Wedding photographs capture the bliss-filled moments of new unions, but they also evince trends, for better (bow ties) or worse (poufy-shoulder dresses). In the midst of the summer wedding season, we asked industry pros what we can expect to see in this year’s Colorado wedding albums.


Venue

Rustic Weddings without the Trek
A rustic barn wedding sounds romantic until you factor in the dirt-road drive, dust, and, uhh, animal aromas. Fortunately, the 200-seat Barn at Raccoon Creek lacks all of the above. Located just 30 minutes south of downtown, the 3,000-square-foot former milking barn debuted last month after an eight-month renovation. More than 50 weddings are booked for this year, with inquires being made for 2016 dates. Fret not, brides in white: The barn, next to the Raccoon Creek Golf Course, has a concrete walkway to the alter. thebarnatraccooncreek.com


Flowers

Unexpected Blooms
Golden-based florist Cori Cook has been designing bridal bouquets and reception centerpieces for eight years, and recently she’s seen an uptick in interest for unique blooms in lieu of more traditional wedding flowers (such as calla lilies and baby’s breath). In our craft-beer-happy state, that includes couples opting for hops and their light green seed cones as the focus of bouquets, boutonnieres (above), garlands, and centerpieces. coricook.com


Menu

Colorado Wild Game
Nearly 60 percent of guests at Colorado weddings come from out of state, says Laura Hylton, the catering director of Denver’s Biscuits & Berries. Today’s happy couples want to showcase our regional flavors for visitors with a menu makeover: On their reply cards, guests now check boxes for local game such as bison, elk, or trout instead of the standard beef, chicken, or salmon. But no matter what the entrée choices, you’ll find the Western Slope’s Palisade peaches highlighting side dishes. biscuitsandberries.com


Ring

Diamonds in the Rough
Over the past five years, demand for rough-cut diamonds—stones purposely left imperfect to show their original character—has increased fourfold, according to Sarah Ortega, the owner of Tennyson Street’s newest jewelry boutique, Sarah O. Jewelry. Ortega sells two rough-cut diamonds for every traditional diamond. The Regis University grad pairs the rough-cut diamonds, all certified conflict-free, with increasingly popular 14-karat yellow gold or rose gold to give the finished rings a dainty look in sturdy settings. sarahojewelry.com

(Read about Centennial’s new bridal shop, Compleat Couture)

—Inset images courtesy of Compleat Couture, InMotion Photography, Kerinsha Marie Photography, and iStock