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Durango Weddings Magazine 1
2 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMFrom simple elegance to whimsical romance, our 18th issue features twenty Durango weddings that reect the rustic charm and adventurous lifestyle of the southwest. Our featured couples have shared their heart-felt stories, comical mishaps, and most memorable moments. Many had the “perfect” wedding day while others dealt with the challenge of a wildre requiring them to relocate and re-plan their entire wedding (pages 28, 36, 56). Looking back, despite the obstacles, each couple agreed that they would not change a thing. eir weddings were lled with memories they will forever cherish. I hope their wedded wisdom will help you plan YOUR perfect day! Every January, we host the annual Durango Wedding Expo, now in its 18th year of production. is is a wonderful opportunity to visit with the local wedding community, view beautiful wedding exhibits, and walk away with lots of creative ideas. I hope to see you there! If you are considering a destination wedding in Durango, the most beautiful landscape in all of Colorado, you will not be disappointed. In addition to breathtaking scenery, Durango is home to a talented group of wedding professionals who can make your destination wedding dreams a reality! Aer viewing the images throughout the magazine and reading the destination wedding stories (pages 18, 22, 36, 40, 61, 68, 74, 80, 86, 88), I hope you’ll be inspired to choose Durango for your celebration. Our local wedding community welcomes you with open arms! As you plan your celebration, don’t forget to visit us online (durangoweddingsmagazine.com) to view hundreds of local wedding day stories along with a comprehensive up-to-date directory of local venues and wedding professionals. Always remember it’s YOUR wedding, so make it unique, enjoy the process, and have lots of FUN along the way. row a celebration that truly reects the two of you. Best Wishes & Happy Planning, Debbie Devereaux, Founder & Publisher Durango Weddings Magazinedebbie@durangoweddingsmagazine.comPhone: (970) 882-3049 PO Box 762, Dolores, CO 81323IN THIS ISSUENote from the Publisher@durangoweddingsmagazine @dgoweddingsmag@durangoweddingsmagOn the Front Cover: Image by illuminarts.us Read the story on page 8 Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Reproduction of any material, copy or artwork herein without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved, Weddings Magazine, Inc.
Durango Weddings Magazine 3CONTENTS 2019 ISSUE LOVE STORIES 8 ASHLEY & JOEL - Silverton12 CHANEL & MATT - Purgatory Resort18 TRISTAN & SAM - Ridgewood22 KATY & JUSTIN - Silverpick Lodge 28 ABIGAIL & DYLAN - Strater Hotel33 KAYCIE & ALEX - Ridgewood36 AMY & DOUG - River Bend Ranch40 WHITNEY & KYLE - Purgatory Resort44 JESSIE & RYAN - Glacier Club48 SHANNON & KORY - Triple J Ranch52 LAUREN & RYAN - Ridgewood56 KAYLA & CHRIS - Sophia Retreat 60 LINDA & BRETT - Silverpick Lodge64 KOLBY & CHARLES - Ridgewood68 SASHA & DAN - Cascade Village 74 ZAVANNAH & JOHN - Silverpick Lodge78 REBECCA & MATT - Purgatory Resort80 LUKE & LUCAS - Durango86 LIZ & JEFF - Cascade Village88 BROOKE & CAMERON - PurgatoryPLANNING & ADVICE50 WORDS OF WISDOM84 ADVICE FROM THE NEWLY WED93 WISH WE WOULD HAVE94 LOOKING BACK96 INDEXimage by illuminarts
4 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMAshley & Joel August 18, 2018Photography by illuminartsFrom the bride… Our inspiration for everything about our wedding is what brought us together, strengthens our relationship, and inspires our love – the mountains. We believe southwest Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We have a cabin outside of Silverton, it is our own personal base camp for most of our adventures. We got engaged while back country skiing at the top of the peak behind the cabin. It is our “happy place”, the foundation of our relationship and love. THE CEREMONY e ceremony was held in the Minnehaha basin. It isn’t the easiest place to get to, it is about 7 miles outside of Silverton and then another 2 miles up a mining road. Given the diculty of getting to the ceremony site, we only invited family. We desperately wanted them to experience the beauty and magic of the San Juan Mountains that we get to experience every day. Getting them safely up the mountain during monsoon season was no easy feat! THE COVER COUPLESilverton, Colorado
Durango Weddings Magazine 5THE WEDDING DAYWe chose a morning ceremony to avoid the aernoon mountain monsoons. e mountains had other plans and there were signicant monsoons all morning. We started feeling defeated thinking we may not get to have our family up on the mountain because of the storm and the danger of lightning. Luckily for us, bright blue skies were on the horizon. Using our satellite phone (because there’s no cell service at 11,400 feet), we texted our family to hurry up and get to the base of the mountain. Mild to Wild Raing & Jeep Tours shuttled everyone up to the ceremony site. We rushed to get everything ready for the ceremony. As we were wrapping up, a thunder storm was rolling back in. We nished the ceremony in the nick of time and rushed everyone back o the mountain before another thunderstorm rolled through. We truly found the perfect window of time to pull o our mountain ceremony.
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Durango Weddings Magazine 7THE FLORALSI remember always dreaming of having a ridiculous amount of owers at my wedding. I absolutely love the wildowers that grow in the mountains here – so the theme was to try to have my owers look like mountain wildowers within my color scheme. THE RECEPTIONe Kendall Mountain Community Center was the perfect place to accommodate all our guests in the town of Silverton. e highlights were the dance party and our western themed photo booth – it was hilarious! I also loved the speeches and just spending time with all our friends and family.ADVICENo matter how hard it is, remember that the day is about celebrating your love and the start of your family. While it is easy to do, don’t get wrapped up in the details. THE WEDDING TEAMPhotographer: illuminarts. Drew is absolutely amazing to work with. I knew from the beginning, that capturing the memories of the day was truly important to Drew. He wanted to know about Joel and I beforehand to ensure that we had an authentic, memorable day; it really meant a lot to me.Caterer: Oh my goodness – Durangourmet all the way! Our food was OUT OF THIS WORLD. No joke, I would have ordered our food at any restaurant any day of the week. While I may be biased, I have never had such good food at a wedding before. e sta was amazing and professional as well. Can’t recommend Durangourmet enough.Rentals: Durango Party Rental. Jill Davis from Durango Party Rental is absolutely amazing. I love her. She tells it like it is. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with dierent vendors and weddings in this area. I reached out to her multiple times a week and she was always so incredibly helpful.Ashley & JoelVIEW MORE >>
8 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMChanel & MaAugust 18, 2018Photography by Ginger Moose PhotographyTHE VISIONMatt and I wanted a wedding in the mountains where we could host our family and friends surrounded by the natural beauty of the Rockies. We also wanted a romantic, rustic mountain theme with a touch of glam.THE PLANNING Planning a wedding from Denver, it was nice to have Durango Weddings Magazine as a local resource for inspiration. I appreciated hearing from actual brides, what they liked and didn’t like. I’m a very visual person and seeing the end result from dierent vendors in the print magazine was very helpful. Also, the Durango Weddings Magazine website (durangoweddingsmagazine.com) was incredibly easy to use and helped me decide on my vendors.THE VENUEMatt and I both love skiing together, it was special for us to get married at a ski resort. I grew up skiing at Purgatory, it’s my home mountain and was the perfect place to exchange our vows. We loved the views from the ceremony spot and the awesome wood wall in Purgy’s.THE DRESS & ATTIREI fell in love with a beautiful Wtoo by Watters gown that was fun and playful for our mountain setting. e gown, complete with stunning Justine M Couture accessories and veil, made me feel like a princess.Matt wore a Kenneth Cole navy suit with a burgundy tie, silver vest, and a pocket square with his family’s McDowell tartan on it. His best man also got him pink wedding socks with my face all over, they were hilarious! LOCAL WEDDINGPurgatory Resort
Durango Weddings Magazine 9”My owers were stunning! Working with Colleen from April’s Garden, I realized how important her creative eye was to my wedding décor. e arbor was one of my favorite pieces Colleen created. e bouquets, boutonnieres, and reception décor were all beautiful and added to our romantic mountain theme.”
10 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE CEREMONY DECORI worked with April’s Garden to design the ceremony space. ey exceeded my expectations. Hand-tied owers on the arbor were stunning. Mountain orals and greenery in hanging birch vases lined the aisles. Guests loved our custom welcome sign, one of the most photographed decorations, with a beautiful oral arrangement on top. It was the perfect setting for our vows.THE CEREMONYWe wanted our ceremony to reect the love and joy we feel for each other and include our family and friends in our love story. We were married under the most beautiful arbor with the sun shining on the mountains behind us. It all felt magical. Matt’s dad walked our dog, Kingsley, down the aisle. It was so special to have him with us because he’s been there since the beginning. I’ll never forget having my parents walk me down the aisle. I loved holding on to both of them as I walked towards Matt. We wrote our own vows, and Matt’s were so beautiful that he had everyone crying, even our ociant.
Durango Weddings Magazine 11Matt’s vows included a story about a type of penguin that “proposes” with a pebble to the one it wants to be with. Toward the end of the story, he pulled out the white pebble he had found on a beach and given to me almost 4 years ago. Everyone was crying happy tears by that point, especially me! Chanel & Ma
12 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMChanel & MaTHE FIRST DANCEWe took dance lessons and planned to do the foxtrot to our jazzy rst dance song, which requires me to step backwards but my dress was so big in the back I couldn’t do it. We laughed, improvised, and had a great rst dance I will never forget. MEMORABLE MOMENTOnce it was dark out, Matt pulled me outside to sit on the chairli and look at the stars. It was our rst moment completely alone to appreciate the day and the fact that we were ocially married.LOOKING BACKEveryone commented how incredibly happy Matt and I looked all day and it was true. It was the happiest day of our lives, and so very special to spend it with our favorite people in a beautiful place.ADVICEere are a ton of details that go into a large wedding but don’t stress about them on your wedding day. Once the day nally arrives, you’ve done everything and it’s just time to go marry your man, let others take over. Enjoy every single minute of your wedding day! Take a moment to sit back and realize how lucky you are to be surrounded by so much love.THE WEDDING TEAMVenue: Durango Mountain Weddings. We received so many compliments on the food at Purgy’s. It was delicious. Floral Designer: Colleen with April’s Garden was incredible to work with. She exceed our expectations on our wedding day with her beautiful arbor, owers, and decorations. She has an amazing eye and style that brings your vision to life!Video: Paul & Katie with Shutterfreek were a joy to work with. You can tell how much they love what they do and they bring that excitement all day.Hair & Makeup: Mary Beth Livermore with Hair Fusion went above and beyond for my wedding look. From ordering perfect extensions, to making me feel peaceful and beautiful on my wedding day, I can’t thank her enough. Photographer: Vanessa with Ginger Moose Photography was phenomenal starting with our engagement photos to helping plan our wedding timeline and taking the most stunning photos of our wedding day.DJ: Aiko Aiko SoundOciant: Chessa Gill
Durango Weddings Magazine 13Tristan & Sam May 27, 2018Photography by Ginger Moose PhotographyDESTINATION WEDDINGRidgewood Event CenterFrom the bride... Our inspiration was our love for Durango. Sam and I both grew up in Durango. Both of our families still live there, so it was a really special to have our wedding in a location that is near and dear to our hearts.THE VENUE We wanted our ceremony to be outside and the reception to be in the same location. We loved the idea of having our extended family and friends stay together near the venue.THE DRESS & ATTIREI wore the veil my mother made and wore at her wedding. It was important to nd a dress that worked well with the veil. I also wanted something that was simple and would allow me to dance the night away. I wanted my wedding party to pick their own dresses that made them feel comfortable and condent.
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Durango Weddings Magazine 15Instead of favors, Sam and I selected three non-prots we support and made donations to each based on tokens guests used to show their preference.THE WEDDING TEAMVenue: Ridgewood Event CenterCaterer: Durangourmet Photographer: Ginger Moose PhotographyTristan & Sam
16 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMKaty & JustinJuly 28, 2018Photography by Hazel & LaceFrom the bride... I loved the boho style but didn’t want our wedding to be “casual”. We decided on simple yet classy with neutral colors, tons of greenery, and oral style.WHY DURANGOWe chose Durango because of the beautiful Animas River, the gorgeous mountains, the San Juan National Forest, and the fun, vibrant, small town vibe. I fell in love with the town the very rst time I visited. ere’s no other place like Durango. THE VENUEWe wanted a venue that would allow us to spend as much time with our family and guests, Silverpick Lodge provided exactly that. When we met the owner Chris, we knew this was the venue for us. It was a dream come true to be married in one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited.DESTINATION WEDDINGSilverpick Lodge
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Durango Weddings Magazine 19THE CEREMONYAs I walked down the aisle time stood still. I won’t ever forget seeing all of our loved ones come together from all over the world to celebrate our love. It was a very surreal moment. I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw Justin’s eyes watering, he’s not an emotional guy. As we continued to walk, I was so excited to get to the end, my dad reminded me to slow down. I was smiling so hard my face hurt by the time I got to Justin.
20 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE FIRST DANCEWe took lessons for months but were still nervous. When Justin and I got out on the dance oor it felt like we were the only two people in the room. I messed-up but it didn’t matter at that point because we were lled with so much happiness.ADVICEEnjoy the planning and the journey. Justin and I learned things about each other during the planning that helped us grow as a couple. It can be very stressful, make it fun and enjoy the process.THE WEDDING TEAMVenue, Caterer & Lodging: Silverpick Lodge Floral Designer: April’s Garden Cocktail Tables: Durango Party RentalHair & Makeup: Hair FusionDay-of Planner: Lucky ServicesPhotographer: Hazel & Lacee reception was so much fun!
