arizona wedding and elopement photographer

Ashley Durham

Garden of the Gods Wedding Photography

June 17, 2013

And in the end I know that we’ll find
Love so beautiful and divine
We’ll be lovers for a lifetime, yeah
And I’ll stay with you
I will stay with you

John Legend, Stay With You

Meet the new Mr. and Mrs.! B + H are two of the most down-to-earth, fun-loving, warm-hearted people I have ever met. It was such an absolute joy to work with them for their wedding at the end of April at the Trade Post at the Garden of the Gods, here in Colorado Springs. They met through a mutual friend last year and technically are already married (they eloped to Vegas last December). They spent a lot of the early days of their relationships doing things together as a family (H has two beautiful kids – B and T – from a previous marriage and they are just so delighted to have welcomed B into their family – he is a wonderful step dad!). They would go hiking and hang out at the park, and B + H would run races together. It was meant to be from the start, though – they both knew it.

When they got engaged – it was so romantic. H told me the story – and I’d like to share it with you guys in her own words ::

On November 11th of last year, B took the family to the Melting Pot because he was “craving” chocolate fondue, which was odd, since my favorite dessert is chocolate fondue. He had called ahead to notify the restaurant he planned to propose so they needed to seat us in a booth in the back that was quiet and private. When we arrived, I read a sign that said all cheese and chocolate was 50% off if we sat in the front bar area, so I refused to allow the hostess to sit us anywhere else. I’m frugal, who doesn’t want to save 50%??? This almost ruined his whole plan, but B somehow still managed to sneak the ring to the manager who, while we were eating our chocolate fondue, brought the ring to our table. At that time, B got down on one knee, asked me to marry him, and asked the kids if it was okay if he married their mommy. He also had rings for the kids. Of course I said yes!

B “gets it” – he understands what it takes to be a wonderful husband and father, and Heather realizes just how lucky she is. She was so excited to finally be marrying the most compassionate loving man that she had ever met – she realized that all her past paths had finally led her to perfection, perfect for her and perfect for her family. And B? Well, to put it simply, “I am the luckiest man in the world” (seriously, that’s what he told me). Throughout the whole ceremony, all he could think about was how incredible the moment was, and how he would not let anything disrupt this amazing life he gets to share with Heather and the kids.

They decided to have a vow renewal and actual wedding, and it just happened to coincide with the weekend that B graduated from the training academy in Colorado Springs! It was definitely a wonderful weekend full of celebration for their family! This was a FUN wedding. It was low-key, stress-free and just – AMAZING from top to bottom. I wish every wedding could be just like this one!

On a side note – I can’t WAIT to post their “we’re having a baby!” pictures when the time for that comes (fingers crossed for SOON!). I’m so very excited for H + B future, I know that it will be full of love and laughter with their family. xoxo