Come explore the enchanting journey as we recount Celeste and Jordan's unforgettable wedding day at the picturesque Northstar Gatherings venue, nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of Idaho Springs, Colorado. From tearful first touches to vibrant sunset celebrations and even morning after yoga, this wedding captures the essence of love and joy against the backdrop of Colorado's majestic mountains. As a Colorado Wedding Photographer, I found myself time and time again blown away by the vastness of scenery and versatility at Northstar Gatherings.

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from the couple:

“Caleb & Amy made our dreams come true when it came to photographers. From our engagement session, to wedding photography, drone shots, and morning after yoga, yes YOGA, Jordan and I were stunned by the final product. Our vision was to capture these moments in a film style and they did just that and beyond. Not only do they have such talent behind the camera, their personalities and love for each other shine so bright, we absolutely adore them! Amy offers an hour yoga session as an add on to their packages and I highly recommend looking into this option. This was the perfect way to close out our wedding weekend and bring peace to those most stressed leading up to the big day. Thank you both for being such incredible vendors and humans. We can’t express our gratitude enough!”

C - J

Nestled near Idaho Springs, Colorado, Northstar Gatherings offered the ideal canvas for Celeste and Jordan's love story to be painted. Northstar Gathering also made our list of “Top 5 Unique Wedding Venues in Colorado” and for good reason. The venue's reputation for picturesque views and natural beauty created a stunning backdrop for their wedding, intensified by the unique coincidence of the Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse on the morning of their wedding: October 14, 2023.

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Getting Ready in Style in the Mountains

The day commenced with a sense of community and love as Celeste and her bridesmaids arrived at Northstar. Surrounded by a supportive network of ten bridesmaids and groomsmen each, the bridal suite above the main hall buzzed with excitement as Celeste and her crew all got dressed and ready. As you can imagine, with 10+ people all trying to get ready in one suite it was a little chaotic, but there was beauty in this chaos. Shoes were everywhere. Bridesmaids dresses hung from every imaginable place they could be hung from, and hair curlers decked the tops of every table. There was unmatched excitement and energy in the air from the moment we got there. Meanwhile, Jordan and his groomsmen got dressed and ready and enjoyed breathtaking mountain views in the solar room, a short walk down the dirt road from the main hall. Jordan and all his groomsmen were equally as excited, and the energy from the whole wedding party radiated through the mountains. Everyone knew it was going to be a special day.

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A Unique Approach: First Touch and Personal Vows

In a unique and personal twist to their wedding day, Celeste and Jordan opted for a "first touch" instead of a traditional first look. First looks are a popular addition to many traditional weddings. A first look is where the Bride and Groom, once fully dressed and prepared, have a private moment before their ceremony to see each other. While many traditional weddings have the the couple first seeing each other when the Bride walks down the aisle, a first look has the couple seeing each other before hand which is logistically more schedule friendly for every one on the day of. Celeste and Jordan found a compromise between the two. We found a shady corner of the venue for them to have this moment. Holding hands they took turns exchanging personal vows to each other in private, creating an emotional atmosphere.

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The Ceremony and Beyond: Exchanging Rings with a Mountainous View

The balcony of Northstar hosted the ceremony, offering a gorgeous view that added to the magic of the moment. Ill never forget seeing the look on Jordan’s face when Celeste and her dad stepped through the open doors onto the balcony to walk down the flower-dotted aisle. During their ceremony, they exchanged traditional vows and participated in a unique activity, assembling a handmade wooden puzzle crafted by their uncle, who also served as their officiant. The ceremony was emotional and full of personal touches and stories from the lives of both Jordan and Celeste. From building the hand-crafted wooden puzzle that would serve as an iconic timepiece to their marriage for years to come to giving their parents a single rose as a parting gift at the ceremony, every aspect of this part of the day had their personalities and love of their family and friends written all over it.

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Am Idaho Springs Sunset to remember

Post-ceremony, Jordan and Celeste ventured up to the cliffside at Northstar Gatherings for a breathtaking portrait session with the mountains as their backdrop. We did some awesome creative photos with them and their large bridal parties(see full gallery below), as well as some stunning and adventurous photos of just C & J.

Later, they shared their first dance in the beautifully decorated dinner space with all their guests and family surrounding them. Each of their parents and chosen wedding party gave emotional speeches that didn’t leave a dry eye in the room. The day concluded with a mesmerizing sunset photo session, as the clouds painted the sky with the most perfect and colorful hues. The real party began with a lively DJ, dazzling lights, and the joyous laughter and celebration of Celeste and Jordan’s family and friends.

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The fun of the wedding weekend did not end there though, as Celeste and Jordan chose to add on a Morning After Yoga session with Amy - a certified yoga instructor and the other half of the business here at Caleb Clayton Film and Photo. Morning After Yoga is a special addition to any wedding or elopement day and offers you and your family or bridal party to have a relaxing, centered, and grounded end to the what can be a chaotic but fun weekend.

The Sunday morning after their wedding, we me up with them at their hotel where Amy led Celeste and Jordan and some of their wedding party and family in a post-wedding yoga flow that had everyone feeling complete and whole from the weekend. It was a beautiful way to incorporate their hobbies and passions into their wedding weekend for friends and family.

Celeste and Jordan's wedding at Northstar Gatherings was a true celebration of love, family, and nature. From the unique "first touch" to the heartfelt ceremony and the joyous celebration that followed with all of their closest family and friends, their day unfolded as a testament to creating unforgettable wedding experiences that capitalize on what is important to them in their lives. As a Colorado Wedding Photographer this day was special and serves as a timeless reminder of the beauty found in both love and nature and the joy of celebrating that with family and friends.

To see more of their day, check out the Gallery below!

Vendors Involved:

Venue: Northstar Gatherings

Photography: Caleb Clayton Film + Photo

Planning: Anna Rae Events

Florals: Simply Petals

Cake: Kelly Leigh Cakes

Suit: Indochino

Catering: Greenspoint Catering

Guest Book: After the Tone

Invitations: Paper and Dust

Jewelry: Goldie Links