Destination
Married in Pink at Moraine Lake
Isis & Nick | Alberta, Canada
From the bride…
We hadn’t really even considered a traditional wedding. We were planning a trip to Canada and thought about how epic it would be if we just eloped while we were there and then had a party to celebrate with our loved ones back home. A beautiful lady that I work with had shown me photos from her recent trip to Moraine Lake and told me about how it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. When I told Nick about it, it was almost decided instantly that it was exactly the kind of scenery we were looking for.
THE FLOWERS
I knew from the get-go that I wanted a flower crown and a HUGE bouquet of florals in dusty pink and maroon.
THE VISION
We wanted our day to be really relaxed and stress-free and it couldn’t have been more perfect! Our ceremony was planned for 6 pm so we slept in, had a nice breakfast, went for a hike and even had a nap before we had to get ready. So many of our friends had told us how stressed they felt on their wedding day and how they felt as though they couldn’t really enjoy it or that they wished they had eloped and we didn’t want to look back on such a special memory wishing that we had changed things or spent less money or whatever. I think we nailed it!
THE DRESS
I just really didn’t want to wear white! I had always pictured a pink dress, but not too Barbie-like and not too pale. As much as I love dressing up and being girly, I also LOVE being comfortable. I knew I was going to be scrambling over rocks so I couldn’t really have a long train, and I didn’t want a veil but wanted something flowy that was also removable, so we decided on a cape instead and I chose a pair of black and white Vans with some pink ribbon.
THE DAY OF
It was so surreal standing at that lake the morning of our wedding, taking it all in and realizing we made it! We traveled for 21 hours and were so tired but we did it! We only told our family and close friends, and it made our announcement feel even more special and made us feel like our wedding was ours, and that we were doing it for us and not for anyone else. I was a pretty lazy bride and all I cared about was marrying the man of my dreams. I thought that planning our wedding from Australia would be difficult but it was actually such a breeze.
THE VOWS
I couldn’t wait to hear Nick’s vows and to call him my husband and Nick says his favorite part was seeing me in my dress for the first time which I think is pretty cute!
LOOKING BACK
Everything was so easy and went so smooth, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Eloping definitely took a lot of the guesswork out of planning, we didn’t have to think about decorations and we also didn’t have to worry about impressing other people, we could focus on just us and that was the main thing for the both of us when we were planning our day. Luckily, Mother Nature put on a show with the most spectacular weather. It had been raining pretty much since we landed in Canada and cleared up right before our ceremony began.
ADVICE
Do what you want to do! Don’t let other people make it about them or change your mind, or make you feel like what you want doesn’t matter. I mean this with my whole heart – you don’t get to get to marry the love of your life every day!
Before we left for Canada, we had a sign made that read, “We Eloped – Moraine Lake, Canada, 13th August 2019.” This date is my G’ma’s birthday, and although she is no longer with us, I wanted her to be part of our special day. She would have loved Nick.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: ENV Photography
Floral Designer: Willow Flower Co.
A Rainy Fall Honeymoon Adventure
Bethann & Jensen | Telluride, Colorado
From the photographer, Rachel Beckwith:
Having your love documented on your honeymoon should most definitely be a thing. You’ve just had an amazing wedding day, all the nerves, stress, and built up anticipation are gone, and you are just able to enjoy your time with your new spouse with the freedom to be completely relaxed. It’s the perfect opportunity to get some meaningful memories captured that will forever remind you of your first trip together as a married couple.
This is exactly what Bethann and Jensen did, and it was such an incredible experience. In the days after their wedding, they took a mini-honeymoon to Telluride, Colorado, right at the peak of the spectacular Fall foliage this region displays. We decided to do a sunrise adventure and started to drive out in complete darkness after downing some coffee of course. It was a rainy morning, so we didn’t get to see the sunrise, but it made for an even more memorable session. There’s just something so romantic about kissing in the rain especially when you have these breath-taking views all to yourself.
