There is one day a year where I hesitate to shoot a wedding. And I will only photograph it if the couple is way off the rad charts. And that day is my birthday. When I first chatted with Tyler and Desiree, they radiated the “rad” vibes necessary. So, when they asked me to capture their Lionsgate wedding extravaganza, I instantly thought, “Heck yeah, I will!” And they did not disappoint.

So, on that glorious day of my birth in mid-November, I drove to the Lionsgate event center in Lafayette, Colorado. Not only are Tyler and Desiree the most adorable couple to have ever met on OkCupid (shout out to this technological matchmaker!), but they chose an equally adorable venue to tie the knot.

This venue is jaw-dropping stunning!

*Picks up jaw from floor*

Tyler and Desiree saw each other for the first time inside the gleaming and glittering Chandelier Barn. Holy Moly! Let’s just say that the portraits were lit! And that was no pun intended… It was by far one of the most romantic and coziest portrait locations I shot in all year.

First Look time!

Later that afternoon, guests sat snuggly inside the barn away from the chilly November air as the plaid groomsmen and silvery bridesmaids strolled down the aisle. It was here that Tyler and Desiree were married under the hanging glory of the chandeliers.

Afterward, family and friends were sent to the Lionsgate Dove House to enjoy a whimsical lowlight reception. 

And to top it off, these two lovebirds in the midst of their most important wedding day still told their friends to wish me a happy birthday. It was beyond thoughtful and I am honored to share my birthday with the birth of their marriage.

Congratulations Tyler and Desiree!

If you are engaged and considering your own Lionsgate wedding or Lafayette wedding, check out www.karigehaweddings.com, and shoot me an email at hello@karigehaweddings.com.

Now for a little Q & A:

When and how did you two meet?

We met in the Spring of 2015 via the dating website OkCupid. I sent the first message to Tyler, we connected quickly and went on our first date in May 2015.

What is your favorite thing about each other?

Tyler: My favorite thing about Desiree is how caring and supportive she is.
Desiree: My favorite thing about Tyler is his how passionate he is and his sense of humor. He has me laughing everyday!

How did he propose?



In the mountains on a walk with our dog, Riley, he surprised us both!

How did you choose your venue for your day?

We started researching online and then set up some tours. Lionsgate was the first venue we saw and Tyler from there said, “Anywhere else is going to have a hard sell after this”. It was perfect, close to our house, which meant less of a commute for anyone coming out of town, offered gorgeous indoor options and finally they offered an inclusive package with linens and decorations provided – this was a dream come true, we didn’t want to have a bunch of table cloths and decorations we would never use again.

What was the inspiration behind your wedding day?

A union of souls and a merging of families. For the decor and overall vibes we went with a rustic bohemian feel.

What is one thing you wish you had done for your wedding day?

We wish we could have had a longer event, more time with all of our friends and loved ones would have been amazing.

What was your favorite moment of your wedding day?

The first look – the hours leading up to the actual event were stressful and we hadn’t seen each other since early in the morning. We both felt instant relief and joy when we saw each other and had that valuable us time…plus hanging out with our awesome photographer Kari!

Any advice for future couples about planning for their wedding?

Plan as early as you can and remember somethings are bound to go wrong so roll with the punches as they come!

Vendor Roll Call!

-Venue– Lionsgate Event Center: https://www.lionsgatecenter.com/

-Wedding Coordinator– Ashley Bellerive of Lionsgate

-Officiant– Kathy Rohloff 

-Florist– Compass Rose Floral & Decor: https://compassrosefloral.com/

-Bakery– Azucar Bakery: https://azucarbakery.com/

-Dress– Lillian West

-Hair– Darryl from Fringe Hair Studio: https://www.myfringehairstudio.com/

Congrats Desiree + Tyler! xo