In the picturesque ski resort town of Vail, Colorado, Laura and Finn exchanged vows in a one-of-a-kind wedding celebration that perfectly reflected their unique personalities. With Selah Photography capturing every special moment, this stylish couple ensured their big day was filled with personal touches and beautiful memories. The ceremony took place amidst a chilly alpine backdrop, where the warmth of sweet words and steaming hot chocolate made for an unforgettable experience.
As the sun set, the reception transformed into a whimsical wonderland, featuring giant blooms, twinkling candles, and vintage charm. The couple’s favorite dishes and infectious tunes kept the dance floor lively, all set against the majestic Colorado mountains that served as the perfect backdrop.
The Flowers
The carefully curated bouquets featured a harmonious blend of flowers, including the delicate ranunculus, lush Juliet garden roses, fragrant lilac, vintage-inspired spray roses, vibrant tulips, and refreshing eucalyptus. Each petal was meticulously selected to create a visually stunning arrangement.
The Ceremony
We opted for a unique approach when crafting our wedding vows – Finn and I wrote our own without sharing them with each other beforehand. His vows were particularly poignant, as he read aloud Roy Croft’s poem ‘Love’, which beautifully captured the essence of our bond. Our aim was to strike a balance between brevity and emotional depth in our ceremony, and I believe we succeeded in doing just that.
The Photography
When collaborating on our special day with Jackie from Selah Photography and her partner Matt, who skillfully handled camera duties alongside her, we experienced a seamless and enjoyable process. Our primary goal was to find a photographer who embodied an artistic, photojournalistic approach, effortlessly capturing candid moments rather than adhering to a traditional checklist of posed shots. We desired our photographs to genuinely convey the emotions and essence of that unforgettable day.
Needless to say, we were thoroughly satisfied with the final product.
Favourite Moments
As we celebrated our special weekend in Vail, it carried a deeper significance for us. You see, Finn has been the proud owner-manager of a hotel in Vail for six years now, where we’ve spent countless moments together throughout our five-year relationship. The property has been a constant presence in our love story.
This particular weekend marked not only the closing weekend of Vail’s season but also the final hurrah for his beloved lodge, which he had been meticulously planning to redevelop for some time. As such, it served as a poignant bookend to a chapter in his life and the dawn of a new one.
To make the experience even more meaningful, we held our wedding reception just a stone’s throw away from the lodge, allowing several out-of-town guests to enjoy the cozy atmosphere and convenience that Finn’s hotel offered.
The Refreshments
To kick off our celebration, we surprised our guests with hot chocolate and heart-shaped marshmallws, which quickly became a crowd favorite. Our top priority for the reception was creating a lively atmosphere where everyone could mingle and dance freely. To achieve this, we opted out of traditional seating arrangements in favor of cozy nooks and eclectic gathering spots. The space featured vintage sofas, farm tables, cocktail tables, and round tables scattered throughout.
This setup allowed our guests to move around effortlessly, making it easy for new connections to form. Even with a larger-than-expected guest list, we never noticed a shortage of seating options. The culinary delights were expertly handled by our go-to catering partner, The Left Bank in Vail. Their mouthwatering lobster rolls – a summer farmer’s market staple – were a must-have on our menu.
To complement the lobster, we offered an array of easy-to-eat finger foods, including cheeses and meats, mini quiches, BLT sandwiches, poached salmon on toast, roasted vegetable skewers, lettuce wraps with seasonal veggies, shrimp salad in lettuce cups, and more. As the night wore on, we brought out trays of Croque Monsieurs, which became an instant hit. The Left Bank’s French flair was especially meaningful to us, as it was where we got engaged – a romantic nod to our special moment in Paris.
The Music
As we exchanged vows, the atmosphere was set with beautiful live music. Our guitarist played Blackbird by the Beatles as our wedding party walked down the aisle, while I made my way to Canon in D, and Finn and I shared a romantic moment to The Wedding March. When it came time to celebrate our union on the dance floor, we danced to an acoustic rendition of We Found Love, which our band learned just for us.
One of the unforgettable moments was when my parents surprised us with their own choreographed routine, blending classic tunes like The Twist with modern hits like Gangnam Style. It was even more special watching them bust a move through Jackie and Matt’s lens. We got the party started by kicking off speeches shortly after our arrival, which kept the energy high throughout the evening. To keep things going between band sets, we hired a DJ to spin some tunes during breaks and wrap up the night.
It was an unforgettable celebration that we’ll always treasure.