Wedding prep took place at adjoining townhomes in Dillon. Stacy and I went back and forth from bridal prep to groom prep and took turns shooting both parties. Once Steven finally put his shirt on, we made our way toward Arapahoe Basin for a first look above tree line. Their wedding party followed… and so did the antics. We loved every bit of it.

Their ceremony was personal, but fit their personalities perfectly and everyone was crying and laughing at the same time. Shortly after their first kiss, as tradition would have it, we made our way down and back up the Black Mountain Express before beginning the epic reception. It also didn’t take long for the shirts to come back off and the party to being. Come to think of it, Steven and his groomsmen may have been shirtless longer than they were dressed on their wedding day.

Thanks you two for your endless energy and laughter and congrats on your Fall Arapahoe Basin Wedding.

The post Steven & Kiersten’s Fall Wedding at Arapahoe Basin appeared first on Top Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographers - Gillespie Photography.

Sarah started off the day with some wedding prep in Keystone before we made our way to the top of Loveland Pass for her first look with Erik. The quintessential Colorado bluebird day afforded some beautiful cumulus clouds to add that depth to the sky that we love. After seeing each other, wiping a few happy tears away, their wedding party joined us for some pictures overlooking the Front Range before heading out for their Arapahoe Basin Wedding.

Once the time came to get married, Sarah was accompanied up the chairlift by her sister and the best man, only to walk down the isle to her smiling, soon-to-be husband. After a few more happy tears were wiped away, these two made it official and did the traditional lap on the Black Mountain Express chairlift.

Heading into the Lodge, these two were treated to lovely toasts from Sarah’s mother, Erik’s parents and their closest friends. Shortly after, the dance party began with a surprise Britney Spears show from one of the groomsmen who took last place in Fantasy Football. Erik & Sarah’s Summer Wedding at A Basin was a delight to photograph and one of our first at Arapahoe Basin that didn’t include a rain shower.

The post Erik & Sarah’s Summer Wedding at A Basin appeared first on Top Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographers - Gillespie Photography.

Both Ryan & Tiffany began their day in the Keystone Village, just a few condos apart from each other. Shortly after Ryan & his buddies demolished a few pizza’s and Tiffany finished her makeup, these two met on top of Loveland Pass for a mountaintop first look, surrounded by a mast of moody rain clouds.

After the excitement settled, we made our way back down to the base of Arapahoe Basin and onto the lift for the ride up to Black Mountain Lodge. A good friend of Ryan & Tiffany’s performed the ceremony and quickly had everyone in stitches. After their first kiss, the rain came, but it didn’t halter these two from a ride down the lift before being force to ride back up the mountain in a shuttle.

The night continued with some heartfelt toasts and music from one of Colorado’s best, Ben Hammond. When it came time to party, it took all of 10 seconds for the dance floor to populate with guests ready to get down on it.

Ryan & Tiffany’s Black Mountain Lodge wedding was a perfect mix of beautiful moments, crazy weather and dance floor goodness. Congrats you two and enjoy these favorites of ours from your beautiful wedding this past July.

The post Ryan & Tiffany’s Black Mountain Lodge Wedding appeared first on Top Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographers - Gillespie Photography.

Both Amy & Erik started their wedding day in Keystone, CO before making our way to the top of Loveland Pass for their first look. Being just a short drive to Arapahoe Basin from the top, it made sense to take full advantage of peak wildflower season. We found fields of Indian Paintbrush, Lupines and many others.

A short while after, everyone boarded the chairlift for a ride up to Black Mountain Lodge for their nuptials. Once dinner was finished, we grabbed these two for a short jaunt up the Argentine North Fork Trail for the last bits of sunlight and a few beautiful wedding portraits.

It was such a pleasure documenting these two’s Arapahoe Basin Wedding at Black Mountain Lodge and its always a joy to be working at a place like A Basin. Working with the wonderful Arapahoe Basin Staff at one of our favorite venues never gets old.

The post Erik & Amy’s Summer Wedding at Black Mountain Lodge appeared first on Top Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographers - Gillespie Photography.

Amanda started off her day with the ladies at the Keystone Lodge & Spa. After hair and makeup was completed, we made our way to the base of A Basin for some group photos, while Blake and his groomsmen cracked a cold one on the top of Loveland Pass.

Nearing ceremony time, as predicted, the clouds rolled in and the rain began to fall, but it didn’t bother Blake or Amanda one bit. After adorning her rain poncho, she began the ride up with her father before making way down the isle. Mid-ceremony, the rain stopped and the sun began to shine as Amanda just in time for their first kiss as husband & wife.

Shortly after their ride down and back up, their reception began with some amazing speeches from their closest loved ones… and then the party began. These two families know how to party, making it easy for us to smash that shutter button. It was such a pleasure getting to know these two beautiful people. Spending some time with them during their Maroon Bells Engagement and then documenting their Arapahoe Basin Wedding, with a side of rain, could not have been more delightful.

The post Blake & Amanda’s Arapahoe Basin Summer Wedding appeared first on Top Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographers - Gillespie Photography.

The wedding deck, a few steps outside of Black Mountain Lodge, provides a beautiful location for your wedding ceremony. It offers two layouts and we do have a preference of which one if you care to ask. One of favorite parts of every Arapahoe Basin wedding is the traditional ride on the chairlift immediately following your ceremony.

If you haven’t visited Arapahoe Basin, you’ll quickly discover how authentic this ski area is. Their staff is all experienced and mostly locals to Summit County. They know how to handle weather related issues and any hiccups that arise. Because of the alpine environment at 11,500 feet, it does get chilly at night, so be sure to provide blankets for your guests or ask them to bring a coat.

With that high alpine environment comes some of the most beautiful backdrops for your wedding pictures. In the spring and even into June, you’ll find the East Wall still covered in snow. We often point out to wedding guests the terrain we ski in the winter. Come late July, the wildflowers begin to bloom and the fields surrounding the lodge are a canvas of vibrant colors.

In planning for your Arapahoe Basin Wedding, we can suggest several nearby locations for first look or wedding party photos. We usually try to avoid photographing everything at the ski area to provide a bit of variety to your pictures. While the venue is as beautiful as it gets, we love the adventure of moving around.

In summary, you can’t go wrong with having an Arapahoe Basin Wedding. It consistently makes our list of 10 Highest Rated Colorado Wedding Venues.

Where is the Black Mountain Lodge?

From the parking lot, walk towards the 6th Alley Bar & Grill and you’ll see the lower section of the Black Mountain Express. This chairlift is a short ride and drops you off halfway up the mountain. From here, it’s easy to spot the wedding deck and the inside reception space which is only a few hundred feet away from the lift.

Our Arapahoe Basin Wedding Photography Tips

We usually suggest getting ready at an Airbnb in Keystone or Dillon which are just a few minutes down highway 9. The onsite getting ready rooms at Arapahoe Basin are ski-school rooms and not the most conducive for hair & makeup artists. After everyone is dressed, we usually setup a first-look spot where we can grab some portraits and wedding party photos. Past that, our last recommendation is to time you reception around the time of year. Summer days are much longer so moving things back a slight bit helps with the ambiance. Our last, but maybe most important photography tip, is to save time for sunset photos. The alpenglow on the East Wall right around sunset is our favorite. From experience, it is short lived, but oh so sweet.

The post Arapahoe Basin appeared first on Top Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographers - Gillespie Photography.