Jenny & Blake | A Romantic Garden Wedding at Yampa River Botanic Park in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Here are to the wedding days that have this effortless rhythm to them.

If you’re dreaming of a Yampa River Botanic Park wedding (or just trying to figure out if it’s the right venue for you), you’re in the right place. 🤘🏼

Jenny & Blake planned one heck of a Colorado mountain wedding, complete with a gorgeous garden ceremony, gondola rides, live music, mountain-top dinner, an epic sunset… and even a surprise lightning storm to end the night.

Honestly? It was one for the books.

What’s in this blog?

✨ What it’s like getting married at Yampa River Botanic Park

✨ Planning tips & venue information

✨ Why they upgraded from 3 hours to 8 hours of photography (and why they never regretted it)

✨ Lots of pretty photos because… obviously.

Whether you’re planning a Yampa River Botanic Park wedding, looking for a Steamboat Springs wedding venue, or simply trying to decide how much wedding photography coverage you actually need, I hope this gives you a behind-the-scenes look at one incredible wedding day.

From 3 Hours… to the Full Story

One of my favorite parts of working with these two was watching their photography coverage evolve as they planned their day. Originally, they booked just three hours of wedding photography, thinking that would cover everything they wanted, ceremony, formals & end with couple portraits in the garden. As we worked through their timeline together, they realized what they really wanted. Story telling from start to finish.

So we expanded their coverage to eight hours, giving us the time to document everything from getting ready through sunset portraits. Looking back, it was absolutely the right decision.

Getting Ready at Their Steamboat Springs Hotel

The day began at their hotel, which honestly felt more like a cozy mountain townhome than a traditional hotel. The layout couldn’t have worked better. Ladies upstairs. Gentlemen downstairs. Zero chance of the couple accidentally bumping into each other before the ceremony & making it easy to bounce between both groups.

While hair and makeup were underway, I wandered through the space photographing all of the little details that help tell the story. The invitations, jewelry, rings, dress, shoes, florals, and all of those meaningful pieces couples spend months choosing.

Sometimes those detail moments don’t feel super important when you are planning coverage but I promise you, those little details mean something later on AND it is always a bonus when I get extra cushion time to play around with different lightening, textures & backgrounds.

Then I settled into documentary mode.

Just letting moments happen. Mom helping with jewelery. Friends laughing. Champagne. Happy tears.

Those are the photos that take you right back years later. Those are the moments that make a wedding gallery feel alive.

A Beautiful Ceremony at Yampa River Botanic Park

Their ceremony was simple in all the best ways.

A floral-covered arch. Wooden benches. Beautiful gardens.

And two people completely focused on each other.

They skipped some of the “traditional” reception activities and instead made the ceremony incredibly personal.

Jenny & Blake sang together. Then the bride’s parents performed a song.

Cue everyone trying not to cry.

Because we weren’t rushed, I had the freedom to move throughout the ceremony and capture it from multiple perspectives, not just from the aisle.

I photographed emotional guest reactions, worked different angles throughout the gardens, and even crossed the pond for a wide landscape perspective that showcased just how beautiful the setting really is.

Having that extra time completely changed the final gallery.

Gondolas, Mountains & One Heck of a Reception

After the ceremony and signing of the marriage license I took a full group photo before I broke it down into specific combos and releasing everyone to to cocktail hour.

Instead of a traditional cocktail hour, guests hopped on the gondola and headed up the mountain, where live music and happy hour were already happening to enjoy and get the full mountain town experience.

99% of the guests traveled to Colorado so this was perfect to indulge in the culture. Sometimes the location becomes part of the celebration, and this was definitely one of those weddings. While guests explored, we stole away for newly wed portraits at the gardens!

Newlywed Portraits in the Colorado Mountains

The part all couples enjoy! The newly wed photo op! This is where I really get to tell the story of their love and connection.

We started taking photos all around the gardens before taking off to the hotel for a quick outfit change and mini photo op before heading up the gondola to join their guests for dinner.

P.S. there is a garden cat and we love him and were blessed with his presence.

