Is this not the most stunning location for a summer wedding?
Michaela and Kyle exchanged vows early Saturday evening on the top of a mountain in Winter Park, Colorado. The weather was perfect, the bride was absolutely gorgeous and the way the groom looked at her when she walked down the aisle made me cry.
Our day began just after 10:30 a.m. when the bridesmaids met up with the bride, her mother and her sister at The Salon at Winter Park to get our hair done. We snacked on bagels and fresh fruit and sipped on mimosas made with grapefruit juice while we took turns in the salon chair.
For every wedding I’ve been in, including my own, I’ve worn my hair up, so this time I decided to make a change and went up with a half up, half down undone look. I told the stylist I just wanted my hair to look voluminous and I didn’t want the curls to look too tight and “promy.”
This is the look she came up with:
Two and a half hours later, everyone’s hair was done and we drove back to the Zephyr Mountain Lodge to do our makeup, eat lunch and slip into our dresses before it was time for pictures.
When the flowers arrived, everything started to really feel real. Michaela and her sister and maid of honor, Maggie, carried vibrant bouquets while the rest of the bridesmaids walked down the aisle with bouquets of baby’s breath.
I thought the baby’s breath bouquets were so romantic and such a neat alternative to typical bridesmaid bouquets. We loved them!
Once the flowers arrived, we put on our dresses and waited for Michaela’s mom and sister to help her into her gown.
Our dresses were silk chiffon bridesmaid dresses from J.Crew. Michaela picked out the fabric and color and were were allowed to choose which style we wanted to wear for her wedding (as long as it was short) which I think we all really appreciated. Everyone could choose a dress that made them feel more comfortable, whether it be a strapless, v-neck or one-shoulder dress.
Michaela’s dress was breathtaking and when she walked out of the bedroom to show us, I cried. I think we all did!
Michaela looked so beautiful and I couldn’t help but think back over our 20 years of friendship. I couldn’t believe I was looking at Michaela the bride. She looked gorgeous!
Once Michaela was in her gown, it was time to head to the ski lift to ride up to the mountaintop for pictures.
When we arrived at the top of the mountain, Michaela and Kyle met privately with the photographer for their first look pictures. Of course we made Michaela give us all the details before the ceremony and she said she walked up behind Kyle and tapped him on the back. When he turned around and saw her he cried which made all of us smile! You gotta love a groom that cries at the sight of his bride!
As Michaela and Kyle were taking their pictures, we rounded up the bouquets for the bridesmaid pictures that were supposed to happen immediately after the first look photos. It was then that we realized Michaela’s bouquet was missing! Everyone was responsible for bringing their own bouquet up to the top of the mountain, but somehow the bride’s bouquet got completely overlooked. Yikes!
I made a quick call to Ryan who was hanging out with the other bridesmaid’s husbands and boyfriends after a day of mountain biking and gave him directions about where to look for the missing bouquet in Michaela’s parents’ suite. He had the woman at the front desk of the hotel escort him to the room, grabbed the bouquet and headed immediately up the ski lift to deliver it to the bride safe and sound.
Phew!
With the bride’s bouquet back in her hands, we walked around the other side of the lodge to take pictures with the most gorgeous mountain backdrop.
With pictures done, we headed back inside the lodge as the guests started to arrive and hid the bride in a big closet so no one would see her before the ceremony began at 5:30 p.m.
At this point, all of us were absolutely buzzing! It was almost time for Michaela to get married!
Soon the music started playing and it was time for us to walk down the aisle.
Michaela’s adorable nephew, Seamus, walked down the aisle right before her carrying two bright flowers to deliver to the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom.
The mother of the groom’s name is Jackie and Seamus also has an Uncle Jack, so he got a little confused about who was supposed to get the second flower after he gave the first one to his grandma. It was adorable to watch him walk over to his dad, his Uncle Jack and eventually make his way to Jackie.
Then it was time for Michaela’s father to walk her down the aisle.
She was gorgeous!
