A Rustic Ranch-Style Mountain Wedding at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash, Colorado

Liz Westgate (31 and a registered nurse) met Jyace Stutsman (28 and in business development) in Colorado—it all began with a yoga date—so they wanted their wedding to showcase the state's raw beauty. Jyace, from Aspen, and Liz, from Michigan, knew guests would be traveling from near and far, so they selected the 6,000-acre Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in the mountain town of Tabernash (an hour and a half from their home in Denver), the perfect choice for a destination wedding. Guests could explore the property on horseback, on foot or on skis and then unwind at the spa. Organized activities included a Friday night welcome party at Heck’s Loft, the wedding celebration Saturday and a snowy Sunday brunch. The focus was on love and the celebration of family and friends. The couple exchanged heartfelt vows in the Broad Axe Barn (their grandmothers were the flower "girls”), followed by a cocktail hour on the patio, then back inside the barn for dinner and dancing. From colorful wildflower arrangements and mercury glass candles on the farm tables to greenery draped across the chandeliers, the vibe was natural yet romantic. A dessert and candy bar was available before dinner. “Why eat dessert only after dinner? Eat it before too,” says Liz, who admits to having a sweet tooth. The couple dined on delicious local fare, shared a giant brownie (in lieu of a cake), danced, danced, danced, took part in the German chair-lifting tradition of sie leben hoch and had the time of their lives. Liz's advice to future couples is a simple five-word mantra: “Do whatever makes you happy.” —Chrissy Sorenson