choice for her and also for the wintery setting. I think she found it at David’s Bridal. 🙂
It was really cold that day! I’m not sure how cold exactly, but definitely below freezing! She was such a trooper to handle the cold as well as she did!
wow, do you happen to know where she got her dress?
it’s gorgeous!
this is such a beautiful wedding.
how cold was it there?
Very very nice!!!!!I adore your work!)And place is great!
Very very nice!!!!!I adore your work!)And place is great!
Re: From Meghan
Meghan,
I loved everything about the wedding! It was a fairytale weekend!!!
Charlotte,
You do have an eye for candid shots as well as posed ones! Great Job!
Marne
From Meghan
Ahhh, the boots! I love them too. They are made by Sporto and called Eva. I found them online. These boots are much more than your typical footwear – they are magical as you can see in Char’s photos of all the dancing that happened that evening! Most brides fall in love with their wedding dress, but I fell in love with my wedding boots. I am totally a “shoe” girl!
The fourth from last photo leaves me unable to breathe. It is heartbreakingly gorgeous. Wonderful eye!
Wow. Beautiful wedding! And photographs, of course!
Seriously, if I can afford you, you’re flying to Texas when I get married. Be prepared in about 2-3 years. 🙂
I wish I knew! Meghan, if you’re reading this, inquiring minds want to know.
Yay! It’s great to know that I ended this great year with a bang. 🙂
Re: What a lovely wedding!
Hi Sarah! Thank you for introducing me to the fabulous Meghan! I’m so happy to know her and Ryan!
Merry Christmas and happy new year! Please give your gorgeous kids hugs from Auntie Char!
Re: From the Bride and Groom
Hi Meghan and Ryan! Thank you so much for the thoughtful note. I’m really glad that you love the photos! You two are a wonderful couple, and I hope you had exactly the wedding you’d been dreaming of for years. I thought it was spectacular, and I’m so grateful that you included me in it.
Happy new year to the newlyweds!
I’m glad to hear it! I think that there is no such thing as just another wedding, so I always want my photos to reveal why each event is memorable in its own way.
This wedding was so thoughtful and lovely! I’m really glad you enjoyed all their beautiful touches. I loved it!
Thanks for the link! I’m glad this beautiful wedding could be inspiring for you. 🙂
Re: wow
Bridal adrenaline is a fascinating thing! But it was worth it, because their time in the cold is over, and they’ll always have the photos.
Was it really 14? I forgot to check. It was worth the cold, though! The photos are just what I’d hoped.
I look forward to it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me that. I always hope that people will look through the photos from a wedding and feel like they have learned something about that couple. I want people to care more about the people in the photos than the photographer on the other end of the camera.
magical!
These pictures are amazing!
OMG WHERE DID SHE GET HER BOOTS??
This is an awesome set. Really, the wedding set of the year. The setting is so beautiful!
What a lovely wedding!
Meghan and Ryan, I am so happy for both of you and your wedding looks AMAZING!! Charlotte, as always, beautiful pics! And merrry, merry Christmas!!
XOXO,
Sarah
This is an awesome set. Really, the wedding set of the year. The setting is so beautiful!
From the Bride and Groom
Thanks so much Charlotte…for the friendship and the way you captured the story of our wedding day. Your photography is even more amazing than we anticipated! As much fun as we had last Friday we are having just as much fun reliving the memories through your incredible photographs today. We are so lucky to have you as a friend and so grateful to have had you as our wedding photographer. We can not thank you enough.
Merry Christmas, and lots of love to you and Mike.
Cheers!
Meghan and Ryan
I feel like the photos really told a story and weren’t just “wedding photos.” Fantastic set.
Your pictures always make me want to get married in Colorado…
I agree!
So many gorgeous shots!
Absolutely stunning! Gorgeous photos!!
these pictures are absolutely amazing. great work. what a beautiful wedding.
