Peach
Love at 11,444 feet
From the bride, Kaley: Zach is originally from the East Coast and I am from the Midwest. We met in Colorado four years ago. Not only did we fall for one another, but we also fell in love with Colorado. Thus, it was important for us to have the wedding in Colorado. We wanted to share the place that we hold so dearly to our hearts with the most loved people in our lives, our guests. We chose to host a fall wedding, which is our favorite time of the year. The wedding date fell on the peak weekend of Colorado’s signature gold Aspen Tree foliage.
We had a neutral color scheme with accents of green and yellow to incorporate the earth tones of the mountain and Aspen trees.
Before the ceremony, we had our first look and read our hand written vows to one another. This allowed for intimate moments that were sacred to us. In addition, we spent time taking pictures with just the two of us before the wedding party met us. The time together eased our nerves and alleviated pressure before the ceremony as we had time to be together to show our love and appreciation for one another and reflect on the meaning of the day.
My cousins wrote and co-officiated the ceremony, which made it tremendously personal and meaningful for Zach and me. Our wedding readings were from our favorite book, The Alchemist.
The flower girls carried small boxwood wreaths.
An extra special moment was when our dear friend surprised us with the most unique 36” diameter Pin Oak wood slab monogrammed with our wedding logo. We used this as a focal creation for the décor of our reception.
Instead of doing the routine order of events, we decided to mix up the order of our reception. As soon as we were announced to the guests, we went to the middle of the dance floor and cut the cake and had our first dance. After the first chorus of our first dance, we invited all guests to the dance with us. It was a huge surrounding of love. After the first dance, we jumped right into the dancing for a few songs to start the night off on the right foot. The guests seemed to really like the mix-up events.
My advice: Every wedding is beautiful and there is no wrong or right way to do it. Be true to yourselves as a couple, be mindful of the meaning of the day instead of getting lost in the details, and absorb all the love.
Kaley’s RECOMMENDED VENDORS
Photographer: Emilyanne Photography // Event Planner & Floral Design: Petal and Bean // Musicians: The Schwingers // Uplighting: Highlights Colorado // Wedding Gown: a & be bridal shop // Hair: Sarah Winter, Three Cutters on Pearl // Makeup: Michelle Knoebel, Clementine’s Boutique Salon // Videographer: Ampersand Family // Venue, Caterer, Lodging: Timber Ridge Lodge Keystone
A Rocky Mountain Destination Wedding in Vail
From the bride, Jennifer: We wanted the wedding to feel upscale while keeping in touch with the Colorado mountain setting. We created a mountain logo that incorporated our initials, which was used on our welcome bags, cocktail napkins, the reception dinner menu, escort cards, etc. We also customized the menu to utilize as much local food as possible to keep with the Colorado feel. We chose a color palette of white, peach and grey.
Natty Michelle Paperie created our custom hand drawn wedding maps.
We lit a unity candle during our ceremony. We enjoyed the symbolism of our two families coming together. My parents used the same candle on their wedding day, which made it even more special.
Looking out at our friends and family in the chapel. It was overwhelming and amazing all at once to feel their love and support.
My favorite detail was our signature cocktail, the “Southside.” This is our favorite drink to share in the groom’s hometown of Oyster Bay, NY and it brought a little bit of the east coast to the mountains.
A few deer joined our outdoor cocktail hour, which was an unexpected, fun moment.
My mom and I created the escort cards. They were in the shape of lift tickets with our mountain logo. We hung them from metal tags on a chic yet rustic wooden board.
Table décor included long seeded eucalyptus garlands interspersed with white florals, candles and antlers.
We named our tables named after Vail ski trails. 
I can still picture our first dance and the father/daughter dance perfectly when I hear the songs played.
My advice: Enjoy every second – it flies by! 
