click here for the full wedding gallery!

After we found Piney River Ranch, with its extraordinary views, we focused on putting together a simple, vintage, fun wedding that would reflect our casual style while reflecting the natural beauty of the setting and the charming rusticity of the venue.Working with a small budget meant a lot of DIY by me and my sister – we made everything from the table runners to the favors to the escort cards to the photo booth to the s’mores table to the programs.  We decided to focus on quality food, drinks, and transportation for the guests, and save money in decorations.  We recruited help whenever possible: Randy’s long-time roommate, acted as officiant; Randy’s oldest friend, an artist, created the unique invitations from ‘cowboy’ and ‘indian’ childhood pictures of Randy and Katy; 2 friends contributed ceremony and cocktail music (bluegrass violin and banjo); Katy’s mother sewed the runners and tablecloths; Randy’s mother assembled the “R&B’s Grits” favors. So much internet research and a little trial and error gave us cheap, cute ideas to make sure the details reflected our style.  The best move?  The instant photo guest book and homemade photo booth – those pictures are priceless!!

From the talented Melissa of Fresh in Love Photography – Katy and Randy wanted to put together a simple, vintage, fun wedding that would reflect their casual style while reflecting the natural beauty of the setting and the charming rusticity of the venue at Piney River Ranch here in Colorado. A bluegrass duo played during cocktails, guests found their seats (place cards were clementines with labels on sticks) at their tables (named after places Randy & katy have lived or traveled to, represented by vintage postcards – a play on our save-the-dates, printed on vintage Colorado postcards). Dinner was BBQ ribs and game hens, served buffet style, followed by heartfelt toasts by the wedding party and cake cutting, which featured 6 cakes in different flavors (red velvet, almond, coconut, lemon-strawberry, chocolate, vanilla).  First dance to “That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Otis Redding, followed by parents’ dance to “What a Wonderful World”.  Then dancing and smores around the fire pit.  It was such an amazing, unforgettable wedding day!

Bridal Gown: Schafer’s Bridal, gown by Casablanca / Bridesmaid Dress: Nanette Lepore from Nordstrom / Cake and Bakery: Baby Cakes of Vail / Caterer: Piney River Ranch / Ceremony Site: Piney River Ranch / Ceremony Musicians: Bobby Kreuch, violinist, and Bard Edrington, banjo/ Flowers: Petals & Pours, Signe Jones/ Hair Stylist: West One Salon / Invitations: Robie Gay of  Thoughtbarn / Jeweler: Tiffany & Co. / Makeup Artist: Laura Anzalone of Glo Makeup /Photographer: Mel O’Connell, Fresh in Love Photography / Reception Venue: Piney River Ranch / Transportation: Timberline Tours / Wedding Planner: Krista Nelson, Petals & Pours

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Avon, Baby Cakes, Casablanca Bridal, Colorado, Freshinlove Photography, Glo Makeup, Nanette Lepore, Nordstrom, Petals & Pours, Piney River Ranch, Thoughtbarn, Tiffany & Co., Timberline Tours, West One Salon
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Real Weddings

From Lacee …

After losing our planner it was all on me in the last 30 days on a super tight budget to pull off the amazing wedding I had always dreamed of.

The weeks leading up to the wedding were spent making the place cards, tables numbers, favor bags, menus and program on the chalkboard. Our wedding was so US and I loved putting together every piece. I had the idea to create our ring bearer’s pillow from one of my great-grandmother’s handkerchiefs. My Mom sewed it and we placed a magnolia on the top with ribbon in the center from which we tied the rings… CUTE!  I love the vintage look of the pink and light blue fabric and the importance of the pillow.

On my amazing bouquet by Plum Sage Flowers, I tied the locket of my great grandpa Cleo. He pretty much raised my Mom and me and is the most special person watching over us. The ring that was also attached was my wedding gift from his wife Luella ~ her wedding ring that he had given her July 14, 1936. His presence was VERY important to me.

Nate made the benches himself and engraved our names in the one that we used (ours was salvaged from an old dance hall and it was the template for the larger benches used as the seating during the ceremony and at dinner). We used Ralph Lauren gray and black paint to distress paint all 16 benches. We also engraved the initials of our parents on their respective front benches.

My dress was by Maggie Sottero, the Harlow design, first dress I tried on and loved it!  I loved the lace and vintage feel and couldn’t get enough of the flower!

The JEANS… LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how amazing Nate and all of our guys looked in the jeans … we were going for a very southern hospitality but trendy wedding with a vintage flair.  Love it and achieved the exact look we were going for. No bouts for the guys and no ties. Untucked shirts. So us.

The junior bridesmaids are my two sisters. It was important to me to set them apart from the other three girls. Their dresses are BCBG and they looked radiant!

Meredith Brewer from the Westin Riverfront helped us with the amazing cuisine for our special day with smoked salmon, rock shrimp and caramelized onion pizzas for the cocktail hour followed by tangled greens with sweet potato strings and amazing filets or roast chicken for dinner.

Nate works for the City of Boulder Fire Rescue so we had a miniature chrome fireman’s axe engraved with our names and wedding date by Eagle Engraving. Our cake topper was by Toppers With Glitz and looked amazing on the all white and ivory cake.  Perfect and exactly the cake I dreamed of. Simple and so pretty. Our cake flavors were champagne vanilla pistachio and Columbian espresso chocolate for Nate’s groom’s cake (a life sized replica of Nate’s fire helmet).  Terrific job by the pastry chefs at the Westin ~ we were blown away.

Our favors were black and white (chocolate and coconut) gourmet donuts from The Tin Star Cafe and Donut Haus, a BBQ place in Evergreen, Colorado!

Our location was BREATHTAKING! It was a dream and worth all the effort!!! DIY at its best … A day I am thrilled to look back on every day!!

* * *

What a GORGEOUS day. Thanks so much, Lacee & Nate and Jenna for sharing!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 46 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Avon, BCBG, Christian Louboutin, Colorado, Eagle Engraving, Jenna Walker Photography, Maggie Sottero, Plum Sage Flowers, Ring Pillow, Tin Star Cafe, Toppers With Glitz, Westin Riverfront
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography

Katherine and Grant were married in November at the Beaver Creek Chapel in Avon, Colorado. Their reception was held at the Timber Hearth Grille in Cordillera, above Beaver Creek. I suppose when you plan a November wedding in Colorado you might expect snow, but this is just breathtaking. Looking at these photographs, it’s hard to believe Katherine was even chilly! {She found the vintage stole at a thrift shop.}

And what winter party would be truly complete without s’mores …

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

James has more really-really great weddings posted on his blog, and we’re not kidding when we tell you that you have to take a look for some great DIY ideas! Then … while your there, take a look at the stunning Italian countryside photos he took. Oh my, makes me wish I could do a Mary Poppins thing and jump right into the picture! HERE is the link for his gallery prints!

Thanks again, James for being a part of our Little Black Book!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Avon, Beaver Creek, Colorado, Cordillera, Italian Countryside, Italian Landscape, James Christianson, Winter Wedding
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography