Steamboat Springs is for Weddings

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS wedding

Guide 2019

6Bridal

Stories

Pop of color

Groom's best friend

Wedding album

Destination Steamboat

Maren McCutchan

Caitlin Steuben Photographywww.caitlinsteuben.com

Maren's dress catches a gentle breeze.

6 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

Kristen Joaquim & Mark Stanford

Kristen Hennke Photographywww.kristenhennke.com

Kristen and Mark share a moment following their wedding at La Joya Dulce.

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 7

Wedding album

Shelby Noble

Larsen Photo Co.www.larsenphoto.co

Shelby pauses on CH Spurwing's Super Fine Lady following her wedding ceremony.

Theresa Wardon

Gillespie Photographywww.gillphotos.com

Theresa's veil wraps around her as she stands above Catamount Lake at Bella Vista.

8 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

Krysta Brown & Ben Peterson

Laura Pearson Photography/L Elizabeth Events www.lelizabethevents.com

Krysta and Ben stroll through the grounds at Perry Mansfield.

Kegan Luczycki

Seedhouse Photographywww.seedhousephotography.com

Kegan and Wren, a friend's daughter, embrace.

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 9

Wedding album

Katherine Jacobson & Adam Klingenberg

Danielle Zimmerer Photographywww.daniellezimmererphotography.com

Katherine and Adam take a moment away from the wedding celebration in an aspen grove at La Joya Dulce.

Maggie Griffen & Max Stepan

Cali Frankovic Photographywww.califrankovic.com

Pops of color adorn Maggie's bouquet.

10 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

Sierra Stillman & Jordan Freier

Seedhouse Photographywww.seedhousephotography.com

Sierra and Jordan walk through a field on Deer Mountain.

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 11

Rebecca chose a long-sleeved dress with a lace bustle for her Routt County wedding.

12 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

Wedding stories

Rebecca Timmerman & Greg Brill

Last summer, a Steamboat Springs local made her dream hometown wedding a reality.

Rebecca Timmerman and Greg Brill met through a mutual friend while attending the University of Denver in 2013. During a New Years trip to New York City, the couple took a cab to Central Park under the pretense of grabbing a hot chocolate and, in front of the Plaza Hotel, Greg dropped to one knee and proposed. Back at the hotel, Rebecca was surprised to see that her whole family had secretly flown in to celebrate.

The couple decided on a hometown wedding in Steamboat, and began the planning process with Alex Mathisen of SoulSpark Events. “Alex was a dream wedding planner,” Rebecca says. “I’m very hands-off, so she took care of everything. I had ‘Mountain Rustic Chic’ in mind, a fairytale vibe with classic, rustic undertones, and she made that happen.”

In the days leading up to the wedding, guests took full advantage of the Yampa Valley outdoors, fly fishing, golfing and hiking in perfect weather. The couple held their rehearsal dinner at Lake Catamount, followed by a cocktail hour to which all out-of-town guests were invited.

Rebecca and Greg's wedding ceremony was held at Holy Name Catholic Church,

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Greg and Rebecca in their get-away car

Seedhouse Photography www.seedhousephotography.com

presided over by Reverend Ernest Bayer and minister Rob Ryg. Christel Houston, who was Rebecca’s music teacher at one time, coordinated music for the ceremony, playing Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” as the bride walked down the aisle in a long-sleeved dress and veil. “Greg is definitely a cryer,” Rebecca says. “When he saw me in the back of the church, he just lost it.”

As the couple exited the church, guests threw lavender. “We knew our group would be ridiculous with whatever was thrown,” Rebecca laughs. “Everyone was just chucking this lavender at us.”

Following the ceremony, festivities moved to Priest Creek Chapel at Orton Ranch. Kel Elwood and Hillary Spillane of Seedhouse Photography took photos of the wedding party took guests mingled in the reception tent, and dinner followed, with food from Steambaot Meat & Seafood. “The food was a huge hit,” Rebecca says. “People say you don’t eat at your own wedding, but I ate – A LOT.” The RBar2U whiskey bartender served drinks from a modified horse trailer outside the tent as Willie Samuelson’s three-piece string band played music. Both Rebecca and Greg are big fans of sweets, so they made sure to include a bar

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 13

of goodies, including jars of each of their favorite candies. Following dinner, the dancing kicked off – Downtown Band by Mannequin kept the party going late into the night, and at one point even covered Rebecca’s favorite childhood band, The Backstreet Boys. The bride changed into a two-piece camo crop top to cut a rug to the music.

For their honeymoon, Rebecca and Greg traveled to Paris for four days over Christmas, then skied in France, Italy and Switzerland. “It was good to have something to look forward to – there’s so much build-up to the wedding that we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy ourselves on our honeymoon if it was right after,” Rebecca says.

Rebecca and Greg live in Baker, but they hope to one day move back to Rebecca’s hometown, Steamboat Springs.

Rebecca wears a flower crown.

14 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

Rebecca and Greg against a mountain backdrop at the Orton Ranch

C o l o r a d o E v e n t R e n t a l s . c o m

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 15

Rebecca and Greg in front of Priest Creek Chapel at Orton Ranch

Featured Vendors

Reception: Priest Creek Chapel at Orton Ranch

Planner: Soulspark Events

Catering: Steamboat Meat & Seafood Co.

