Pastel mountain wedding with some seriously impressive DIY

Ali and Mike first met in the fall of 2017 while competing on the triathlon team at the University of Colorado Boulder. They were paired together to volunteer at a local triathlon, and over the course of that afternoon, they hit it off. As they got to know each other, Ali, and Mike realized their paths had crossed before–most notably at a collegiate national championship in South Carolina. Mike had won that championship, even though Ali had been rooting for one of her teammates. Mike was immediately taken with Ali but hesitated to ask her out on an official date. When he finally did, they met for coffee and ended up talking for so long that the sun went down, the cafe closed, and Ali was late to her babysitting job. After dating for about three and a half years, Mike proposed. On a rainy, romantic evening in Boulder, surrounded by friends and family, Mike asked Ali to marry him while out for dinner at a cozy restaurant. To top it off, he surprised her with a trip to Mexico immediately afterward to celebrate their engagement.

With fond memories and family ties to their visits to Vail Valley, Ali and Mike’s Colorado wedding was a celebration filled with lush, watercolor-pastel florals by Statice Floral and a warm, welcoming energy. The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, provided a serene setting for their June wedding. The ceremony took place on a grassy terrace framed by trees and hillsides, while vibrant bouquets of blue, pink, and orange florals added splashes of color to the Colorado landscape. Designed by First Look Events, the reception decor followed suit, with pink patterned tablecloths, colorful and unique glassware, woven lanterns, and a blue wedding cake adorned with adorable icing flowers.

A personal touch made the ceremony even more special: Ali and her father custom-built the altar, which featured a towering cross detail rising above the florals.

Ali wore a custom Mira Zwillinger gown adorned with delicate floral embellishments and a voluminous tulle skirt to complement the dreamy garden atmosphere. She wore a bow in her hair, made from fabric that matched the floral details of her dress, and later changed into an afterparty gown featuring a silk satin skirt and a corseted bodice embellished with pearls. Ali’s bridesmaids, dressed in flouncy pink gowns, posed with parasols beside the bride in true garden style.

One of the central themes of their wedding was words of affirmation, a sentiment woven throughout the day. It was reflected in Ali and Mike’s heartfelt vows, the moving speeches given at the rehearsal dinner, and the handwritten letters provided to each guest at the reception.

With her father’s help, Ali also crafted custom signage, including a mailbox display that housed these letters. The couple’s seating chart included a popcorn wall, where guests could knock on either side of the sign to receive either Ali’s or Mike’s favorite flavor of popcorn.