This newly married couple has a beautiful love story that started in Guatemala. Ximena and Corey met on the dating app Bumble while Ximena was setting up a concert in the city. Corey was in Guatemala on vacation to hike an actively erupting volcano called Fuego to see lava. Ximena and Corey hit it off and spent the next few days exploring Guatemala together, they even put up Christmas decorations.

Their favorite activities to do together include traveling, exploring, hiking, watching movies, and watching the F1 races. They got married at Twin Lakes in Colorado, one of Ximena’s favorite lakes in the state. The wedding was small and intimate, with just a few close family members and friends. Corey’s brother, Austin, officiated the ceremony. Ximena also surprised Corey with his favorite granite specimen from Texas and ended her vows with a geology pun (Corey is a geologist). Corey & Ximena chose a day & ceremony that fit them and their relationship, they stepped out of “traditional wedding” standards and opted for a smaller intimate elopement with a few family & friends present.

Another non-traditional element, get excited this is where I come in, is Ximena & Corey picked to do their wedding photographs a few weeks later after they said their I do’s! Yes, that’s right they opted to enjoy the moment and be present with their small group of family & friends during and do the wedding photographs at a later date with just the two of them!!!

Ximena & Corey selected the top of Independence Pass in Colorado for their Wedding Photographs. If you haven’t had the pleasure of driving this pass, it is beautiful with stunning views in all directions. Tip- If you plan to visit, make sure you check to see if the pass is open as it is closed in winter months due to winter weather. In fact, we picked a later date in June for Ximena & Corey to ensure the snow had time to melt off, as you can see in our photos we still had plenty of snow!

I was extremely excited about this session, Ximena communicated that she wanted something different, to avoid traditional wedding poses. She even sent me inspirational photos that I would describe as cool, artistic, and a whole vibe!! As I started to prepare for our shoot my creative excitement was almost too much to handle. Photographer Tip- If you have inspirational photos for your shoot, share them, I love preparing & getting excited for your unique shoot ahead of time!!

On June 19, 2023, we all met for the first time at Indie Pass. Corey & Ximena showed up ready in their wedding attire, Ximena rocking a non-traditional stunning off-white suit & Corey following her lead in his wedding best!!! Going into this shoot I knew it was extremely important to capture the avangard-style Ximena was requesting but also still ensure the photos represented their loving sweet bond. I think we accomplished that as this couple showed up with such excitement & enthusiasm for each other and the session. The loving & sweet part came naturally for both of them but they also nailed the poses & embraced the prompts, creating this magic!!

Thinking this kind of wedding journey might be for y’all, check out the answers below from the bride, Ximena & be sure to scroll down to see the rest of these beautifully cool wedding photographs!!

One word to describe your love story?

FUN

Where did you get married & why did you choose that location?

We got married at Twin Lakes, it is one of my favorite lakes in Colorado. I love the mountains and I definitely miss the ones from my country (even the ones that spit fire), we both feel really well connected to nature in our own ways. So it just made sense. We visited many times last year and I was always mesmerized by the beauty. Also, I really wanted to have some snow at the wedding, but I didn’t want it to be unbearably cold, so we chose spring. Photographer Side Note- Ximena & Corey also picked Independence Pass for their wedding photos as it is beautiful and holds sentiment to both of them & their relationship. Amazing Views & Sentimental Value, killer elopement spot!

Was there anything unique or special that you added to your wedding day? Why?

Corey’s brother, Austin officiated. We had just a small group of people with us and we loved the location. The hour we chose was perfect, the weather was surprisingly nice and the views were as always, incredible. I made the best geology pun (Corey is a Geologist) and I’m very proud of it! I surprised Corey with his favorite granite specimen from Texas and ended my vows with “I promise I’ll never take you for granite” and took the rock out of my pocket. Oh and also, I waited for him at the “altar” because of fudge gender roles!!! Photographer Tip- Break the mold, create your own magic, & hire me to photograph it all 🙂

Best part of your wedding day?

Being able to summarize my love and promises to him in front of (part of) our family and a small group of friends. (and actually being able to say them out loud. I cried the entire ceremony and so did he. And actually, Austin started, his voice was shaking, he was shaking and I cried immediately.)

Why would you recommend other couples hire Kristin as their wedding day photographer?

She’s very organized. I contacted her through social media and scheduled a call. During this call, I noticed she was asking all the important questions and taking notes. After that, she sent me a very clear contract, with flexibility in dates (since our pictures were taken after the wedding) just to make sure the place would be open. She’s flexible and listens to you, she truly cares about your day and you as a couple. As for the pictures, they speak for themselves. We’re both very impressed and happy with the results, it’s really hard to choose “some” to share. Thank you so much, Kristin! We hope to have a one-year anniversary shoot with you next year and come up with some other creative concepts.

Ximena and Corey’s love story is a true testament to the power of love and adventure. Their wedding day was a beautiful reflection of their deep connection to each other and to the natural world around them. I love that their wedding photographs are non-traditional and still capture the essence of their unique and fun bond, showcasing the love and happiness that they share.

Congratulations to Ximena and Corey on their beautiful love story and their journey together as a married couple!