Durango Weddings Magazine 21ADVICEWords of wisdom from the Newly Wed1) Remember what it’s all about. It’s easy to get wrappedup in the stress of planning a wedding. Try to spend oneday/night a month together where you don’t talk aboutanything wedding related.2) If you can, hire a day-of coordinator and let someoneelse worry about everything. is day is for you.3) e whole day really does go by so quickly, try to slowdown and take it all in.- Katie & Alex married 09/15/18 in Durango“Plan your wedding exactly how YOU want it, not what other people want. Make the wedding as stress-free and drama-free as possible. Don’t argue over the little things. It’s okay if you forget something, improvise and laugh about it!It’s NOT just about the bride. By asking my husband what he wanted and adding those things into the mix, it made it easier for me. It was so wonderful to see him participate and feel included, because it’s his day too! Enjoy yourself fully. Allow yourself to FEEL the emotions and not just go through the motions. e wedding day is the best day ever!” - Naomi & Brice eloped 10/26/18 in Durango“Just know and accept the fact in advance that SOMETHING will probably not go as planned on your wedding day and try your best not to sweat it. No matter what happens, you will still be surrounded by your loved ones as you celebrate a truly amazing moment in your life, and at the end of the day, nothing is more important than that.” - Liz & Je married 9/30/18 at Cascade VillagePhoto: Colt FreemanPhoto: Allison Ragsdale PhotographyPhoto: Alexi Hubbell PhotographyRead these wedding day stories online.
22 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMAbigail & Dylan June 23, 2018Photography by Ginger Moose PhotographyLOCAL WEDDINGDurango / e Strater HotelFrom the bride... We both like being outdoors and wanted to get dressed up, so we decided on a unique combination of casual and formal. Our color palette was slate blue, berry, and green.THE VENUEWe originally were planning to get married at Dante’s at Purgatory Resort, but because of the 416 re, we changed all of our plans one week before the wedding. THE DRESS My sister found my dress at the rst store we went to. I thought I would hate it, but I tried it on to humor her. Turned out it was the one.
Durango Weddings Magazine 23THE CEREMONYOur ceremony was moved to a friend of a friends’ ranch at Lake Durango that had a beautiful view of the La Plata Mountains. Dylan built the arch we got married under. Sprays of locally grown owers were hung from the arch and set by each row. Dylan walked me down the aisle. His dad performed the ceremony. e ceremony itself was a teary one, we are high school sweethearts who have gone through a lot together. However, there was a moment of levity when Dylan’s ring refused to t on his nger during the ring exchange.
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Durango Weddings Magazine 25THE RECEPTIONWe held the reception at the Henry Strater eatre in downtown Durango. e toasts were amazing, almost everyone in our wedding party gave a toast. ey each represented a time in our lives from childhood, high school, college, and adulthood. All shared a common theme, “I knew Dylan and Abigail would get married when…” We nished the toasts with our own, thanking our guests and vendors for being so exible because of the wildre.THE FAVORSInstead of wedding favors, we had people put bottle caps in one of ve jars, each representing a charity that they wanted us to donate to. LOOKING BACKWe re-planned our whole wedding in ten days because of the wildre. We also bought a house a week before our wedding day and moved two days aer we got married. It was a pretty hectic week. ADVICEDon’t get caught up in the drama. When we had to change all of our plans it forced us to think about the things that were really important to us. e venue didn’t actually matter, we were just happy to be together and surrounded by all of our friends and family. THE WEDDING TEAMReception Site: e Strater Hotel was so helpful and exible when we needed a new place to hold our reception. Caterer: Norton’s Catering. We hired them a week before the wedding and they helped us fulll our original vision, which included banana pudding instead of a wedding cake. e food was incredible.Floral Designer: April’s Garden. Our owers were gorgeous. Photographer: Ginger Moose Photography was amazing. DJ: Stand Alone EntertainmentHair Stylist: Beauty Mark Abigail & Dylan
26 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COM1. Make it yours. Get ideas from wherever you want to but keep it personal for the two of you. Whatever is uniquely yours as a couple, whatever type of food you like, etc. If everyone doesn’t love it, it is okay.2. Hire a videographer. Seriously. is was something I did not plan on. My mom basically talked me into splurging on it because she said I wouldn’t regret it. Of course, she was right. e day ew by and the video captured so much we didn’t get to see, like each other getting ready and our guests throughout the night. We are 100% happy we hired a videographer. 3. Try to slow down and enjoy it! e day absolutely does just y by. - Layne & Teel married 6/16/18 in DurangoPhoto: Kara Cavalca Photo + VideoPhoto: Jenne Anne1. Give yourself at least a year to plan your wedding. 2. Get all of the details especially price from vendors well ahead of time. 3. Make sure you are not rushed on the day of. 4. Relax! Your guests are there to celebrate your special day and won’t care if something goes wrong. - Brittany & Hunter married 9/29/18 at Dalton RanchPhoto: Aspen Groen MediaADVICEWords of wisdom from the Newly Wed ...“““Less is more. We took on a lot of personalized things and DIY-ed a lot. We had a ton of fun doing them, but it was much more work. Remember to enjoy as much of the day as possible.” - Melinda & Je married 2/10/18 at Silverpick Lodge
Durango Weddings Magazine 27From the couple... Meeting in the fall of 2014 it gave us a new love for the “changing of seasons”. We wanted a fall wedding with a rustic, mountain vibe. Something very casual, simple, and inviting that felt warm and cozy. Our colors were pumpkin orange, mustard yellow, and deep navy. We chose the Ridgewood Event Center because we saw it featured in Durango Weddings Magazine and knew right away the wedding would be held there, it gave us the rustic atmosphere and warm fall feeling we were aer.We chose to do a “rst look” prior to the actual ceremony to share the special moment and walk down the aisle together.Kaycie &AlexOctober 13, 2018Photography by Eppich PhotographyLOCAL WEDDINGRidgewood Event Center
28 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE CEREMONYWe wanted to have an outdoor location with snow-capped mountains in the background. e day of the ceremony was pleasant and warm, the mountains got their snow earlier that week. It was the perfect time of year, looking back we feel really fortunate. Aside from the rst look, which truly was a magical moment, we enjoyed looking out into the crowd of people that came to support us. It was very emotional to know that many people love us and were there to be a part of our special day. e exchange of our vows was a sentimental moment that we will cherish forever.Kaycie & Alex
Durango Weddings Magazine 29THE VENUERidgewood Event Center was the perfect t for our rustic wedding. We stayed at Blue Lake Ranch in the Upper and Lower Spring house to keep our bridal parties separate, yet within the same space. It gave us a mini vacation getaway, we could relax leading up to the big ceremony and get ready surrounded by beautiful scenery. Most of our guests stayed at Blue Lake Ranch as well.LOOKING BACKAlex broke her hand one day before the wedding which created a lot of obstacles to work around. We had to postpone our honeymoon due to her needing immediate surgery. What’s a wedding without a little chaos. ADVICEGive yourself plenty of time to work out the kinks and obstacles that you may face. Plan for unexpected expenses, there were several little expenses that we did not account for. VIEW MORE >>
30 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMDESTINATION WEDDINGRiver Bend Ranch Amy & DougJune 2, 2018Photography by Jenne AnneFrom the bride: WHY DURANGODoug and I both love being in the mountains, we got engaged in the Canadian Rockies in Ban. We loved the thought of having all of our family and friends come together in Durango to help us kick o our marriage. Everyone in Durango is so friendly and laid back without skipping a beat in hospitality. THE VISIONClassic and minimal. Our vision included a lot of greenery, white owers, and candles. We wanted it to feel classic and timeless, yet relaxed. When Doug and I rst started dating, we took a trip to Italy together. Italian food is our favorite and the initial menu at Glacier was Italian inspired.
