A Colorado Springs wedding films best when the timeline is built around three things: where the light falls at your venue, where the vows and toasts can be heard, and when the sun drops behind the mountains. Get those right and almost any setting around the Springs looks and sounds like your day. I'm Andrew with Peak Wedding Films, based in Colorado Springs, where I grew up, and these are the things I plan around before I ever arrive.
The mountains set your clock
In Colorado Springs the mountains sit to the west. The sun goes behind them before the official sunset time, and the soft light you want for portraits can arrive earlier than you expect.
That matters most in fall, when the light is low and warm and comes earlier in the evening than it does in summer. On the pre-wedding call that comes with every booking, we look at your exact date and venue and set aside time for the two of you in that window. Twenty minutes in the right light is worth more than an hour in the wrong light.
Forest settings: Black Forest and the pines
Tall pines make a beautiful frame, and they also make shade. Light comes through in pieces, which can look magical late in the day and patchy at noon.
A few things help in a forest setting:
- Put the ceremony where the light is even across both of your faces.
- Plan portraits for late in the day, when light slips sideways through the trees.
- Ask the venue where guests park and walk, so arrivals can be filmed without a crowd behind you.
Foothill and mountain views
Venues with Pikes Peak or foothill views give you the shot couples ask about most. One of my favorite shots is a drone pull-out: it starts tight on the two of you and slowly opens to reveal everyone who came, with the Rockies behind them.
Drone coverage is in every package, but the venue always has the final say on where it flies. Ask your venue about its rules for aerial shots and for where a videographer can stand during the ceremony, and tell me early if that pull-out matters to you.
Open views also mean wind. A breeze that looks lovely in a veil can carry voices away, which is the next thing to plan for.
Sound is half the film
Photos hold the frame. A film holds your vows in your own voices, the toast that made the room laugh, and the music. That only works if the words are captured clearly.
- Keep the officiant, the two of you, and the toasts near a microphone.
- Seat toasts where the speaker faces the room, not a wall of windows.
- Tell me who matters most, so I know whose reactions to watch for.
Indoor rooms and receptions
Inside, the room sets the look. Window light and warm lamps film well; a dark room with one bright spot is harder. I film the reception as it happens, from a distance, with long lenses wherever distance works. Guests act like guests, and nobody is asked to redo a moment for the camera.
Mountain towns close to the Springs
Woodland Park, Divide, Cripple Creek, Monument and the Manitou Springs side of Pikes Peak are all close to home. Anywhere within about 90 minutes of Colorado Springs carries no travel fee, so a setting a little up the hill does not change the plan much. Mountain weather turns faster up there, so we agree on a backup spot or a backup hour on the pre-wedding call. My gear is weather sealed, and some of the most cinematic films I have made happened under storm skies.
One wedding a day
I film one wedding per day, with the whole day on my calendar for you. I am video only, so I work alongside your photographer and plan the portrait window with them. You can compare what each package includes, from hours of coverage to film length.
FAQ
Is there a travel fee for venues around Colorado Springs?
No. Anywhere within about 90 minutes of Colorado Springs, Denver included, carries no travel fee.
Can the drone fly at our venue?
Drone coverage is in every package, but your venue sets the rules for aerial shots. Ask them early and tell me what they say.
When should we plan portraits?
In the soft light before the sun drops behind the mountains. We set the exact window on the pre-wedding call, using your date and venue.
Does every package include drone coverage and a full documentary cut?
Every package includes drone coverage and a full documentary cut.
Is your date open?
Peak season, June through October, tends to fill 12 to 18 months out. Tell me your date and your venue, and I will check it myself.