A romantic and ethereal experience with candles and greenery is how bride Amanda envisioned her springtime wedding to Matt. "I wanted everyone to feel like they were part of the ceremony and the reception and for it to feel like one big family which is why we went with a family style dinner cooked by one of our closest friends." Captured by Colorado wedding photographer LAURA MURRAY the bride grew up just streets away from CHAPARRAL RANCH, just outside of Aspen, where they celebrated their simple and elegant wedding. Planner BLUEBIRD PRODUCTIONS incorporated organic design elements to highlight Colorado's natural surroundings, including hanging greenery and twinkly lights that lent a magical spirit to the evening.
HOW DID YOU MEET? At Little Nell in Aspen dancing with friends. He followed me outside, we started talking and the rest is history. We said I love you two days later.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: It was incredible! Horseback riding in the fall through the mountains in Aspen. The scene was out of a movie with the leaves changing! We did get a little lost, ran into a herd of cattle and finally ended up by the water. We had lunch, he proposed and we had a bottle of champagne. Matt's father had passed away a few years before we got engaged. He was an avid rider and had a ranch a few miles away from where Matt proposed. When we went to pick up the horses, the old ranch hand, who Matt hadn't seen in years – coincidentally dropped them off and we knew he was sent by George, Matt's dad, giving his blessing. It was really special. Our two families were waiting for us at dinner to celebrate.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS: I actually had a really hard time! There are so many amazing options now. I ended up going with a Lela Rose strapless with a cape over the shoulders for the ceremony. It had a subtle flower print that felt like spring mixed with winter. We got married in April and skied the day before.
DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY ELEMENTS? We had custom s'mores stations that were really special and the entire ceiling was built from nothing.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: PREMA STYLE took this to a whole new level. Cherry blossoms were in season so we mixed those with soft flowers and a lot of greenery. I knew I wanted to bring the outside in and that is exactly what we did.
FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: I honestly don't even know where to begin. Everything was per
fect. My favourite detail was probably how the barn was transformed into an intimate setting. The ceiling was covered with greenery and lit with twinkle lights while the perimeter was candlelit. The round bar was also a great statement piece that filled the space and allowed for great conversation and no line.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OUT TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Get a great wedding planner who knows the space / location you want to get married in and who you trust. Pick a vision and stick with it. Everything falls into place and you are the only one who knows if something isn't right or wasn't added.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Walking out to see Matt for the first time, McDonald's served on platters on the dance floor (I think I had 3!) and the brass band who came out at the very end of the night.
ANY OTHER DETAILS THAT HELP TELL THE STORY OF YOUR DAY? Could not have done it without Bluebird! Olivia and Virginia were incredible. People are still talking about how intimate and fun the wedding was. They nailed it!
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON: We went away for five days to Antigua and slept for two of the five. We were exhausted! We are planning a bigger trip to Africa after things slow down with work.
A huge thank you to Colorado wedding photographer LAURA MURRAY for sharing this stunning desert wedding inspiration with us. Laura's style is natural, organic & timeless. It conjures up feelings of romance and beauty. "I draw some of my inspiration from nature, colour, family heirlooms, interior design, visiting antique shops, and reading novels. But mostly, I am inspired by YOU. By your stories and your personalities. My goal is to dig deep into the uniqueness of each couple and incorporate that into my photography." You can see more of Laura's work in our vendor guide and you should check out this Blush beauty wedding inspiration in the Nevada Desert.
