Steel Horse Wedding

Jesse and I first learned of Steel Horse weddings when we left the buzz of city life for the raven calls of rural living. One of the side effects we were hoping to experience was a bit more disconnection from the digital world so many of us get sucked into these days. However, we have a pesky little thing called a mortgage that means we still have to work. So we set about getting to know our more “local” venues – places that don’t typically make the popular wedding venue lists, but are breathtaking in their own right.

Christina, one of the owners, was gracious enough to give us a tour in the spring of 2023. We hit it off immediately; we’ve got a lot of the same beliefs, like that weddings should be more about a great experience with your loved ones than all the “stuff.”

And then we waited. There’s only so much you can do to manifest a wedding at a new-to-you venue, and all of these things take at least a year in the wedding planning cycle anyway.

But a little over a year ago, the universe put Carrie and Stephen in our orbit. As with Christina, we hit it off immediately, bonding over the importance of connection….and a deep love for animals, both wild and domesticated. And that’s how we found ourselves photographing Carrie and Stephen’s Steel Horse wedding earlier this month.

But back to disconnecting – one of my favorite things about the Steel Horse is the lack of cell phone coverage. While a lot of people get that itchy feeling when they’re disconnected, we’ve discovered it makes for some of the best wedding day photos. Without the temptation to see what other people around the world are up to or how many likes the latest video has, wedding guests stay more present and in the moment.

Carrie and Stephen’s wedding was no exception. Without screens, the kids came up with more imaginative games and the adults made stronger connections with friends old and new. The conversations dug deeper and lasted longer. The time slowed as folks watched the hummingbirds flit about. The stars were just a little bit brighter and more impressive.

Carrie and Stephen, we are so grateful to have met you and to have had the chance to capture all of the epicness you brought together for one amazing weekend. Same time next year?