Durango Weddings Magazine 31THE 416 FIREOur wedding was originally planned to be at the Glacier Club. e ceremony was to be held on the tee box of the rst hole of the golf course, overlooking the amazing valley. When the re started ½ a mile from Glacier on Friday, June 1st, a mandatory evacuation of the area was enforced. e decision was made that night around 11:00 PM that we needed to move the entire event and secure another venue. I was devastated, all of the plans we had made were completely gone. I couldn’t imagine how it would even be possible to change everything in less than 24 hours. e Glacier Club made miracles happen and secured River Bend Ranch and worked tirelessly to arrange all of the vendors for our new venue.THE CEREMONYe ceremony was outside facing the pond at River Bend Ranch which helicopters were using to help put out the re. My favorite memory was seeing the look in Doug’s eyes as we stood there and took our vows. Also, when our reverend unintentionally made a pun about “the ame of love”.
32 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE RECEPTIONWhen my bridesmaids and I arrived at River Bend Ranch, I did not have high expectations. Due to the location change, we no longer had the décor of the Glacier Club that we relied heavily on for our vision. When I walked into the reception space at River Bend Ranch, I immediately burst into tears. It was so beautiful. In that moment, I knew that a lot of people went above and beyond to not only make our wedding day happen, but to make it as beautiful as possible. LOOKING BACKWe laughed because you end up worrying about so many little details in the planning process. Due to the wildre forcing a last-minute venue change, drinks were served in red solo cups. While we personally have nothing against solo cups, at the time it seemed to be a perfect metaphor for life and marriage: “When you’re busy making plans, life happens”. FAVORITE MEMORYWhen my new husband surprised me by playing the guitar and singing “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz. My heart felt like it might explode, it was a moment I will never forget.ADVICEDo your best to make decisions based on what is most meaningful to you, then delegate, and don’t try to control every detail. You never know what could happen that is completely out of your control. e most beautiful thing about a wedding is having the people you love all come together to celebrate one of the most important days in your life. THE WEDDING TEAMSta, Caterer & Event Planner: Glacier ClubVenue: River Bend Ranch Hair & Makeup: Reign Hair SalonFlowers: Adela Floral | Ociant: Chessa Gill Design: Heirlooms | Photographer: Jenne Anne Amy & Doug
Durango Weddings Magazine 33Looking Back...“Our wedding day was exactly as we dreamed. Looking back, all I do is smile.”- Taylor & Evan married 9/29/18 in Dolores“Our wedding day was such bliss. It felt like the best gi to be surrounded by our friends and family and blessed by rain (which I was anxious about, but ended up being wonderful in so many ways). It was colorful, personal, and meaningful. It was so much FUN to nally tie the knot to my best friend. I wouldn’t change one thing.” - Layne & Teel married 6/16/18 in Durango“We laughed and loved the whole day. Everyone always says something goes wrong on your wedding day, but we didn’t feel it! Perhaps it was all out of our system, worrying so much over the 416 re. Once we knew we had our original venue, vendors, and each other, it didn’t matter.”-Krista & Zach married 6/30/18 at Glacier Club“I now understand why people say that their wedding day is one of the best days of their lives. It is truly a indescribable moment when you profess vows to your best friend and partner and hear them in return.” - Whitney & Nick married 6/23/18 in Durangoz image: Allison Ragsdale Photographyimage: Colt Freemanimage: Shutterfreekimage: Kara Cavalca Photo + Video
34 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMDESTINATION WEDDINGPurgatory ResortFrom the bride... We wanted an elegant and romantic mountain wedding with jewel tones. Our welcome bags had elements from both sides of our family; peanuts and chocolates from Virginia, Mexican wedding cookies, and local Durango honey. One of my bridesmaids designed a logo that merged the Zia symbol on the state of Virginia. We used the logo on our wedding favors, program and corn hole boards (which Kyle’s parents made for us).THE VENUEWe loved the view from Dante’s at Purgatory. Once we saw the ceremony site, we knew where we needed to get married, on a mountaintop. THE DRESSMy dress was from Maggie Sottero. It had a lace bodice, illusion neckline, and lace back with keyholes & buttons. As soon as I put it on, I couldn’t stop smiling. My mother and best friend starting crying when I walked out in the gown so I knew it was the one. Whitney &KyleSeptember 22, 2018Photography by illuminarts
Durango Weddings Magazine 35THE CEREMONYMy favorite memory was walking down the aisle towards Kyle. In that moment, surrounded by our friends and family, nothing else mattered. Our good friend who is a chaplain, tailored the ceremony in a very personal way for Kyle and I. It shared how our relationship grew and included the story of the rst time we said “I love you”. Kyle’s favorite memory was of me trying to put his ring on the wrong hand.
36 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMRECEPTION DECORWe had a mix of round and long tables for the reception. e long tables had a row of greenery with large blooms down the center of the table while the round table had centerpieces in bubble vases. We placed a single stem of greenery on each plate for the reception. THE FLORALSe bouquets had magnolia leaves mixed in as a tribute to my southern roots. ADVICEKeep it personal and what you want. THE WEDDING TEAMVenue & Caterer: Purgatory ResortPhotographer: illuminartsFloral Designer: April’s GardenHair & Makeup: Reign SalonEvent Planner: Heirlooms Cake: Skillfully Decadent
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38 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMFrom the bride... We wanted our wedding to be touching and memorable. We envisioned a mountain wedding, during our favorite season, with our closest friends and family. e fall colors were at their peak and the weather was perfect. We had a personalized wedding week to host Ryan’s out-of-town family. We all went golng at Dalton Ranch and Glacier, had a pig roast party, and spent quality time with the ones we love.THE VENUEWe chose Glacier for several reasons. We both imagined an outdoor, mountain wedding and the Glacier Club’s breathtaking views made it the perfect venue. We had the option to have our reception outdoor or indoor, depending on the days weather. e Lodge at Tamarron had many rooms available for our family and friends. It gave our guests a comfortable place to stay so they could enjoy themselves during the reception.Jeie & RyanSeptember 22, 2018Photography by Allison Ragsdale PhotographyLOCAL WEDDINGe Glacier Club
Durango Weddings Magazine 39THE CEREMONYWe had our ceremony on the Glacier property surrounded by the greens of the golf course. e view was magnicent with aspen and oak leaves changing color. A horse and carriage brought me to the top of the aisle to the song, “Speechless”. It was like a fairy tale. I visualized the moment of walking down the aisle to my future husband for years. It was everything I imagined; an internal feeling of total bliss.
40 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE RECEPTIONOur reception was an absolute blast at the Glacier Valley Clubhouse. e best thing about the reception was having the option to be both, inside and outside. Big garage doors opened up to a tent outside with the dance oor and games. Our party favors had a “meant to bee” theme with local honey, candies, and sunower seeds.ADVICEIt is an indescribable feeling as a bride and couple when admiring the details that you spent months planning, fantasizing, and stressing about nally come together. e night will go by so fast, slow down and soak in as many special moments as possible. THE WEDDING TEAMVenue: Glacier Valley Clubhouse. Glacier gave us countless ideas and options during the planning process. eir sta allowed Ryan and I to enjoy our wedding day with absolutely no worries. ey ensured everything went as planned and took exceptional care of us. We had a vision of what we wanted and the Glacier team put it all together. Wedding Gown & Men’s Attire: Occasions. is Durango bridal boutique has a large variety of beautiful gowns. I’m glad that I did not have to travel to look elsewhere.Makeup Artist: Harley Carney at Hair Fusion. She is very talented. I denitely recommend her.Ceremony Chairs: Durango Party RentalHair Stylist: Jamie StaleyFloral Designer: Adela FloralJeie & Ryan
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42 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMShannon & KoryJune 2, 2018Photography by ShutterfreekFrom the bride: I let my daughter, Kinley, pick the color palette for our wedding day. She chose pink. I also let her pick most of the decorations. She was just as excited, if not more, for the wedding day. She also made it clear, because I got to invite all of my friends to be in the wedding, she got to invite all of her friends to be ower girls. THE VENUEKory and I have always loved the Triple J Ranch. We talked about getting married there before the owner, Susan made it a possible venue. We love the country rustic look and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place for our wedding.THE DAY OFOur wedding day was beautiful. It was the perfect summer day. I cried when we arrived at the venue. Everything I had planned came together and it was all so gorgeous. LOCAL WEDDINGTriple J Ranch
Durango Weddings Magazine 43THE CEREMONYWe chose to have the ceremony by the pond. Kory made a big red wooden cross for our altar. e owers decorating the cross were designed by April’s Garden. My cousin Brad ociated the ceremony and he was absolutely amazing. My favorite memory was our rst kiss as husband and wife.MEMORABLE MOMENTMy daughter’s toast when she said she was happy that I married Kory because he is her best friend. ADVICE If you are planning a big wedding, hire a wedding coordinator! THE WEDDING TEAMPhotographer: Shutterfreek Venue: Triple J Ranch Wedding Gown: OccasionsFlowers: April’s GardenCaterer: Serious Texas Bar-B-Q Event Planner: Something Borrowed
44 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMLauren & RyanSeptember 22, 2018Photography by illuminartsFrom the bride… I’ve always wanted an outdoor wedding with a laid-back vibe and a little bit of rustic charm. Turns out my Mom is basically Martha Stewart and pulled o a lot of DIY cras for the wedding. While I was busy trying to keep my head above water at work, she really came through and brought a touch of Michigan all the way to Durango.THE DRESSI thought for the longest time that choosing my dress would be the hardest part about planning a wedding. My mom and dad were in town a month aer I got engaged and we decided to go to Occasions in Durango and try on dresses for the rst time. Occasions helped me gure out what I really wanted. ey put me in a dress that just took all of us by surprise. My dad started crying and I knew that was it. ere were no compromises with this dress, I loved everything about it!LOCAL WEDDING Ridgewood Event Center
Durango Weddings Magazine 45THE VENUEI only looked at two locations. I absolutely fell in love with Ridgewood; the reception building, the lawn, the views and the trees. When we saw the ceremony spot by the river with all the wooden benches, it completely sold it for me. ey only had one Saturday le in September, which is what I was hoping for. We put the deposit down that day and never looked back.THE CEREMONYe ceremony spot was surrounded by beautiful trees that had all turned a fantastic yellow just in time for our wedding. Ryan’s dad made our arbor, which we plan to keep in our yard. I knew it was going to be sunny so we set out a couple baskets lled with sunglasses and hand fans for our guests. Ryan and I wrote our own vows and hearing his was my favorite part of the ceremony.
46 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE RECEPTIONRyan and I really wanted to be a part of our cocktail hour, so we did rst looks before the ceremony. We got a lot of pictures out of the way which gave us more time to enjoy ourselves and greet people at our cocktail hour. I highly recommend this! THE DANCINGHands down, the most memorable moment was dancing with my dad. When it was time for the father-daughter dance, we started dancing and he was already saying, “don’t make me cry, don’t make me cry”. Of course, I started crying and we both cried while we danced. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. We danced to ”Wherever You Will Go” by Charlene Soraja.ADVICEI approached this wedding with three things I really cared about in mind: getting married outside, having my family there, and loving my dress. I le a TON of details up to the vendors. I found ideas on Pinterest, vibes I liked and pictures that inspired me. I showed these to our vendors and let the experts think out the details, because that’s what they do best. THE WEDDING TEAMVenue: Ridgewood Event Center. I would recommend Ridgewood in a heartbeat.Photographer: illuminarts. e photography was one place that I really splurged on and illuminarts delivered. I loved my pictures so much, I am so happy I went with them. ey took amazing pictures and really helped us think through our timeline and how the entire day would ow which was incredibly helpful.Caterer: Norton’s Catering. Chuck is an amazing caterer.Hair & Makeup: Hair Fusion. ey did a great job. I thought all the girls looked amazing. Mary Beth did my hair and makeup- she nailed both and had such a calming energy for a crazy day. Wedding Gown, Groom, & Groomsmen’s Attire: Occasions.Lauren & Ryan
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48 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMLOCAL WEDDINGSophia Retreat CenterKayla & ChrisJune 9, 2018Photography by ShutterfreekFrom the bride… We had originally planned for our wedding to be in Durango at the Silverpick Lodge, but the 416 re put a little bit of a damper on the wedding plans. e re started the Friday before our wedding week. Family and friends traveled into Colorado on Tuesday and wedding events began on ursday. We surprised each other in how well we responded to the news of the re. We immediately started brainstorming to gure out how we could have the wedding weekend of our dreams in a new location. Our main priority was to spend as much time as possible with our guests and have most of them together in one location. We hosted the welcome BBQ at our home in Mancos ursday evening. We moved the “Hike with the Bride” to the McPhee Overlook trail, and the “Mountain Bike Ride with the Groom” to Boggy Draw. We decided to keep the rehearsal dinner in Durango on Friday night. On Saturday, we held the wedding at the Sophia Retreat Center. It took a dedicated team to pull it all o. It was remarkable to see it all come together.
Durango Weddings Magazine 49Instead of doing a rst look with Chris, I did a rst look with my Dad. is was an incredibly special moment for me. As the oldest child, my Dad and I have always shared a special bond. Chris & I wrote private vows to each other in cards we exchanged just before the ceremony. Our photographer, Shutterfreek, helped arrange the exchange without us seeing one another, but we got to speak, hold hands, and calm each others’ butteries. My bouquet was wrapped with a lace sleeve from my late mom’s wedding dress.
50 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMWalking down the aisle, my veil blew o my head and landed on my dad’s head. Everyone burst into laughter. I lost my mom when I was young, and my dad later said to me that he thought it was Mom’s way of saying she was with us.
Durango Weddings Magazine 51THE RECEPTIONDancing with everyone was a blast! I got to dance with my daddy, do the twist with my grandmother, shout with my friends and cousins, and slow dance with my new husband. I will never forget just sitting there and realizing all of the people in the room were there for us; most traveled across the country, adjusted to the last-minute changes of the venue & lodging, and helped us pull of an epic wedding weekend. It was an incredible feeling. LOOKING BACKOur wedding day was not what we had originally envisioned due to the 416 re. However, the nal outcome was better than we could have imagined. We were so honored to witness our community around us come together to help re-plan a wedding week (which took over a year to plan) in just a few short days! Our vendors were all incredibly accommodating despite the circumstances. Ultimately, we were surrounded by love and all of our friends and family. What more could we ask for? If anything, it made it all that more special.ADVICEStay calm as you plan. Planning a wedding in a year and then re-planning in it a few days made us realize that we could do anything together, especially with the help of family and friends. Don’t be afraid to take people up on their oer to help. We wouldn’t have pulled o our big day, in our new venue, if it weren’t for the generosity and assistance from a multitude of people. We had dear friends cater, serve, and bartend. Some help decorate and set up chairs and tables, others ran errands. It would not have been possible without everyone coming together and we are incredibly grateful. It made the weekend so very special!THE WEDDING TEAMPhotographer & Video: Shutterfreek. Paul & Katie are so down-to- earth and wonderful to work with. ey helped us, our wedding party, and guests feel at ease. I would recommend them to anyone! Floral Designer: April’s Garden was beyond accommodating given the circumstances of the re. Our owers were gorgeous. Favors: Honeyville. We did travel size jars of whipped honey for our favors. Our guests loved taking home a little taste of Durango. We’re already getting requests to mail some out for Christmas gis. Kayla & Chris VIEW MORE >>
52 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMDESTINATION WEDDINGSilverpick LodgeLinda &BreOctober 20, 2018Photography by illuminartsFrom the bride... We have been together for 10 years and for us, it was important to be surrounded by our children, family, and friends. We wanted to celebrate “Til Death Do Us Part” all weekend long and planned a welcome dinner, reception, and brunch for our guests. e welcome dinner theme of Dia de Los Muertos was a blast and set the tone for the weekend.THE PLANNING I read every page of every issue of Durango Weddings Magazine. is magazine t my wedding vision better than any other resource. THE DRESSI really wanted to wear turquoise jewelry and cowboy boots. I fell in love with an o the shoulder Rue de Seine dress with fringe. I found the perfect cowboy boots in Santa Fe, NM.
Durango Weddings Magazine 53THE CEREMONYWe held the ceremony in the meadow adjacent to Silverpick Lodge, with a stunning view of Twilight Peaks. We had a beautiful aspen arch adorned with antlers and orals from April’s Garden. We asked each of our kids to select a reading that was meaningful to them. e readings were from e Nightmare Before Christmas, Dr. Seuss, When Harry Met Sally, e Gilmore Girls, and How I Met Your Mother. ey all related back to love and our relationship. We were completely surprised by their selections. As they shared the reason for their selection, we laughed and cried tears of joy.
54 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE RECEPTIONWe had cocktail hour on the porch and lobby of the Silverpick Lodge and later dinner and dancing at the Sow’s Ear. We decorated the chandeliers with aspen leaves. e tables were adorned with turquoise, glass vintage jars with owers, and small white pumpkins. Hand calligraphy place cards were loosely tied to white napkins with a sprig of rosemary, welcoming guests to their seat.THE FAVORS “e Mountains Are Calling” beer glasses and sugar skull cookies. ADVICEPlan and work on the wedding together, it’s much easier to stick to a budget and timeline this way. Complete tasks even further ahead than recommended timelines; time creeps up on you. THE WEDDING TEAMVenue, Caterer & Lodging: Silverpick Lodge. e views from the wedding meadow are stunning and the restaurant has incredible food and service!Photographer: illuminarts. I knew the quality of Drew’s work was exceptional and it stood out when I was reviewing photographers. I had extremely high expectations going into our wedding day and when we received our pictures I was in awe, all expectations were exceeded. I’m so happy to have these lifelong memories of our special day. Drew is a true artist.Floral Designer: April’s Garden. Exquisite! e most beautiful owers and arrangements I have ever seen. Better than anything you will ever see on Pinterest. I was so moved when Molly walked in with the owers I broke into tears. Makeup Artist: Team of 3 fabulous artists from Hair Fusion. ey are professional, fast, and felt like part of the family. ey make you feel like a celebrity. I cannot say enough about these ladies. Ceremony Benches & Linens: Durango Party Rental.Welcome Dinner Caterer: Zia Taqueria. Linda & Bre
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56 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMKolby & CharlesMay 26, 2018Photography by ShutterfreekLOCAL WEDDINGRidgewood Event CenterFrom the bride… We wanted our wedding to be fun for all; for everyone to feel included and appreciated. It was important to share with our guests the relationship Charles and I have, how the dierent things about us as individuals comes together to make us whole. Charles is a reghter and that makes up a large portion of who we are as a couple. It takes a lot of support and trust to lead this lifestyle. It’s something we take very seriously and love each day that it brings.
Durango Weddings Magazine 57THE PLANNINGe Durango Weddings Magazine was honestly the most helpful resource I used to plan our wedding. I was able to see other weddings and all the dierent venue options Durango has to oer. Planning from out-of-state, it was helpful to see the nished work of local vendors and reassured our choice to work with them. e ideas and advice from past brides was encouraging and very helpful! THE CEREMONYMy favorite moment of the ceremony was stepping out of the two beautiful doors and my dad walking me down the aisle. at was the moment that I had been waiting for my whole life.e owers were my favorite decor detail. ey tied our wedding theme together and added color to everything.
58 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMLOOKING BACKI took not seeing Charles before the ceremony really seriously. I would have liked to do a “rst look” to give us an intimate moment and time to spend together before the wedding itself.We had a great dinner and danced the night away. Everyone let loose and really enjoyed themselves. ADVICEYour wedding day goes by so fast, enjoy and treasure the small moments! Enjoy your time being engaged. Don’t get lost in the planning so much that you forget the end result. No matter what happens or goes wrong (things will go wrong) you will be married to the person of your dreams at the end!THE HONEYMOON We spent our honeymoon camping in Silverton, Colorado with my family and two sets of close friends! It was absolutely perfect and we had so much fun.THE WEDDING TEAMPhotographer & Photo Booth: Shutterfreek. I recommend them to every bride. Paul and Katie are so sweet and will make your wedding day perfect with their attention to detail.Floral Designer: April’s Garden. Wow! I would recommend April’s Garden to all brides looking for a oral designer to really capture and harness your unique design. ey grew my owers for me and kept in touch throughout the year. Molly created my amazing bouquet and our ceremony spray. She tied our entire wedding together by understanding my vision and using her creative spirit. It was a match made in heaven!Venue: Ridgewood Event Center.Kolby & Charles VIEW MORE >>
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60 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMSasha & DanOctober 4, 2018Photography by Carley Nelson PhotographyFrom the bride... We like to hike and explore, and when we took a trip to Durango we immediately fell in love with the area. We were in awe of the changing leaves and weather that made the already beautiful area even more stunning. We visited the rst weekend of October 2017, and decided right then and there if we got married, it would be in Durango at the exact same time of year.THE VISIONWhimsical, free spirited, romantic, adventurous, bohemian, and very “us”. THE VENUEHaving a mountain backdrop was a must for us. e second we visited Cascade Village we knew this was the place. We were blown away by the view of the Twilight peaks. Even the views from inside the reception, through the windows, were just as amazing as outside.DESTINATION WEDDINGCascade Village
Durango Weddings Magazine 61THE CEREMONYWe had a small bit of rain at rst, only to have the sky open up to perfect blue with the sun shining during our vows. We rode horses to the ceremony aisle (and rode them out) which was a surprise for nearly all of our guests. Everyone commented how memorable it was to watch the bride and her dad riding out from the mountains on horseback. We walked down the aisle to “You Are My Sunshine” by Morgane Stapleton, a song my mom has sung to me since I was a newborn. We wrote the entire ceremony ourselves and gave Dan’s daughter a special knot ring to represent our family ties.
62 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMPERSONAL TOUCHES 1) Before the ceremony, I gave my dad a handkerchief with a special memory on it. He gave me the beanie he placed on my head the day I was born. He told me that when he put it on my head that day, he thought of my wedding day. Of course, we both cried!2) Starting 50 days out from our wedding day, I kept a monogrammed journal. I wrote in it daily about something that happened each day that conrmed why I loved and was marrying Dan. It was my gi to him on our wedding day. 3) We used a family Bible that was gied to us as our guest book. Guests wrote us notes and highlighted special verses.4) My mom has been collecting sets of China since I was 12 years old. She always told me they were for my wedding day. Two months before our wedding, she drove from Pennsylvania to hand deliver all of the China sets. Every guest table had a dierent set of China on it. 5) Our signature drink was a personal favorite we named the Twilight Twister; in honor of the Twilight peaks seen from the windows at Cascade Village.Sasha & Dan
Durango Weddings Magazine 63THE RECEPTIONWe danced in front of the replace all evening. is was the highlight of the reception because every single person was up there dancing and singing along.ADVICEFocus on the marriage not the wedding. Base your wedding on the marriage you want to have and the life you and your future spouse already live. THE WEDDING TEAMVenue: Cascade Village. e sta did an amazing job helping out with everything. ey went out of their way to make sure every detail was perfect and exactly how we envisioned it. Everyone involved from Cascade was such a huge help throughout the entire process. We could not be happier with how everything turned out. We HIGHLY recommend Cascade Village.Caterer: Durangourmet. e food was amazing! Jimmy and his sta are great to work with and made everything perfect down to the littlest details.Hair & Makeup: Hair Fusion.
64 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COM“e next morning, we hiked up to Ice Lakes with our photographer and a few friends. On the trail, we passed some of our wedding guests. None of them thought we’d actually make it because we’d be sleeping in. We hiked 8 miles and gained 2,500 feet of elevation to the most beautiful clear blue alpine lake. Dan carried my dress and his suit in his pack and just as we changed into our attire the snow began to fall. It was the rst snowfall of the year.”-Sasha & Dan
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66 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMFrom the bride… It rained for the entirety of our wedding day - ceremony and all! Despite the rain, the happiness and love we felt from our family and friends made it not matter one bit. It was denitely a whirlwind but the most happy, fun, and amazing day of our lives!THE VISIONWe wanted a view of the mountains. at was our number one requirement. THE VENUEWe travelled to the Silverpick Lodge where Chris showed us the meadow and we instantly fell in love. at view is unbeatable! We were also thrilled that we could book the whole lodge for the weekend at a price that t our budget. We had a lot of family coming from out of state, it was important they could stay at the venue.Zavannah & JohnJuly 7, 2018Photography byShutterfreek DESTINATION WEDDINGSilverpick Lodge
Durango Weddings Magazine 67THE CEREMONYShortly before our ceremony was scheduled to begin, it began to rain with no sign of stopping. I sat in the car as John, the groomsmen, and our guests huddled in the rain outside hoping it would subside. Eventually, John decided it was go-time and o it went. It was such a blur! All I remember is walking down the aisle and seeing John with his goofy grin and then saying our vows. ere’s a picture that was taken right aer the ceremony ended with all of our bridesmaids and groomsmen but none of us can remember it happening at all. Seeing our family and friends smiling at us during our ceremony despite the rain was by far the most memorable moment!We had our dog, Captain, as our ring-bearer and he was a trooper in the rain. He was a huge hit and so cute! Our longtime friend and John’s freshman roommate, also named John, served as our ociant. His prepared ceremony was beautiful, even though he wasn’t able to do the entire thing because of the rain.
68 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMZavannah & JohnLOOKING BACKI would focus more on our guests. It was such a whirlwind with pictures, cake cutting, etc., by the time we nally got to relax and dance it felt like we only had a short time le.ADVICE1. Be very straightforward on the role of your vendors. Keep track of who is taking care of what, especially in the last few weeks before the wedding. 2. Don’t stress the small stu! We got bogged down on details that got le out or unused and had to remind ourselves how little it mattered overall. e end result, us getting married, was perfect. 3. Be clear about your “absolutely nots”. For example, we knew that we absolutely did not want our outdoor wedding to be moved indoors but people still tried to push us that way.THE WEDDING TEAMVenue: Silverpick Lodge. e view in the meadow is hard to beat! Chris is also so easy to work with.Photographer: Shutterfreek. e photographers were the rockstars of our wedding. Katie and her second photographer helped me and my party get to the ceremony site unseen and in the rain. ey helped keep the right timing for the whole shebang – including eyeing the weather for the best time to begin the ceremony despite the rain. I can’t praise them enough! I highly recommend Shutterfreek.Caterer: Norton’s Catering was awesome to work with. e food was AMAZING. Chuck Norton makes you feel at home when you go to his restaurant. e sta on the day of our wedding were on it the whole time.Floral Designer: April’s Garden. Our owers turned out far beyond our wildest dreams. We gave them a pretty vague idea of what we wanted and they blew it out of the park. I still have my bouquet dried in a vase that I will cherish forever.
Durango Weddings Magazine 69From the bride... Having our wedding at Purgatory Resort allowed us to celebrate our marriage in the mountains that have shaped us into who we are today. e resort had everything we were looking for in a wedding venue, no shortages of stunning views and incredible scenery. We knew Durango would oer our out-of-town guests a multitude of activities to round out their travels.THE DAY OFOn the morning of our wedding day, some family and family friends hosted a pre-wedding brunch. It was nice for Matt and I to spend time with friends and family in a casual setting before the excitement of the day began. Our ceremony took place at Engineer Meadow with Engineer Mountain framed by the aspens and evergreens. For the bridal procession, we played “All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar, which set everything o on a fun, upbeat note. e night ended with a small group of us singing “Friends in Low Places”, l we will never forget that moment.LOCAL WEDDINGPurgatory ResortRebecca & MaSeptember 29, 2018Photography by Ginger Moose PhotographyWe’ll treasure forever having our dogs accompany us as we concluded the ceremony.
70 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMFrom the couple… It was a magical day surrounded with love and beauty. We were celebrating our marriage and declaring our love unabashedly, which we never truly did before in fear of judgment or shame. We were surrounded by our closest of family and friends who encouraged and loved us as a couple. THE CEREMONYLuke prepared a special tribute during the ring ceremony about Lucas’ grandparents, who immigrated from Cuba to America with only the shirts on their back. His grandmother hid her wedding ring from authorities in the sole of her shoe. During the ceremony, Lucas’ ring was stored in his shoe. Aer Luke pulled it out, he read a statement honoring Lucas’ grandparents and wishing our marriage the same love and endurance as his grandparents marriage.DESTINATION WEDDINGDurango, ColoradoLuke & LucasSeptember 29, 2018Photography byAllison Ragsdale Photography
Durango Weddings Magazine 71Our ociant Lisa truly took the time to get to know us and our story. She gave us “homework” that helped us answer questions about why we were getting married, what that means to us, what type of marriage we wanted, and what the future held for us. She made us grow closer and learn more about one another. She knew all about us by the time we actually had the wedding ceremony. Many of our guests commented on how personalized the service was, all credit goes to Lisa for that. She’s super detailed oriented and had a fully printed out script for the wedding. It eased all fears or concerns about what would transpire the day of the wedding and during the ceremony.
72 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMADVICEWhen you rst begin the planning process, set a budget and stick with it. To do this, you will need to list what parts of the wedding are most important to you and which are least important. For example, at the top of our list was our photographer and catering, it’s where we spent the bulk of our budget. A DJ was not as high a priority for us, so we spent months downloading music that t our style. While this was time consuming and stressful, it was worth the time and energy to stay on budget.LOOKING BACKMany couples dismiss having a wedding due to cost and stress. I would contend that weddings are worth every penny because of the memories created. e wedding celebrates a huge milestone within our life.THE WEDDING TEAMOciant: Ceremonies With Lisa | Caterer & Flowers: e Yellow Carrot Photographer: Allison Ragsdale Photography | Venue: Irma J RanchI’m so glad we didn’t try to rush a wedding together in a few months. We took a year to plan our wedding and needed every bit of it. It was the perfect amount of time to get everything done in a thoughtful but not rushed manner. Anything sooner would have been really stressful.Luke & Lucas
Durango Weddings Magazine 73Photo: Allison Ragsdale Photography“Plan, plan, plan! When the time comes, call upon every friend you have. ey want to help, are honored to help, and you will need all the hands you can get. Make sure to thank them when the day is all done. Lastly, hire a day-of coordinator. It’s worth the money and takes stress o of the bride and groom.” - Whitney & Nick married 6/23/18 in Durango1. Pick a few elements about your wedding that are the most important to you. Spend most of your energy and money on those things.2. Find a moment to “soak it all in” during your ceremony. 3. Take time to plan extra self-care in the weeks leading up to the big day, in whatever way that looks like for you both.-Corinne & Cole married 6/23/18 in Durango“We ignored (for the most part) what everyone else wanted and put together a day that would make us happy. We planned this together. I think that is the best way to plan your wedding.”-Alana & Michael married 9/29/18 at River Bend RanchPhoto: Monika Leopold PhotographyPhoto: ShutterfreekRead these wedding stories online DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COM““]
74 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMLiz & JeSeptember 30, 2018Photography by Alexi Hubbell PhotographyFrom the bride... Je and I both fell in love with Durango when he lived there for a short period for work. We couldn’t get enough of the Southwest charm and breathtaking mountain scenery. We knew it would be the perfect destination and experience for our guests. Fairly early into our engagement, we decided to have a fall wedding, when the striking yellow aspens would be on full display. Since both of us spend a ton of time in the mountains, a breathtaking mountain backdrop was a must for our ceremony. e rest of our vision really stemmed from that. THE VENUETruth be told, Cascade Village was only the second venue we looked at, but it had exactly what we were looking for in terms of the mountain backdrop for the ceremony site, a spacious lodge for the reception, and lodging for our guests on site. It was important to us that our guests could stay on location, no need for transportation and everyone could easily gather together throughout the wedding weekend.THE CEREMONY I loved everything about our ceremony. e weather was perfect, our ociant nailed his speech, Je and I’s vows perfectly captured the two of us, and our friends and family who gave readings did an amazing job. MEMORABLE MOMENTAround sunset, Je and I went outside to take pictures and there was a huge moose that made a cameo appearance. Je and I love spotting wildlife when we’re out on our adventures, and this was an incredible moment to witness on such a special day for the two of us.DESTINATION WEDDINGCascade Village
Durango Weddings Magazine 75Our ociant accidentally started the ring portion of his speech at the wrong time, which he then had to backpedal on. Je and I, along with all of our guests, could not stop laughing. We loved it!
76 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMFrom the couple… My parents went to Durango for their 30th wedding anniversary and told us how beautiful it was. While visiting Purgatory Resort, we found the 360-degree mountain top views breathtaking. I knew it was the place to say, I do! I wanted a beautiful owy, comfortable dress that I felt beautiful in and could dance the night away in. THE CEREMONYWe got married at 10,000 feet at Dante’s Peak with amazing mountain views. e ceremony aisle was lined with owers and greenery. Our beautiful oral-lled birch arch was the focal point for the stunning backdrop. We initially worried about it raining, but as our ceremony started and we began to say our vows, the sun came out and shined beautifully on our ceremony. It was a magical moment!DESTINATION WEDDINGPurgatory ResortBrke &CameronJuly 28, 2018Photography by Shutterfreek
Durango Weddings Magazine 77
78 DURANGOWEDDINGSMAGAZINE.COMTHE RECEPTIONe décor included lots of twinkling candlelight, mercury glass, wood, and greenery. During the speeches, we lost electricity (wind had knocked out a power line) but we just kept rolling. ank goodness we had planned to use lots of candles.We had so much fun dancing the night away with nothing but candlelight. Obviously losing electricity wasn’t planned but it ended up being really romantic! ADVICEDo whatever makes you happy. Others will have opinions but the bride and groom’s are the most important. Try and enjoy the planning process. Make sure to tell your mom how much you love her.THE WEDDING TEAM Venue, Caterer & Lodging: Purgatory Resort. e food was amazing! Loved having the shuttle at Purgatory Resort to shuttle guests to and from the wedding!Photographer: Shutterfreek. Paul and Katie are the nicest people and so easy to work with. Highly recommend them.Floral Designer: April’s Garden. We loved our owers. April’s Garden was so amazing to work with. Having a destination wedding, we had to coordinate everything through phone calls and emails. Colleen and the whole team were easy and professional to work with. Everything looked beautiful. It was exactly what I wanted.Brke & Cameron VIEW MORE >>
Durango Weddings Magazine 79“I wish we hired our day-of coordinator sooner. We didn’t plan on having one but when it came down to nalizing the ceremony plans, with specic timelines (wedding party entrance, rst dance, cake cutting, etc.), and all the other little logistical things, we realized we didn’t have a clue what we were doing! Looking back, I don’t think I could have done it without her. She handled the logistics, making sure we were where we needed to be and when, and allowed me to just enjoy the d a y.” - Katie & Alex married 09/15/18 in Durango“I would have not gotten so stressed about the little things. It all comes together in the end and our wedding day was absolutely beautiful.” -MaKaila & David married 7/7/18 at River Bend Ranch “Given another run I would have ironed the table cloths the night before and started hair and makeup earlier.” - Brittany & Hunter married 9/29/2018 at Dalton Ranch“I wish that we got a picture of us with our two dogs. We forgot and didn’t realize until aer. Make a photo list for a wedding party member to hold and remember to bring it. We made one but forgot it.” -Kayla & Chris married 6/9/18 in Dolores“We completely forgot to have any non-alcoholic beverages available. I don’t know how it never came up during the planning. We talked about having beer, wine, and had two signature cocktails (a Manhattan and a Paloma). No one reminded us that not everyone drinks….whoops.”- Lauren & Ryan married 9/22/18 at Ridgewood image: illuminartsADVICERead these wedding day stories online.We wish we would have ...