I had the honor of standing next to one of my best friends, Kate, from college in her wedding this summer. Kate and Bill chose to get married in Crested Butte, Colorado, which is a very special place to Kate’s family, where they also have a house they visit several times a year. Gosh, Colorado is beautiful in the summertime. Brian and I left Brady at home with my mom for almost an entire week while we were in Colorado.  It was a big deal, but so nice to spend time with close friends in such a breathtaking place celebrating a beautiful couple.

This was my first time to be away from baby Brady for more than 1 night. I pumped the entire time I was away, which was such a drag, but you do what you gotta do. Who knew that by the end of the summer I can say that I’ve pumped in: the New Mexico airport bathroom, a rental car, various hotel rooms, the backseat of a Porsche, the Denver airport bathroom, and some other weird places I’m probably forgetting.

We flew into Denver and drove out to Crested Butte. We drove through the CottonWood Pass, which was a beautiful dirt road/lots of switch backs on the edge of a mountain that wound through trees and rocks and there were even a few mounds of snow on the side of the road. It was quite exhilarating and all I wanted to do was snap photos the entire time (while also gripping tightly to the handle(s) in the car).  Brian and I ate dinner on the patio of the Secret Stash, a delicious pizza and beer place in downtown Crested Butte. The weather was amazing and so was the beer (I don’t even like beer). The next morning we met up with a bunch of friends in town for the wedding to raft the Taylor River, which is known for its fly fishing. I am SUPER sad I didn’t take any photos, mostly because we didn’t bring any personal belongings with us on the rafting trip.  It was so picturesque. It wasn’t too difficult, but I was definitely sore the next couple of days. It’s a small world. We rafted through a strip of the river that belongs to an old client, Wilder on the Taylor.  It was straight out of one of those soundscape cds.

That afternoon we went to the top of the Painter Boy ski lift meadow for Kate & Bill’s wedding rehearsal.  It was breathtaking. The field was painted with bluebonnets and various wild flowers overlooking a valley and several other mountains in the background. Nice choice, Kate.  The rehearsal dinner was at the big ski lodge at Crested Butte. It was amazing to hear where people traveled from to celebrate in person with Kate and Bill. There was even someone who traveled from China! Hearing stories from loved ones was a testament to how wonderful Kate and Bill are and how loved they are and how well they love their friends and family.  I even got up and told the (embarrassing) story about how Kate tricked me into believing that longhorn cattle bow to the North Star on Christmas eve… so much so that I rounded up friends two years in a row to try and witness some longhorn cattle near my childhood home on Christmas eve. Turns out her dad and brother did the same to her growing up. Shoot!

Kate and Bill’s wedding day was wonderful. The girls had a nice brunch at an adorable and delicious bistro in the little town of Crested Butte. I may have eaten the best fruit salad. Ever. Kate gave us each handmade greeting cards with a pair of beautiful pearl earrings to wear with our brides maids dresses (thanks!).  We spent the afternoon getting our hair and makeup done at the ski lodge hotel at the base of the mountain. What a treat!  We then took the shuttle bus up to the wedding site for the ceremony. Kate looked absolutely gorgeous and radiant.  We walked down the aisle (field) to a lovely stringed trio, followed by Danny, the family dog.  Kate’s close family friend / minister lead the ceremony. The weather was wonderful, but there were some clouds looming nearby. Thankfully the rain held off during the ceremony.  After the ceremony there was a bagpipe played during the cocktail hour while the wedding party and family took photos down the hill.  The cocktail hour was under a nice big white tent with delicious horderves and champagne served.  You couldn’t help but take your own photos in the field littered with bluebonnets!  Danny (the family dog) kept following the waiters around trying to snag some food – hah.

The guests were shuttled to the reception site, which was held at an ice rink in downtown Crested Butte. The rain held off until literally everyone had been shuttled inside the ice rink. Perfect timing! Most people probably didn’t know it even rained.  Kate helped design the lighting (since that’s what she does for a living) for the reception. There was a spunky live band, a delicious gourmet food buffet, drinks, a fun photo booth, and lots of dancing. Kate even sang a song to Bill during the reception – see below.

Kate is one of the most unique people I know. There is no one like her.  If I was a dude, I would totally go for her ;).  Good job, Bill! I always knew the man she ended up with would be a great man. She’s funny and sensitive, loves sports, is athletic (and good at pretty much any sport), intelligent, talented, is a HUGE animal lover with a huge heart, embodies this unexplainable energy, is loyal, has the best memory (so good it’s creepy),  loves the Lord, and is beautiful inside and out.

The day after the wedding, Brian and I drove to Vail to stay for a couple more days before heading home. My next blog entry will feature that portion of the trip! Here are some photos from our time in Crested Butte.

 

 Our Crested Butte Trip on Instagram