This Couple Mixed Western Style with Bohemian Accents for Their Wedding in Aspen, Colorado

Margaux Lochmiller and Patrick Williamson were both living in Washington, D.C., for several years after college. When some of their buddies began dating, the two different friend groups merged, and the pair had a chance to meet. In 2014, Margaux had moved to Denver, and Patrick returned to his alma mater, University of Colorado, for the Rocky Mountain showdown football game. "He asked if I wanted to go, which I assumed was just some old friends getting together," Margaux says. "Patrick had other intentions."

After that weekend, Patrick headed home, but he made sure to ask Margaux to be his date to a wedding in North Carolina. "After being asked every day for about three weeks, I gave in," she says. "It was at that wedding that we both had funny tingles that we'd eventually be taking our own marital vows."

After a couple years together, the pair (who had both relocated out west) decided to go on a weekend getaway to Margaux's family's condo in Vail, forgetting that it had already been booked for a raffle winner at a non-profit event. So, Margaux and Patrick were eating cheese and drinking wine when the prize winners walked in. Margaux cried and suggested she and Patrick head home, but they had to stay—Patrick had both of their families fly out to celebrate after the proposal he'd carefully planned. As his almost-fiancée went to deal with the double booking, Patrick explained his predicament to the couple, and offered anything he could for them to come back another weekend. "Turned out they were amazing and unbelievably understanding, wished me good luck, and hit the road," he says.

The following day, after a few more bumps in Patrick's plan, he got down on one knee as the couple admired the view of the valley they'd hiked. "I don't remember what I said—total tunnel vision—but he was the love of my life, what else was I going to say?" Margaux says. The answer was yes, and the newly-engaged pair (joined by their puppy, Wally) headed down toward the village, where their families were waiting with open arms, flutes of Champagne, and shots of tequila.  

As they started dreaming up their wedding, Margaux and Patrick told their planner, Claire Williams, that they wanted to maximize fun and create a setting that represented both of their personalities. The wedding festivities kicked off on Friday, September 8, 2017, when Margaux, Patrick, their wedding party, and family dressed in their cowboy-best and headed to a restaurant downtown. After the rehearsal dinner, more guests joined the Western-themed evening for welcome drinks.

The following day, Margaux and Patrick tied the knot at a private ranch in Aspen, Colorado, with 220 family members and friends in tow. Boho rugs lined the aisle and the couple stood beneath a teepee during the ceremony. With a special furry guest, eclectic wedding lounges, and a silent disco, Margaux and Patrick agree that their celebration was the perfect mix of fun, magic, and love.

Watch Margaux and Patrick's wedding film by Films About Love.

"I think the stationery really set the feeling and tone for the wedding," Margaux says. Sophie Ulibarri of Sweet Zion Paperie created these dark ash-charcoal invitations. "I loved the wax seal, silk ribbon, and deckle-edges (basically everything) to give it a whimsical, yet elegant feel," the bride says, of the suite that was gold foil-stamped.

Margaux and Patrick's mothers put together these welcome bags, complete with a House of Pain reference printed on the front. Treats inside included Lithic Nutrition bars (made with crickets), Jolly Ranchers, Georgia pralines, and peppermints, along with some Colorado essentials: boxed water, lip balm with SPF, sunscreen, and of course, a small first-aid and hangover kit.

On Friday night, Margaux and Patrick hosted a western-themed rehearsal dinner, which set the tone for the lively festivities to come. Patrick grabbed his cowboy hat, the bride pulled on her Lucchese boots with her Milly dress, and they headed to a restaurant in downtown Aspen for an epic start to the weekend. Wally wasn't invited to dinner, but he joined in for a few photos, and there was plenty of fun in store for him the following day.

Patrick wore his grandfather's cowboy hat and sterling silver bolo tie—pieces perfect for the Western theme that also held sentimental value. He also worecowboy boots, which have since become his favorite type of footwear.

Margaux's accessories for the evening were special, too. She wore her late grandmother's antique squash blossom and turquoise ring and loved being able to incorporate the jewelry in her Western-themed outfit.

Each of Patrick's groomsmen sported a different bolo tie—part of their gift from the couple.

At 6 p.m., Margaux and Patrick's wedding party and family (about 40 people total), gathered downtown at Justice Snow's, a now-closed restaurant in the historic Wheeler Opera House building.

There was one large table set up for Margaux and Patrick's family, with various other sizes mixed in. White linens, green napkins, and colorful flower arrangements complemented the décor for the following day.

The meal itself began with an array of appetizers, including "devils on horseback", burrata flatbread, and fried green tomatoes. Next, guests chose from a list of soups and salads. The main course options were flat iron steak, Boulder natural-roast chicken, Verlasso salmon, and roasted acorn squash.

Studio Z Flowers created the colorful floral arrangements at each table.

