Staying True

Here's something that got me thinking. These pictures are from a real wedding in Colorado at the Rocky National Park. Look at this first picture. Beautiful bride, right?

She is. Very beautiful, very ready for her wedding. Now look at these shots they did during their day-after session.

So relaxed, so in love, so earthy. I love how her hair is just flowing down, he's in sandals, and she doesn't even have any shoes on.

That's the demon I fight. Part of me wants to be a total girl: nails, hair, makeup, high heels, the whole shebang. The other part of me wants my hair down being tossed in the breeze, bare feet, minimal makeup, and simply me. Both ways are beautiful, and one isn't necessarily better than the other. I guess we as outdoor brides have to find that happy medium where we feel like the beautiful gorgeous women we naturally always strive to be, but still stay true to the woman inside of us that shines through when we get our hands dirty. When we're alone in that huge meadow of wildflowers, or drenched in sweat on top of a mountain we conquered as the sun was lowering in the sky. I'm not sure if any of that makes sense to you, but it does to me.

All pictures via {Fuse Photographic}

Gaming Groom

My handsome fiance just sent me this info. Most of us brides are familiar with the site Offbeat Bride, but- surprise! There's also an Offbeat Groom Gang "cuz guys sometimes have ideas too!" They now have 7o members, maybe we can make it 71. 

Honestly, it's great seeing guys being so interested in making contributions and coming up with original ideas. I luckily got a man who's excited to pick out his clothes and choose the music, be in charge of the alcohol (of course), and help figure out all those little details that pile up. Even though I think he's having more wedding stress than I am, it's so great to be able to do these things together. 

I'm just glad he doesn't want to get married like this.

{Offbeat Bride}

But more power to them.

Anthropologie Decorations

Yesterday I stopped in Anthropologie to look around and stumbled across two overflowing baskets of these.

found via {Anthropologie}

Needless to say I left the store with almost 50 of them, bought on sale with an additional 20% after a little negotiation. We'll try to hang them inside the lodge across the big front windows overlooking the meadow, a gentle sweep of twinkling candles hung at different lengths level to the loft area. It should be gorgeous.

ALSO, I'm really excited to share something else I found, actually three something elses I found. The first idea has to do with mason jars having vintage photos suspended inside (a great way to incorporate more engagement pics, baby pictures, and old family photographs), the second idea with paper flowers flowing up the wall, and the third idea: sea glass.

Come back to see more!

Win a Sketch of your Wedding Dress

Etsy artist, Megan Hamilton, has offered to give one Mountain Bride reader a custom sketch of their wedding gown. 

What you'll win:

- A 10 3/8" x 13 1/2" stylized sketch of your wedding gown on acid free heavy weight Bristol paper.
- It will be sketched in black pen. White or ivory dress color with an added hint of color if your dress design includes such an element.
-Your sketch will be presented in a black folder with a template for you to cut swatches to include with your sketch. If you have any left over fabric from alterations, swatches add a great finishing touch.

Head on over and leave your comment here to enter.

Our Labor of Love

Yes, I'm aware that there's an insane amount of pictures posted. No, I don't think it's too much. Not when you're talking about this amazing duo that takes crazy good pictures. Oh my GOSH they're good!

Every single picture via {Our Labor of Love}

I couldn't resist. Believe me, I could have posted more- I only went through half of their photos.

Dreamy Photography

{Julie Harris}

According to FedEx.com, the package that contains my dress is on schedule and in the delivery truck as of 4:15 am this morning. I'm not leaving this house until it gets here.

In the meantime, my obsession today: dreamy photography. I find myself drawn more and more back into the world of photography and envying these people with amazing cameras and a large enough client base that they get to earn their livelihoods capturing fleeting moments of beauty through a camera lense. I may eventually have to do something about it and chase down the dream that's managed to get away somehow in the past 10 years.

Julie Harris from Colorado is a woman with an amazing eye. Those photographs are from one of the last weddings she did. Here's some more.

It's something special when you can capture emotion.

*A little note: I think I have my photographer, which is exciting! You'll definitely be hearing more when that contract's signed and it's finalized for real.