After I met Nikki and Steve for the first time, I pretty much walked back to my car skipping. We instantly connected over our love of animals and theater, and when they threw around words like "Lilly Lake" and "go-carting" and "putt-putting" in association with their wedding, I almost lost it. On the morning of their wedding, I gleefully drove up just past Estes Park to photograph their sunny, insouciant ceremony at Lilly Lake. The surroundings were breathtaking. Love seemed to tangibly burst from their closest friends and family. The ceremony was intimate and natural. Guests lolled in the sunshine on picnic tables, awaiting the arrival of the bride, talking and laughing. What a perfect scene. After one of their friends read a poem in their honor and Nikki and Steve started reciting their vows, I looked up. Both the bride and the groom were dabbing away tears, as was the officiant, as was the majority of their guests. I, myself, had to take a deep breath to keep from crying. It hit me then, that these two are doing it right. They passed on a lot of the fuss and hoopla often affiliated with weddings these days, and they made their day about celebrating marriage amidst the beauty of nature, about taking the care to show their guests why they love each other and why they love Colorado (insert go-carting and putt-putting here), and about treating their guests to such a loving dose of hospitality with incredible food and wine from Antica Roma.Nikki & Steve's love and concern for the happiness of their friends and family was so obvious.... it was THEIR wedding day, and the whole time, what mattered most were the people around them. There's a word for what it means when you put others above yourselves: selflessness. Nikki and Steven, I'm really glad to know you both. I'm glad to know that people like you exist. People who love with action and deeds. If you love your friends and family like that, I can't even imagine the scope of your love for each other. Thank you so much for giving me the immense honor of photographing your wedding. It was so fun to be a photojournalist and capture your wedding in such a candid, real way. I wish you both a lifetime of joy. Congratulations, you two!(P.S. Go Ravens!)