RuthAnne & Jeremy {Moab, UT Wedding 2016}

A race to marriage!  Ruthanne and Jeremy’s wedding day was truly unique and absolutely amazing.  They spent the day running the Canyonlands Half Marathon together (impressed? I am!), which ended at the Moab Swanny City Park where they gathered with their family and closest friends in a public ceremony under the trees.  It was a such an honor to get to capture these amazing moments for the two of them! No runner could top their formal race/wedding attire though. Their more formal and portraits were shot at Sorrel River Ranch where they enjoyed their reception celebration in the gorgeous red rocks.  Ruthanne and Jeremy thank you so much for sharing these amazing moments with me.  I hope you treasure the photos for years to come!

Venue: Moab Swanny City Park; Sorrel River Ranch

Event: Canyonlands Half Marathon  

Photographer: KaLeigh Welch Photography

Stacey & Eric {Moab, Ut, Wedding 2015}

2016 Goal: Shoot more weddings with a bride and groom like Stacey and Eric! A bride an groom who share the love of the outdoors and who are here to play hard and get a little dirty. 

I didn’t get a chance to blog about this wedding in September for a number of reasons; 1. September is a very busy time for photographers and 2. My grandmother who was very very special to me passed away, making this month and the last few months pretty difficult for me.  

I met with Stacey and Eric at Goldbar Campground a day or two before their wedding and during our meeting I informed them that the day of their wedding I would also be attending my grandmother’s funeral.  I know right, a wedding and a funeral all in one day and you know what it couldn't have been any better?! Not only were Stacey and Eric compassionate towards what I was going through they treated me with so much kindness on their special day that I will never be able to repay them.  Their wedding was just what I needed on that day.  I felt like having gone through such an intense emotional morning I was able to treasure capturing so much beautiful joy and appreciate their union even that much more.  I cherished that I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with Stacy and Eric’s family and friends and celebrate their lives joining together as one.

This wedding was so much about their lifestyle and personalities and THESE WERE MY TYPE OF PEOPLE!  From their personal style, to their friends, these were just the people who I needed to be with and who I enjoyed photographing so very much.  Stacey and Eric made their wedding an adventure for their family and friends and it was so uniquely them; the bikes, the boats, the corn hole, the pig roast; it couldn’t have been any better.

Stacey and Eric you've given me the goal to seek like minded clients who enjoy my home in Moab as much as I do! Thank you both for gracing me with these sweet memories and providing me with a little bit of sunshine.

Here's to many happy years ahead for you both!

Venue: Gold Bar Recreation Site

Florist: Janet Manna Floral

Photographer: KaLeigh Welch Photography

Accessories: Shoes by John Fluevog

Jocelyn & Seppo {Moab, Ut, Wedding 2015}

Ahh Jocelyn and Seppo, I am absolutely giddy about these two.  Jocelyn said it best when she described how she felt about our newly formed relationship “I feel like a have a new friend crush”, well the feeling is mutual!  From the moment I met Jocelyn and Seppo I was wowed by their calm presence even after their hectic trip to make it to Moab but they can tell you more about that.  Before their ceremony we talked about some of their unique ideas and how they planned to incorporate them.  Right away I knew their day was going to be splendid.  What I want reflect on is their amazing ceremony, I only hope I can give it the justice it deserves.  We arrived at Windows in Arches, just moments before the sun began peeping over the rim.  Surrounded by light melodies provided by a close friend, Seppo gently led Jocelyn up the path to the beautiful sunrise spot they had chosen the day before.  Their first ritual was to wash each other’s hands; this was about starting a new chapter in their lives together and wiping the slate clean.  They each took turns speaking to one another about forgiveness, love, commitment and how they vowed to treat one another in their future. The second ritual was to spend a moment alone speaking to each other, for this the others and myself stepped away to give them privacy.  I took photos from afar and can only imagine the words they shared were just as endearing and filled with love.  I enjoyed this moment the most. The sunrise was beautiful with the two of them in every photo like they were meant to be part of the gorgeous landscape around them.  After their moment alone they made their way to the natural amphitheater below South Window Arch for the traditional ring swap and glorious kiss, but it didn’t end there.  The third ritual was to throw a rock while one of them spoke their wishes and commitments for their future together, for each wish a rock was thrown, 10 in total if I counted correctly. Their voices amplified making their words all the more affirmative and willful.  Jocelyn and Seppo then shared their first dance together as husband and wife. This ceremony was more beautiful than words can ever describe and these details and unique rituals are exactly what make Jocelyn and Seppo so special.  Their kindness and generosity with one another is not something I will forget.  Thank you both for including me in your ceremony, it was an amazing experience to have the honor of capturing!  Love and happy wishes to you both for years to come!

Venue: Windows Arches National Park

Florist: Janet Manna Floral

Photographer: KaLeigh Welch

Melanie & Mike {Moab, Ut, Wedding 2015}

Melanie and Mike's Wedding was so simple and sweet but it was not without its most thoughtful momentous.  They chose a location on the La Sal Mountains where Mike spent time with his father  and in honor of him this was the perfect location for their ceremony.  They brought all of their closest family and friends with them to spend the weekend at Whispering Oaks Ranch not far from the ceremony site allowing them to spend an intimate weekend together. Mike and his friends were kind enough to build a foot bridge for their guests to cross the stream safely in the meadow and without getting wet, this added a cute little touch for some of our photos as well! It was truly a pleasure to spend the afternoon with Melanie & Mike, getting to know their families and enjoying the joining of them both.  

Venue: Whispering Oaks Ranch

Bakery: Sweet Serendipity

Photographer: KaLeigh Welch

Andrea & Taylor {Moab, Ut, Wedding 2015♥}

Oh these two……I am just going to start by saying this is the first wedding I’ve actually cried at, and I’ve been to a lot of weddings!  I truly believe that your love for one another is felt by all of those around you, so much so that you brought me to tears.  Thinking of you both now fills my heart and I wish you and your little family all the love and joy in this world.  Andrea and Taylor thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your special day, it was truly an honor to have you choose me to capture these moments.  I hope you and your family enjoy. Xoxo - KaLeigh

Many thanks to the creative team who made the wedding so special... 

Venue: Red Cliffs Lodge

Florist: Janet Manna Floral

Hair: Taylor Johnston & Lindsey Vaccaro Parriott's Hair Salon

DJ: Merik Music

2nd Photographer: Jessiqua Zueflet Moab Photo Coalition

Photographer: KaLeigh Welch

Taylor & Jeremy {Moab, Ut, Engagement 2015♥}

What can I say about Taylor and Jeremy?  For starters they are an absolutely stunning couple!  I could tell right away that they truly care for one another.  Jeremy was so engaging with Taylor in every moment and Taylor absolutely radiated.  These two were light hearted and went with the flow in every idea that I had.  This was a dream session for me and I could have photographed them for hours.  I am honored and pleased that this photo shoot is the first for my new blog and I can only hope that every engagement session I shoot will be ½ as memorable as this one!  Thank you both for allowing me to capture this special time in your lives and I hope the next time you come to Moab we get a chance to catch up because I left our session feeling like I made new friends! xoxo -K

Thanks to the creative team that made this session so special....

Hair: Rebecca Atomic Hair Salon

Photographer: KaLeigh Welch

2nd set of Eyes: Reina Every