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Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms Wedding, Littleton Colorado
Updated: May 24, 2020
"Cassandra is simply amazing. She is not only easy and fun to work with, she is a natural at capturing light and color. We love our engagement photos and can't wait until she does our wedding!!"
-Kelli R. 5/5 On The Knot
Kelly and Peter had a dreamy wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms in Littleton Colorado this past June. The lush green gardens, sculptures, and barn served as the perfect backdrop for their special day. Chatfield Farms may very well be my favorite wedding venue in the Denver Metro Area! The diversity in scenery, natural beauty, and the chic barn make it an absolute hit with guests, and some stellar wedding photos.
The Wedding Couple:
Peter and Kelly are two of the smartest, kindest, and most adventurous people you'll ever meet. Did I mention that they're both doctors?! When they're not out saving lives, they're hitting the ski slopes are hanging out with their family. Kelly was a stunning bride - even though she says she's awkward. Yeah, whatever girl!
I had taken their engagement photos at Lookout Mountain the previous year, and both were so nervous! I think I received about 15 texts from Kelly prior to the session, saying, "I don't know how to pose." The ended up loving the experience, calming down about "posing," and took some awesome photos. They were so happy with the knowledge they asked me to be their wedding photographer - yay!
The Wedding Party:
This wedding was HUGE! Kelley had eight bridesmaids and two ushers, and Peter had nine groomsmen. And as you can tell, they all knew how to party. The two flower girls stole the show (I'm totally kidding Kelly - you looked smoking hot!) and asked for their own mini photo session before the bridal parties arrived. We couldn't say no!
The First Look at:
There are plenty of stellar spots to do a first look during your Chatfield farms wedding. We did Kelly and Peters over a little bridge and creek in the botanic gardens, which was a romantic setting! Kelly crossed the bridge to reach Peter, making the scene very cute! For some folks, a first look is a good option; it's very intimate and gives you both a meaningful moment before the ceremony.
The Chatfield Farms Ceremony:
The ceremony location at Chatfield Farms is breathtaking during the late spring and summer. The ceremony takes place in front of a small gazebo that's decorated with hanging baskets of petunias. Beyond the gazebo are aspen trees, a field of tall green grass, and other decorative followers surrounding the parameter. Their ceremony ended up being roughly 45 minutes long. They had me slide into the gazebo and take a few pictures of them signing the wedding license mid-ceremony, which I thought was pretty unique!
Cocktail Hour:
The couple had an extended cocktail hour that we used for wedding photos - however, they wanted to attend that part of their wedding, so we spent roughly 45 minutes taking family photos and romantics. Their cocktail hour consisted of a photo booth, yard games like corn-hole, a fire pit, and drinking! They kept their guests well entertained with plenty of cocktail hour activities.
The Chatfield Farms Reception:
The botanic garden's theme didn't stop at the reception. The wedding cake was adorned with succulents, and they even gave out plants as wedding thank yous! Adorable! The white barn is perfect for weddings - at least from a photographer's perspective. The white ceilings and make it easy to photography in even at night - so your photos are going to be great! Kelly and Peter's family played slideshows of them with great images, told crazy stories, and made it a fantastic night! At sunset, the couple and I dipped out for a few pictures in the open field next to the barn for a few photos with a pastel ombre sky. They ended the night with twinkling lights and a sparkler sendoff.
Congrats Kelly and Peter! I thoroughly enjoyed capturing your wedding!
Tips for hosting your Chatfield Farms wedding:
Bring bug spray and lots of it. Kelly was covered in mosquito bites before the ceremony even started.
If you have an open-air photo booth, make room for it inside. It can rain, and the wind can pick up too much for it outdoors.
Bring umbrellas! And a clear one for the bride and the broom (I have you covered).
Wear sunscreen, there isn't much shade at the ceremony location.
Provide a little map, so your guests don't get lost.
Sneak away at sunset or better yet plan for it!
Don't confine your photos to one or two spots; there are many great places to take pictures outside the property.
Consider hiring an associate photographer (I offer one!). If you're having such a large wedding, it's great to hire a second photographer to snag photos of your guests.
Don't be afraid to bring more flowers - I love that Kelley and Peter decorated the gazebo, many couples don't, but I think it was an excellent touch.
Check out the Red Barn on the property also.
Are you planning a wedding at Chatfield Farms? CONGRATS! I would love to help you plan your big day - or, better yet, photograph it. I'm Colorado Wedding Photographer creating vivid imagery for those wild at heart. Contact me here.