One of the things I love about photographing weddings at The Pines by Wedgewood Weddings in Golden is that even though you’re incredibly close to Denver, it can feel like you’ve gone much farther into the Colorado mountains. At this September wedding, we even spotted a herd of elk nearby, and because it was right in the middle of rutting season, we could hear the males bugling. It was one of those very Colorado wedding-day moments you couldn’t plan if you tried. The Pines has two outdoor ceremony locations, the Aspen Wedding Terrace and Evergreen Wedding Terrace, so couples have two different forest settings to choose from depending on the look and feel they want for their ceremony. If you’re searching for a Golden wedding venue with mountain scenery that doesn’t require sending all of your guests deep into the mountains, this is a great one to consider.

One of my favorite details from this wedding was waiting inside at the reception. Every table had a bottle of wine that the bride’s father had saved from the year she was born. It was such a personal detail, and exactly the kind of thing I love finding and photographing on a wedding day. The reception spaces at The Pines have plenty of warm wood, large windows and views of the surrounding landscape, which makes the venue feel connected to the outdoors even after everyone has moved inside. As a Colorado wedding photographer, these are the details I’m always looking for alongside the big moments. The things your family saved, brought, made or quietly tucked into the day are often what make one wedding look and feel completely different from the next.

For couples who want that classic Colorado combination of pine trees, mountain views and an outdoor ceremony, The Pines gives you plenty of variety for wedding photography in Golden without needing to travel between multiple locations. Having two ceremony sites also means there are several beautiful areas around the property for family photos, wedding party photos and portraits of the two of you. And sometimes, apparently, there are elk. If you’re planning a wedding here and don’t need an enormous all-day photography package, I offer simple hourly wedding photography coverage that lets you choose the amount of time that actually makes sense for your day. You can also explore more Colorado wedding venues I’ve photographed or take a look at my wedding photography pricing to see what coverage might work best for you.