Mark Creery Photography - Colorado, Denver, Fort Collins, Victoria B.C wedding photographer

Alisha & Kyle couple shoot preview {Fort Collins engagement photographer}

2011-12-10T05:59:00.001+11:00

So things have been quiet on the blog for a while, as my life has gone through some big transitions lately: first my wedding in June and then a big move again across the world to Colorado, and my new home in Fort Collins. We've settled in and are enjoying the town, the people, and the scenery it has to offer. It also means a big change for my business, so I expect things to be slow as I try to make a name for myself locally. I will take the time to launch a new website, catch up on things I put off while I was so busy in Australia, have fun and play around with my photography, advance my skills, and meet new people and do new things. So I'm excited about the future!

To fill the void a little, here is an image from my first couple shoot in Fort Collins. There are lots of great spots for photos here and we are so close to amazing country scenery. I will do a full blog post on them as well.

Meet Alisha & Kyle:

Northern Colorado wedding photographer

Kathryn & Jonathan - June 11th

2011-07-10T21:15:00.010+10:00

So this post is well overdue, and definitely one of the longest I’ve made. I guess I get some slack because I had my own wedding and honeymoon the week afterwards! Well, my wedding aside, I’m very excited that I got to be present for Kathryn & Jon’s wedding, which took place in Parksville, B.C. at beautiful Pacific Shores Resort & Spa. It was serendipity, as I was only back home for 10 days for my wedding and had already booked my ticket when they announced their wedding date. I was flattered that they chose me as their photographer, even though the little voice inside me thought it might be a bit much to shoot a wedding a week before my own. But I really was so honoured to be able to capture such special friends’ memories. Not only that, but many friends at the wedding were to be at ours as well, so it was a great chance for my now-wife and I to catch up beforehand.

Their wedding story is a fun one: they met at a ‘check-out ‘counter at Thrifty Foods (Jon instinctively picking the line with the cute girl in it) where Jon used his charm to strike up a conversation that spilled over into the parking lot before exchanging numbers. He even tried to convince her to go to his party that night instead of her own birthday party! The rest, as they say, is history. Then while Jon was away on a trip to Cuba with friends without her, Kathryn got really clear she wanted to get married and phoned him up and proposed! Not the conventional way, but makes for a great story. Not only that but they decided to get married just over 3 months later. How amazing the wedding went with such little time is really a testament to the determined people they are and the great friends they have. They are also one of the most fun couples I know, and the photos reflected that. After the ceremony we went to the local Thrifty’s and reminisced a little (their motto ‘the smiles in the bag for you’ was very appropriate), and they caused quite a stir. Then we stopped at the mini-golf where they had played the day before, then headed to the wide expanses of Rathtrevor Beach which Parksville is famous for.

At the reception, Canucks fever was revving high judging by all the napkin-waving from the guests (Vancouver had just won Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals the night before). There were also many musically-talented people in the bridal party who played guitar and sang. Jon sang a romantic song to Kathryn, then she softly sang a sweet one to him, and they finished with a duet together - it was so touching! They also had a live painting done by Kristin Grant to remember their day by and the story of their relationship. The night finished off with a live jazz band and some great dance tunes and lots of funky moves.

Thanks again for having me along, you two! xo

Amy & Damian - April 2nd

2011-05-10T12:37:00.011+10:00

I will really miss the country weddings around here. It's so cool when a wedding in a small town is the big local happening of the day. This was the case for Amy & Damian's wedding in Young, NSW - cherry capital of Australia. We were wandering around the old train station before we started when we bumped into the Deputy Mayor, who had just checked out their reception venue at the Town Hall and wished us well. The town has many heritage buildings and great scenery, so lots to choose from for photos.

It was great to see Amy & Damian again, who I had done an engagement session for. I'm not sure if it's just the couples I attract, but they were another very easy-going bride and groom that were so easy to photograph. The ceremony with about 120 friends and family took place at St. Mary's Church, followed by wedding party photos close by and then the reception. Thanks also to Nick of Skipping Stone Photography for coming down from Sydney to second shoot with me.