Jennifer’s RECOMMENDED VENDORS
Photographer: Brinton Studios // Event Planner: Kelly Karli Weddings // Floral Designer: A Secret Garden // Wedding Gown Designer: Rivini from Kleinfeld // Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo // Hair: Jill Suarez, About Hair // Makeup Artist: Laura Anzalone, Soul Spa Studio // Band: Tunisia // Cake: Mountain Cupcakes // Guest Lodging: The Sonnenalp // Venue: The 10th
Honeymoon Location: French Polynesia
A Summer Wedding in the Canadian Rockies
From the bride, Ashleigh: I was most looking forward to finally being able to call Brian my husband. It had been a long time coming (almost 5 years) and this day couldn’t come fast enough, although it was over so quickly.
After looking through many Pinterest boards, I finally found a nice color scheme that reflected the soft yet classy vision I always wanted for our big day. The soft peachy colors combined with the gold brought all the aspects we wanted on our wedding day.
When the church doors opened, seeing Brian’s face when he could barely hold it together was something I will never forget. The look he had in his eyes was indescribable.
The day had a crazy mix of weather. It felt like the windiest day in history, but we were still able to have tons of fun taking pictures!
Looking back, we had the time of our lives, although it was over so quickly!
Ashleigh’s RECOMMENDED VENDORS:
Photographer: ENV Photography // Ceremony Venue: St. Michaels Anglican Church // Reception Venue: Bill Warren Training Centre at the Canmore Nordic Centre
A Simple Ranch Wedding in Montana
From the bride. Mackenzie: Our day was totally “us”. We actually stayed together the evening before the wedding, waking up and starting our most important day together was very important, it made the rest of the day feel comfortable and just right.
Our color palette was blush, natural tones, and sage green. I really tried to incorporate the natural beauty around us.
The bridal party got together and went skeet shooting. That was John’s idea and such a highlight of the day! Shooting a shotgun in my wedding dress is a memory that will last forever.
Crossing the bridge and coming through the trees, to see John, and my closet family and friends, waiting to take us into this beautiful phase of our lives, made me feel completely at ease and my fullest self. My heart was full, sun shining down, and time stood still. On that day, our world was absolutely perfect and just as we had imagined.
We wrote our entire ceremony and vows, making it so personal. Our bridal party and grandparents shared readings. We had a small group of friends and family (60), which created a warm, supportive feeling during our ceremony.
The reception was under a tent. The décor was very natural, classic, and feminine. While we were outdoors there were still elegant details. The colors and flowers played up the natural beauty of our setting.
I spent a year purchasing vintage plates for the reception. I was also given plates from family and at my bridal shower. It was a neat detail to look around the reception and remember the stories from each plate.
One highlight was the surprise blackjack table I planned for John. In the early stages of our wedding planning, we discussed some “dream ideas”. Giving the logistics of a destination wedding, John thought we should let go of the blackjack idea. Together with Shane (the manager at the ranch), we found a dealer, gathered the supplies, and funded the bank to host a blackjack game throughout the reception. After John and I finished our first dance, the DJ came over the mic and said, “John there is just one more thing you need to do with your wife…” At that time, the dealer unveiled the table and the two of us played the first hand of blackjack. Lucky for us, we both got 21 – big winners! The table was open for the rest of the night and such a hit! Our guests looooved it and it served as a great compliment to the dancing.
My advice: Do it together. Talk about your dream ideas, discuss your expectations, share your feelings along the way. Make the process just as fun as your big day. Hire a videographer.
Mackenzie’s RECOMMENDED VENDORS
Photographer: Lauren Brown Photography. Over the top amazing! Hands down one of the best people I have ever worked with. She was so professional, so fun, and went above and beyond!
Floral Designer: White Antler Flowers. Margo was so so wonderful! Fresh cut flowers, so creative, so professional. When she arrived with her van of flowers, I started to cry. They were so beautiful and so beyond what I had imagined. I would have paid double for what she provided.
Venue & Caterer: Grey Wolf Ranch. Amazing venue! // Bakery: Black Cat Cake Shop. Excellent cake! // Tent & Linen Rental: Eastgate Rentals // Dress Designer: Jenny Packham // Hair & Makeup: Boom Swagger Salon // DJ: RMF Entertainment
A Rustic Vineyard Wedding in California
From the bride, Chrstina: We both knew that we wanted a rustic, cozy, and cabin-like vibe for our wedding day. When we visited Triunfo Creek Vineyards for the first time, we both felt this magic and excitement on the property that we knew our family and friends would be able to feel as well.
