Destination Telluride
From the bride, Jessica:
Tyler and I had discussed a destination wedding from the beginning. We decided on Telluride because of our love for the outdoors, active lifestyle, and we couldn’t imagine a more beautiful spot for an outdoor summer wedding. For the majority of our guests it was their first trip to Telluride and we couldn’t think of a more laid back, easy to get around, and beautiful place to show off all that Colorado can offer.
Our guests truly got to enjoy the charm of an old mining town and the luxury of a mountain ski resort all in one. We wanted this to be an event to spend time with friends and family we don’t always get to see. Telluride was entertaining and easy going enough for us to really spend some quality time with our loved ones. Who wouldn’t love riding the gondola to breakfast in town or sipping on cold drinks overlooking a mountain surrounded golf course? The August weather in Telluride provided a nice break from the sweltering summer heat in many of our hometowns too.
I wore a green emerald ring on my right hand. This is my dad’s birthstone. I loved thinking that he was right there holding my hand as I walked down the aisle.
Tyler and I decided to take a few photos before the ceremony for the sake of saving time. Little did I know how emotional and relieving this would actually be. My knees were shaking and I was about to cry as I stood biting my lip and facing the back of him. He was just as emotional as I was. Once he turned around I walked up to him and started crying. I reassured him they were happy tears and I was just SO excited. Seeing each other was special and did help relieve all of my nerves.
Our rings were tied on top of my great grandmother’s bible and carried down the aisle by our ring bearer. The bible had many birth announcements, pictures, special notes, and funeral programs that my grandmother had tucked into its pages. It was like having a special piece of my family’s history by including her bible into our wedding.
Placed on an empty chair on the front row of the ceremony was a picture frame that held a picture and a letter I wrote in honor of my dad. My dad passed away about a year before our wedding. The day was filled with lots of memories and thoughts of him.
My mom had bought us a wine box with special wine glasses and cards for us to write letters to each other on. We used the wine glasses and a local wine from Grand Junction as a unity piece during the ceremony. The glasses, the letters, and another bottle of the same wine are now resting in the box to be opened once again on our fifth anniversary.
The whole ceremony was simple and short (after dating for eight years I didn’t want a long ceremony!).
Our favors were bags of salt water taffy tied to tag that told our guests that in honor and appreciation of them we had made a donation to The Tom Goodrich Warm Hearts Project, a project I created in honor of my dad that provides new coats for elementary aged kids in the school districts my sister and I both teach in. Tyler and I had decided that instead of spending money on little trinkets for guest that may or may not be useful and original, we would use the money to support a charity.
My advice: Don’t lose sight of the purpose of a wedding; being able to begin the next adventure with your beloved best friend. I read a quote prior to our wedding that I took to heart that went something like “Did you spend as much time planning the marriage as you did planning the wedding?” At the end of the day, flowers, cake, and food don’t matter. Enjoying moments, big and small, with your loved ones does.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: IlluminArts Photography. Drew and Amy were great to work with. They were professional and very organized. They helped us to think about many details of photography and the organization of our special day.
Floral Designer: Willowcreek Floral | Venue: The Peaks Resort and Spa
View more: Telluride Weddings | Colorado Weddings