This September evening garden wedding at Carter Park in Breckenridge, Colorado, was one that I had looked forward to for a long time. Lisa and Thomas were not simply clients, they are actually some of our dearest friends in Summit County. I first met Lisa my last semester of nursing school when she, along with our mutual friend Jessie, were preceptors for me in the PACU/OR. We quickly became close friends or as I like to say, “soul sisters”. Lisa stood by my side on my own wedding day so having the honor of capturing her and Thomas’s day meant the world to me. I was so very excited to celebrate with them and document this celebration of two close friends committing their lives to one another.
Before we get to the bulk of wedding day, I asked Lisa how her and Thomas met. This was her answer: “My roommate at the time was planning on going to the pub crawl in Breckenridge and invited me to go along. Thomas had just moved back into town after being gone for 2 years. I dressed up as Punky Brewster (80's kid, what can I say) and Thomas had an abominable snowman costume on. We struck up conversation at RMU on main street. I thought he was really nice and charming. Conversation was easy and after talking for a bit, he asked if I wanted to be his new friend in Summit County. Thats when we agreed to exchange phone numbers. We hung out the rest of the night and had our first official date the next evening. As we grew closer we quickly knew we were going to get married. I’d say from about a month into knowing one another. The rest is history!”
Fast forward one year later. “We spent the weekend going off roading in the jeep up Tiger road in Breckenridge. We then took St. Johns pass to the small town of Montezuma near Keystone. While we were on the top of the mountain, we got out of the jeep to take in the pretty views. Thomas got down on one knee and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him, have a family with him, and love him forever! Of course I said yes. He opened the ring box and I was like WOAH! So beautiful!”
Fast forward another year to their end of summer wedding day! September had swept in with cooler temps and high altitude color changes on the mountains. Carter Park sits close to the Breckenridge town center within the historic district but offers a quiet respite from the bustling streets full of summer tourists. It backs up to national forest where a single track trail spill out to meet the paved streets of our small ski town. During the winter this trail is covered in thick drifts of snow which creates the perfect sledding hill but in the summer months you’ll see mountain bikers and hikers alike, traversing across it. Those adventurous souls are found disappearing and reappearing within the pines on steep winding treks up the mountainside. The firecracker 50 and the trail race series are held in this location and are quite popular among locals and tourists who both enjoy the challenge. Near the pavilion that sits at the base of the hill, there is a large dog park and also tennis courts to enjoy. Lisa wanted a venue close to home to share their vows and Carter park pavilion was ideal; hosting an indoor and outdoor space for both their ceremony and reception. They also offer discounted event pricing to local residents which was a huge plus. The space surrounding the pavilion has gently sloping grass lawns for yard games at cocktail hour and is dog friendly so that Tucker their Great Pyrenees Lab mix could partake in the party. Lisa’s family had arrived early to decorate and procured the prettiest garden space for their ceremony that was filled with greenery and florals.
Lisa had her hair and makeup beautifully done at the chopping block, a swanky salon off of Ridge street with very photographer friendly lighting plus amazing stylists. Cuppa joe coffee shop sits above the salon which made it easy to grab coffee and treats before heading to their Airbnb to get dressed. The aspen leaves were beginning to change to pretty golden hues and the front drive of the Airbnb had a small grove that I knew would make for a fantastic backdrop for detail photos. We grabbed Lisa’s wedding dress and took it outside to play in the changing leaves. Lisa and her bridesmaids steamed dresses and finished final touches on their makeup and hair. It was finally time for Lisa to step into her dress. Lisa’s mom and bridesmaids all helped while one of her flower girls, Rosie, twirled in her dress and watched as Lisa “became a princess.”
Once dressed and ready, we drove up Ski Hill road for the couples first look amongst the trails of the “Oh, be joyful” Breckenridge Nordic Center. If you want to explore here, keep in mind that some trails run into Cucumber Gulch which is a wild life preserve and a wetlands area located close to the center of town. This means it is very vulnerable to outside disturbance. The gulch is off limits during parts of the year to offer a respite for wildlife as it provides vital habitat for many animals, including but not limited to: the state-endangered boreal toad, moose, elk, deer, mountain lion, beaver, and many birds. Stay on the designated trails and do not cross over the fences into the gulch if it is closed for seasonal access! Click here to check whether the trails are open and be mindful of the trace you leave while hiking. The trails of the Nordic Center are covered in wood chips and soft dirt that twists and turns between tall pine trees growing overhead. Openings amongst the trees overlook Breckenridge Mountains gondola and Peak 8. In the distance, aspen trees were alight like gold on the mountainside. Fall colors surrounded us and we found a small nook within the forest for their first look. Soft light glinted through the pine needles as Thomas turned and saw Lisa for the first time in her wedding dress. This was an emotional moment that held pent up anticipation but quickly, it all washed away. Lisa and Thomas hugged and laughed with wide smiles as they showed off their attire to one another. They held hands and took in the views that beheld autumn fire in the grass and changing leaves. The turning of the season was the start of a new beginning in their relationship.
Before driving over to Carter park, we took their jeep to the Breckenridge overlook to snag some epic view’s of Mt. Gyote and Baldy Mountain. This is one of my favorite spots to take in the view of the surrounding mountains, especially in the evening when the city lights twinkle in the background. During our time here we took several fun portraits with Thomas’s jeep. Thomas had taken the doors off of the jeep for the summer which made for an interesting time keeping Lisa’s wedding dress entirely inside of the moving vehicle. Her long train and veil spilled out and tumbled in the wind as they drove on to their ceremony site.
