A Modern, Mountain Wedding at Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado

David Justice (37 and a systems analyst) and Jeremy Orr’s (35 and a veterinarian) late-summer wedding in Keystone, Colorado, was a celebration of their love of the outdoors and the natural beauty of Colorado landscape. Every detail spoke to the couple’s relationship with nature, from the mountaintop ceremony to the antique guest book and a woodsy four-tier wedding cake. “We wanted a rustic theme that still had a bit of modern elegance,” David says. “We wanted to keep color understated, making sure that the colors, florals and decorations complemented the natural surroundings.” The ceremony took place at the top of Anticipation, a ski run located on the North Peak of Keystone Resort. Guests rode two gondolas to reach the top of the mountain and were greeted with glasses of champagne and unparalleled views of Bald Mountain and Mount Guyot as they disembarked. “Since we spend a lot of time outdoors during the year, it was important to both of us that we have our ceremony outdoors,” David says. “The views from North Peak are spectacular, so we kept our decorations simple.” Hobnail glasses vases filled with fresh white hydrangeas and green trick dianthus lined the aisle, adding a touch of embellishment without drawing attention away from the views and the ceremony. 

David’s sister-in-law presided over the ceremony, and the couple customized the ceremony with three readings that spoke to love, commitment and the new journey they were about to embark on together. After David and Jeremy’s “I dos,” the newlyweds and their guests made their way to Timber Ridge Lodge for cocktail hour and the reception. With its cathedral ceilings, exposed wooden beams, stone fireplace and mountain vistas, the venue exuded that mountain lodge charm the pair love, making it the perfect spot for evening’s celebration. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served outdoors on the deck, allowing guests to enjoy the scenery. As they moved indoors for dinner and dancing, guests were greeted by inviting wooden farm tables topped with ethereal white runners, arrangements of lush succulents and air plants in whitewashed birch planter boxes, vintage green bottles and brightly lit candles. “The tables were named after 13 Colorado fourteeners—mountains over 14,000 feet—that we’ve hiked together. Each table had a photo of us at the summit of each fourteener and history about each mountain,” David says. Wanting to get the party started as soon as possible after dinner, David and Jeremy combined all the first dances into one. “We danced with each other for the first verse, then with our mothers for the second verse, before handing them over to our fathers for the final verse. To encourage a fun, party atmosphere, we handed out glow sticks, hats, glasses and fishnet gloves to our guests,” David says. A tip from David and Jeremy: “We planned the wedding to be a true expression of us. We really felt that all the elements we included truly represented who we are as individuals and as a couple. When the day comes, be present and in the moment. You rarely get an opportunity to have your closest friends and family in one place at one time. It will go by quicker than you think, so enjoy every second.” —Libby MacCarthy