A Boho Mountain Wedding in Telluride
Matty & Alexis | June 21st
From the bride… We wanted our day to mimic the elements in Colorado. There were lots of wildflowers, lavender, dreamcatchers, and subtle earthy tones throughout.
THE ATTIRE
I found a kimono by Rish Atelier that became the inspiration for the entire day. I went with a simple dress by Alexandra Grecco to the compliment the beautiful Israeli lace. The bridesmaids chose their own dresses. Their color and fabrics all flowed together perfectly, one champagne, one navy, one pale blue with a mix of silk and lace.
PRIVATE VOWS
Prior to the ceremony, we shared our private vows on the beautiful valley floor Telluride we took pictures with our bridal party at the ceremony site beforehand to help facilitate moving right into enjoying cocktail hour with our friends and family immediately following the ceremony.
The private vows witnessed by only the photographers and our dog Wall-E was a moment we will never forget. It was simply amazing.
THE CEREMONY
Matty’s brother officiated the ceremony and all three of us had a hand in writing a ceremony that was specifically unique to us as a couple. It was laid back, romantic, and fun.
AFTER THE CEREMONY
At the cocktail hour, we rode horses and the guests also took turns riding and taking photos with the horses. This was very special to see and experience in such a beautiful location.
THE SEATING CHART
Guests were guided to the tables by looking at their names written on tattered paper hanging on the handmade flowing dreamcatchers. Pendleton blankets were strewn about the deck for both looks and warmth at night.
THE GUEST BOOK
Our guestbook was a snowboard from Never Summer with artwork by the brother of the groom/officiant.
THE RECEPTION
Our band kept the entire party dancing well into the night. Everyone continues to compliment us on the beautiful and moving personally crafted ceremony, the horses, the food, and the music!
ADVICE
I highly recommend utilizing at least a day of planner.
While making decisions in the planning process it’s so important to remember there are no “rules” and whatever works for you and makes you and your partner feel excited and happy about the day is exactly how you should do it!
On the day of, take a moment to stop, breathe and take in all the love and beauty that’s surrounding you with your new partner, family, and friends.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: Ben Eng Photography | Event Planner: Telluride Unveiled | Floral Designer: Dahlia floral | Venue & Caterer: Gorrono Ranch | Hair Stylist: Megan Keever Hair | Dress Designer: Alexandra Grecco | Band: Jonny Mogambo Band | Cake Designer: Fig & Bloom Cakes
A Floral-Filled Farm Wedding in Asheville
Lacey & Torsten | July 14th
From the bride… Torsten and I chose to wed at a farm venue nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Asheville, NC. We selected this venue as a semi-destination wedding so that our friends and family from all over would have a fun place to travel to and experience together.
THE DRESS
I chose a beautifully detailed dress with floral-inspired lace appliques and a flowing tulle skirt. It was both romantic and whimsical to fit in with my overall vision.
THE VENUE
From the moment we stepped on the property we fell in love with The Farm. The mountains, horses, beautiful rows of flowers, combined with a rustic-elegant feel made this the perfect venue for us. We loved that the farm specialized in farm-to-table cuisine using the freshest ingredients from their gardens and local farmers. Our beverages were from a curated list of local craft beers and ciders from Asheville otherwise known as “beer city.”
THE DECOR
We kept our decor fairly simple and incorporated a lot of florals into our overall design. One of my favorite pieces of the day was the custom Mountain Laurel archway created by Flourish Flower Farm to frame the aisle of our ceremony. The archway was draped with the most beautiful flowers- it took my breath away! Many of our guests enjoyed taking photos under the archway.
THE CEREMONY
Like most little girls, I have always dreamed of the day my Dad would walk me down the aisle. My dad was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in 2015. Prior to the wedding, we had to have the hard discussion of what we would do if my Dad was unable to walk me. I am blessed to say that my Dad walked me down the aisle to hand me off to my wonderful husband. This was by far the most special moment of my wedding day that I will never stop reliving.