This is my last wedding in Aus, but I will post some farewell thoughts and photos before I leave in August. But my next big thing to think about is my own wedding coming up in June! Wish me luck!

Cassey & James - March 26th

2011-04-29T15:58:00.014+10:00

It was a beautiful day on the coast, with the ceremony by the rocks where the couple have fished from many times. Cassey had been visualizing her wedding for many years, and so all the details reflected her personality perfectly. The ceremony and reception took place in Batemans Bay at the Coachhouse Resort with friends and family, some coming all the way from England.

Deb & Andrew - March 19th

2011-04-20T17:35:00.006+10:00

It was a beautiful wedding day that was tinged with nostalgia for me: this was my last wedding in Canberra. It's been such an exciting ride for the last almost 3 years in Australia, but soon a whole new chapter in my life will be starting. In 2 months I will be getting married back home and then will be following my bride to Colorado in August, where she got a great job at Colorado State University. I'm thankful for all the opportunities I've had here and for the great people I've met along the way. It's not quite farewell yet though and I still have two more weddings to blog, so save your tears for now. :)

That being said, I was very excited to photograph Deb & Andrew's big day. They are so laid-back and fun to be around. There were great locations, with the ceremony and reception at the Hyatt Hotel, and I was like a kid in a candy store at New Parliament House, where Deb works. We had after-hours access and got lots of cool shots in a short amount of time. I had never seen a bride scanned by security before either! It was also great to see the Wallace family again, who were in fine form at the reception and brought some Scottish flair. The happy couple had a fantastic honeymoon in Western Australia.

Waving their backstage passes around to make sure they didn't get in trouble with security...

Lara & Christian - engagement photos

2011-04-07T11:53:00.008+10:00

This love story is that of Lara & Christian. They hadn't done a photo shoot together before, but quickly warmed up to the camera and were naturals in no time. And speaking of warm, we seemed to catch the last day of summer, so it was warm even in the morning. We started with the vistas of Mt. Stromlo and then headed into Canberra to the National Art Gallery. The happy couple will be tying the knot 2 years from now so they have plenty of time to enjoy the glow.

Katherine & Michael - March 12th

2011-04-04T20:17:00.011+10:00

After experiencing about a hundred weddings now as a photographer, I can say almost no wedding goes without at least a little hitch in the plans. In this case, the bride showed up to the church on time, but a bus full of guests got a bit lost and did not. But the guests eventually did make it and after circling the block, the bridal party made their entrance. Thank goodness for mobiles (aka cell phones for you non-Aussies) to make things easier. After that, everything did go smoothly though and it was a fantastic day. The ceremony took place at St. John's Church with the reception at the National Press Club. For our location photos we tried a unique venue where there were lots of reflections for me to play with. Congrats to the happy couple!

Michael won the prize for first sibling in his family to get married...

Renai & Drew - March 6th

2011-03-28T21:14:00.014+11:00

One of the reasons weddings are so special, is they officially recognize the beginning of a new family. On this day, it was the coming together of Renai & Drew, and Drew's two daughters. It was an amazing mix of connection, love and tears, which pulled on my heartstrings more than a little. The ceremony was celebrated at Gold Creek Chapel, followed by some photos on the chapel grounds, with a casual lunch reception with heartfelt speeches at Functions across the way.

Lisa & Jason - March 5th

2011-03-23T20:15:00.019+11:00

It was a beautiful Saturday for Lisa + Jason to celebrate their marriage with their closest friends and family. The nuptials happened in the oldest building in Canberra, St. John's Church, with its new 'no pine tree' look along the walkway, which helps the view. I'm sure you'll agree with Jason in saying Lisa was a stunning bride. It was great to already know them in front of the camera from their engagement shoot, and the whole wedding party made the location shoot a breeze. The party ended up at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A bubble machine made for some fun for guests and some interesting shots, but I found bubbles not helpful for keeping a grip on the camera!

