Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Real Weddings Wedding Styles Seasonal Weddings Summer Weddings We Can't Get Over the Stunning Mountain Backdrop at This Romantic, Organic Wedding in Telluride By Heather Bien Published on March 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Sposto Photography It took Kailee Winslow Lindman just a week on Tinder to call it quits. In October 2015, shortly after moving to Los Angeles, a right swipe led her to Esters Wine Bar in Santa Monica and a first date with Michael Lindman. That was it. She didn't need to swipe any further and, on July 5, 2019, during a romantic weekend at Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, Michael got down on one knee and asked Kailee to marry him. Initially, the couple planned a year-long engagement, but 2020 had other plans. Their August celebration was pushed out by 12 months, but Kailee and Michael decided to hold a small ceremony in Santa Barbara with only their immediate family to tie the knot that year. Their original celebration was planned for Telluride, Colorado, where Kailee grew up; they always knew they wanted a wild, romantic mountain wedding. But even their rescheduled plan hit a roadblock. The venue they initially booked in 2020 wasn't available for their new date, but that meant something even better was in store. When looking for a wedding where everything could be held outdoors, they came across Schmid Family Ranch and promptly fell in love. With a jaw-dropping mountain setting, the perfect spot to hold both a magical "mountain boho" ceremony, and a stunning tented reception area (the party they held there was ultimately planned by Polished Fun), it was the ultimate idyllic location. Kailee and Michael had to adapt—they cut their guest list in half and required testing—but they ended up with a celebration that was absolutely worth the wait. 01 of 28 Watercolor Invitations Sposto Photography Sterling Stripes created a custom watercolor of Schmid Family Ranch for the invitation suite that reflected the serene beauty of Telluride. With shades of green, embossed Aspen leaves, and organic calligraphy, the paper notes set the stage for a weekend of natural elegance. 02 of 28 Romantic and Wild Sposto Photography Telluride and the San Juan Mountains provided a majestic backdrop for a wedding; Kailee and Michael wanted to embrace the natural beauty. Every piece of décor and each detail was designed to enhance the mountain vista. Our Favorite Mountaintop Wedding Ideas 03 of 28 A Family Affair Sposto Photography Kailee was raised in Telluride and she always knew she'd get married in the charming, storied mountain town. Her parents—her mother and late father—built the house she grew up in, and her mom still lives there. She got ready for the big day at her family's home with her bridesmaids, mother, mother-in-law, and sister. 04 of 28 An Unexpected Option Sposto Photography Kailee wore an embroidered wedding dress by Oscar da la Renta; complete with a strapless silk bodice, the gown featured hand-embroidered white wisteria flowers along the tulle skirt. She thought she wanted a more bohemian dress, but this option—her mom's pick—ended up being the first she tried on. It took her breath away, and now she tells all brides to try on the unexpected options—you never know which dress could be the one. 05 of 28 Meaningful Bouquet Sposto Photography While her monochromatic white bouquet, with its small pops of yellow and green, was stunning, the most meaningful part was just below the lush, overflowing flowers. A small locket, which held a picture of Kailee and her father, was wrapped into the white silk that held the arrangement together. The Best Bouquet Shape for Your Wedding Dress Silhouette 06 of 28 Neutral Bridesmaids Sposto Photography Bridesmaids wore a dresses of their choosing from Fame and Partners in dark tan, while the two junior bridesmaids wore navy. Each carried a delicate white bouquet. Kailee chose the neutral palette to complement the mountain landscape. 07 of 28 Neutral and Relaxed Sposto Photography To contrast with the bridesmaids, while still keeping with the soft, neutral palette, groomsmen wore navy suits from The Black Tux sans ties. 08 of 28 Mountain Activities Sposto Photography Michael stood out from the crowd in a custom tan suit. Later in the evening, as things let loose, the ties came on. Michael gifted his groomsmen custom bolo ties from Crossbow Leather; they were the perfect Western accessory for the after-party. 09 of 28 Follow the Trees Sposto Photography An allée of Aspen trees led the way to the pair's ceremony space. 