THE VOWS
We centered our wedding ceremony around our Christian faith and included a rustic barn wood cross in the backdrop. My first cousin once removed served as our wedding officiant, just as she did for my Mom and Dad’s wedding! It was so special to have her be a part of our wedding day.
HANDMADE TOUCH
We made DIY lavender filled bags for guests to shower on us as we made our way down the aisle after the ceremony. The meaning of lavender is love and devotion, and when given as a gift, represents luck and the promise of a new adventure. I can think of no other greater adventure than marriage!
THE RECEPTION
One of my favorite things about our wedding was that there was something for every personality to enjoy. Our guests played corn-hole, giant Jenga, enjoyed the farm animals, sat outside under the stars, and danced the night away with the band.
ADVICE
Allow yourself to go with the flow and be okay with the fact that things won’t go exactly as planned. Most of all, take a deep breath, and enjoy your magical day surrounded by your closest family and friends!
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: Jessi Nichols Photography | Venue: The Farm | Floral Designer: Flourish Flower Farm | Dress Store: Bridals by Jodi | Musicians: Sam Hill Entertainment | Hair & Makeup: Rose Glow Beauty
Skiing Down the Aisle to Love
Sydney & Garret | March 24th
From the bride: After meeting online, our first adventure together was a charity event for The Greenway Foundation. Hosted on a bridge over the Platte River in Denver, Colorado, this unique date served as the perfect backdrop for the start of our adventure together. In the months to follow, we discovered numerous shared passions which created an inseparable bond. We bonded through our mutual love of skiing, camping, golfing, and our mutual pursuit for unceasing laughter.
It quickly became obvious that nothing could separate our bond. After a year and a half of skiing through trees, countless weekend getaways, and roll on the floor laughter, Garret decided to pop the question. With a vision for a wildly romantic proposal on our trip to Hawaii, Garret had secretly tucked the ring away in a carry-on. When we got to the airport, our checked bag was far too heavy, and we had to open and reorganize all of our bags. While Garret frantically tried to hide the ring in the chaos, he made a split-second decision: he couldn’t wait until Hawaii. Garret got down on one knee, right in the middle of the Denver International Airport, and I said yes!
As we planned our wedding, one thing was clear: adventure has always been a constant in our relationship. Accordingly, for our wedding, we decided to hit our favorite slopes in Mount Crested Butte, Colorado and ski down the aisle, towards our next adventure as husband and wife.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Venue: Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Photographer: Third Eye Photography
Boho Bliss on a Mountaintop in North Carolina
Ashley & David | October 9th
From the photographer: It was the perfect evening at Max Patch, we (almost) had the entire area to ourselves which always makes the ceremonies super special. The privacy allows for the couple to truly be themselves, which is always a blast to witness. Ashley had an AMAZING dress from BHLDN. It was all things fabulous and boho, and everything an eloping bride could ask for. We highly recommend this company for elopement dresses. As always, Flourish Flower Farms came through with a stunning lush flower crown and bouquet, as bright as her spirit. And that’s saying something!
After we got to talking I was interested in hearing what drew them to our little corner of paradise.
From the bride: “We wanted somewhere new to us that we could both explore with fresh eyes together. We love the idea of having ‘our city’ to visit. All we really knew was we wanted our day to be outdoors and, on a mountaintop,… so here we are! We are looking forward to it just being the two of us (the privacy and sacredness of having it just be about us, without distractions and complications- stripped down, simple, free & easy sort of like our love and us (together and separate), the excitement of building a family (like, right away!), the secrecy and surprise to friends and family… so much to be thankful and excited for.”