Once she joined Kyle at the alter, the officiant began the ceremony and then told everyone that Michaela and Kyle wrote their own vows and wanted to recite them for each other. They did not wear a microphone during the ceremony so their vows were hard to hear, but I caught a few words of Kyle’s vows that made me cry.
Where I struggle, you shine.
It’s so true. Michaela and Kyle seem to balance each other perfectly and are such a wonderful couple.
And now they are husband and wife!
Congratulations to Michaela and Kyle!!!
Reception recap to come!
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Such a beautiful wedding a beautiful couple! Just reading this made me tear up.
What a beautiful ceremony! I love weddings.. that’s so sweet about the groom crying when he saw his bride. I’d have def cried at that point too, watching that!
I LOVE that bridesmaid color!!! I’ve heard great things about J.Crew wedding dresses but never really saw them in action. Gorgeous!
Michaela’s mother’s dress looks beautiful! Can you share any details about it?
That wedding look so amazing! The dressing fit each girl beautifully and all look uniform since they were all short. So cute! The ski lift was an awesome unique touch!
What a beautiful place to have a wedding! So rustic chic! I love the baby’s breath bouquets. They were so stunning when I saw the picture on your Instagram.
How cute is Ryan on the ski lift with the flowers! And it looks like you picked different shoes than your original choice, but they look fantastic. I love that the bride let you pick your style of dress too, makes everyone more comfortable. The baby’s breath bouquets are so cute! I bet they were less expensive than regular ones too. Score!
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com
Winter Park is such a beautiful area, and I’m sure it made for a fabulous wedding setting. Congratulations to Michaela and Kyle!
Beautiful wedding & venue!
That’s a great idea to use baby’s breath for the bridesmaid flowers. I’ve never thought to do that but it’s so pretty and cost effective I’m sure! The venue looks absolutely beautiful. I’d love to get to Colorado one day. It’s high up on my list.
Gorgeous wedding location!! And great choice on your hair. It looks SO pin-able which is the highest compliment one can give, right? 😉
Gorgeous!!!!
Ahh I just love weddings! Always so emotional. The location of Michaela and Kyle’s wedding is just stunning! All you lovely bridesmaids are also gorgeous!
Congrats to the new married couple! 🙂
absolutely stunning. and the color scheme was beautifully chosen! great pics!! <3
I was on the fence about using J Crew for my bridesmaids dresses but love them in these pics! This wedding is soooooooo gorgeous!
loved your post. reading about your dear friend’s beautiful wedding made me tear up. congrats to them! 🙂
I got teary eyed just reading this- couldn’t imagine being there- what a beautiful wedding! And his vows? Just perfect! Love your dressed, you look outstanding! Great choice on the hair, too.
The dresses are stunning-love the idea of bridesmaids being able to choose a dress that makes them feel comfortable
Such a beautiful wedding dress! Love the bouquets too so pretty 🙂
I love that you were able to pick which style of dress you wanted to wear for the ceremony. I would have loved to be able to have that option for the weddings that I have been a bridesmaid! I always end up crying at weddings- they are just so beautiful.
everyone looks beautiful .. congrats to the happy couple
Everything is so gorgeous! Am I the only one who noticed that you were the only blonde?! And the only one with her hair down? 🙂 Very beautiful Julie!
I know always to read your wedding recaps alone- since I end up so teary 😛
Awww it’s so pretty there, and Michaela looks so gorgeous! I think it’s so cool that they wrote their own vows. <3
THat looks amazing!! The bridesmaids dresses look very similar to mine!!
I just noticed that you didn’t wear the fun shoes. I think the ones you chose were the best choice from bridesmaid wear – but you better find a time to kick up your heels in the others! They are soooo cute. Loved your recap!
-Courtney
LemonsandLunges.com
Julie! I’ll be wearing the SAME bridesmaid dress in the SAME color in my cousin’s wedding a couple months from now! We actually fly in to Orlando for it 🙂 She gets married a few days after you did!
Catching up on my blogs… PLEASE tell me you are going to frame that picture of Ryan and the bouquet. OMG it’s cracking me up!
You all looked beautiful — and what a gorgeous wedding. Happy you had so much fun 🙂