A Wedding at Villa Parker, Colorado!

The Villa Parker wedding venue had been on my list of venues I’d like to work at for a while now. Maybe it’s the the way you feel like you’re in an Italian villa, or how everything feels tucked away and intimate without being far from the city while still getting that Colorado wedding experience. Charley & Mal couldn’t have chosen a more perfect spot to reflect the elegant but still truly fun vibes of their dream wedding vision!

Aside from being in a magical location, as a couple and human photographer, one of my favorite parts about their day was how much genuine emotion poured out of not only the couple, but also their people. Their first look really set the tone. Mal turned around to face Charley, and time must have slowed for a moment. They were too stunned to speak, and then came the tears and smiles and the exclamations of “CHARLEY!” There were so many more times throughout the day where I found myself sneaking tons of candids of guests beaming with elation as they watched these two, or as they watched each other. One of my biggest tips as a wedding photographer is to build enough time into the timeline to really enjoy the emotion of these moments. I never want you to feel rushed to wipe away those happy tears.

The 10/10 energy carried through the entire wedding, especially during the speeches. You could tell that C&M are surrounded by people who don’t just love them, but really see them for the wonderful and unique souls that they are individually and together.

They also wove in meaningful traditions in a way that felt intentional and personal, not obligatory. From signing the ketubah with their closest family, to making space for things that felt like them (like a lemonade bar before the ceremony! So cute.)

And then there was their sweet baby dog-child. Incorporating their dog for a quick hello before the ceremony, and then including her in the ceremony itself brought so much joy as she strutted down the aisle with a big puppy smile on her face.

As the day shifted into evening, we slipped away for sunset photos. This is one of my favorite momets of a wedding where the couple can just step out of the momentum for a minute and be together. Summer Colorado weddings often offer beautiful blue hour, right after sunset, where the final burst of light sets behind the mountains.

Throughout the day, we also blended digital photography with analogue 35mm film. There’s something about film that adds a layer of nostalgia when you look back at the photos. Villa Parker held all of it beautifully with the emotion, the movement, the dancing, and the in-between things that may be forgotten if not preserved on film.

Thank you Charley, Mal, and Villa Parker for an unforgettable celebration! I’ll share some of my favorite memories below so you can see how I capture a wedding day as a seasoned Colorado Wedding Photographer.

About me (hi I’m Madeleine, the photographer behind Mado Photo!) I love sharing not only snapshots of real weddings along with tips for planning a wedding, but also the stories behind them because I absolutely adore my couples! It is so important for me to be able to connect with my couples and learn their stories so that their photos accurately reflect their connection, and not just pre-planned poses. It is always the biggest honor when couples share the most intimate moments of their lives with me. I want to understand you like do together on the lazy days at home, what you notice about your partner, and what makes you laugh when you are in each others’ presence. Those are the things that shape the way I document your day. Every couple is different, and that’s exactly what makes this work so meaningful to me. No two stories are the same, and your photos don’t have to look like everyone else’s.

I am always here to offer not only wedding day guidance and timeline help, but also to offer a calm presence, wipe sweat off your forehead during the summer heat, get your dog to smile at the camera, and sneak around in the bushes capturing the most authentic emotions from your guests. If that sounds right up your alley, let’s chat more about how I can be your one-woman support team!

Contact me!