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THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: Meghan Rolfe Photography | Dress Designer: BHLDN | Event Planner: Elope Outdoors | Floral Designer: Flourish Flower Farm | Location: Max Patch, Asheville, NC
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An Autumn Mountain Wedding in Telluride
Maggie & Brett | September 22nd
From the couple: We looked at a lot of places all over Colorado… but when we saw the Schmid Ranch, we immediately fell in love with it! The views at the upper ranch are breathtaking and on top of that, you can see the 14er in the distance where the proposal was! But not only was it great views, the ranch offered what really no other venues we visited could… a lot of time and flexibility with what we wanted to do! We really wanted to be able to camp with our friends and family and truly be able to celebrate without feeling rushed — the ranch allowed us to spend an entire weekend with our friends and family, not just a handful of hours like most places.
The flip side to having a wide-open ranch with endless possibilities is that there is a good amount of planning needed, so that was all us… who are we kidding, Maggie was the master planner! If it was cool and had a unique vibe, we wanted to make it happen.
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THE CEREMONY
We wrote our own vows and Maggie was thinking about saying them for months before and thought about them nearly all day before the ceremony. Brett also thought endlessly about the vows… all day before the ceremony too… the only difference is Maggie was the smart one who wrote them down!
THE RECEPTION
The main venue tent was clear so you could see the full moon and stars at night and the DJ lights rocked to the wee hours! We also set up an area were anyone who wanted to rough the elements and camp with us could, but we also had glamping tents and shower tents set up to keep a touch of those modern comforts. Our flowers were potted flowers friends and family grew for our wedding day.
ADVICE
First, get married in a place that you will look forward to going back to on your anniversary, it should be a special place you want to go back to. Second, have fun at your wedding… do a quick math exercise… the number of minutes you have at your venue… minus all the time you are just with your bridal party… and divide that by the number of guests you have… you only get a handful of minutes with everyone if you are lucky! Eat quick and say a quick hello and thank you, then go enjoy the day! And third, spend money for a good photographer! Weddings are expensive and there are a lot of ways to get creative with costs, but don’t do it here!
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: Ben Eng Photography | Apparel: The Bespoke Edge | Tent: Colorado Party Rentals | Caterer: La Cocina de Luz | DJ: Colorado Wedding Productions | Venue: Schmid Family Ranch
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A Destination Wedding in Breckenridge
Alyssa + David | 08.08.18
It was very important for Alyssa and David to get married in Breckenridge, Colorado. Alyssa’s parents have a house there so many a family weekend has been spent making memories in Breck. They decided on the picturesque Lodge at Breckenridge that was able to house their guests as well as host their amazing wedding for everyone! The date 8.18.18 was also of utmost importance as BOTH sets of (still married) parents of the Bride & Groom have the same wedding anniversary date of August 18th, which also made the day very special.
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THE RECEPTION
Despite finishing law school and studying for the bar exam which she took only WEEKS before her wedding, Bride Alyssa poured all of herself into all of the custom details of the day. All of the escort cards, signage and invitations were all hand-lettered and designed by the Bride. It was also important to her to have a little bit different centerpieces so she had custom made, battery powered Edison bulb wooden planks instead of any candles, surrounded by lush greens with some simple blooms.
At first glance, much of the day might look like a typical Colorado mountain wedding but it was so much more emotional! Instead of a first dance with her father, the Bride and her Father sang “American Pie” together, and even though there wasn’t an “official” bridal party, the Bride’s three best pals put together a little song & dance skit to one of the Bride & Groom’s favorite songs.
THE FILM
THE WEDDING TEAM
Planner: Hourglass Productions | Photographer: KMitiska Photography | Videographer: Basecamp Visual | DJ: Ignight Entertainment | Florist: MJM Designs | Cupcakes: Gold Mine Cupcakes | Hair: Kayla Wildeman | Makeup: Brooke Rock | Dress: Hayley Paige from Anna Be | Oxygen Bar: Summit Oxygen, Inc. | Lights & Draping: LMD Productions | Custom Centerpieces: Highlights Colorado | Venue: The Lodge at Breckenridge
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