My bouquet had garden roses, hydrangeas, astilbes, dahlias, and seeded eucalyptus.
I wore a strapless sweetheart lace mermaid Enzoani gown with a pair of boots. My bridesmaids wore short blush chiffon dresses in various necklines from BHLDN.
Our tables were decorated with white linens, gold centerpieces, wooden numbers, and votive candles.
My advice: Find a venue you love, and a good wedding planner, everything else will fall into place organically. Make a checklist of everything you need to do and focus on getting one thing done at a time.
THE VENDOR TEAM
Photography: William Innes Photography // Reception Venue: Triunfo Creek Vineyards // Event Planner: Kristeen Labrot Events // Floral Designer: Fujiko’s Flowers // Cake: Fantasy Frostings // Bride’s Dress: Enzoani // Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN // Hair & Makeup Artist: Design Visage
Romance on a Mountaintop in Colorado
From the bride, Melissa: From the start of our venue search I envisioned having a chairlift wedding, complete with a mountaintop ceremony. We looked at a various venues and finally checked out Granby. It was just a perfect mix of everything we had dreamed of for our wedding and on top of that the chairlift ride and ceremony location were just beautiful. We also knew all of our family would be coming from out of state and we wanted to show them everything we loved about Colorado and the mountains in one location.
I made the table numbers myself and each number has a picture of Mitchell and me at that particular age. I placed them on Aspen branch pieces I purchased from Etsy.
RECOMMENDED VENDORS
Photographer: Elevate Photography // Venue & Caterer: Granby Ranch Resort // Day of Coordinator: Rami Carter, Pick Me! Weddings // Florist & Decor: Ivy Floral Lane // Rentals: Chairished Vintage and Saddle Shoe Signs // Wedding Cakes: The Dessert Stand // DJ/Band: Encore Events & Entertainment // Bridesmaids Dresses: Wtoo & Watters from Weddingtonway // Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Wearhouse // Getting Ready PJs: Plum Pretty Sugar
Styled Shoot: Fall Romance
Here’s a little secret, we can’t resist sharing anything that involves horses and weddings, which is why we are so in love with everything about this very soft and romantic styled shoot from A&L Photographers. We love the old country swing wrapped with fall colored leaves and flowers and the lace vintage wedding dress. The location could not have been more perfect, a natural backdrop at Heaven’s Ranch in Chino Hills, California. Love the handmade headpiece and breathtaking bouquet of soft flowers in shades of yellow, orange and peach created by Floral Fields and the gorgeous hair and makeup by Rachel from Radiant Artistry. A stunning shoot from a talented team of artists!
An Elegant Rocky Mountain Wedding
From the event planner, Classic Creations:
Ralph and Sara love the outdoors, horses, and have a great modern style. We made sure we brought a bit of all of that to their elegant, rustic mountain wedding.
Sara and Ralph work for the Five Guys franchise, we played some of the theme off of that with our “One Guy + One Gal” theme and signature drink.
One of our fave details was the custom bar with a photo of the couples horses. Sara said that it was one of the only times the horses ever ran together, luckily the photographer captured it during their engagement photo session.
We took the big ballroom and divided it up in to a lounge and bar section, a dinner and dancing section, and a wow this is the focal point of the room cake section! We placed a sheer curtain at the back of the room with trees and tons of candles behind it to add to that outdoor romantic feeling, pulling back the curtain to reveal the absolutely stunning cake! I loved hearing the ooohs and ahhs as the guests walked in!
The cake was just stunning, and believe it or not ….fake! With the exception of one small round at the back for Sara and Ralph to cut.
The cake design matched Sara’s gown.
Of course our “One Guy + One Gal” had to pay homage to Five Guys for bringing them together. A macaroon hamburger ice cream sandwich and churros fries in paper cones were served as a late night snack.
THE VENDOR TEAM
Decor & Rentals: Pink Monkey Solutions // Photographer: Jared Wilson Photography // Event Planner: Classic Creations Wedding Planners & Designers // Reception Venue: The Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch // Cake: Intricate Icings // Flowers: The Flower House