There are weddings that feel like checking boxes off a timeline, and then there are weddings like Syd and Chris’s—where the entire day is designed around actually celebrating.

Their wedding day started in the Denver Botanic Gardens and ended with celebration echoing through RiNo breweries. And honestly? I left feeling less like their photographer and more like I’d been welcomed into their family for the day.

First Look in the Denver Botanic Gardens

Before anything else, we grabbed coffee together. Just the three of us, sitting down with our drinks while Syd and Chris exchanged the private vows they’d written for each other. There was something really special about starting the day that way—no one else around. Just them speaking promises to each other over coffee before the rest of the day unfolded.

After that quiet, sacred moment, we headed to the Denver Botanic Gardens for their first look. But this wasn’t your typical tap-on-the-shoulder moment. Syd and Chris wanted to begin their wedding day with prayer together.

Portraits in the Botanic Gardens in Denver

We found a quiet corner in the gardens, tucked away from the morning visitors, and I stepped back to let them have that moment. Watching them pray together, hands clasped together, set the tone for everything that followed. There was no performance here. Just two people standing at the edge of the biggest commitment they’d ever make, grounding themselves in what it all meant before anyone else got there.

The Denver Botanic Gardens gave them that gift—a peaceful, beautiful place to start well.

Ceremony in a Greenhouse in Jefferson County, Colorado

The ceremony took place in a greenhouse tucked away, surrounded by their closest friends and family. The whole space was intimate and warm, filled with thrifted treasures Syd and Chris had curated—mismatched plates, vintage glassware, hand-painted wooden place tags made by Syd’s brother.

But the beauty of it all? Their commitment to covenant marriage together.

Syd and Chris stood in front of their people and promised forever, and the joy in that greenhouse was so felt. Chris was so excited that when the officiant started walking them through repeating their vows, he jumped in early with an enthusiastic “I do!” Everyone burst out laughing, and honestly, it was the most Chris thing he could’ve done. Pure, unfiltered excitement about marrying Syd.

Their friends and family didn’t just witness their marriage—they celebrated it, full of excitement and with so much love.

Wedding Brunch in a Greenhouse at Denver Botanic Gardens

After the ceremony, everyone flipped the greenhouse at the Denver Botanic Gardens for brunch. The venue provided the catering, and let me tell you—it was good. But more than the food, it was the atmosphere. Long tables filled with people who had flown across the country to be there, all gathered to celebrate Syd and Chris.

This is one of the biggest gifts of an all-day wedding celebration. You’re not cramming everything into a five-hour window. You actually get to be with your people. Syd and Chris sat at the table, ate real food (not just a few bites grabbed between photos), and laughed with their friends. No one was watching the clock.

The greenhouse was filled with light, laughter, and those beautiful thrifted details that made everything feel personal. It wasn’t Pinterest-perfect. It was them-perfect. (but honestly looked like a Pinterest dream) 😉

Portraits at Cheesman Park in Denver

After brunch, we headed to Cheesman Park. By this point in the day, the formal stuff was done. We weren’t trying to capture stiff, posed portraits—we wanted movement, joy, and space to breathe.

Cheesman Park gave us exactly that. Wide open grass, massive trees, and enough room for Syd and Chris to run, spin, and just be together. The light was starting to shift into that golden hour glow, and instead of standing still, they moved. Twirled. Laughed. It felt less like a photo session and more like they were just enjoying being married.

This is what I love about intimate weddings—the flexibility. We had time to wander, to let moments unfold naturally, to prioritize what felt good over what looked “right.”

Golden Hour in Capital Hill

Golden hour in Denver in January is stunning. It’s also freezing.

We stayed in the Capitol Hill area as the sun dropped lower, chasing that perfect light. Syd and Chris were troopers—no complaints, just bundled up between shots and kept going. But more than the pretty light, this time felt sacred. After a full day of celebrating, we had this quiet pocket of time to slow down, to recenter before the evening festivities kicked off.

It wasn’t just about getting more photos. It was about giving Syd and Chris a moment to catch their breath, to look at each other and realize, “We’re married. We actually did this.” And I got to be there for it, which felt like a gift.

Evening Wedding Celebration in RiNo

As the sun set, the celebration shifted. Syd, Chris, and their friends and family headed to RiNo for an evening of bar hopping. The vibe was relaxed but buzzing with energy—the kind of excited, joyful chaos that happens when people who love each other are together and there’s nowhere else they need to be.

RiNo’s industrial charm, colorful murals, and eclectic brewery scene made the perfect backdrop for this crew. They weren’t trying to impress anyone. They were just celebrating.

Bride and Groom Celebrating at Ratio Brewing in Denver

We started the night at Ratio Brewing, where Syd and Chris toasted with their people, soaking in the last moments of their wedding day. The brewery was warm, loud, and full of laughter. After an entire day of celebrating—from quiet vows in the morning to this loud, joyful finish—they looked happy, but also present. Not exhausted from a whirlwind timeline, but genuinely enjoying the people who had shown up for them.

That’s the beauty of an all-day wedding. You’re not cramming a lifetime of celebration into four hours. You’re giving yourself permission to actually experience your wedding day.

Syd and Chris’s wedding wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. They made space for prayer, for laughter, for sitting down and eating a real meal with their people. They prioritized what mattered—starting their marriage grounded in what they believe and celebrating it with the people who had shaped their story together.

And honestly? Their friends and family made me feel like I was part of that story too. They were kind, encouraging, and welcoming in a way that reminded me why I love photographing intimate weddings. It’s not just about the couple—it’s about the community that surrounds them.

If you’re planning a Denver wedding and you’re craving something more like this—something intimate, intentional, and spread out enough to actually enjoy—let’s talk. Because your wedding day doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. It just has to feel like you.

Wedding Vendors In Denver Colorado

Photographer: HNicholePhotography

Venue/Catering: Denver Botanic Gardens

Bar: Ratio Beerworks