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A Rustic Winter Destination Wedding in Colorado

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A Rustic Winter Destination Wedding in Colorado

July 28, 2011

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The Happy Couple

Aaron Delesie

Only brave souls would decide to play tag football on their first date -- in January, and in New York's Central Park, no less. But Lanie and Matt got "an improbably sunny Saturday" back in 2007. Three years later, they scored another gorgeous afternoon at their Colorado nuptials. "We knew it would be a gamble with the weather," says Lanie, "but we got lucky."

Lanie and Matt pose for a snowy shot. The bride had sleeves added to her Vera Wang gown. "I wanted to look seasonally appropriate but not bundled up," she says. The groom wears a Charles Tyrwhitt suit.

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Wintery Save-the-Dates

The mountain scene on the save-the-dates was hand-drawn and then screen-printed onto cotton paper.

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Church

Lanie and Matt were married at The Chapel at Beaver Creek.

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Bridesmaid Bouquet

Bridesmaids' nosegays of fir, wild pine, cedar, aspen twigs, and berries are swathed in houndstooth wool.

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Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids wear gray J.Crew dresses, ombre wraps, and brooches that Lanie's grandmother found in a Missouri antique shop.

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Bride's Bouquet

Lanie carries a bouquet of white ranunculus. "It was wrapped with a handkerchief that has been in Matt's family for hundreds of years," she says.

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Boutonniere

A rustic boutonniere with pinecones and pine.

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Wedding Programs

Programs with illustrations that matched the other elements of the wedding were given to guests.

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Ceremony

During the ceremony, Matt's sister sang "Stand By Me" while Lanie's brother played guitar.

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Lanie and Matt

Lanie wears a fur stole given to her by her godmother.

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Escort Cards

Aaron Delesie

Escort cards bearing crests with the couple's initials are nailed to a stack of firewood.

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Welcome Gifts

Muslin welcome bags, printed with two owls, contain vanilla extract, the secret ingredient in Matt's father's pancake recipe (also included).

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Pancake Recipe

Here, the recipe card, which included Matt's father's pancake recipe and a cute illustration.

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Reception Location

The majestic Ritz-Carlton backs up to Beaver Creek Mountain.

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Reception

Guests dine by candlelight at long tables.

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Wintery Centerpieces

Centerpieces of cotton bolls, pinecones, evergreen sprigs, and flickering candles strike a seasonal tone. "Cotton was an unusual choice, but we loved how it mimicked the snow outside," says Lanie.

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Table Numbers

To go with the rustic decor, table numbers were made out of tree trunks and twigs.

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Cotton Wreath

Cotton-boll wreaths set apart the sweetheart chairs.

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Wedding Cake

Aaron Delesie

A faux bois cake sits on a log pedestal cut by a local lumberjack.

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First Dance

The newlyweds' first dance was to "The Zephyr Song" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It's "untraditional, but we love it. It's the first song on the only CD we have in our Jeep, so we listen to it all the time," says Lanie.

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Wedding Favors

Favor bags stamped with the pair's crest were filled with chocolate-covered pretzels, caramel turtles, and nuts from the candy bar.

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Root-Beer Milk

Jugs of Matt's beloved root-beer milk ("it tastes like the last sips of a root-beer float, only colder," he says).

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A Romantic Stroll

Lanie and Matt take a romantic stroll through the snow. To keep her feet warm during photos, the bride swapped her Manolo Blahnik heels for cowboy boots.

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Walking Shoes

Lanie and Matt's shoes, after she changed out of her Manolo Blahnik heels.

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Sources

Location, Catering, and Cake: The Chapel at Beaver Creek (ceremony); Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (reception)
Event Planning: Lisa Vorce
Flowers: Mindy Rice Floral and Event Design
Stationery: Christine Schmidt of Yellow Owl Workshop
Rentals: Barker Decor Service (lighting, dance floor, set design); Alpine Party Rentals (furniture); La Tavola Linen (linens)
Photography: Aaron Delesie
Gown and Veil: Vera Wang
Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew
Menswear: Charles Tyrwhitt

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A Rustic Winter Destination Wedding in Colorado

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The Happy Couple

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Wintery Save-the-Dates

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Church

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Bridesmaid Bouquet

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Bridesmaids

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Bride's Bouquet

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Boutonniere

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Wedding Programs

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Ceremony

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Lanie and Matt

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Escort Cards

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Welcome Gifts

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Pancake Recipe

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Reception Location

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Reception

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Wintery Centerpieces

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Table Numbers

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Cotton Wreath

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Menu

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Wedding Cake

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First Dance

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Wedding Favors

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Root-Beer Milk

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A Romantic Stroll

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Walking Shoes

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Sources