A Hometown Wedding

Growing up in the box canyon dreaming of the perfect Telluride ceremony

BY LINNE HALPERN

Growing up in Telluride, Jessica Solomon always knew she wanted to get married at San Sophia Overlook. In fact, she was so intent on it, she went ahead and secured the storied venue several months before her then-boyfriend even proposed. To her delight, it worked out magically when he got down on one knee shortly thereafter, at a quiet dinner attended by her family. “After we got engaged, we pretended to have a wedding location brainstorm,” admits Jess. “We pretended? You pretended,” jokes Bennett Winton, explaining that his fiancée then revealed that their Telluride wedding was already booked. “Honestly, I was so happy because it just proved how much she really wanted to marry me,” he says.

Jess and Bennett met during training for their first jobs out of college in 2016. After getting staffed on the same project, their professional bond grew and so did their personal friendship. The duo realized there was something more to their connection and took the plunge into long-distance dating before Bennett moved to San Francisco to join Jess in early 2018. During the pandemic, the couple spent plenty of time here in Jess’s hometown, allowing Bennett to fall in love with Telluride as well. Together, they dove into planning for their big day, rooted in the desire to create an unforgettable experience for their guests who’d be making the journey to the San Juan Mountains.

When September 2022 finally arrived, Meehan Fee of Telluride Unveiled ensured that the weekend went off without a hitch. Jess spent the morning getting ready (hair by Dallas Sainsbury and makeup by Emily Brafford) with her mother and friends, before meeting Bennett for their first look, where they exchanged letters to each other.

“All morning, I had this nervous energy,” Jess says. “And then I saw him, and all the little stressors melted away. I just knew I was marrying my person and we were about to tackle the rest of the day hand in hand.”

Personal touches gave the event an emotional gravitas. At the end of the aisle, a floral arch by Dahlia Floral Design framed the famed San Sophia view, where Jess’s 85-year-old grandfather stood to officiate the ceremony. His

moving speech on commitment served as a wise accompaniment to the couple’s original vows. By the time the groom, his sister and several of his college acapella group’s members joined to sing Billy Joel’s And So It Goes, the entire audience was in tears.

Transitioning over to Allred’s for the evening reception, there was a celebratory energy. And the individualized gestures kept flowing — each guest, for instance, was met with a handwritten note at their place setting. Toasts turned into humorous roasts. When Jess and Bennett weren’t enjoying the stream of nibbles (including the cake from Kelly Gray Cakes), they found themselves on the dance floor.

By the end of the weekend, reflects Jess, “My friends and Bennett’s family got to see the life I came from. It showed our community a deeper side of our relationship, in this special place where we’ve spent so much time together. It felt like a dream come true.”