Hotel Paparazzi Mode: ACTIVATED

We were running out of time at the gardens because we waited about 10 or so minutes for some rain to pass under the umbrella. They were totally down for rain photos and I always am too but I wanted to get their couple photos all done up first before we played in the rain and I knew it would pass fast so we waited it out. Anywho, we had to race to the hotel to get the two photos she wanted as she changed into her reception dress.

The elevator kiss

The hotel hallway run.

On our mini photo op we captured their room set up and of course I boogied to find parking for the gondola. In that time frame they had no idea I captured these killer images since I always keep my camera on my lap when driving from location to location. At the reception they were giggling on how I was everywhere. They saw me driving, they saw me running, they honestly never missed me because I was right on their tails trying to catch up to get to the gondola with them.

The Gondola Ride

All you need is the scenic pass up there. Worth it!

An Intimate Reception Filled with Conversation

Dinner was one of my favorite parts of the day. Jenny & Blake invited me to sit at their table, which ended up creating some incredibly candid photographs.

Instead of disappearing to eat alone, I was able to quietly document genuine conversations, laughter, hugs, and little interactions happening naturally around the table. Those in-between moments often become some of the most treasured photographs in a wedding gallery.

Chasing Sunset… and Beating the Storm

Before dinner ended, I had already scouted the lighting for sunset portraits. The mountain light was absolutely unreal.

We stepped away for one last portrait session, and Colorado completely showed off.

The dramatic skies, soft evening light, and mountain backdrop created some of my favorite images from the entire day. I played around with natural light and flash and the sunset into blue hour.

Originally, we planned to finish the evening with nighttime gondola photos on the ride back down. Colorado had other plans.

A severe lightning storm rolled in, forcing the gondolas to shut down for everyone’s safety. Instead of riding back down the mountain, everyone loaded onto buses.

Honestly? It became one more unforgettable memory from an already incredible day. Sometimes the unexpected moments become part of the story, too.

Why Full-Day Wedding Coverage Matters

One of the biggest takeaways from Jenny & Blake’s wedding is something I talk about often with my couples.

Wedding photography isn’t just about documenting events.

It’s about documenting the experience.

If they had kept their original three-hour coverage, we would have missed:

• Getting ready with family
• Detail photographs
• The gondola experience
• Mountain portraits
• Sunset photographs
• Reception moments
• The unexpected adventure of the storm rolling in

Those moments are what transform a gallery from “photos of a wedding” into the complete story of a wedding day.

And that’s exactly why I love what I do. I have always payed attention and I love to tell the full story.

Planning a Wedding at Yampa River Botanic Park? Here’s What You Should Know

After photographing Jenny & Blake’s wedding, I can absolutely see why couples are drawn to Yampa River Botanic Park. It has the charm of a secluded garden while still being conveniently located right in Steamboat Springs. The gardens are filled with flowers, mature trees, ponds, walking paths, and mountain views, making it a beautiful backdrop without feeling overly formal.

A few things to know while you’re planning:

• You’ll need to become a Yampa River Botanic Park member before reserving the venue. Membership is required before you can book your wedding date. Check out wedding prices here. (very affordable!)
• The park is open to the public, even during private events. When you reserve The Green, you’ll have signage indicating your ceremony space is reserved, but visitors can still enjoy other areas of the gardens.
• Planning an intimate elopement? If you’re not reserving the venue, the park asks couples to make a donation in support of the gardens. Just know that without a reservation, they can’t guarantee privacy. You may encounter other visitors, concerts, maintenance crews, or other scheduled activities during your ceremony. It’s a good idea to call ahead and make sure another event isn’t already planned.
• Ceremonies are held during daylight hours. Since there isn’t permanent outdoor lighting throughout the gardens, events are scheduled while there’s natural light available.

If you’re dreaming of a garden wedding with Colorado mountain charm, Yampa River Botanic Park is such a unique option. Pair it with a gondola ride, mountain-top dinner, or portraits around Steamboat Springs like Jenny & Blake did, and you’ve got an unforgettable wedding experience for both you and your guests.

Looking for more wedding venue ideas around Steamboat Springs? {{Send me a message!}} I know the area well and can help you find the perfect location based on your vision, guest count, and wedding style.