Heartfelt Rochester Hotel Wedding in Durango, CO: A Family-Centered Celebration

Weddings

In late September, Marisa and Gabriel celebrated the joining of their families surrounded by the people who are closest to them, the La Plata mountains, and the cozy atmosphere of downtown Durango.

The Vision- Notes From the Couple

When they first inquired with me for wedding photography, we immediately connected over our shared appreciation for natural, un-posed photos and the preservation of real moments:

“We want photos that capture ourselves in a vulnerable and authentic way. We’d like to see photos of moments that aren’t always planned or staged.”

Their love story also really stuck with me- I could just feel how much they cared for each other and the immense excitement in bringing their families and lives together:

“We were engaged and planning our wedding before Covid, but unfortunately canceled and eventually broke up due to unforeseen family illness. Once we got back together it was almost immediate that we got re-engaged and started planning the wedding again. It was a difficult couple years apart, but we now feel so certain that we want to be together and can’t wait to celebrate our marriage with family and friends. I have a 9 year old daughter as well who can’t wait for us to all be a family.”

Getting Ready

Family was the grounding element of this whole day, starting with Marisa getting ready with her daughter and her best friends. Meanwhile, Gabriel perfected his vows and his bowtie with his family in another room.

The Ceremony- Lion’s Den Overlook in Durango CO

With a grand view of the surrounding mountains, everyone gathered for an emotional ceremony. Here are some of the unique elements that made this ceremony special:

  • The bride walked down the aisle with her daughter
  • At the beginning, they had a moment for everyone to hold hands and soak in the moment before moving on
  • They brought their daughter up for a ceremonial placing of three flowers into one vase, symbolizing taking three lives and joining together into one
  • The officiant, a friend of the couple, spoke beautifully about their journey together instead of the traditional ceremony script
  • Their vows were so real and raw- everyone could tell how much they cared for each other and what this moment meant to them. Everyone in the audience was emotional because of the impact of their vows

A Moment Alone

After family photos, we took a moment for Marisa + Gabriel to soak in the newlywed feeling and get some photos alone. We took some with the stonework at Lion’s Den and then went back to the Rochester for photos in the courtyard.

The Reception- The Rochester Hotel

The reception styling was equal parts elegant and grounded. The fall color scheme was perfect against the vibrant greens of the courtyard and everything was basked in a warm evening light. Everyone laughed, cried happy tears, and enjoyed a fresh meal and cocktails.

Special Moments and Unique Touches

Imagine your birthday being on your wedding day so you get thrown the best party ever?? Well, it happened to be the groom’s birthday, so while the couple signed their marriage license, friends brought out balloons and surprised the groom with a little birthday celebration. Instead of a cake, there was a dessert table complete with pies, macaroons, and cupcakes. The bride put candles on the groom’s cupcake and we all sang before diving in.

Not a Dry Eye in the House- The Toasts

Before the wedding, when asked what the most important part of the day was to them, they said the toasts. I’d never heard that as an answer, but it made perfect sense when everyone started giving their thoughtful and emotional speeches.

It says a lot about this couple- about their priorities and reasons for having a wedding in the first place. It was obvious that their marriage meant a whole lot more to them than the wedding and that having their closest people supporting them was what they valued most.

After Hours Pictures in the Rochester Hotel

As the party got rolling, we snuck away to get some photos inside the hotel. The lobby and bar area is styled so perfectly and it makes for the cutest late-night vibe for couple’s photos.

The Party!!

The sun went down, the music came on, and this crowd knew how to party. It was so much fun seeing everyone let loose and celebrate with each other. At the end of the night, the guests made a tunnel with their glowing tassels and sent the couple off.

Kind Words From the Couple

These two left the sweetest review that had me tearing up as I read it:

“OHMYGAWD. Amazing. We wanted a photographer for our wedding who could deliver honest, natural photos that would carry the essence and spirit of the people who were coming out to celebrate with us. Jordan delivered far beyond my expectations. She brought in a second photographer, Thomas, who totally rocked it, too, bringing a funny, enthusiastic energy. Jordan seemed to immediately understand us and what we were after. She brings a combination of interpersonal ease, empathetic understanding, and highly developed talent. Oh, also, we did an engagement shoot before the wedding and it was a great opportunity to get to know each other a bit before the big day.” -Marisa + Gabriel

I feel beyond grateful and honored that couples choose me to preserve memories from the best day of their life- especially when they are as intentional, kind, and joy-filled as these two are.

Local Durango Vendor Team

The most sincere thank you to the amazing local vendor team who worked together to create this magic:

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