There was an open mic during dinner, so anyone could give a speech. After about two hours, welcome drinks began, and Margaux and Patrick were joined by members of their entire guest list. Next up, wedding day!

Margaux and Patrick chose a private estate in Snowmass Valley as the spot for their ceremony and reception. "The area is absolutely beautiful, and we wanted to take advantage of all the natural beauty Colorado has to offer," Patrick adds. Additionally, the location could accommodate most of the couple's wedding party, making it easy for everyone to spend time together over the weekend.

Patrick wanted a suit with both a Southern and Western feel, and one that would work for their late summer wedding, so he chose this chambray style from Bonobos. He also sported a Brooks Brothers shirt, a one-of-a-kind 1920s bow tie he found online, and double monk-strap shoes from Saks Fifth Avenue.

When shopping for her wedding dress, the only thing Margaux knew for sure was that she wanted straps or sleeves. After trying on about twenty options, each with certain details she liked, she found this lace Liancarlo gown at Little White Dress Shop in Denver. "I'm not sure if I had a 'dream' dress," the bride says. "But this brought together so many of the elements I liked." Margaux's earrings for the day were from her other late grandmother's collection. "She was always dressed so formally with hats, tights, gloves, and pearls, so it was perfect to have that piece of her," she says.

Before the first look (the bride and groom's favorite moment of the day), they read letters written to each other with their vows. "The nerves kicked in a little bit, as the full weight of the weekend settled in, but the second I saw her, every bit of anxiety and nerves washed away," Patrick says. "From there on out, everything was fine and easy," Margaux adds.

"I wanted something simple, elegant, and a little whimsical for my hair," the bride says. "Brittani Estes did a great job executing that." Using Twigs & Honey hair pins, the stylist pulled Margaux's locks into a chic up-do.

Margaux told Stephanie Clark of Lalê Florals that she wanted her bouquet to be a seasonal mix in the wedding's color palette. "She nailed it," the bride says, of the arrangement of dahlias, roses, and ranunculus.

Before the ceremony, Rachel Havel took photos and Films About Love filmed as Margaux and Patrick took one of the property's canoes out on the pond. The picturesque scene was interrupted when Wally, their beloved dog (who was swimming around the boat) tried to join his owners. In the bride's most memorable moment of the day, Wally flung mud all over her face and dress in his final attempt to board the canoe. "I had a uni-brow of mud," she says. "I laughed, Patrick yelled, and Michael got the whole thing on film." After a few spritzes of perfume, the bride was good to go!

The eight ladies who stood by Margaux's side on her big day wore mismatched dune-colored dresses from Show Me Your MuMu. The bride asked her sister-in-law and longtime friends to choose any style dress they liked. "We come in all shapes and sizes, so it didn't make sense to me to have everyone get into a dress I picked," she says.

Scarlett, the bride's god-daughter and flower girl, chose this dress from Tea Princess. "I absolutely adored it," Margaux says. "I want it in my size."

Patrick's groomsmen (his and Margaux's brothers, plus friends), sported the same Bonobos suit as the groom. Their bow ties and socks, which featured a Southwestern pattern, came from The Tie Bar.

Margaux and Patrick's late-afternoon ceremony took place on the grounds of the private ranch. The particular location was the only place the couple could seat all 220 of their guests. "It just so happened to have a killer background," the bride says. "I just loved the boho feel with the rugs and teepee." Lalê Florals added greenery to the teepee, complementing the natural setting.

"Wally—90% angel, 10% devil," Margaux says. She and Patrick knew from the start that their pup would be part of the wedding. "The whole time I envisioned him doing what he did—roaming around, loving on the guests, swimming in the pond, waiting for scraps, and stealing a late-night burrito." He may have even been MVP of the day, Margaux adds. During the ceremony, the adorable pup was right with the guests, watching his parents tie the knot.

When he's old enough, Patrick's nephew Barrett might get a little teasing from his uncle. "He will have to get a bit of a hard time when he gets older for not being able to make it down the aisle, but I'd say he did pretty good for a lack of nap that day," Patrick says of the blonde-haired boy.

The non-religious ceremony began with Patrick, his brother, and their mother processing to the Beatles tune "When I'm Sixty-Four." Next, Margaux's father walked her down the aisle to another classic from the iconic band: "Blackbird." A friend of Patrick's read a verse from Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird" and Margaux's pal read Taylor Mali's poem "How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog."

The pair wrote their own vows but chose not to say them at the altar to avoid ugly-crying and shrill speaking, instead opting to recite them to one another during their first look. RJ Coe, a dear friend of the couple, officiated as thunder clapped and Margaux and Patrick said, "I do."

Margaux and Patrick were all smiles as they recessed up the aisle to Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's "It's Your Love"—the perfect exit song for a pair of country-music fans.

