 Personally I think the fall, or autumn if you prefer, is definitely the best time to get hitched! The temperatures have started to decline so you don't have sweaty guests or bride/grooms, nature's colors are absolutely unreal, and the lower sun makes for less aggressive lighting. In Silverton, Ouray, or Telluride I would recommend mid to late September, and in Durango, Hesperus, Hermosa, Purgatory, or Pagosa Springs I would recommend weddings and photography be done in early to mid October.
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 If you plan on getting hitched in or around the Durango area you will likely have invited some folks that tend to get thirsty. It would sure be helpful to know where to send them to find the finest Durango libations! Here is a list of my favorite Durango haunts:
Best Craft Beer: Animas Brewing Company. Situated right next to Rotary Park and the River Trail that winds all the way through town, ABC is a great spot to sit on the patio and enjoy some fine beers. Best Bar: Check out the Balcony Bar if the weather is nice and head in to El Rancho if the weather turns or your party members want to turn it up to 11. Best Cocktails: El Moro has an amazing selection of libations and a great food menu as well. Best Bistro: Ken and Su's has a great menu with great prices and a delicious drink menu. Eating with Everyone: Steamworks is one of the only places in town that is big enough to accommodate all of your wedding guests.  This is the conundrum: should wedding photography attempt to create the most serious imagery during someone's special day, or do people prefer more lighthearted imagery? I am of the opinion that good wedding photography requires a mix of both. A wedding gallery devoid of lighthearted imagery just doesn't tend to accurately portrait the exciting and fun atmosphere which most wedding attendants tend to experience. When you look back on the limited imagery from your special day you will obviously want to see some photos of you and your lover in a serious embrace, but wouldn't you also like to smile because of the silly, lighthearted behavior of the other people that you wanted to include on your special day? Food for thought... Here in the Southwest and Durango areas I have found that most people are keen on letting loose on their wedding day.
 Southwest Durango Photography is now booking weddings for the fall of 2022! If you still haven't booked a photographer for this year contact me ASAP! Dates are filling up fast. Whether you are getting married in Silverton, Ouray, Telluride or elsewhere we can make it happen!
 Whether you are in Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Hermosa, Hesperus, Pagosa Springs, or Dolores, you are likely to run into some fairly poorly-garbed individuals! Telluride would probably be the one exception to the rule in this region; however, not necessarily. Thankfully, when it comes to weddings and elopements everybody really seems to pull it together! Photography of these events over the years has proved this fact true and it is fairly impressive that the citizens of areas once voted the "worst dressed population in America" are able to clean up for one day of the year.
 You can do better than these two. Sure a proposal is significant no matter where the locale; however, this beautiful moment can be looked back on more fondly if the location is a bit more scenic, especially if you would like photography to help you reminisce. If you stumble upon this blog post you are likely to be interested in marriage, weddings, engagements, or photography in the Durango, Colorado or Southwest area so here is a list of my favorite places to propose around the region: Corkscrew Pass, Silverton, Colorado. This remote location is 4-wheel friendly and the views are absolutely stunning. Proposal photos here can't be bad, even if your significant other says no! Purgatory Ski Resort (North of Durango, Colorado): In the summer you can drive to the top of the resort with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. This place has it all: aspens, vistas, flowers, promontories, and mountains (not to mention a great wedding and engagement party venue). Pagosa Hot Springs, Pagosa Springs, Colorado: This resort is a great spot for those of you that want to really do it up. The springs are on the river's edge for an easy cold plunge and you basically have the pools to yourself if you are staying the night at the resort. Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride, Colorado: This location speaks for itself, any bride to be will love this spot. It requires a mile or two of walking or high-clearance driving, not necessarily 4-wheel drive, but I wouldn't take a Prius up this road. Sunset photography here is stunning and overlooks the entire Telluride Valley. Ouray, Colorado's Box Canyon: Ouray "The Switzerland of America" is plenty scenic on it's own. They community has done a great job with the local trail network and one can circumnavigate the entire town, or hike one segment at a time, via hiking trails. One segment on the West side of town takes you through a breath-taking box canyon that would normally be inaccessible except for the most extreme folks, providing an intimate and beautiful marriage proposal location. La Plata Canyon, Hesperus, Colorado: This overlooked canyon is beautiful and provides ample opportunity for both those more and less adventurous outdoor lovers. Hike, 4-wheel, camp, rent a cabin, fish, mountain bike, or simply lounge by the La Plata River. Lookout Mountain, Golden, Colorado: If you are in the Denver area one of the best places to get a great vista overlooking the city and Golden is Lookout Mountain. Easily drive to a scenic overlook or hike one of the many trails to get away from the crowd before popping the question!  Colorado is a beautiful state, chalk-full of lovely locales for dream weddings and abounding with opportunities for photographers. I have a slight bias for wedding venues around the Southwest because there tend to be less people around which causes a less hectic atmosphere; however, there are plenty of places to get away all over the state. Here is a list of my favorite locales for your dream wedding:
Kendall Mountain in Silverton, Colorado. Talk about a beautiful wedding location! A photographer at this venue doesn't even need to try in order to capture the beauty of the area! If you are persuasive, the venue managers may even let your wedding party ride the 2-person chairlift. Ridgewood Event Center in Hesperus, Colorado. Another photographer's dream venue, this spot is easy for wedding guests to find and the grounds are lovely. Multiple locations are great for a ceremony whether you want an intimate scene within the forest on the edge of the La Plata River or in a large scenic meadow overlooking the La Plata Mountains! The Silverpick Lodge North of Durango, Colorado, near Purgatory Ski Area. If you are looking for a fall wedding this locale is ideal! Beautiful meadows surrounded by Aspen glades make photography here absurdly nice. The venue building itself is gorgeous and the lodging for guests is spectacular. It is within 20 miles of Durango which makes it's location convenient for anyone staying in town. Piney River Ranch near Vail, Colorado. This one is a bit of a haul on rough dirt roads, but 2-wheel drive vehicles can easily get there. Piney River Ranch is located on the edge of Piney Lake overlooking high alpine meadows and gorgeous mountain vistas. Piney is much pricier than the others on the list so far, but it truly delivers the bang for the buck. Also a great place for engagements if one doesn't want to fork out the cash. Telluride Ski Resort. Ride the gondola to the top of the mountain and get married on top of the world! This is some of the finest landscapes that the Southwest has to offer. Weddings, engagements, or any type of portrait photography here are sure to be epic. The Boettcher Mansion on top of Lookout Mountain outside of Golden, Colorado. Who doesn't want to get married on top of a mountain in an old-school stone mansion? Scenic overlooks, beautiful grounds, a historic building, and not far from the city!  The mighty San Juans. Located on the Northeastern edge of the desert Southwest, they practically surround Durango and encompass the lovely towns of Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, and Pagosa Springs. The photographer rejoices at the ample opportunities for great photography that abound within the area! This photo was taken near Cascade Creek and Cascade Village's wedding venue, right down the road from Purgatory Ski Area, during the fall.
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