A+J | Manor House, Littleton, Colorado Wedding Photography
One of the only silver linings to come from COVID wedding postponements was getting to photograph Abbie and JJ’s wedding TWICE! I had the honor of capturing their elopement in 2020, and then finally their big celebration in 2021. Their elopement in Breckenridge was an intimate celebration with their family at an Airbnb they rented, surrounded by fall colors, aspen trees, and mountainous views. When you really love someone, sometimes you can’t wait to get married. In Abbie and JJ’s case, they just wanted to start their life together and knew their friends and family would be there for the celebration of a lifetime once things were safer to do so. I am so glad they got the best of both worlds and that I was able to be there for both.
Their wedding at The Manor House in Littleton, Colorado was everything they dreamed of all of 2020. First of all, The Manor House is a stunning venue. It feels so grand and elegant and has beautiful views of the mountains near the ceremony site. Abbie and JJ got to have their full wedding party there to support them while they got ready. Popped bottles, laughs, and cheers were shared as they prepped for their day. They wanted a big party, and that’s exactly what they got. Since they did a small ceremony last year, their ceremony at Manor House was short and sweet but just as touching as their previous one. I got plenty of candid photos of JJ tearing up in 2020 (especially as Abbie walked down the aisle - seriously, the photos are so cute and I need to blog their elopement here ASAP). I definitely saw a tear or two trying to sneak out this time as well, not just from JJ but from their guests. After the ceremony, we got a big group photo in front of the Manor House which really shows how excited everyone was to be there. I love everyone cheering Abbie and JJ on as they kissed in front of all of their favorite people. FINALLY.
Next, we took some gorgeous couple photos during their cocktail hour and I mean, look at these two. They’re freaking models! I love how much being around each other makes them smile. At this point after doing an engagement session, elopement, AND full-sized wedding with me, they’re naturals. Did I mention I also got to hang out with them in Cabo, Mexico another wedding I was photographing? It makes me so dang happy when I get to see my couples multiple times and at this point, they really do feel like lifelong friends.
Abbie and JJ kicked off the reception with a first dance that had everyone going wild. Lemme tell you, they busted out the moves and I wouldn’t expect anything less from them. I loved that they had their full wedding party behind them, holding each other swaying and cheering as they danced. That’s the kind of support we all need while attempting (and nailing) a shimmy in front of a room of people. Please see the photos below for reference. I will also never forget JJ’s first dance with his mom. They invited up his dad and brothers and they all danced together while hugging which had everyone in the room on the verge of tears or actively crying. Now here comes the PARTY. After a whole year without parties, this part had me weirdly emotional. I forgot how much I missed seeing people have fun together. Something as simple as dancing with your friends is something we used to take for granted. Watching everyone unleash the dancing that was held inside for over a year provided endless entertainment. People were jumping over shot glasses, picking each other up, waving around giant posters of Abbie and JJ’s faces (and their dog Rizzo’s), and showcasing their best moves. The night ended with A+J taking a shot from their shot-ski (honestly, mad skills for not spilling it) and then a send-off as they exited the Manor House and finished their day with a huge smooch. This wedding filled my heart in so many ways and was a reminder of why I love the “event” part of weddings just as much as the love part. Celebrating together is just another way of showing love. The energy is unmatched. Thank you for being the best and trusting me to capture so many memories in your lives, Abbie and JJ!
Venue: The Manor House
Flowers: Kimball Floral
Makeup: Beauty On Location Studio
Dress: Lovely Bride Denver / Sarah Seven Love Club
Jewelry: Olive and Piper
Second Shooter: Dani Haims