Patrick's parents posed together on their son's special day. Patrick's mother worked with TK Bridal & Alterations in Atlanta, Georgia, to design her own dress for the occasion. The groom says throughout his engagement and during the week of the wedding, his mother and father, who have been married for 36 years, offered plenty of advice. "The best advice received was not direct advice at all—but more the observation of their marriage, love, and dedication they have for one another, their family, and their friends," Patrick says.

Following the ceremony, the celebration continued near the pond for cocktail hour. Spinphony, a crossover string group, played classical, rock, and pop mashups, as guests sat in eclectic lounges (with House of Yonder furniture) and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres from Blackbelly.

Spinphony performed crowd favorites such as "Bittersweet Symphony" and also unique mashups—"Don't Stop Beethoven," for one.

Blackbelly's appetizers included crispy pork rillettes, smoked rainbow trout salad (half on English cucumbers, and half on crostini), tomato and fresh burrata skewers with Cyprus flake salt and balsamic reduction, and cured salmon on English cucumbers with dill crème fraiche.

Margaux's friends and bridesmaids gave her this cornhole set, featuring the same design that Jessie Pickren of HEW+Co. created for the couple's save-the-dates.

The bride created this banner, where guests found their reception seating assignment. "I love being creative and doing art projects; this was fun for me," Margaux says. For the most part, she and Patrick mixed up their friends in the seating chart. "We have a lot of similar friends and wanted them to meet," the bride says. The couple actually considered placing recorders at each table, so they wouldn't miss out on any conversations!

Guests moved into a tent for the reception and sat at a mix of round and long tables. "I didn't want our wedding to feel like a hotel event room, so the idea of mixing the styles of tables was perfect; it also worked out with the room we had," Margaux says. The smaller, circular tables were covered with blue linens from Event Rents and surrounded by cross back wooden chairs from Premier Party Rental.

Much of the inspiration behind the reception set-up came from Margaux's vision for the evening. "I wanted to have everyone feel like they were eating at our table at home, which is a large wood table and has an aloe plant in the middle of it," she says. The long, farm tables were left uncovered, with assorted plants and small floral arrangements.

Each seat had a simple white plate placed on a copper charger, with silver and copper cutlery. At the center of the tables were small plants and vessels of roses, dahlias, and white cosmos courtesy of Lalê Florals.

Blackbelly also prepared dinner, serving roast bison, Colorado striped bass, and Colorado lamb. For dessert, Margaux and Patrick skipped the cake—the caterer create triple chocolate espresso torte bites and carrot cake with cream cheese icing instead. 

Wally joined Margaux and Patrick during their first dance, to Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey." Later, the couple cut loose, as Patrick crowd-surfed and Margaux did a stage jump while "Footloose" played.

Neither Margaux nor Patrick are big fans of champagne, but they do both love tequila. Margaux's father suggested the couple toast with shots rather than bubbly—a move they both say was brilliant, and also reminiscent of their engagement celebration. The glasses, printed with the pair's initials and wedding date, were for guests to take home—after they finished the Herradura Añejo inside, that is.

As an additional treat for their friends and family, Margaux and Patrick had a silent disco planned for the end of the evening.

After the wedding festivities, the newlyweds stayed in Aspen for a few days of relaxation and reflection. In March, they headed to Hawaii, surely with a few more tequila shots to celebrate.

Photography, Rachel Havel

Event planning, Claire Williams

Catering, Blackbelly

Flowers, Studio Z Flowers (welcome dinner); Lalê Florals

Videography, Films About Love

Photobooth, Bamboo Booth

Stationery, HEW+Co (save-the-dates); Sweet Zion Paperie (invitations)

Music, Spinphony (ceremony); Diamond Empire Band (reception); A Music Plus (silent disco)

Rentals, Colorado Party Rentals (ceremony benches); Event Rents (linens); House of Yonder (china, glassware, lounge area, ceremony rugs); La Tavola Fine Linen (napkins); Premier Party Rental (tent, lighting, dance floor, stage, chairs, tables, china, and flatware); Under The Sky (teepee)

Bride's gown, Liancarlo from Little White Dress Bridal Shop

Bride's accessories, Twigs & Honey hair pins; Lucchese shoes

Hair, Brittani Estes Hair

Makeup, Liana Kathryn Makeup

Bridesmaids' dresses, Show Me Your MuMu

Flower Girl dress, Tea Princess

Groom's and groomsmen suits, Bonobos

Groom's accessories, Brooks Brothers shirt; Saks Fifth Avenue shoes 

Groomsmen accessories: Tie Bar bowties & socks

Lighting, Amora Group

Transportation, Colorado Mountain Express

Margaux's rehearsal dress, Milly

Patrick's mother's dress, TK Bridal & Alterations

Patrick's business, Yaguara

Tequila, Tequila Herradura

Welcome bags, Jolly Rancher; Lithic Nutrition