Golden Hour Engagement at an Alpine Lake Near Boulder | Kelsey and Justin
Some sessions just feel like hanging out with old friends, this was one of them. Kelsey and Justin brought their sweet pup, Harvey, to Long Lake at Brainard Lake Recreation Area for their July engagement session, and from the second we met up, I knew it was going to be a blast.
The evening gave us the perfect mix of warm summer air, shimmering alpine water, and that soft golden light that makes you want to bottle it up and keep it forever. Harvey, of course, was living his best life, sniffing wildflowers, posing like a champ, and making sure we all knew he was the real star of the show.
From Florida Classrooms to Colorado Mountains
Kelsey and Justin’s story goes all the way back to 2011, when they met at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. When they weren’t surviving full-day classes, they were out exploring, theme parks, beach trips, shuttle launches, and so many concerts that they probably could’ve gotten frequent flyer points if that was a thing for live music.
Streetlight Manifesto and Motion City Soundtrack were two bands that helped bring them close, and their ska/punk hearts haven’t changed one bit. Somewhere between the soundtracks, sunshine, and shared adventures, they knew they had something special.
Life in Colorado opened up a whole new chapter for them, more mountain adventures, career growth, and a fur family featuring Harvey (disc golf enthusiast, professional snuggler) and Jack Bauer, their cat with a personality big enough to run the house.
Fun Facts & Everyday Joys
These two describe themselves as the “OG Netflix & chill” couple, and I have to say, it fits. They’re as happy playing video games and cooking together as they are chasing live music or heading to the mountains. Justin’s the social butterfly with a friend list a mile long, while Kelsey’s perfectly content with cozy weekends in her PJs.
They’re active, but they’ll be the first to tell you they’re not the “4 a.m. 14er hiking” kind of Coloradans. Sometimes they snowboard (“We cruise the blues,” Justin laughs) and sometimes they head out for disc golf in the mountains. Other times, they find a pretty, secluded spot, set up a cooler full of good food and fancy cocktails, and just enjoy being together, Harvey included, of course.
The Boat Proposal at Grand Lake
When Justin proposed, it was on Kelsey’s 30th birthday. He rented a boat at Grand Lake, and she truly didn’t see it coming. “It was so sweet and romantic,” Kelsey says. “It was perfect.” I love that it happened on the water, because they’re exactly the kind of couple who thrives in those slow, laid-back, beautiful moments, no rushing, just soaking it all in together.
Looking forward to Della Terra Mountain Chateau
That same laid-back, joy-filled energy is what made their engagement session so fun. We wandered the trail, let Harvey take the lead, and laughed way too much over silly poses and inside jokes. Justin’s been called a “man-cub,” and honestly? It’s the perfect description, he brings that goofy, playful spark to everything they do.
As the sun slipped behind the peaks, we caught the last light dancing across the water, and it felt like one of those evenings you just don’t want to end. I left already looking forward to seeing them again this fall for their wedding at Della Terra Mountain Chateau.
While Justin swears it “won’t be incredibly medieval and fantastic,” their shared love of all things fantasy, Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons, and more, is finding its way into the day in thoughtful, personal ways. If their engagement session was any indication, their wedding is going to be full of laughter, love, and just a little bit of magic.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding day that feels like you, whether it’s at Della Terra Mountain Chateau, an alpine lake, or somewhere entirely your own, I’d love to help tell your story. Let’s connect and start planning the moments you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Check out some other sessions photographed with dogs below!
xx,
Jennifer Lourie