Emma & Brendan - February 26th

2011-03-15T14:53:00.003+11:00

It was one of those perfect Canberra days for an outdoor wedding/reception, which hasn't been a given during this 'La Nina' summer. As with most weddings, the time I had with the wedding party seemed to fly by, but in a good, 'wish we could do this longer' kind of way. We started photos pre-ceremony at Hotel Realm, then headed to the National Library where all the action was happening later, and over to the National Portrait Gallery. You really don't have to wander too far around that area to get a nice change of backdrop. Emma & Brendan's unique, playful personalities were on full display, and came out as well in their choice of The Owl and the Pussy-cat poem for a reading.

For some fun, the wedding party decided to give me their version of the 'jump'. It was impressive the girls got any air at all in heels on the grass.

This peacock likes to hang around the library, but he didn't stick around to watch the ceremony...

Jess & Nick - February 19th

2011-03-08T16:09:00.013+11:00

The day started out beautifully at Jess' family home in the countryside for the preparations, before we headed to Gold Creek Chapel for the ceremony. Half way through the family portraits, the weather took a turn for the wet and we had to scurry into the chapel for cover. It was still bucketing rain in town during our location shoot, so we headed to the National Portrait Gallery after which the gang relaxed at Hotel Realm with some drinks. The girls had lots of fun making pouty lips for the camera, a pose they seem to have perfected. Jess & Nick had a fabulous honeymoon in Fiji, which I am now looking forward to myself in a few months!

Rosemary & Oliver - February 12th

2011-02-24T12:10:00.020+11:00

This post is a bit of a milestone - my 100th in exactly 2 years! That sounds like a lot to me so hopefully you haven't got tired of seeing my photos yet. I know there's a lot of online media overload these days, so I appreciate your support even if it's just the odd glance at my work (but keep the comments coming!).

This lovely wedding was that of Rosemary and Oliver. I first chatted to them on Skype while they were in Hong Kong, where they now live and work for the next few years at least. Though their wedding had a country feel there were some exotic touches, from her dress to the peacock feather boutonnieres and hair pieces to the siamese fighting fish. The ceremony took place at the quaint Wattle Park Church in Hall, and then we headed out to Poachers Pantry for the bridal party photos and the reception. Rosemary and Oliver hammed it up a lot and Rosemary's big smile was infectious, so there were lots of spontaneous moments to capture.

Oliver impressively caught the cork and also managed to catch the veil in the process...

You can never be too prepared in the country with the wet weather we've been having... but luckily it was a dry but windy day.

Madelyn & Nathan - February 5th

2011-02-18T22:34:00.014+11:00

It was a great wedding to kick of the 2011 season. After a nice break in SE Asia over the holidays and a visit from my parents, I'm back into shooting a wedding a week for the next couple of months and looking forward to all the fun. There was lots of emotion on Madelyn and Nathan's big day, and it started off well with the guys and their super-sized wedding vehicles! After the ceremony at the Gold Creek Chapel we headed into town to the museum for the bridal party shots. The reception had some great moments as well and I was happy to cover some of the dancing mayhem. The happy couple had their honeymoon in exotic Fiji.

The boys had some sweet rides to the chapel - matching rigs!!

Looking out from the reception venue at Functions as a squall hit 20 minutes after we arrived! We had a high-five after we realized how lucky we were not to be caught outside for the sideways rain and crazy wind...

Lisa & Jason engagement session

2011-02-12T11:16:00.009+11:00

Another cute e-session to blog about. This time it's Lisa and Jason who I will be seeing shortly in a month for their wedding. They quickly warmed up to being in front of the camera and let their personalities out. Canberra has some really great locations packed together - the first shots make me feel like I'm in the tropics!

I'm looking forward to the next 2 months of weddings galore and to sharing them with you!

Amy & Damian engagement session

2011-02-09T13:57:00.009+11:00

These two are getting married very soon on April 2nd and I am looking forward to traveling out to Yass, where they are both teachers, for their country wedding. It was great to reconnect with them!