10 of 28 Growing Out of the Aisle Sposto Photography Guests were seated in the middle of an enchanting circular meadow in rows of wooden chairs; 3 Leaf Floral's organic white floral arrangements blended into the natural surroundings. Beautiful Altar and Aisle Decorations for Your Wedding 11 of 28 Look of Love Sposto Photography In one of their most meaningful moments before the wedding, Kailee and Michael exchanged presents the night before they flew out to Telluride; she gave him her dad's Rolex watch, which he wore on their big day. Reflecting on this gesture, she says, "This was a very special moment for us, as I had been waiting to give this gift to the love of my life one day." 12 of 28 Here Comes the Bride Sposto Photography The bride's mother walked her daughter down the aisle to an acoustic guitar's rendition of "Slow Burn" by Kacey Musgraves. Thanks to the locket wrapped around her bouquet, Kailee says it felt as though her father were there, too. 13 of 28 Organic-Inspired Chuppah Sposto Photography Kailee and Michael wrote their own vows to each other and incorporated two traditions from Michael's Jewish upbringing: They set up an organic chuppah in the middle of the meadow and broke glass before their first kiss. 51 Beautiful Chuppahs from Jewish Weddings 14 of 28 Puppy Eyes Sposto Photography Telli, Kailee and Michael's toy Australian Shepherd, sat quietly at his parents' feet during their nuptials. "We couldn't imagine the day without him!" notes the bride. 15 of 28 Time for Cocktail Hour Sposto Photography Cocktail hour took place just down the road from the meadow, outside the reception tent. 16 of 28 Signature Sips Sposto Photography Michael and Kailee served a few specialty cocktails; they included a "Costa Blanca" for the bride and a "Vodka Raspberry Lemonade" for the groom. In a sign of the times, there were also espresso martinis. 46 Signature Cocktails by Spirit 17 of 28 On-Theme Straws Sposto Photography Custom straws mimicked the Aspen trees seen throughout the locale. 18 of 28 Floral Stations Sposto Photography Floral tablecloths covered small stations surrounded with wooden cross-back chairs so guests could sit and mingle as they sipped. 19 of 28 Yellow Moment Sposto Photography A wildflower arrangement was positioned in the center of the seating station. 20 of 28 Leather Motifs Sposto Photography Throughout the wedding, the pair used leather accents sourced from Kailee's best friend's company, Crossbow Leather. They incorporated bolo ties, napkin rings, a guest book—and even leather bookmarks, which doubled as escort cards and favors. 21 of 28 Pre-Party Portraits Sposto Photography The newlyweds skipped cocktail hour to pose for a few portraits with the wedding party and Telli, too, of course. 22 of 28 Under the Tent Sposto Photography While the couple's goal was to create a wild, romantic take on the mountain bohemian aesthetic, Polished Fun completely elevated the look inside the tent. They used La Tavola linens and runners, included mountain-inspired florals, and went with polished setting rentals from Casa de Perrin. 28 Tent Decorating Ideas That Will Upgrade Your Wedding 23 of 28 Pops of Yellow Sposto Photography The farmhouse chairs provided a warm, textural contrast to the lightness of the florals and the sweeping tent ceiling; soft yellow played a starring role in the centerpieces, created by 3 Leaf Floral. 24 of 28 Leather Details Sposto Photography Leather napkin rings offered a rustic touch and played nicely with other natural elements, like rattan chargers and stone candlesticks. 25 of 28 Dinner with a View Sposto Photography With a view like this, anything would taste good—but the meal Kailee and Michael provided, courtesy of Schmid Family Ranch, went beyond expectations. Dinner included a salad of local grilled peaches, goat cheese, fresh basil, baby kale, and champagne vinaigrette, filet mignon or wild salmon with garlic Yukon mashers, broccolini, and red jus sauce, and quinoa-stuffed sweet peppers with roasted root vegetables, wild arugula, and tomato coulis. 26 of 28 Floral Cake Sposto Photography The couple's coconut buttercream wedding cake was simple, but incorporated elements of the natural landscape through a sprinkling of yellow-and-green florals. 50 Beautiful Wedding Cakes That Are (Almost!) Too Pretty to Eat 27 of 28 First Dance Sposto Photography Kailee and Michael danced to a recording of "I Could Die for You" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. As huge Chili Peppers fans, they wanted to hear the song just as it was. Just minutes later, Kailee, her mom, and her sister performed a choreographed routine to "You Can't Hurry Love" by Phil Collins in lieu of the father-daughter dance, and as a way to bring light to the moment. It's a song they've danced to together for years, and was one of their favorite moments of the entire day. Looking back, the couple has this simple advice: "Have fun—don't sweat the small stuff." 28 of 28 Sources Sposto Photography Photography, Sposto PhotographyVenue, Schmid Family RanchWedding Planning and Event Design, Polished Fun Videography, Elysium WeddingsFlowers, 3 Leaf Floral Table Linens, La Tavola Linen Plates and Silverware, Casa de PerrinInvitations, Sterling StripesPlace Cards and Menus, MintedNapkin Rings, Crossbow Leather Officiant, Our best friend Flora Cadenhead Bride's Gown and Veil, Oscar da la RentaAfter-Party Dress, Truly Yours Vintage After-Party Hat, Custom Nick FouquetShoes, Chaos and Harmony Hair, Linda Peterson of Hair9 Makeup, Emily Brafford Bridesmaids' Dresses, Fame and Partners Groomsmen's Attire, The Black Tux Groomsmen's Bolos, Crossbow Leather Guest Book, Crossbow Leather Music, HoneycombCatering, Pescado TellurideCake, Peace Of Cake Favors, Crossbow Leather Personalized Bookmarks Transportation, Telluride ExpressLighting, Premier Special Events Was this page helpful? 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