Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Colorado
Live every moment to the full and look inside your love for inspiration. It’s a perfect wedding recipe for Julie and Andres. It would be for you, too.
Andre proposed to Julie on New Year’s Day of 2009, and they proceeded to plan a gorgeous wedding that burst with colour, which is a reflection of their personalities and love. The groom explains their approach to the planning, “We knew that it really didn’t matter what went wrong with the day, all that mattered was that we were making a commitment to marry each other.”
They chose a location that was both stunning and significant. According to Andre, “The wedding was held at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, a horse ranch and cross-country ski resort in the Colorado Rockies. We chose it because it was where we spent Julie’s birthday the winter before (February 2009). We went there to go midnight snowshoeing by the full moon, and we fell in love with the place. Devil’s Thumb sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains on almost all sides, and it has a certain kind of peace to it.”
The couple wanted to be hands-on so that their wedding could be meaningful and personal. They chose the music, wrote their vows and made sure that Julie’s children were involved. As a result, the 30 guests were treated to a day of warmth and joy, thanks to an intimate setting. The couple were married by Andre’s mentor and good friend, Dennis Lindoerfer, and Julie’s gorgeous children took on the roles of flower girl and ring bearer.
For her wedding gown, Julie chose a dress in raw silk with an A-line cut by Caroline DeVillo, purchased from a store called Anna Be. Julie went with this dress because she felt that it was the embodiment of that day – informal, easy-going, lovely, and most of all, comfortable. She added a pop of colour to her ivory gown by wearing bright yellow peep-toed shoes! Finding the groom’s outfit proved to be the toughest decision the couple had to make in the 5 months of planning. Going with the laid-back yet elegant vibe of the event, they eventually settled on a handsome tan suit, playful tie, and Andre’s trademark striped socks and tennis shoes.
Yellow is a symbolic colour for the couple because it comes from a poem that Andre had written. This vibrant hue was used throughout. It was in the punch balloons, which the kids loved, Julie’s peep-toes and the stripes in Andre’s tie. Bright yellow mugs were used for the favours. It gathered the happy vibes in the form of shiny pinwheels and lollipops. These little favours played a role as lively decorations for the wedding. Implementing a dominant colour and a picturesque home puts paradise into your wedding. In the same token, there is a lot more freedom and perspective for the photographer because the numbers of beautiful shots that can be taken are infinite.
“We had more kids than adults in attendance, so we decided to make the reception ‘kid party’ complete with a candy bar, punch balloons (our florist’s idea, colourful Smurf cupcakes and a table to colour on. After sundown we had dinner for the adults in a glass barn.”
The barn, a dazzling structure under the noon sun, held an understated elegance in the evening. Multi-coloured glass vases and small profusions of blooms accompanied the dinnerware, enhancing delicious colours along the classic country table settings. As the night took its place over them, they dined by the light of an antique chandelier, and old-fashioned lamps.
The beautiful ranch scenery was a peaceful background to the vibrancy of the wedding. The blue skies juxtaposed by round gumdrop balloons, muted colours of white dress and tan suit accentuated by the corals in the bouquet; and the brightly guests an unforgettable visual experience that was both fun and warm.
Julie talks about the most memorable moment of her wedding: “To see pure joy on my kid’s faces, full of love and excitement to begin a new life with Andre, it’s a moment that I will always hold close to heart.”
Dream Team
Photographer – Jenna & Matt Walker/Jenna Walker Photography www.jennawalkerphotography.com
Flowers – Kara Delay/Pick Mel Flowers
Cake & Caterer – Mulberries Bakery
Wedding Gown – Caroline DeVillo/Anna Be
