Ellie and Kjell’s Aspen wedding at the T-Lazy-7 Ranch
Ellie and Kjell’s Aspen wedding was held at the T-Lazy-7 Ranch just outside of town. Kjell is an accomplished photographer himself and felt strongly about having an Aspen wedding photojournalist document the day. I had not been to the T-Lazy-7 Ranch before, but it’s a great venue. The ceremony was in a large open meadow looking up a valley toward Pyramid Peak, not far from the Maroon Bells. The reception was a short from an open rustic pavilion with a roaring campfire. It set the tone for a very laid-back reception, conditioning the environment for people to kick back and have fun.
Aside from the physical trappings, there was something rather touching about this wedding: Ellie and Kjell have been friends since elementary school. There are high school sweethearts, but we’re talking about a documentary filmmaker and a doctor who have known each other since they were six.
A few months after the wedding, they were kind enough to come to the opening of my show at the Blue Sky Gallery in Portland on a rather cold and rainy night. The worlds of my documentary work and weddings tend to be distinct, so it was great to share another side of what I do.
Kjell with his bolo tie. All that western flair, while not actually suffocating in the summer heat.
Ellie and her sister greet arriving family members while preparing in the T Lazy 7 Ranch lodge.
Kjell and his dad at the wedding site. Still working on that bolo tie.
The ceremony site, lodge and campground are close to each other, but a bit much when you’re running back and forth, over and over, the way, say an Aspen wedding photographer might do. But they had a small fleet of little golf carts and I’m not too shy to hitch a ride.
Some ceremony venues have one good view highlighted on the website, but the meadow at the T-Lazy-7 looks great from any angle.
I’m seeing more weddings where the groom and officiant have the tiny microphones attached to their lapels. The bride doesn’t need one, as she’s standing next to the groom when they do their vows and exchange rings. It gets around having a microphone stand in the middle of the pictures.
These Italian wedding photo always feel kind of festive. And look at the discipline of this crew! They’re packed rather tightly but you can still see everyone. I send mixed messages. I demand that everyone gives me their complete, undivided attention, then ask that they ignore me the rest of the day.
Not exactly the back of a limo, but the light is sooo much better.
Ellie’s dad gives a toast.
First dance.
Father/Daughter
Mother/Son
A campfire, s’mores, the way the smell of crisp mountain air changes in the evening. It just doesn’t get better than this.
Kjell’s a great guy, but this is what happens when you do your own hair and makeup.
