Kate and Justin started off their wedding day with a first look at Red Rocks and then they did something really unique–they shared their vows. This private exchange of vows made for an emotional and calming start to the day. They were able to be in the moment and laugh and cry, without the nerves of being in front of so many people.
After they shared their vows, we spent some time taking portraits all around the beautiful rock formations.
The ceremony took place at the Coyote Crossing Pavilion in Bear Creek Lake Park.
Kate shares, “For our day, we wanted it to be a simple summer picnic with warm weather, good food, fun music, and even better company, and that is exactly what we got. It was a wonderful, beautiful day!
There were many things we were worried about, but everything fell into place because of our hard work planning and the incredible effort from our loved ones. We cannot thank our family and friends enough who helped set up, clean up, and fully enjoy the day with us. They were an integral part of the day going smoothly and our hearts are completely overflowing with gratitude. We feel so lucky and so loved and it’s a feeling that is very hard to describe in full.
With a pure outdoor wedding, weather, especially the heat, was a concern, but we hoped for the best and planned for the worst. In the end, it was perfect with cycles of clouds and sun, just a hint of rain to cool us down, and one of the most gorgeous baby blue evenings we’ve ever seen. One of the epic moments of the day was our first look where, right as we saw each other, the sky let just a few big raindrops fall. It lasted for literally 10 seconds and it felt like our family and friends from above were there crying tears of joy with us. We will never forget that.
The ceremony was surprisingly one of the most fun parts of the day. We thought it was going to be a nervous performance and something to just get through but it was actually fun! The first look and sharing our vows in private beforehand really helped get the nerves out so I highly recommend that to everyone. Our best friend (who has a theater degree and a great sense of humor) married us and totally nailed the ceremony. It was so personalized, everyone was laughing and crying, and I remember thinking to myself, “I cannot physically smile any bigger.” It was a perfect representation of us, our love, and our happiness, and was just an incredible experience.
And, my goodness, the reception after! Justin had an awesome surprise guitar performance with the band playing Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughan and, one of my favorites, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by John Mayer that blew everyone away. If you get a chance, try to have dinner alone with your new spouse. We took 15 minutes away from the crowd to eat dinner together in private and it was one of the best decisions we made for the day. We were able to take a breath and absorb the day for just a moment. We will always remember the view of the mountains in the evening light, the feeling of the warm air, the taste of our yummy dinner, the sound of our guests chatting, music playing, and cars from Bandimere racing. At one point we just looked at each other and said, “Holy crap, this is amazing.”
In the end, the day was filled with details that built up a beautiful symbol of our relationship. From the memorable first look at Red Rocks, the laughter-filled ceremony, Justin’s awesome guitar performance, the tasty food, and the incredible people, it was just a wonderful, beautiful day!”
Congratulations Kate and Justin!
Special thanks to the team:
Venue: Coyote Crossing Pavilion at Bear Creek Lake Park
Catering: McDevitt Taco Supply
Cupcakes: The Dessert Stand
Band: The Blue Ribbon Band
Florist: Sola Wood Flowers
Rings: Etsy, Ashlyn at FYM Jewelry Design, Tungsten Rings Studio
Bride’s Dress: Brilliant Bridal, Denver
Bride’s Shoes: Converse
Weekend Getaway: Juniper Mountain House in Evergreen
Photography: Jessica Schmitt Photography
Note from the bride: Every vendor was professional and welcoming from the beginning. Good vendors are so important for the day to be successful and we HIGHLY recommend all of these folks (especially Jess 🙂 ). They were fantastic.
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