I first met Grant when he accompanied his sister, Grace, on her initial wedding photography consultation in Denver last February. He had just been discharged from the Marines and arrived in Colorado earlier that day. As a sister to three brothers, I totally understood Grace’s want to spend time with her brother, whom she hadn’t seen in quite some time, and I was thrilled when she asked if he could come along to our meeting. The three of us enjoyed a few glasses of wine and some PF Chang’s lettuce wraps as we discussed Grace and her fiance, Matt’s, plans for their upcoming wedding in Cody, Wyoming. Grant told me with a smile that he wouldn’t be too far behind his sister with the wedding plans. Little did we know that 6 months later, he would actually beat her down the aisle by a few days.
I was already booked to shoot Grace’s Fourth of July celebration when I received an email from her a few weeks before her wedding asking if I would be able to come to Cody a few days earlier than planned to shoot a small wedding for her brother and Amber, who is also currently serving in the Marines. Amber would be on leave for Grace’s wedding and Grant simply didn’t want to wait any longer to get married. He wanted to take this opportunity and marry the love of his life on his parent’s property just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Of course, I responded that I absolutely could. (Like I need a better excuse to extend my trip to Yellowstone) At this point, however, Grant hadn’t proposed yet, but both sides of the family were in on the secret and were busy making arrangements. When Amber arrived in Wyoming on June 29th, Grant was finally able to propose in person and she happily said yes.
The couple were married at the “Poker Chapel” in Cody, Wyoming in front of their families and I was honored to be there to capture it. Cody is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited and we took advantage of the scenery and got some amazing bridal portraits at the adorable Poker Chapel (named because it was won during a poker game) and at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. I am beyond impressed with the work and planning Amber’s family (who live in California, mind you) and Grant were able to do to pull off a wedding as beautiful as this in just a few weeks. Congrats Amber and Grant! I wish you all the best!
