The Montoya Collective

I want to share a few words about this photo. But first, some background on this wedding. This was a sunrise wedding. Not an elopement- wedding. About 35 guests woke up around 4am to hike down for the 3 mike round trip hike to the ceremony spot. Guy and Hailey are that treasured by people- it was important to their guests to be there for them. I think something beautiful is that of those 35 guests, very few were blood related members. With permission from hailey I’ve been allowed to share some words from their ceremony. Her parents chose not to come, and she had few blood family members there. The ones that were there were absolute treasures. But the most beautiful part to me is the friends that were there for her. Her best friends father gave her wedding talk. In the moment of the featured photograph you see here, this adoptive father giving the talk said ‘Anyone would be so lucky to have Hailey as a daughter, sister, and now wife.’ He later let me know he had gone completely off script when saying this, and just felt it needed to be said. (agreed- and it was so touching) At this, everyone was so overwhelmed with emotion and began crying. Because we all knew it was so true. And being surrounded by people who treasured these two the most on a crag at 7am was beautiful. Seeing them promise forever to each other, becoming their very own little family- creating a new beginning. It was all almost too much to bear. This hits home for me. Never forget that family is what you make it. I will forever be so grateful for the people in my life that remind me of that and continue to care for me when others haven’t. I’ve said it before, but these moments- family (blood or not) coming together on wedding days is my number one driving force and inspiration. Find yours and I promise you’ll see your wedding photography (and general life) enriched. // scroll through to see a few more beautiful moments from this ceremony. The ‘fog’ in that last photo isn’t fog. It’s their breath. It was 30 degrees when they got married! Also. Try not to cry. I dare you. //random photographer side note- having a 135L has changed how I see things. It’s my favorite lens, probably.