A Private Colorado Ranch in the Mountains Set the Scene for This Couple's Self-Officiated Vow Exchange

Though they had dated for seven years and bought a home together in Colorado, when Cameron proposed to Marcella, it came as a total surprise. As they reached the summit of a hike with friends, Cam asked a pal to take a photo of them and the view. "I should have known then something was up, because I'm always the one asking for a photo—not Cam," says Marci. "Our friend whipped out a camera from his backpack instead of just using his trusty old iPhone—another dead giveaway—but still I had no clue." As the pair posed, Cam got down on one knee. "Everything from there was a blur," Marci admits, "and I said yes, of course!" The final surprise? Both sets of parents had secretly flown into town to celebrate. "I was shocked to see them, and we hugged with tears of joy!" says Marci.

The couple's original plan to was to marry in Vail over Labor Day weekend in 2020. However, when COVID-19 hit, they decided to cancel the large celebration and pivot to a much smaller affair. "Our biggest concern was the health and safety of our family and friends, so while it pained us to realize we couldn't have everyone together to experience our new home and celebrate our marriage, it was the decision that felt right for us," explains the bride.

The options were overwhelming at first, but as they headed into August, the pair settled on a plan: They would wed in the mountains like they had always envisioned, but with just their parents in attendance. They located a beautiful private ranch in Edwards, Colorado, and began coordinating everything themselves with the help of family and flexible vendors. "We wanted things to feel intimate, relaxed, and true to the natural surroundings," says the bride, who selected a color palette of greens and whites inspired by the property's Aspen trees, along with blue hues drawn from the skies overhead. "We feel really lucky to have been able to get married where we did—if we had kept with a larger wedding, we don't think this type of location and intimacy would have been available to us."

The morning of their September wedding, the couple rehearsed in pajamas with coffees in hand, then took a hike before heading to different cabins to get ready. "Every element of the day felt like us," says Marci of the beautiful affair that followed. "We wish we could have had our full families in attendance, but having our parents there was a special reminder and representation of those that we love."

Marci wore the strapless A-line Mira Zwillinger wedding dress she had selected for their larger affair. "It was too special not to wear and I knew I wanted to marry Cam in it, whether there were 100 people or no one in attendance," she says. The fitted bodice featured delicate flower appliqués that spilled onto the silk tulle skirt; the number immediately spoke to the bride, but the feeling the dress gave her was the main selling point. "I loved how it made me feel bridal and like myself at the same time," she says. She opted for a pair of low-heeled sandals by Loeffler Randall; they were both sweet and comfortable.

Bethany Seikmeier for Keep Floral created a hand-tied bouquet for the bride; it was composed of seasonal whites and saturated greens to keep within the wedding's organic, natural aesthetic. "It was the perfect mix of elegant, dainty, and sweet," says Marci.

A lace-trimmed veil completed Marci's ensemble.

The boutonnières—the groom and both fathers donned them—coordinated flawlessly with the bride's bouquet.

Cam got some help from slipping into the jacket of his navy suit, which he wore over a white shirt with coordinating navy buttons. "He also wanted to feel like himself, so he opted for no tie, which is definitely him!" adds Marci.

Marci and her dad shared an emotional moment as he took in his daughter as a bride.

Cam's face said it all when he got his first look at his beautiful wife-to-be. "The overwhelming feeling before our first look was excitement," says Marci. "There had been so much leading up to the day, and it was turning out better than we could have imagined. We were so excited to get married."

Marci was escorted by her father through a galley of trees to a classic song by the Beatles. "My dad walked me down the aisle, which was something that I am so incredibly grateful to have still been able to experience with our reimagined day," she says. "We walked through a small grove while 'All You Need Is Love' played in the background."

Cam awaited his bride in a field beneath the mountains where an "altar" was denoted by a rock so he'd know where to stand.

The state of Colorado allows couples to self-solemnize, so Marci and Cam were able to officiate their own wedding. "While that wasn't in our original plan, with the small gathering, we wanted to keep it as intimate as possible," explains Marci. Cam did the honor of leading them in an Irish blessing before they exchanged self-written vows—the highlight of the day for both the bride and groom. "It was truly the most special moment of our lives, and one we are so honored to have been able to have given everything that transpired in the past year," says the bride.

The couple and their parents headed back to the ranch to enjoy hors d'oeuvres and Champagne while the sun set over the ridge.

Along the way, the newlyweds posed for some portraits with the jaw-dropping mountains as the backdrop.

The group enjoyed a candlelit dinner on a covered porch amongst the trees. "It truly felt like we were in a treehouse," says the bride. Floral centerpieces in green and white were arranged atop a hand-dyed blue runner that stretched the length of the vintage farm table.

Each place setting featured a menu card beside an organic napkin knotted with greenery. Plates in shades of blue and taupe were placed on matte-white chargers, pulling the look of the table together.

"One element that was truly special was my grandparents' full-service flatware that my parents had brought along with them from Virginia for the occasion," says Marci. "It was gold and perfectly fit into the décor of the evening dinner."

The pair chose a classic cake of vanilla sponge layered with fresh strawberries and strawberry crème that was iced in buttercream and topped with fresh florals.

"We danced to 'Naïve Melody (This Must Be the Place)' by Talking Heads," shares Marci. "It's a song we've always loved and one that we see ourselves continuing to dance to for many, many years to come."

"The authenticity of the day," says Marci, is what she and Cam cherished most. "From rehearsing in pajamas that morning to having a late start because we took a hike, every element of the day felt like us." She advises other couples planning similar events to follow suit: "Do what feels right to you! It's hard to work through the unknowns of a pandemic, but if you're doing what feels best to you, it will all fall into place."

Photography, Laura Murray
Flowers, Bethany Seikmeier for Keep Floral
Invitations and Stationery, Ghengis Kern Design and Letterpress
Original Save-the-Dates, Ruby the Fox
Bridal Gown, Mira Zwillinger via Little White Dress Bridal Shop
Veil, Anne Barge
Shoes, Loeffler Randall
Hair and Makeup, Liana Conway
Groom's Attire, Ted Baker
Engagement Ring, James Wolf Jewelers
Wedding Bands, The Diamond Reserve (Marci), Sarah O. Jewelry (Cam)
Catering, Red Maple Catering
Cake, Cornerstone Chocolates & Confections
Table Linens, Silk and Willow