Amazing! Such stunning captures!c
haha i thought about that, too. she must have been freezing!
wow… these photos are great!! you were really “on” that night! there are all sorts of little unexpected delights that you caught like the couple kissing in the wedding cake shot and the envelop with the names. i really liked the ride the train shot! how funny! and i love the details of the ginger bread house and little emily throwing the bouquet! looks like a blast!
and what an adorable couple! they look like they’re over the moon happy.
awesome job on this one in particular. i always enjoy the photos you post and this one really ended the season with a bang!
merry christmas!
these pictures are absolutely amazing. great work. what a beautiful wedding.
Amazing! Such stunning captures!c
I LOVE winter weddings!
Beautiful photos, as always.
I really love the gingerbread house for the cards! How clever!
THIS. This is my dream wedding. I am bookmarking this!!
BEAUTIFUL photos as alwaaaaays. <3
And happy holidays!!
ps: I linked this in my LJ! Hope you don’t mind. 🙂
THIS. This is my dream wedding. I am bookmarking this!!
BEAUTIFUL photos as alwaaaaays. <3
And happy holidays!!
ps: I linked this in my LJ! Hope you don’t mind. 🙂
Gorgeous! I am in love with her snowflake jewelery!
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful scenery but dang – I don’t know how brides have outdoor weddings in the snow! I think I saw warmers in some of the pictures, but still!!!
That last one is my favorite, I think!
What gorgeous photos! I love everything, especially the snow flake jewellery and the shoes 🙂
These are so beautiful! She looks amazing.
These are so beautiful! She looks amazing.
wow
it looked like it was so cold. its amazing how they could sustain in such cold weather without a jacket
You’ve done it again Charlotte, amazing photographs!
The last one is so sweet! You caught what looks like a very intimate moment.
Absolutely gorgeous Charlotte! My favorite shots are with the sunlight coming through the trees, just beautiful!
Becky Young
stunning – loved every detail!
Ahhh, these came out great! It was fun, but that is the first and last time I shoot a wedding outdoors in 14 degree temps.
Congrats again Meghan and Ryan, and Merry Christmas Charlotte and Mike!
Tamera
Oh Charlotte…I hope you are still running your amazing photography business when I get married! I’ll fly you out to wherever I may be!
These pictures are magic. Absolutely STUNNING!
yeah, it took me a second to connect those dots of sleeveless dresses and Vail in December, but once I did, BRR!
The photos you take at weddings are wonderful. I gaze at them longingly and with love towards each new couple. You capture the moments perfectly and it feels as though I’m there with them, sharing that speical moment in their lives where they get married. You are a master at your work.
I’ve looked through various wedding photos in the past and have always gone “oh, wedding photos”; there has never been anything speical about them, but your shots are different. They invite you into the scene. I feel like I know this couple, I feel like I was there. I see the happy faces and smile.
Wonderful work as always.
What a wonderful thing to say, thanks so much.
That’s one of my favorites, too, thanks. She was just adorable all day.
Oh no, it was freezing outside! Meghan’s bridemaids smiled the entire time, though. She owes them a tropical vacation.
You produce some of the most beautiful photography I have ever seen. Your work is very special.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks so much! It was a gorgeous wedding.
i love that photo of emily throwing the bouquet. she looks like a little ballerina! 🙂
Her earrings are so cool!
Was it nice outside? I can’t believe the bridal party was out in the snow in sleeveless dresses!!
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Extremely beautifully!!!
🙂
Oh Charlotte…I hope you are still running your amazing photography business when I get married! I’ll fly you out to wherever I may be!
it’s great!!! wonderful!!
The photos you take at weddings are wonderful. I gaze at them longingly and with love towards each new couple. You capture the moments perfectly and it feels as though I’m there with them, sharing that speical moment in their lives where they get married. You are a master at your work.
I’ve looked through various wedding photos in the past and have always gone “oh, wedding photos”; there has never been anything speical about them, but your shots are different. They invite you into the scene. I feel like I know this couple, I feel like I was there. I see the happy faces and smile.
Wonderful work as always.
%u0424%u0430%u043D%u0442%u0430%u0441%u0442%u0438%u0447%u0435%u0441%u043A%u0438 %u043A%u0440%u0430%u0441%u0438%u0432%u043E!!!
Extremely beautifully!!!
🙂