Amanda & Ana's Wedding l Forney Museum of Transportation l Denver, Colorado

Amanda and Ana didn't plan to get married in a warehouse full of antique cars and trains. They had mountainous visions of an old barn, woods, sunsets. Nature decided on the venue change, with the recent Colorado floods blocking access to their intended venue in Evergreen, Colorado. A last minute change found them at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver, leading to what Amanda's brother (and officiant) announced as, "The biggest, gayest wedding the Forney Museum has ever seen!" Other ceremonial hilarity included the lovebirds doing pinkie swear vows, kids running amok and a creepy wax figure watching over the ceremony from an old train car. It was awesome.



The best planning couldn't have created these impromptu wedding details, and the two ladies took it all in stride, laughing and smiling every step of the way. Yay for you, Ana and Amanda! Lucky for me, their yellow themed wedding party looked great in front of an old red train caboose, and the adventurous couple is willing to balance on train tracks even in their fancy clothes. Ana carried a parasol I got in Burma (Myanmar) for a couple of shots and if I do say so myself, it really tied the outfit together! We wrapped up just before the downpour started again.



Hanging homemade paper airplanes made from dictionaries made the big space feel smaller and more intimate, a giant jenga game and sharpies were provided in lieu of a guestbook, and they didn't forget to hook their guests up with some fun gifts. Ana made apple preserves and mini apple pies, and themed pins (buttons) took our outfits to the next level. (A photo of Ana & Amanda looking like they're in Top Gun, quotes such as "U-Hauled me at hello" and "My marriage survived a big gay wedding," and strange, slightly inappropriate words cut out from the dictionary. Did I mention how much fun I had at this wedding?

A reminder to all you fine folks out there that Diana Sabreen Photography offers discounts for same-sex weddings 'cause hey, you deal with enough crap from the rest of society.

Backing it up a little bit, I'd like to share Ana & Amanda's love story, from the perspective of Amanda:

"We met in 2010 at a bar. Hey! Sometimes those relationships do work out! After being awkward friends, we decided to call a spade a spade and make the relationship official. Even though I knew she was the one, I refused to entertain the idea of engagement until we had been together for one year. In the beginning of June, I met with her moms with two folders in hand containing a cover letter, resume, and two letters of recommendation. After checking my references, I got the 'Go Ahead' from her moms and brother. I proposed to Ana through means of a scavenger hunt. Each stop earned her puzzle pieces, with the last stop requiring her to put the puzzle together. It was pictures of me holding signs that read, 'Will you marry me?' When she turned around, I was down on one knee. Good times!"

 

Mark & Rebecca's St. Louis Masquerade Wedding

Mark and Rebecca's wedding was held at a private residence in St. Louis, Missouri. These two creative folks orchestrated quite the smorgasbord of events, with a masquerade ball theme. Many of their friends helped with the performances, decorations and set up to make this a truly collaborative wedding. Call it a circus, call it a burner party, call it what you want - it was an awesome party. Check out the madness below.

Pre-wedding unveiling

Mark & Rebecca have been together since college, where they started out as friends and roommates. Each fall, they would host "Autumn Ball," a celebration of the season with their friends. This year, Autumn Ball was kicked off by their wedding, continuing old traditions and starting new ones.  

The bride in the soy bean fields

 How could you not love these two?

Bride and groom high five!

His and hers Converse Chuck Taylor shoes!

Becca & NiQui's Wedding!

Becca & NiQui had their wedding at Becca's grandfather's cabin outside of Kremmling, Colorado. Here are some of my favorite shots from one of my favorite weddings of the year!

Becca, the bride.

The wedding was small - about 25 people - and only family was invited. Most people came from the New York area (like me!) and were new to the beauty of the Colorado mountains. The family was SO fun and friendly and I had such a great time with them.

Old gondola car on the property!

Becca and NiQui are both artists, so the ceremony and the party were made up of lots of artistic and original details - NiQui made Becca's dress! They were into me getting creative, artistic and silly with the shots which I always prefer. While many families participated in the ceremony, there was no officiant and they married themselves! A celebratory paddle-boat ride followed, along with a raging dance party led by Becca's sister, Jamie.

The wedding party!

Celebratory paddle-boat ride around the lake.

NiQui in the aspen grove.

Becca getting ready.

Delicious and beautiful cake by Katie Schabert at Sugar Breck, based in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Jamie, the Maid of Honor, MC, DJ and dance-party president.

Here, NiQui teaches me the phrase "Cut a Rug" and Jamie rocks out.

The guests!