Nora & Fred - December 19th

2010-12-17T15:11:00.038+11:00

This was the last wedding of 2010 that I had the pleasure to photograph. It was another amazing year in Canberra that surpassed my expectations and there were so many great experiences that have helped me grow as an artist that I am grateful for.

The happy couple Nora and Fred are both very kind and fun-loving. Nora recently moved from her home country of Vietnam and is training to become a florist, so she went all out the day before to prepare all the flowers for her wedding - an impressive feat that turned out very well, so I would recommend her! We started off for photos at Dunrossil Drive and had their entourage of friends met us half way through (including a recent couple of mine). The ceremony took place at the lunch reception (good thing as it rained once we arrived after photos), and afterward there were Asian delicacies galore - the food didn't seem to stop coming! After the lunch they paid respects to their families with a tea ceremony, which involved a wardrobe change for Nora and also a whole roasted pig as a gift!

Fred wanted to pay homage to the Vietnamese squat...

The kids kept busy playing games... this little guy was doing too well to stop and feed himself apparently!

A very eloquent, touching speech from Nora...

It was some strong stuff - definitely not tea!

Andrew & Lanie - December 18th

2010-12-17T15:11:00.022+11:00

This is a story of a worldwide romance that started in Canberra and then continued for several years while Lanie was in Europe and then the Philippines, where she is from. You could definitely say that persistence paid off for these two. Andrew and Lanie renewed their vows in Canberra just 2 weeks after their ceremony in the Philippines, so it was a nice way to include all their Aussie friends and family in their celebration. The ceremony took place on Aspen Island under the blowing wispy willows with the reception at Regatta Point where they first met.

Overlooking Regatta Point where the first met...

Emma & Craig - December 11th

2010-12-17T15:11:00.010+11:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Craig at a wedding in August as part of the bridal party, and there were many familiar faces. It was a rustic setting out at Lake George Winery, about 45 minutes from Canberra. Emma got ready in a house with an amazing view overlooking the vineyard and lake (which now actually has some water in it!). It was a touching ceremony with lots of emotion and after we had lots of options for photos nearby.

Leah & Robin - December 4th

2010-12-07T22:27:00.022+11:00

I love weddings in the countryside. There's just something about a small, quaint town that makes for a great setting and the drive is relaxing. In this case it was Bombala, where Leah is from, about a 2 hour drive from Canberra. The ceremony took place in a private garden that was so lush and beautiful. The rain that helped make everything so green was kind enough to hold off until just after the ceremony, when everyone needed to take cover for a half hour until the pouring let up. Luckily we could still go out for photos, and we went to the old train station and explored the scenery. Congrats to the happy couple!

Karen & Knut - November 27th

2010-12-07T22:27:00.016+11:00

Well, I normally delve right into a description about the couple and the wedding day, but it's not every day I blog a wedding from Thailand! I'm in full vacation mode enjoying the city of Chiang Mai with Allison, but I did manage to upload photos for most of my 2010 weddings before I left so I'm trying to get those 'live' as time allows. It's all too easy to stay connected these days (which maybe isn't always a good thing).

Karen & Knut had a dry wedding day, which isn't something to take for granted this year. They were both very calm throughout the day and so everything felt natural from my perspective. The ceremony took place on a blustery Aspen Island with the reception at the National Portrait Gallery, and we explored the architecture around the ANU for our bridal party photos.

Karen & Chris - November 20th

2010-12-07T22:26:00.029+11:00

It was a spectacular day for a wedding. Karen and Chris were such an easy-going couple, and the bridal party photos had a real country feel to them even just a few minutes from Canberra centre. After the church ceremony the reception was out at scenic Lambert Vineyards. The happy couple took their honeymooon in New York.

The view on the way back from the vineyard - overlooking Canberra with the parliament all small in the distance...

