K+A: Intimate Tanque Verde Ranch Wedding

This beautiful Tanque Verde Ranch wedding still makes my heart sing looking back at the details of the day and the pure emotion visible between the bride and the groom. The florals were spectacular thanks to Soiree Girls. And I always love photographing at venues that have so much to offer – from rustic to ranch, from mountain to desert – the backdrop changes constantly, and as such provides for the most amazing variety of photos.

Kim and Austin started their day getting ready in Tanque Verde Ranch’s beautifully appointed rustic yet elegant hotel rooms. Kim opted to wear Cowboy Boots with her gorgeous wedding dress and it really added a touch of cowgirl style to her look. I Do Hair and Makeup team created her intricate hairstyle and natural makeup to complete her look. Her mom and bridesmaids were there helping her get dressed and generally enjoying the pre-wedding festivities.

While Kim was finishing in hair and makeup, I took the opportunity to photograph the details of the wedding. I loooove details and believe they make the love story come to life when couples look back at their photos years later. Some of my favorite details from this wedding include the super fun ring box that, like a puzzle, fit together with the bride and groom kissing, the stunning engagement ring, and of course the dress, boots and jewelry! I incorporated the rustic elements of nature and the guest room into the details to really keep with the style of the day.

Austin and his groomsmen were tons of fun to work with and I was able to capture some great candid and photojournalist pictures of them hanging out and being themselves as well as some posed images. Even though it was a really bright time of day, I was able to balance them perfectly using the professional studio photography lighting that I bring with me to every wedding. Using high quality off camera lighting makes all the difference in getting the best wedding photos during the wedding day!

The ceremony took place with a beautiful Tucson mountain overlook while the guests enjoyed Tanque Verde Ranch’s signature pre-wedding cocktails. The floral arch and flowers were some of my favorite details from the ceremony, as well as the vintage window that was turned into the table assignments for guests. Another fun element to the ceremony was that the couple had a Polaroid camera out on the table for guests to use during the pre-ceremony cocktail hour. Guests could take photos and instantly hang them up on this fun clothes line of pictures. As a photographer, I just love that they incorporated this element of spontaneity and memory to the day!

Kim and Austin wanted their beloved dog to walk her down the aisle which was so sweet. Sweeter still were the happy tears from the groom and the pure love that I could see shining in their eyes while they spoke their vows. Kim and Austin wrote their own vows and the vows were funny, and meaningful, and told the story of how they met, promises made and promises kept. I have been so fortunate to witness true love so many times in my life through the camera – I look for that one look, that light in the eyes, that moment when she looks at him or he looks at her while the vows are being spoken, and I take the photo hoping that they will look back at these photos and remember those promises.

After the wedding the guests didn’t have to go very far as the tables and dance floor were set up on the lawn just down from the ceremony site. While they enjoyed cocktail hour, Kim and Austin and I took advantage of the stunning end of day light and desert sunset to photograph on the lawn where the dust kicked up by the horses and the wind created this dreamy effect, then down in the desertscape by Lake Corchran and then finally up on the Old Homestead overlook.

This truly was a perfect start to their Forever After.