When Alyson called me and asked me to be her and Jake’s photographer for their wedding I was so excited. I’m so excited for 2 reasons! 1. It will be my first wedding that I get to shoot from engagements to album delivery (eek!) and 2. Aly is my beautiful cousin!

I first met Aly when Trent and I were dating! I was so intimidated because Aly is basically his sister but, she and I hit it off right away and I knew that we would be great friends! Then almost 2 years ago I met Jake! Jake is funny, kind, and loving towards Aly! What more could you want for your cousin?!?

Alyson and Jake met at a PA conference in Sedona, Arizona in the spring of 2014. Alyson was in the middle of her first year of graduate school and Jake was in his second. They chatted a bit at the conference and then, as Jake says, “she conveniently disappeared before I could ask her on a date.” So he looked her up in the school directory, emailed her, and we went on their first date a week or so later. Their first date was at a hole in the wall sushi place followed by pool at a local dive bar. They would like to say it’s all smooth sailing from there, but of course, life never is. Because of how life in PA School ends up, it took them another year before they could officially be a couple. March 5, 2015 we made it official and as Jake says “It’s been amazing ever since!!”

Jake had known for a long time that he wanted to marry Alyson.

But, sometimes it takes a while to get everything together, and he didn’t want to rush anything. Over the summer of 2014, Alyson was getting settled in Grand Junction and Jake was living out of his truck, finishing his time in Denver. One night at work he had a critically ill patient that he was taking care of. That patient was in her 20’s and it just really shook him about how short life is.

The next day Jake was having coffee at their favorite coffee shop in Golden and when he left, he went directly into the jewelry store next door and bought her ring.  It took another 2 months to give it to her, but in the meantime, they both started working at their new jobs and were spending every free minute trying to get their AMAZING ranch ready to live on before winter. Jake had all the pieces together at the end of October, but he needed a day where Alyson was working and he was off so he could place everything. Luckily, she switched shifts on the first weekend of November and the timing was right. Jake planted some wine and the ring at a nice overlook on their property.

On November 8th they had been up on the ranch getting their well pump set up and finishing up what they call the water containment facility. They got done a bit early and started off on their evening walk around the property. Jake wanted to show her a new spot he had found. They hiked up onto a little ridge that overlooked the valley to the south of them. (It is beautiful!! Trust me! They took me up there and showed me “Engagement Ridge”). Jake told Aly he actually stashed a cooler there the day before. Not suspecting a thing, she said “Oh that was smart! What’s in the cooler?”

As he grabbed it from under a bush he told her that he had stashed some wine and her early Christmas present! She was intrigued but still naïve to what was going on. She opened the cooler and folded up on top was a vest, not just any vest, but a Carhartt vest with JW Bison embroidered on it. She was so excited and put it on immediately! Slipping her hands in the pockets she found, to her surprise, a ring.

Jake got down on one knee and asked Aly if she would marry him.

The first thing out of her mouth was “Are you serious right now!?!” They sat on the ridge enjoying the wine, cheese and crackers and watched the sunset!

As we were trying to decide on a location for their engagement shoot I immediately knew I wanted to see their 60+ acres and meet their adorable dog Kaline! I had seen the most amazing pictures of the land, heard about the deer that hang out, and the sunsets that light the sky up with a beautiful orange color! And boy! It did not disappoint! I kept turning to Aly with the biggest grin saying “Dude…you live here!!” We had so much fun walking the property with Kaline and seeing the beauty that is their property! I can’t wait till June to see their property in full bloom and to shoot their wedding!!!