Paveena & Nang - November 21st

2010-12-07T22:26:00.028+11:00

To say that these two are a cute couple is a bit of an understatment. Besides the obvious chemistry and good looks they share, they have a cute story to match about first dating each other since they were 15 and 14 years old! I first met up with them back in Vancouver when they had moved over for the summer there, and as luck would have it we will meet up in Thailand during the holidays as well, where Paveena has family. Their wedding day was full of great moments and their ceremony included a tea ceremony as well.

These two have some amazing dance moves and busted out from a traditional waltz to some stylish hip-hop...

Cassandra & Alistair - November 13th

2010-12-07T22:17:00.019+11:00

It was a perfect day for a wedding, if not a little hot to be wearing knee-length wool socks and an argyle jacket. I'm sure hot days like this didn't happen often in the Highlands, but the tradition still lives on for Scottish weddings in Australia despite the climate. Alistair did well to brave the elements though in the name of great photos. After the ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Church in rustic Hall we headed into town to a lovely place I call the 'purple field' and then to ANU and the museum. Cassandra's laugh was infectious and lit up those around her, so I really mean it when I say they were a pleasure to photograph.

The priest was very 'hands-on' in helping them position their fingers for maximum camera-viewing, which made for a light moment...

Renae & Luke - November 6th

2010-12-07T22:17:00.010+11:00

Love and marriage... in the famous song by Frank Sinatra they go together like a horse and carriage. Nothing could be more true on this day for Renae & Luke. Renae and company were whisked away by carriage from their hotel to St. John's Church, which is the oldest church in Canberra (70 years older than Canberra itself). It seemed like the stuff of fairytales, as you don't see them around anymore (although where I'm from they are used for tourists downtown). The day was a great celebration, and made all the more fun with the couple's cute son Troy and his antics.

The guys had this souped up Dukes of Hazard-orange jeep (complete with the famous horn sound), so it made for a fun prop...

Louise & Will - October 30th

2010-10-25T21:13:00.010+11:00

With the wet Spring we've had, planning for outdoor photo locations has been a bit of a guessing game. But luckily Canberra has plenty of interesting buildings that serve as more than just a back-up in case of downpours. With the bridal party we made the most of the dry time we had at the Canberra Railway Museum, before we got chased away by a deluge. We headed over to the Portrait Gallery and then to the National Museum before their reception. Of course, being such a happy day a little rain didn't dampen Louise & Will's enthusiasm and the whole party brought lots of energy to the photos.

Rebecca & Stuart - October 29th

2010-10-25T21:12:00.017+11:00

Fiji sounds like a great place for a holiday, and it has been on my long travel 'to do' list since I've been in Australia and not so far away. So I was just a little envious when Rebecca & Stuart moved there a mere 5 days after their wedding to start a new adventure for a few years as Rebecca works for an aid organization. It seems a perfect fit for their laid-back personalities, which were evident on their sunny Friday afternoon wedding. The ceremony and reception took place at the Boathouse by the lake and we popped over to Commonwealth Park for our bridal party photos. Best of luck to the both of them in their exciting endeavours!

Louise & Ray - October 23rd

2010-10-25T21:12:00.010+11:00

It was one of those days where the weather almost wreaked some havoc on the festivities, but where timing worked out and we were able to stay dry enough for photos. Louise and Ray were married in Old Parliament House gardens, and as soon as the ceremony finished, the wind picked up and blew the arch over! But we managed to explore Commonwealth Park and got to the Portrait Gallery for some shelter before it rained too hard.

A long train makes a good blanket on a cool day!

Kelly & Chris - 10.10.10.

2010-10-18T14:55:00.037+11:00

Kelly & Chris have a unique story of meeting while on a Navy ship, and they’ve both been around the world while serving their country during various conflicts. And not many couples have such a cool wedding date! Let's just say these two won't ever have to try too hard to remember their anniversary.

Their ceremony took place at the Senate courtyard in Old Parliament House with cocktail reception at the National Press Club.

