From the bride: “Chad and I are used to being told how different we are – I love trendy restaurants, while he’s more at home in a dive bar. Chad is as laid back as they come, while I’m the girl who uses three color-coded planners. The best part of our relationship is the way that our differences challenge us to constantly accommodate and grow together. When planning our wedding, it was important to us that our day reflect those contrasts by highlighting the fact that our two personalities fit well together, despite our differences.”
“When we walked inside, we immediately commented that it matched everything we wanted for our day. While the house is large and stunning, the interior feels cozy and lived in – the perfect balance of casual elegance. Everything was intentionally chosen to signify contrast, from the colors (yellow and grey) to Chad’s outfit (a formal tuxedo without a tie). Our ceremony took place outside with an incredible view of downtown Denver. The mash-up of the beautiful foothills against the backdrop of the city felt like a fitting distinction.”
“We wanted our ceremony to feel intimate and fun. My brother-in-law officiated the ceremony, Chad’s cousin did a reading of our favorite poem, and we wrote our own vows. I ended my vows by saying, “I have seen your light and I have seen your darkness. On today and forever, I choose both.”
“Chad is an arborist, so it was important to us to include elements of nature within our decor. Chad cut several discs of wood to use in our centerpieces. We also used tree branches (created by a friend’s father) to hold the escort cards. We used a beautiful wood-burned pallet to display the donuts that we chose instead of cake. I am a lover of literature, so we had my favorite quotes in wooden frames placed throughout the reception. As a favor, I baked cookies from a recipe of my late grandmother’s. We left them at every seat and I know it was a touch that my family members appreciated.”
“After the last song of the reception, Chad and I chose to have our guests exit while we did a “last dance” by ourselves. It was a beautiful moment, where I got to really focus on the reason behind the day. We both knew that we would be happily married with or without a wedding, but we were so glad that we got to create a day that reflected us as individuals and as a couple. At the end of it all, it was about much more than the two of us joining lives – we saw it as a celebration of the union of our families and friends and the new life we have an opportunity to build together. Earlier in the night, I was dancing with Chad surrounded by our friends and family. I remember looking around and feeling so fortunate to be surrounded by all of the people I love most in the world. Looking back, the material pieces of our wedding just serve as anchors for the memories of an incredible day.”
