See a slideshow of trip.
There are few things more fun in the middle of winter in Colorado than a warm beach vacation. We recently spent a week visiting our friends Cindy and Dan who rented a hillside villa in Sayulita, Mexico, to celebrate Cindy’s new job. The villa was named Casa Quetzal, after a cool bird with long tail feathers, that flies by in a flock every morning. Sayulita is a small village of about 4,000 people 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast. It’s the crown jewel of the newly designated “Riviera Nayarit”.
Another Denver couple, Janice and Kyle, were also staying at Casa Quetzal. We had met them previously at a wine tasting dinner at Cindy and Dan’s house last year.
As with most vacations, the days slip past from one beautiful sunset to another. We filled our days exploring various beaches up and down the coast, including one that included a walk through an interesting graveyard and another beach that we had to access by ducking through a sea cave with crashing waves. Timing was everything.
On another day we went fishing with a local guide, Juan, leaving the surf beach at sunrise. The six-hour round trip was more fun than I had imagined. We had seen Humpback whales jumping and spouting through the use of a long lens and binoculars from our villa, but we were able to see one from about 50 yards away by boat, which was quite a nice treat.
It was truly a traditional Mexican fishing trip including hand-casting a net to catch live bait – sardines to chum the water – off the coast of Islas Marietas, a protected wildlife sanctuary for sea birds including the Blue-Footed Boobie. We topped off the fishing trip by catching a pair of 20-pound Rooster fish, that put up a great fight. We prepared a fish dinner on the grill on the roof top deck at our villa as the sun set on another amazing day in paradise.
Returning home was a simple three-hour flight, faster than driving home from Aspen! The only problem was, it had snowed 15 inches two days before we got home. It took us three attempts to get from the street, over the berm created by the snowplow and up our driveway into the garage.
Adios, Kent
Photo by Geri Meireis
Cindy and Dan.
Photo by Geri Meireis
Kyle and Janice.
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See Jami and Nick’s wedding day picture story in a short slideshow.
Jami and Nick were married November 12, 2011 at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain.
Their story began years ago at Jami’s first wedding to Joe Kennedy, when Nick was a groomsman. Joe and Nick were both professional left-handed pitchers playing Major League Baseball. Life was good. Jami and Joe then had a son who they named Kaige and were living in Boulder, Colorado, while Joe played for the Toronto Blue Jays.
On November 23, 2007, Joe was in Florida to be the best man at the wedding of a friend when he woke up in the middle of the night, collapsed, and was pronounced dead of a fatal arrhythmia. Jami was pregnant with their second child, a baby girl named Joie, who would become Joe’s name sake.
Almost four years later, Jami and Nick were married in a candle light ceremony that was as much about Jami and her children, as it was about the couple.
Kaige was the best man and ring bearer and Joie was the maid of honor and flower girl.
While getting ready for her wedding, Jami teared up while tying a pendant with the initials “JDK” onto her bouquet. While Nick and his father shared a toast to Joe using the flask that he was given as a present for being Joe’s best man. Meanwhile the kids were playing with gifts personally delivered to them from Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies first baseman, who is known to them as “Uncle Todd”.
Even with all of the emotion and intensity, everyone came to this Colorado mountain destination wedding with open hearts.
The team from Alexan Events planned, designed and coordinated every detail including bathing the ceremony and the reception rooms in fushia lighting, creating a warm, intimate feel that almost had a New Year’s Eve party atmosphere. They also distributed cool hats, feather boas and other party favors.
The band Phat Daddy kept the party rocking until midnight.
XO Booth was a big hit with their photo booth.
My good friend Steve Peterson was a huge help documenting the entire day with me.
Cheers and Happy New Year, Kent
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This rainy wedding day picture was taken at Wild Basin Lodge in Allenspark near Estes Park, Colorado during Alyssa and Charlies ceremony.
WPJA, Wedding Photojournalist Association, announced the winners of the 3rd Quarter competition for 2011. See all of the winners here.
I managed to place 3 images in three different categories Ceremony, Reflection and Humor. I’m honored to compete with many of the best wedding photojournalists from around the world.
Two other Colorado photographers placed in this contest Preston Utley and Kara Gwinn.
Cheers and Happy New Year, Kent
Bride Katie Nepil prays before her Royal Catholic Wedding at Saint Frances Cabrini in Littleton, Colorado.
This picture is from Jordan and Andy's wedding reception at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.
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