Cake: Steamboat Baker Rentals: Colorado Event Rentals Bar: RBar2U

l

“Lulu I can’t thank you and your staff enough! The food was amazing, the service was exceptional and our guests were just blown away!”

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.

www.amusebouchechef.com | lulu.amuse@gmail.com | 970.819.7807

16 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

The Grizzly Ranch is nestled in the North Park Valley, offering a private, rustic location for the celebration of your special day. Let the breathtaking scenery and rustic features inspire you to create an event all your own. With multiple ceremony options, a rustic barn reception area, and on-site lodging, this venue will create an experience you’ll never forget!

» UP TO 300 GUESTS

» PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN

» CHOOSE YOUR VENDORS

» LODGING FOR 33 GUESTS

Visit our website to book a tour! grizzlyranchevents.com

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 17

Bride Jessica Keester in front of the ornate door at Holy Name Catholic Church.

18 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

Wedding stories

Jessica Keester

& Sam Josserand

When a woman who grew up in Oklahoma marries a man who was raised on a ranch, there’s bound to be a little bit of country in the wedding. In this case, country chic.

Sam proposed to Jess two days before Christmas 2017, and soon after, they decided to be married in Steamboat Springs, where they had vacationed over the course of their relationship. Both Catholic, they wanted the ceremony to be held at Holy Name Catholic Church, Steamboat’s dramatic, timber-and-stone edifice. “That was just another thing that made Steamboat the perfect fit because they had this big beautiful Catholic church right in the middle of town,” Jess says.

Finding the perfect location for the reception was a bit more difficult. Because Steamboat’s wedding season is short, booking early is key. Jess discovered La Joya Dulce Ranch online, and she knew right away it was the spot. The event barn and arena, grassy fields and its location, just nine miles from Steamboat, made the choice easy.

Once the venue was set, the rest of the pieces fell into place. The night before the wedding, the couple hosted a small dinner at Carl’s Tavern for the wedding party and their immediate families. Jess and Sam wanted them to have a chance to get to know each other a little better before the ceremony. After dinner, all 120 guests were

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Seedhouse Photography www.seedhousephotography.com

invited to join the party for a nightcap at Carl’s. “That was a great idea; almost everyone who came to the wedding came to the cocktail hour. Whiskey bar, bunch of beers. It was really fun,” Jess says.

The wedding day itself was the same date as the Oklahoma University/Texas football game. “That’s a pretty huge deal for people from that part of the country.

Jessica's dress features a cathedral train.

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 19

Some people said they couldn’t believe we got married on OU Texas day. We definitely couldn’t have any orange; that’s Texas colors,” Jess says.

Instead, the bride opted for burgundy, ivory and gold – complementing the autumn colors surrounding her venue. The couple had planned to take full advantage of the fall colors by having the reception outdoors.

A solid week of rain leading up to the wedding day made them rethink that idea. Ranch owner Kathie Jacobsen and wedding planner Mandy Crabbs responded quickly, installing a floor in the arena for the event, which ultimately took place in both the barn and arena.

Jess hadn’t foreseen hiring a wedding planner, thinking she and her mom had it handled, but Kathie encouraged her to hire a day-of planner. “One of the best decisions we made was to hire Mandy. She was so, so helpful. She was always like the calm in the storm. They (Kathie and Mandy) made it pull together without me having to stress,” Jess says.

Using Ski Town Gourmet as the caterer was also an excellent choice, Jess says. Chef Dave prepared the meal on-site, and guests said it was one of the best wedding dinners they had eaten.

From the Grand March, led by the groom’s mom and aunt, to the couple’s first dance – “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young – the music reflected the couple’s personal style. “We’re both pretty big country music fans,” Jess says.

The cake reflected the couple’s style, as well. The German chocolate groom’s cake was shaped like a Jayhawk for Kansas. Sam’s groomsmen pulled a trick on him: a game they used to play in college. They hid a bottle of Smirnoff Ice in Jess’s garter. Per the rules of the game, Sam had to take a knee and chug it, Jess recalls. “I didn’t think they would pull something on me,” Sam says with a chuckle.

About 120 people joined in the fun, more than Jess had anticipated. She credits the fact that they sent out “save the date” invitations seven months in advance for the enthusiastic response. That, and the fact the wedding was in Steamboat. “A lot of people turned it into a family vacation. They went to the hot springs, hiked, shopped and ate downtown,” Jess says.

As for the bride and groom, they left the day after the wedding for a honeymoon in Barbados, perhaps the perfect finale to a storybook wedding.

Jessica and Sam take a ride in La Joya Dulce's vintage automobile.

20 | Steamboat Springs Wedding Guide 2019

xx

Hunter boots came into play when the weather took an unexpected turn.

Let us bring your dreams to life

photo Andy Barnhart Photography

Full Service Wedding and Event Coordinationwww.soulsparkevents.com | 970-819-3360 | info@soulsparkevents.com

www.SteamboatWeddingDay.com | 21