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Rustic Vail Wedding Photography at Piney River Ranch

I’ve got some gorgeous rustic Vail wedding photography to share with the world today!  And bonus, it’s for an old derby buddy of mine named Joanne! She’s hella smart and does doctor stuff.  I would describe that more, but I’m uneducated about that kind of thing and don’t really understand all of the ins and outs of which boards mean what title.  All I know is that she’s a really hard working doctor and has been getting after her goals! And I’m so thrilled for her that she met such an awesome guy named Nick during that process.  They live in Arkansas now but opted to hold their wedding on a gorgeous Colorado autumn day with the spectacular Gore Range as their mountain backdrop.

Cozy Vail Wedding Reception in a Wood Cabin Style Setting

Piney River Ranch is the perfect rustic Vail wedding venue for this couple.  They’re very laid back and just wanted to celebrate in a casual way with their closest family and friends surrounded by Colorado’s beauty.  Piney River Ranch is very much a destination wedding venue even for locals due to its location. To get there, you drive down a wild and bumpy dirt road for about 40 min from the I-70 exit in Vail.  This place is so remote that they only do weddings for about 3 months out of the year when it’s actually accessible. It’s a really good idea to get your guests out there on a shuttle which is what they opted for.  

I actually haven’t photographed at this pretty rustic Vail wedding venue since 2011 and it was neat to see the changes that they’ve made to the dressing rooms and the overall space.  They’ve definitely improved it since I was last there while keeping the charm of a rustic wood cabin in the woods type of feel. There is plenty of room for guests to hang out and enjoy the scenery and the company while also still feeling quite cozy and intimate.    

Orange Alpenglow Mountain Wedding Photos at Sunset

Joanne and Nick’s wedding day was gorgeous and warm with a super bright sunny blue sky that Colorado is known for.  Any time of year that high up in elevation can be hit or miss weather wise, but autumn in particular can be dicey in the Vail mountains.  These two totally lucked out with a beautiful day. As a photographer, my favorite part of their day was when this slightly camera shy couple agreed to head out to catch some pretty pictures with the alpenglow hitting the peaks in the backdrop.  As you look through the photos I think you’ll agree that there is a world of difference between the harsh light of the day and that dreamy orange glow we got to use at the end. But that’s also what is really great about them as a couple. They weren’t there to make a big show of their wedding and worry about all of the random details that don’t matter as much.  (Props, to their wedding planner, Sylwia with Glitter & Bliss Weddings and Events, she made sure the details were awesome so that Joanne and Nick didn’t have to worry about anything!) They were there to celebrate their love, spend time with each other and with their favorite people. Mission definitely accomplished!

Interested in seeing more photos and finding more information about this beautiful rustic Vail wedding venue?  Be sure to check out the PINEY RIVER RANCH page of my site!

If you’d like to find more information about my wedding photography services, please be sure to look at the WEDDINGS area of my site.

Wedding Venue: Piney River Ranch Vail, Colorado

Wedding Coordinator: Glitter & Bliss Weddings and Events Vail, Colorado

Florist: Fancy Pancy Avon, Colorado

Wedding Cake: Christine Clancy Vail, Colorado

Wedding DJ: Bob with Great Time DJ Vail, Colorado

Transportation: Lulu with Timberline Tours Vail, Colorado

Party Rental: Event Rents Vail, Colorado