A wedding in the Colorado mountains - Thomas and Jessica

What's better than an outdoor wedding?  An outdoor wedding in the mountains!

I took a quick trip to Colorado recently to photograph Thomas and Jessica Ciaramitaro, who got married at Treasure Mountain Bible Camp near the town of Marble.  They've both worked at the camp for a few years (they met here) and the mountains made a stunning backdrop for their warm, family-filled wedding day.

Thomas has been a friend ever since he was...well...let's just say it was such a long time ago that I used to carry him around and watch him and my younger siblings play in the sand together at Del Valle reservoir.  Our families have shared many of the ups and downs of life and had lots of goofy adventures together (high-altitude pancake-flipping contest, anyone??).

It was tremendously special (and yes, just a teeny bit funny) to photograph this wedding!  We had a grand time doing their engagement portraits and the wedding was even better.

I love seeing Thomas and Jessica together.  She's sweet, relaxed, adventuresome, and a lot of fun to be with, and the two of them complement each other perfectly. They're clearly best friends for life!

(Did I say adventuresome?  Most definitely...you should have seen these two pull off their shoes and wade through the creek for this photo!) (And yes, I was standing knee-deep in the creek right about now...it was worth it!)

 

Jessica really wanted to get married in cute boots.  So Thomas surprised her with these...she was delighted.

 

 

Getting ready for that waterfall photo above.  Oh yeah!

 

We rode up to the waterfall spot in Ruby, the camp truck.  (It was really, really bumpy in the back.  Just saying.)

 

Thomas and his mom

 

Plenty of personality here!  You really have to view this photo close-up to get the full effect...zoom in!

 

Hayride up to the ceremony spot

 

 

Outdoor reception...we are all so grateful for our answered prayers about the weather!  Here at 8600', the weather can change rapidly.  The forecast called for rain, but after a brief shower around 2pm, the weather was sunny with pretty clouds (as you can see) for the rest of the afternoon and evening.  Then, not five minutes after Thomas and Jessica left, it began to pour!

Thomas and Jessica, may God bless you with many, many years of loving God and each other!

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty... 

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer

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Freezer Lavender-Blueberry Cheesecake

So I'm thinking a cake recipe isn't *totally* off-the-subject for a wedding photography blog, right?  ;)  I made this a few weeks ago, starting with a recipe I found online (here) and tweaking it a bit...I un-veganed it and did a few other things to make it more my style.   Of course I had to brag a bit on Facebook, and then people wanted the recipe... ;)

Freezer Lavender-Blueberry Cheesecake

CRUST:
3/4 c. cashews (or almonds or pecans)
1/4 c. dried coconut (unsweetened)
1/3 c. dates, cut up 
pinch salt

Blend till crumbly (it will be a little sticky).  Line 6" pan (or larger if you want a shallower cheesecake) with parchment paper and press crust into the bottom.  Put in freezer while you prepare filling.

FILLING:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. + 1 T. honey
30 drops vanilla-flavored stevia (or unflavored stevia + 1 t. vanilla)
1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
2 T. lemon juice
1 T. lavender flowers (I used dried flowers from my garden -- I have several varieties but don't know which this one is -- English lavender is good, you just want one of the sweeter ones, not too spicy)
pinch salt
1 T. each coconut oil and coconut butter
1/2 c. blueberries

Blend all ingredients except blueberries until very smooth.  Divide into two parts.  Add blueberries to one part and blend together.  Pour blueberry mixture into pan and freeze.  Once it's solid enough, pour the rest of the filling mixture on top and freeze till firm.  Then comes the really fun part...decorate with flowers!  :)

Enjoy!

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty... 

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer

Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook

The Wood family - portraits on the beach!

Simply put...

 

Beach + late afternoon sunshine + bare feet + an extraordinary family of one amazing couple and 8 boys...

 

= tons of photos and way too much fun!

As you can see, we all had a grand time.  It took a bit of hunting to find part of the coastline that wasn't covered in clouds, but we finally found some sun and had so much fun running up and down the beach (and in and out of the water -- and yes, we ALL got rather wet! It was a soggy two-hour drive back home!).

 

 

Steve and Sally are an extraordinary couple.  I can't say enough about what fine parents they are...I don't think I've ever seen such a group of kind, well-mannered, fun-loving boys.  It's clear that their parents enjoy being with them, which has got to be one of the biggest reasons they're all so awesome! 

Look at little Zach's smile (the youngest, on top).  I love that grin!!

Well, I'm off to Yosemite early tomorrow (err, today) to go backpacking with a handful of good friends...a much-needed break.  I promise to share photos of our adventures, of course!  Also more of Thomas and Jessica's beautiful outdoor wedding in the Colorado mountains last week -- it was epic!

Have a good weekend, everybody!

 

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty... 

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer

Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook

Jenny and Ryan - a pretty backyard wedding

Last Saturday, Jenny and Ryan and their families gathered in the grandparents' backyard, and tied the knot...both literally and figuratively!

This is a "Lovers' Knot", which Ryan tied and gave to Jenny during the ceremony for her to finish.  Ryan is a sailor, so this was apt! Apparently in the olden days, a sailor would tie this knot, leaving it loose, and send it to his sweetheart.  If she tightened the knot and sent it back, he knew she was his!

 

Beautiful backyard setting

 

 

 

  

 

Her "something blue": cute shoes!

 

I saw these redwoods in the front yard of Ryan's parents' home, and asked him if we could do his individual photos here. He told me that when he was a kid, he planted these trees!

 

Basil had an appropriate collar for the day...

 

 

Jenny and her precious grandma

 

Jenny and her dad, Doug

 

Ryan with his mother, Carol (obviously, gorgeous blue eyes run in the family!)

 

 

Check out that adorable baby bump!  Jimmy and Lisa (Ryan's sister) were married last fall, and I photographed their wedding.  They are going to be fabulous parents!!

Seafood...of course

 

Last photo of the day, near the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.

(Continuing the nautical theme...)

Ryan and Jenny, your day was beautiful...may it be just the beginning of many, many years of married bliss!  God bless you two!

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty... 

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer

Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook

The Wood family - coming soon!

Yesterday I photographed the Wood family at a beach in Santa Cruz.  We all had so much fun, I'm still smiling!  Steve and Sally have eight boys, from high school senior Adam down to little Zachary, and we had grand times running up and down the beach doing family portraits.  Just a sneak peek at the awesomeness to come...

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty... 

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer

Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook