19 minute read
wedding Guide 2020 ST E A M B OAT S P R I NG S
5Bridal Stories
21 Trends for 2021
Comes to the Valley "Say Yes"
l K ate Salley captured the joyful glow of a bride on her wedding day in this edition’s coverwinning photo. The shot features Ann Robbin, who wed Tommy Lefere at La Joya Dulce this past summer. (See page 18 for the full wedding story.) “That particular photo was taken right after Ann and Tommy's first look,” says Kate, the Denver-based photographer who runs Kate Ivy Photography. “She looked stunning, and was beaming after just seeing Tommy. Tommy had run to go grab the groomsmen for bridal party photos, and I couldn't help but take a few of just Ann in all her glory.” Ann’s sunset photo was just one piece of an incredible wedding. “I still talk about Ann and Tommy’s wedding as being one of my favorite weddings to date,” Kate says. “We met up for a drink a few months before the wedding, and I immediately felt like we were best friends. They invited Taylor, my second shooter, and I to their rehearsal dinner and we did a shoot with them at Strawberry Park Hot Springs the day before. They were super laid-back and the shoot turned out awesome.” Kate spent her 20s traveling the world as a flight attendant, and decided to couple her adventurous spirit with a career in photography eight years ago. “I loved street photography and just remembering all the moments. I have always had this feeling that life is going to pass me by – so documenting it felt important!” As Kate’s passion for photography grew, she focused more on shooting couples. “Over the last four years, I have focused on building my wedding photography business and been in search for those madly in love, adventurous couples,” she says. “Being a part of someone’s wedding day and love story gives me so much life, and I truly think I have the best job ever.” Kate’s advice for capturing great wedding photos? “At the end of the day, what matters the most is that the couple trusts you as a photographer,” she says. “My relationship with them up to their wedding day has been a sequence of building trust. There have been times when I have pulled the couple from dinner for golden light photos. I would say, ‘Hey, I know that you are still enjoying dinner and I hate interrupting that, but if you are willing to step out for five minutes, the light is perfect right now and I know the photos will look amazing!’ If I am excited, then they are excited.” That trust and excitement shines through in Kate’s cover-winning photo. Learn more about Kate Ivy Photography at www.KateIvyPhotography.com. C ourtesy K ate I vy P hotogra hy Wedding photographer Kate Salley Trust and Excitement Shine Through
Wedding album
Destination Steamboat
Nick Osadchuk & Alisha Repollo Andy Barnhart Photography www.AndyBarnhart.com
Courtney McDonnell & James Bartik Kari Geha Photography www.KariGehaWeddings.com
La Joya Dulce
Cristin Grimes Andy Barnhart Photography www.AndyBarnhart.com
Flying Diamond Ranch
Maddie Storer Andy Barnhart Photography www.AndyBarnhart.com
Flying Diamond Ranch
Meagan Craighead & Matthew Friedrichs Seedhouse Photography www.SeedhousePhotography.com
Flying Diamond Ranch
Kayla Krantz & Chad Pilcher Larissa Welch/We, the Light Photography www.WeTheLightPhotography.com
La Joya Dulce
Monica Harms & Jimmy Vanbuskirk Seedhouse Photography www.SeedhousePhotography.com
Lake Catamount
Taylor Geiger & Brian Samuels Cali Frankovic Photography www.CaliFrankovic.com
Lake Catamount
Rebecca Kamins & Robbie McGourty Elizabeth Burgi Photography www.ElizabethBurgi.com
Midnight Ranch
Kelly Layer Preston Utley Photography www.PrestonUtley.com
Alix Grant & Nick Hawes Wedding stories
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Andy Barnhart Photography www.AndyBarnhart.com
The wedding of Alix Grant and Nick Hawes was an intriguing combination of contemporary American fashion, classic Colorado cowboy styling and Scottish tartan attire. When bride Alix told her family in Scotland that she was engaged, they responded that they hoped she was planning a Scottish wedding. While she says the event wasn’t as traditional as some guests may have expected, it definitely reflected her heritage. Wedding planner Lindsey Grannis of One Fine Day Productions found a bagpiper in Denver to perform for the occasion, and a Scottish quaich was part of the ceremony. The quaich, a two-handled vessel, is used by Scottish couples to toast their new lives together. The men’s outfits consisted not only of a kilt made in the Grant family tartan, but also of a vest, short jacket, scarf, kilt hose, sporran (pouch that serves as a pocket and may have originated as a place to conceal a flask, Alix surmises) and a short-handled knife. Each man’s measurements had to be sent to the Scottsdale, Arizona, firm that provided the ensembles. “It was like herding cats,” Alix recalls. “It was probably the most complex thing leading up to the wedding.” At the event, however, the kilts may also have been the most entertaining. “It was hilarious to see the guys dancing in a ‘skirt.’ They were just loving it,” Alix says. Nick added his own touch – a cowboy hat – to the outfit. He and Alix share a love of Steamboat Springs; both their families spent time here while they were growing up. They chose Lake Catamount as their wedding venue because it’s their happy place, Alix says. Six bridesmaids dressed in a deep shade of teal accompanied the bride, who wore a Haley Paige ballgown that consisted of multiple layers of tulle with a beaded back. “It was a lot more dress than I thought I wanted,” Alix says, acknowledging that Paige may be her all-time favorite designer. Tiny white flowers were woven throughout Alix’s long curls, and the bridesmaids had crowns of greenery. Alix’s whole family participated in the wedding. Her younger brother officiated, while her older brother performed the quaich ceremony, and her parents walked The couple's dog, Stewart, serves as their ring-bearer.
her down the aisle. The couple’s dog, Stewart, who was there when Nick proposed to Alix, served as ringbearer. The couple loved being able to share Colorado with Alix’s family, who came from Scotland for the occasion. Alix and Nick greeted their guests at a welcome party at Aurum Food & Wine, alongside the river.
Their visitors attended the rodeo, went on an alpaca trek, hiked, fished and rafted during their stay. Many stayed on through the Fourth of July, where they were treated to fireworks and a parade. “They thought the patriotism was unbelievable,” Alix recalls.
Although it snowed 20 inches a week before the wedding – remarkable even in Steamboat – the sun came out the night before the wedding and blue skies prevailed throughout the weekend. “The light was perfect,” Alix says. “It all goes by really fast.” To quote Ziggy Marley, to whose song the couple had their first dance after the ceremony, “A lifetime isn’t enough to love you.”
The couple had a traditional cake for the cutting ceremony; mini-cupcakes were also served.
Featured Vendors
Venue: Lake Catamount
Planner: One Fine Day Productions
Welcome party: Aurum Food & Wine Restaurant
Saturday, August 24, 2019 Ann Robbin & Tommy Lefere Wedding stories
Kate Ivy Photography www.KateIvyPhotography.com
The beauty of a bohemian wedding was on full display at Ann Robbin and Tommy Lefere’s wedding last summer at La Joya Dulce.
Ann, a Chicago native, and Tommy, from Jackson, Michigan, met while both worked at a logistics company in Chicago. During a camping trip at Rollins Pass, Tommy proposed at the edge of an alpine lake. The couple set their sights on the rustic ranch setting of La Joya Dulce, which would provide a venue for their ceremony and rehearsal dinner. Ann and Tommy arrived in Steamboat the Wednesday before their wedding, giving them plenty of time to settle in. “We met with La Joya Dulce when we arrived and got everything decorated to our liking,” Ann says. “We went there and picked out all the decorations and set everything up, making sure it was the vision and style we were hoping for.” The day before their wedding, Ann and Tommy snuck away with photographer Kate Salley for an intimate pre-wedding photo shoot at Strawberry Park Hot Springs. The rehearsal dinner was held at La Joya Dulce, followed by a pizza-andbeer welcome party and lodging at Glen Eden Resort. “I definitely recommend a welcome party to anyone thinking of doing a wedding where a lot of guests are traveling,” Ann says. For the bridesmaids, the wedding day started with a private yoga session facilitated by Yoga Center of Steamboat. “I wanted to make sure to center myself for the wedding day,” Ann says. “I would recommend that to anyone.”
Ann's bridesmaids wore an eclectic selection of dresses, adding to the bohemian feel of the wedding.
From there, Ann and the bridesmaids went to the bridal suite to have their hair and makeup done. Once she was ready, Ann slipped away to share a first look with Tommy. “It was really special,” she says. “I was super emotional and so was he, and I think if we saw each other for the first time walking down the aisle it would have been kind of stressful. I felt so much more at ease after that. The first look was very emotional, very beautiful and intimate for Tommy and I.” Ann’s best friend, Katie Collins, officiated at the ceremony, and the couple’s parents spoke. “It was very personal and amazing,” Ann says. “The ceremony was touching – having a friend write it about you, it was very emotional.” “One of the coolest things I remember about their wedding was the ceremony,”
Salley says. “As Tommy walked down the aisle, everyone cheered – like, went crazy. I got teary-eyed behind the camera. How cool that everyone was so excited for these two to be together? You can imagine how excited they got when Ann came down the aisle.” Immediately after the ceremony, La Joya Dulce ushered the couple to a private spot to relax, eat and sign their marriage certificate – a peaceful moment that allowed them to catch their breath. “After that, we hopped into happy hour and it was party on!” Ann says. While Ann served as her own wedding planner, she credits La Joya Dulce’s Mandy Crabb for helping the day go smoothly. “Mandy was amazing – If anything bad happened, she didn’t tell me, which is great, because I didn’t want to know,” Ann says with a laugh.
Let us bring your dreams to life
photo Andy Barnhart Photography
Since 2010, Chef Lulu Cox along with her team of professionally trained chefs have specialized in up-scale weddings, rehearsal dinners, and unique catering events. “She is an extremely organized, selfsufficient, amazing, sweet person. She gave me a hug every time she saw me, and made sure I was doing okay.” For their honeymoon, Ann and Tommy travelled to southern New Zealand for 19 days in January. They currently live in Golden.
Ann and Tommy meet one of La Joya Dulce's four-legged residents.
Featured Vendors Venue: La Joya Dulce Lodging: Glen Eden Resort l
Katrina and Tom went with a black-tie Western look for their Flying Diamond Ranch wedding.
Featured Vendors
Wedding Planner: One Fine Day Productions
Catering: Marno's Custom Catering
Cake: Steamboat Baker
Transportation: GO Alpine
Rehearsal Dinner: Truffle Pig l
For Information and Reservations: 970-879-2800 www.GoAlpine.com 2063 Snowbowl Plaza
• In & out-of-town shuttles for wedding parties & guests. • Rehearsal dinner shuttles. • Airport transfers. • And more! Now booking 2021 weddings! Go Alpine fulfills all your wedding transportation needs!
Wedding stories
Justin and Lauren take a break from skiing after their wedding to visit one of their favorite spots at the Steamboat Ski Area.
Lauren Pierpoint & Justin Hellwinkel
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Nothing says Steamboat more than a group in full wedding attire skiing down the slopes of Mount Werner, and that’s exactly what happened following the wedding of Lauren Pierpoint and Justin Hellwinkel in early 2019.
Lauren and Justin, both avid skiers, met at CU Boulder in 2010, and started dating in 2016 while Justin was attending the University of Colorado Medical School and Lauren was getting her doctorate at UC Denver. On a weekend ski trip to Crested Butte, Justin popped the question. “He completely surprised me,” Lauren says. “We were there with all of our closest friends, but I assumed it was just a normal ski weekend.” Both huge fans of Steamboat – and its ski slopes – the couple settled on a late-March wedding at the Steamboat Ski Area. Lauren’s maid of honor had once lived in Steamboat and been a member of ski patrol, so she suggested they use Olympian Hall at Howelsen Hill for the rehearsal dinner. “Everybody loved it!” Lauren says. Guests and members of the wedding party stayed at the Steamboat Grand at the base of the ski area the night before the wedding. The wedding day began with Lauren and her bridesmaids getting their hair and makeup done with a full view of the mountain right outside their windows. Meanwhile, Justin and his groomsmen hit the mountain for some pre-wedding skiing. “He had basically one rule, which was, ‘Don’t break your legs,’” Lauren says, laughing. She wasn’t really worried, though. “He’s an extremely talented skier,” she says.
Justin and Lauren enjoy their "heavenly day" atop Thunderhead Peak at the Steamboat Ski Area.
Once the wedding party was ready, they rode to the top of the gondola for a photo shoot with Travis and Jenna of Garner & Co Photography. “Travis did a great job, and so did Jenna,” Lauren says. “By then the clouds had cleared, and it was an amazing view and an amazing day. There was a lot of smiling involved.” The couple’s 104 guests rode the gondola to the wedding ceremony, which took place on the deck outside the Champagne Powder Room. “We started the ceremony, and the views – god, it was so amazing,” Lauren says. After saying “I do,” it was time for the wedding party to hit the slopes. “Nobody changed – we just put on our ski boots and went,” Lauren says. “Steamboat groomed the run just for us, the temperature was amazing, and we had this awesome corduroy. We planned it with Travis Garner and took a lap with him and went to all the spots we thought would be good to shoot photos. There’s one of us standing on a rock with like a 20-foot drop on the other side, and Justin’s just picking me up and swinging me around.”
Justin and Lauren prepare to meet their wedding party at the top of the Steamboat Gondola.
“It’s not hard at all to ski in a dress,” Lauren adds. “I cut up some sweatpants and put them over my boots to keep the dress from getting caught on them.”
After their ski run, the couple enjoyed a moment of peace and privacy as they rode the gondola back up to the reception. “It was a little intimate moment between the two of us,” Lauren says.
The wedding party entered the Champagne Powder Room with style, as the song “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce played. “It’s incredible the way they transform the Champagne Powder Room into a reception area,” Lauren says. Festivities lasted late into the night. Lauren and Justin worked with Alex Mathison of SoulSpark Events
Lauren and Justin's two-tier cake features a pair of tiny skiers.
The perfect magical setting...
All inclusive private resort along the scenic Elk River: lodging, restaurant and catering. Providing an ideal setting for brides for over 50 years. Featured on TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”
Lauren and Justin ski side-by-side following their wedding at the Steamboat Ski Area Champagne Powder Room.
and Rachel Radetsky at the Steamboat Ski Area to plan their wedding. “Alex made everything very, very easy,” Lauren recalls. “There were a lot of things where we thought, ‘We can totally do that,’ and it turns out, we couldn’t. She was always on time, and kept us on time. I don’t know how she does it. She was calm and totally cool, and explained everything that was going to happen. She had suggestions for what would and wouldn’t work, but it still felt very much like our wedding.”
The couple planned a heli-skiing honeymoon in British Columbia on their one-year anniversary. Fittingly, their wedding registry consisted of ski gear for that trip. Lauren finished her doctorate in epidemiology and Justin finished his residency – both in 2019 – and Justin is in residency at Columbia
University until 2024. “We want to move to Steamboat someday and live there,” Lauren says. The couple’s quiet gondola ride following their wedding, looking out over the town they might someday live in, might just have inspired that plan.
Featured Vendors
Venue: Champagne Powder Room at the Steamboat Ski Area
Wedding Planner: SoulSpark Events
Lodging: Steamboat Grand
Danielle and her father enjoy a quiet moment on a trail at Glen Eden Resort.
Saturday, June 8, 2019 Danielle Fenoli & Nathaniel Silva Wedding stories
Photos courtesy of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress"
New York City found its way to Steamboat Springs last summer. Randy Fenoli, renowned wedding gown designer and one of Kleinfeld's bridal consultants on "Say Yes to the Dress” on TLC, brought his iconic personality to Glen Eden Resort. The wedding Randy attended had more personal meaning for him than usual: it was that of his niece, Danielle, whose dress he helped to select on an episode of the show.
Danielle selected Randy’s Serena dress, which features a drop-waist, A-line silhouette, a strapless bodice and a sweetheart neckline. Venice lace appliques make up the midriff, while the skirt features subtle sparkles, and the sheer bodice has crystal beading. Tears flowed at the end of the episode, when Randy surprised Danielle by saying the dress was a gift from him. Nathaniel and Danielle Silva live in Aurora, but have a special place in their hearts for Northwest Colorado. "My husband spent a period of his time growing up in Craig. He and his family spent their summers in Steamboat," Danielle explains. Persistence was the key to forming their relationship. "We met when I was waiting tables. Nathaniel and his
coworker sat in my section and quickly became regular visitors – every Friday night for the next eight months, to be exact," Danielle says. "They became some of my favorite people, and we bonded from seeing each other week after week." "He was very shy – he never hit on me,” Danielle says. “I actually ended up leaving to work elsewhere. I later stopped back in that restaurant to pick up a friend and ex-coworker and there he was, sitting on the patio."
She joined his group and the conversation ended with him asking Nathaniel grew up in Northwest Colorado, which is part of the reason the couple chose Glen Eden as their venue.
her out, taking advantage of the opportunity while he had the chance. Dinner led to romance, and romance to love. The Denver Botanical Gardens set the scene for Nathaniel’s proposal. During the winter months, the gardens feature an incredible winter lights show, but light-viewing wasn’t all the groom-to-be had in store. He rented a rooftop space above the greenhouse, and a bench surrounded by lanterns and candles greeted the couple upon their arrival. "It was cold but gorgeous," Danielle says. "You could see all of the holiday lights at once.
Danielle in the Serena dress designed by her uncle, Randy Fenoli
we would be honored to be your spa/salon for your special day. Congratulations!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DAY SPA @ The Sheraton Steamboat Resort & Villas 2200 Village Inn Court • 970.871.6111 for more info & spa packages visit steamboatmassage.com HAIR • AIRBRUSH MAKEUP • NAILS • MASSAGE • FACIALS
A rustic wooden archway and the Elk River serve as backdrops for Danielle and Nathaniel's wedding.
Save the Weekend!
Ceremony
Lodging
Reception
