A Vibrant Microwedding in a Garden | Amanda and Juan

Juan and Amanda have been travel adventurers their entire relationship. After a year of dating they took a trip to Japan together and both credit that trip as the moment they realized that they wanted long term together. Then a couple of years later they got engaged on a glacier in Alaska. Their latest adventure brought them to Colorado and they hope to put down roots here together with their dog Zelda.

They started planning their wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens before COVID hit, then went through a whirl-wind summer trying to figure out what their fall 2020 wedding day would look like in the midst of a pandemic. Though they considered changing things up and eloping with a few family and friends, they ultimately decided to stick with the gardens and pare down their guest list.

Their wedding day started at 5:00am at an airbnb in Boulder, where the two got ready in separate spaces. Amanda’s bright and bubbly personality was in contrast to Juan’s more quiet demeanor, but under it all you could tell that these two were so excited that their wedding day had arrived.

By mid-morning, all the preparations were complete and we headed to the Gardens for a few individual portraits before their morning ceremony at the Annuals Pavilion.

In true individual style, Amanda and Juan decided to embrace Colorado’s self-solemnizing wedding laws, and officiated the ceremony themselves. Their ceremony started with “speeches” by their best man and maid of honor. Then they invited their parents to share words of wisdom, advice, and blessing with them. For their vows they each shared a speech about how much the other person meant to them. And exchanged rings by reading a poem.

At the end of the ceremony, they held hands, pronounced themselves married, and sealed it with a kiss.

Since their guest count was only 20 people, we made sure to get some great photos with all of their guests. Then we wandered the gardens together for couple’s photos.

After photos it was time for brunch, which they celebrated with al fresco dining in the Annuals Pavilion, first dances, and some quality time with their guests. They finished up the reception with cinnamon rolls (really, you can’t beat that!), then headed out to spend the rest of the day with their family as a newly married couple!

We met up a week later for an after wedding session at Maroon Bells (more on that soon!), and it was so amazing to spend such good quality time together last fall.

Amanda and Juan, it was a true pleasure to get to know you both last year! Air hugs!