Their ceremony was officiated by one of Lisa’s long time friends. The bridal party consisted of 4 of Lisa’s closest friends and their dog, Tucker. When Tucker walked down the aisle he was so excited to see his parents that he almost pulled over his handler. Lisa and Thomas stood before a chain link fence that they covered with greenery to look like a dense bushy background. It seemed as though they were getting married in a secret garden. They read their own handwritten vows and Thomas’s mom read Ephesians 3:14-19. The two chose to tie a cord of 3 strands to symbolize their relationship with each other and also with Jesus Christ. After exchanging rings they shared a kiss and the guests all cheered and clapped for the newlyweds.
Carter park has a beautiful outdoor space with a covered patio and picnic tables for guests to sit. These tables were laden with decor for the occasion. We were blessed with amazing weather and guests were able to sit outside for speeches and performances! Speaking of performances, Lisa’s childhood friends put together a medley of songs with personalized words to reflect Lisa and Thomas’s relationship. It was incredible and filled with so many inside jokes and witty lines. The medley had the guests all laughing so hard throughout and the couple were shedding tears of joy by the end of it. When it finished, Lisa jumped up with her arms out and gave each friend the tightest of hugs. It made for such good memories of the life they’d been working to build along with their dreams for the future. Such a meaningful way for their friends to show how much they love them.
The wedding reception had started off with a bang but was certainly far from over! Thomas’s band, The Throwbacks, were setting up to play as the sun was slowly sinking below Peak 8. I encouraged Lisa and Thomas to walk up the Carter park sledding hill together in order to take in the moment. Sunset is always a sweet time to sneak away on wedding days as it allows you to soak in all of the emotions of the day while also reconnecting with your partner; which is often hard to do between the days activities and greeting guests! When we headed back, Thomas hurried to finish prepping his equipment before he began strumming his guitar. And when the music began, what a party! Lisa sang alongside Thomas’s band to the song “Moondance” by Van Morrison. Everyone sang to the lyrics they knew and danced until their feet hurt. I don’t say this about all weddings, but man, it was such a good party! At the end of our coverage, Caleb and I set aside our cameras and joined in on the dancing with all of our friends.
What do you remember most from your wedding/elopement day?
The love completely surrounding us from God, our family and friends.
What was your absolute favorite moment or detail about your wedding/elopement day?
The song mash up my 3 best friends wrote and sang to me and Thomas! So sweet and special to share that moment with my new husband and the 3 people who know me best.
What was your favorite photo from the day - and what made it so special to you?
The picture of Thomas and I in the jeep surrounded by the huge tall pines with the American flag flying and my hubby looking SO handsome while I look SO happy! Sums up the two of us and how we felt on that day.
What advice do you have for couples who are in the midst of planning their own big day?
Truly live in the moment when your big day comes. Plan ahead as much as you can, hire someone to make important decisions on the big day (I had a day of coordinator), put someone you trust "in charge" (my aunt/cousins in my case) and then enjoy getting pampered with your besties and seriously let ANYTHING that doesn't go how you planned roll off your shoulders. Enjoy your day regardless of what happens. Soak up all the love you can. Step outside of yourself for a little bit and really take it all in. There will never be another day where all of your favorite people are in one space sharing the love between you and your new spouse. It goes by way too fast.
What made you decide how your ceremony would look? (ie: Why did you choose to elope, have an intimate ceremony, or a wedding?)
We had a wedding with about 100 guests. I didn’t want to cut that down further because we have been so fortunate to have so many close relationships with family and friends throughout our lives. We felt it would be the most special to share that day with them. And it truly was! I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Almost the entirety of the guest list traveled several hundred miles to be there with us which made it so special! I wish I could have just had about a 72 hour wedding day so I could spend more quality time with everyone. The time went by too fast!
If you could go back and change anything about your day, what would that be?
I am not sure I would really change anything. The only thing I can think of was we could have picked a local food vendor. The food was OK. We catered BBQ from about an hour and a half away and it was cold and dry. But, for our budget, it was the best option. We catered chipotle for our rehearsal dinner and it was way better than the wedding meal! I wish I had done Chipotle for both.
You're married! What advice do you have for couples after they say their own vows?
Communicate. Give 100% (not 50/50). Show up! Make sure your partner knows they are loved and are so important to you. Find little ways to make them smile. Laugh a lot! Honesty. Pick your battles. Let little things go, truly. Do not hold on to them and bring them up later. If it really bugs you - bring it up and walk through it together. If you can let something go - do it. Practice making babies often haha! This is a special bond and brings you closer together. Keep adventuring together. Have patience as you grow into your partnership. Think and dream of life 2...3...5...10 years down the road. Nothing has to be perfect NOW but dreaming of your future is a fun way to snuggle up and make goals with one another. You'll grow as you learn more about each other and settle in to a more easy way of life.
Vendors
Hair/Make up: Breckenridge Chopping Block
Suit: Mens Warehouse
Dress: The Bridal Collection
Rings: Manly Bands and Brilliant Earth
Wedding Music/Band: my amazingly talented husband's band The Throwbacks (for the first hour or so) and then a homemade playlist!
Cake: Wholefoods Chantilly Cake
Venue: Carter Park & Pavillion