Your Story (How Did You Meet)

Shawn was friends with my best friend's husband. He came down to hang out with them after Christmas, in 2009, and my friend sort of implied that we "wanted" to meet the other, which oddly neither of us had expressed that as we recall. She must have known something we didn't. In any case, we met for coffee and then again had lunch with them, and then ventured out on an date just the two of us. We were pretty inseparable after that. On September 25th Shawn took me to the top of a outlook, and ask me if I had a "good time on our weekend?" and I said, "yes," and he said "good, and I would like to keep having a great time for the rest of my life," got down on one knee, and said, "Would you marry me?"

Why did you select Eastholme?

We wanted to have a small wedding, outdoors, and fell in love with the venue when we visited. We particularly loved the hassle free aspect of it all, that Deborah just took care of it all the details and she has great taste.

THE DETAILS

Ceremony

My brother performed the ceremony, and he did such a wonderful job. It was so personal and meaningful. We wrote our own vows and the day was just lovely, perfect actually. We had a quartet play before and during the ceremony, which was wonderful ambiance.

Reception

Dancing under the stars in the warm August evening in Colorado is pretty hard to beat. We really got to enjoy everyone who came to the wedding because it was small enough for us to make a point to sit and talk to everyone who was there and really enjoy being together with everybody.

How long to plan wedding: We met Deborah in February and got married in August, but really other than just picking ideal pictures out of wedding magazines, and confirming with Deborah, we didn't do a lot of planning.

Number of Guests: 50 Guests

Color Palette: Dark Purple and Yellow
Attire: Formal
Bouquets: Garden Flower Bouquet
Centerpieces: Low flower vases

Reception Menu: Chicken Marsala and Pork Tenderloin with cranberry & apples

Cake Design: White with white buttercream icing and strawberries on the side.

First Dance: "I Got There as Fast as I Could" by Josh Turner

The Exit:

We didn't have to exit, because we stayed at Eastholme, and most of our guests did as well, so when it was over we all just hung out in the main room and we opened wedding presents and were together with everyone.

What Made Your Wedding Unique

We are not super caught up on traditions, so we just let a lot of them go. Shawn and I ate breakfast and hung out with everyone together till about noon, and then separate. It was special for us to be with people we cared about and one another.

My mother made a poster board of the two us, growing up and then in the middle with us since we had been together. It was really neat.

What Would You Do Different

Not a thing.

Your Advice to Couples Just Starting to Plan Their Wedding

Be willing to be flexible and don't get caught up on little details, just be happy you found each other. That is the hardest part the wedding day should be a breeze.

The Wedding Professionals Involved (Deserve a 5 Star Rating)

Ceremony: Eastholme Gazebo

Reception: Eastholme Outdoor Patio

Photographer: Reflections Photography: Conrad and Roxanna Smith

Event Planner: Deborah

Wedding Gown: Danielle's Bridal Shop

Formalwear Rentals: Mr. Penquin in Puelbo, Colorado

Caterer: Cravings Five Star Catering

Cake: Cravings Five Star Catering

Florist: Deborah Arranged for Us - He did such an amazing job!!!

Music: We requested a quartet play during the ceremony, don't know their names but they were wonderful, classy and really made the ceremony lovely.

Hair:  Kimberley Fooshee

Honeymoon Location: Grand Cayman Islands