Hi everyone – Shelby here. Weddings are such a beautiful thing, and Shannon and I both get lots of questions about how we planned our weddings, so we are each sharing photos and memories of our special day (check out Shan’s post here).
Zach and I got married last July at Mount Princeton Hot Springs in Nathrop, Colorado (off Hwy 285 between Buena Vista and Salida). We picked the location because we wanted a place that all of our guests could stay for the entire weekend. We dated for thirteen years before getting married, and wanted everyone that had been with us through thick and thin to have the best time (since they had waited so long!).
Our guests came up on Thursday evening and we met at a local brewery, Elevation. Because everyone came up early, we had a couple of days to enjoy the hot springs, play at the pool, and go on hikes. Everyone stayed in these cozy wood cabins together, and it felt like a party every night.
On Friday night we had a Welcome Dinner instead of a rehearsal dinner, so that everyone that would be staying for the weekend could join us. A local pizza shop, Amica’s, brought an outdoor pizza oven and we had wine and beer. Our friends gave informal toasts and after the dinner we all went to the hot springs and chilled out under the stars.
Saturday morning I had breakfast with my girlfriends and then we all got ready together.
Rain threatened the entire day and just as Zach and I were doing our First Look, it began to rain. We jumped in our photographer’s car and raced down the road in the opposite direction as the clouds. We pulled over on the side of the road and took photos. I enjoyed doing a First Look because it allowed Zach and I to have some time just the two of us before going into the intensity of the rest of the day. I was completely relaxed and lovey-dovey, and Zach told me later that he was freaking out in his head the whole time because of the rain. But by the time we got back to the meadow for our ceremony the sun was shining.
Zach’s dad, Ben did our ceremony. It was one of the only things that I had dreamed about for our wedding years and years in advance. And it was my favorite part of our wedding. There were lots of happy tears (especially during the song Ben and Cara performed).
After the ceremony it was all party. We had an amazing DJ – DJ Cyn – everyone still talks about how they have never danced that much in their lives.
Kalamata Pit catering made seasonal fruit pies for our reception, which were a big hit!
Thanks to our wonderful friends and family that made this the best weekend of our lives! #legendofzelby #ZandSForLikeEver
Let me know if you have questions about planning a wedding in Chaffee County, Colorado.
ALL PHOTOS BY LOVE IS A BIG DEAL PHOTOGRAPHY