Botanic Gardens Wedding in Denver

Q: Tell us about your wedding!

“Our main concern with our wedding day was that it be accessible, convenient, and fun for our guests, while still reflecting our values and personalities. We both love the outdoors and being in nature, so we decided to have a summer wedding at the Botanic Gardens.

“We chose the Botanic Gardens because it was centrally located in Denver, and because it is beautiful! We also live in the area, and Nate proposed in Cheeseman Park. We didn’t incorporate any religious or cultural traditions into our day, but we did use lemoncello instead of champagne for the toasts, because Kaitlyn’s family loves lemoncello so much!”

Q: Let’s talk wedding decor

“The décor was largely done by Project Floral, and we were incredibly happy with how it turned out. The Botanic Gardens and Moss Denver are both so beautiful that they didn’t require much decoration.

“Kaitlyn’s father did make the trellis, and we moved the trellis from the ceremony to the reception to add in some depth to the sweetheart table. We also used our own champagne glasses to drink out of so we could keep them and toast to our wedding on our future anniversaries- something Kaitlyn’s parents do every year.”

Q: What were the florals like in your wedding?

“The florals in our wedding were quintessential Colorado summer, with a more neutral palate with accents of peach and light green. Roses, succulents, peonies, and some greenery were all featured in our bouquets. The flowers really set the mood for a romantic, yet quirky wedding.

Q: Did you personalize the day in any way?

“We tried to make the day as personal as possible to really let our style show through on the day. Instead of having a plated meal, we decided to do several food stations: a mac and cheese bar, a taco stand with a condiment bar, and a traditional serving of beef and roasted veggies.

“We also made champagne available to our guests after the ceremony, because we couldn’t imagine anything nicer than wandering the Botanic Gardens with a glass of good champagne in hand! Kaitlyn’s family friend (who went to college with her father) officiated the wedding, and brought in a personal touch to the ceremony. We also had two of our close friends do readings at the ceremony, and we spent a lot of time picking out exactly which readings we wanted to reflect our relationship, and our marriage.

At the reception, we had a guest map for our guests to sign in lieu of a guest book. We initially bonded over a love of travel, and some of our favorite memories together are in a different country! Further, our families are full of wine aficionados, so we made sure to offer a variety of wines for every preference.

Q: Let’s talk fashion

“I didn’t go into dress shopping with a very clear idea of what I wanted. I wanted a dress that was flattering, would be comfortable all day in the August heat, and was a little unique. Because of my lack of vision, it took about 4 wedding dress stores to find the one I ended up with!

“The dress was Hailey Paige, from Nordstrom, had a low v neck, exposed back, and full skirt. The most unique part of the dress was the fabric, which was striped! It sounds bizarre, but I loved it. With such an interesting dress, I tried to keep the rest of the look simple- flat gold sandals (with some cushion), a bracelet, and drop earrings.

“Nate decided to use a blue suit he already owned. It fit him perfectly, and he thought the blue would be more appropriate for a summer garden wedding. We aren’t really formal people, so a tux would have been overkill for our day.”

Q: How did you meet?

“We met at a party at Nate’s house. Kaitlyn was friends with one of his roommates, Kelsey, and had heard about this new roommate from Kelsey a couple of times. When Kaitlyn showed up at the party, she met Nate, and we stuck together the rest of the party. So much so that the other guests thought Kaitlyn was Nate’s friend to begin with!

“We dated for a couple years, and one day Nate suggested that they do a date night picnic in Cheeseman Park with a nice bottle of wine from their recent trip to Napa, and some sushi. Nate wasn’t drinking his wine, so Kaitlyn asked if he’d rather go home and have a beer there, and Nate agreed, tossed back his wine, and asked if Kaitlyn wanted her present. He had glued the pages of the book together, cut out a heart shape, and tied an engagement ring into the book. Kaitlyn was in shock, and immediately burst into tears and the rest is a blur!”

Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

“We decided to write our own vows for our ceremony, and that was by far our favorite moment of the day. It was incredible to be able to reflect on the type of marriage we wanted, and to be able to make our own promises to each other as we started married life together.”

Q: Do you have any wedding advice to share with other couples planning their day?

“The only advice we could offer is to take your time with the planning process, and to make sure to hire good professionals! Our day-of coordinator was incredible, and she helped us solve a variety of issues we had never thought through before. Also, pick a good bottle of wine, drink it, and then dance around the apartment whenever you start thinking that you should have eloped.”