Going up in a helicopter is something I had never done before. So when Adam and Sarah asked if I would be willing to join them in a helicopter for their first look, I immediately knew it was going to be something epic.

Sarah had her heart set on snow for her wedding day. Living on the West Coast, you never really know what kind of weather you’re going to get. So instead of hoping the snow would come to them, they decided to go to it to make sure Sarah could have those dreamy winter bridal portraits she envisioned.

Honestly, I was nervous leading up to it. The idea of being that high in the air, never having been in a helicopter before, and hearing stories about helicopter accidents beforehand didn’t exactly calm my nerves. I remember saying goodbye to my kids, telling them I loved them a little extra that morning (yes, I was pretty nervous, haha), and heading out the door.

But like most things in life, the anticipation was far worse than the experience itself.

Once I arrived, got strapped in, and we lifted off the ground, the nerves started to fade. And then they were gone completely. It was peaceful in a way I didn’t expect. The view was unreal! Mountains stretching endlessly in every direction, valleys carved out below us, and light spilling across the landscape in the most beautiful way.

We flew north for about 30 minutes before finding a spot where the snow was compact enough for the helicopter to land. It was windy up there, but it didn’t take away from how incredible it felt to step out into that environment. The sun broke through the clouds just enough to give us the most stunning light for photos.

Standing there on that mountain, surrounded by snow, wind, and silence, it felt like time paused for a moment. It was one of those rare experiences where the place, the people, the light, and the emotion just all came together.

And it made for a first look that none of us will ever forget.

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