Tegan & Andrew - October 9th

2010-10-18T14:55:00.028+11:00

It's hard to try and sum up such a special and meaningful day for a couple in a few words. So it's great that I can express the day through images instead. Tegan & Andrew were relaxed all day and it was easy to capture their personalities and love for each other. We had lots of time to explore the scenery Canberra has to offer and got some great light too. The ceremony took place at Sacred Heart Church with reception at Kamberra Winery.

Rebecca & Andrew - October 3rd

2010-10-18T14:55:00.018+11:00

Everything seemed to 'click' for this wedding. From the obvious chemistry of Rebecca and Andrew, to the photos which worked out so well with the weather and getting to so many locations in time. The whole bridal party brought lots of energy to the day as well. The ceremony took place at All Saints Church, which was originally designed as a train station in NSW and then moved to Canberra, with reception at the Abbey.

A curious pigeon came to inspect what was going on...

Anna & Ryan - September 25th

2010-09-29T12:05:00.025+10:00

Canberra really is the "bush capital", as I get reminded of when I take photos from different perspectives around the centre of town. Anna & Ryan had a beautiful spring day to enjoy their celebration of love. They are a down-to-earth couple who have a lot of fun together, which made for plenty of moments to catch on camera. We took in some of the lush greenery and vistas just a few minutes from town (complete with sheep) and also took in some of the last cherry blossoms by the lake. The happy couple are now having a great time on their honeymoon in Europe.

Aislin & Steve - September 18th

2010-09-29T12:04:00.019+10:00

I was lucky enough to get back to my homeland for the second time in just a few weeks. This time for good friends Steve & Aislin's wedding in quaint Maple Bay, Vancouver Island, at the Quamichan Inn. It was also a treat to have my fiancée, Allison, along with me (thanks for being my assistant even though you were a guest too!). It was a beautiful occasion: full of teary emotion and laughs, and luckily not full of rain, as the pouring let up in the morning and waited until after the ceremony and photos to start again. Their family includes Milo, a gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dog (who looked dapper in his bow tie), who was so well-behaved during the ceremony. They were a joy to photograph, with so many great moments, and love seemed to ooze through every photo together.

That's their house in the top right corner of this shot... great ocean view!

Sometimes those cute moments happen when I least expect it, like when we were about to leave in the car for our location photos.

The sun peaked out for just a few brief minutes...

We found a canoe on the beach just calling their names, so they went for a paddle...

Steve impressed us all with his musical abilities on guitar, drums and vocals as his band performed in their self-described first and last wedding gig.

Even Aislin got in on the action...

Rebecca & Derek - September 4th

2010-09-27T23:30:00.007+10:00

Well, it was quite the wild weather for Rebecca & Derek's big day. There was lots of rain and wind up to 70 kms/hour which rattled the doors out at Gold Creek Chapel. The two both seemed quite at ease despite the inconvenience, and very lucky for us the wind and rain let up at just the right time after we had already resigned ourselves to covered or indoor photos only. So we used the break to get some shots around the chapel before another spell of sideways rain hit an hour later.

Joanna & Shane engagement

2010-09-24T12:16:00.008+10:00

I was happy to fit in an engagement shoot in my first of two busy trips to my beautiful hometown of Victoria, B.C. Joanna & Shane are getting married next year and it was a pleasure to get to do these photos as I've known her a long time as the sister of a good friend of mine. The weather was brilliant and we took in familiar downtown park locations which remind me of what I miss about Victoria.

Felicity & Brett - August 21st

2010-08-30T00:22:00.028+10:00

It was a bit of a contrast coming from a wedding in Canada at the peak of summer the week before this one to a winter wedding in Canberra the next, but being from Canada I can't really complain about double-digit high temperatures being "winter". But Felicity & Brett were definitely up for embracing the cold in the name of great photos. I've never seen a bride so willing to brave the wind and chill without a coat. We took in some early spring blossoms at Nara Park and changed it up with some cool dusk shots at some familiar landmarks. The second shot I posted also has a neat story, with 4 generations of wedding rings which Felicity and her mother wear, starting with Felicity's great-grandmother's on the left, followed by grandmother's, mother's and her own.