1. Real Weddings

A Sophisticated Mountain Wedding at Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado

Six years after they met on a fateful camping trip with mutual friends in Breckenridge, Nicole Arnold (32) and Alex Aldridge (33 and president of Aldr

Six years after they met on a fateful camping trip with mutual friends in Breckenridge, Nicole Arnold (32) and Alex Aldridge (33 and president of Aldridge Electric) headed back to Colorado for their wedding. Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash was an easy choice for the Chicago-based couple because it allowed for an outdoor ceremony overlooking the mountain range, a reception in a beautiful barn and accommodations for all of their guests. Touches of gold and romantic color scheme of white, coral, pinks and shades of green softened the rustic atmosphere.

Nicole came across the graphic mountain range wedding invitations from Lexis Krieg's own wedding so much that she asked her to recreate them for her, with a few tweaks, of course!
Nicole paired her custom platinum engagement ring with a Kwiat diamond infinity band made of two matching bands woven together. "I wanted something a little more interesting than a matching diamond band, but nothing that would compete with my beautiful engagement ring," she explains.
Nicole's rose gold Loeffler Randall sandals were glam, yet practical for mountain-side photos.
Nicole added a blush sash to her a Chantilly lace mermaid gown for the reception.
Nicole told her bridesmaids they could wear any dress they wanted as long as it was short, neutral, and wasn't actually a bridesmaid dress. “I wanted their personal style to shine through,” she says.
Alex and his groomsmen accessorized their navy suits with olive green striped bow ties from Ted Baker London.
Nicole carried a coral and ivory bunch of garden roses, dahlias, astilbe, scabiosa, eucalyptus, mint, and maidenhair fern (Alex's favorite). The stems were wrapped in a lace ribbon from her grandmother's wedding dress, a sentimental touch.
Alex had one request for Nicole's wedding day look: that she wear her hair down. She complied with some big loose curls.
Nicole and Alex's vertical ceremony programs featured the same mountain range motif as the invitation suite, a nod to the day's locale.
Nicole and Alex's outdoor wedding ceremony was held beneath a rustic timber arch at Devil's Thumb Ranch. “We went back and forth on how we wanted to decorate the ceremony site,” says Nicole. “We ultimately decided that we didn't need any decorations at all, the view of the mountains and the ranch is spectacular enough.”
During cocktail hour, guests found their seating assignments sticking out of birch covered pots filled with reindeer moss and greenery.
Guests left their fingerprints and well wishes on a custom sign-in board with an illustration of the couple and their dog Charlie. The fingerprints formed the outline of colorful bunches of balloons.
Low, lush arrangements of coral garden roses, football mums, dahlias, astilbe, scabiosa, maidenhair fern, jasmine vine, and silver dollar eucalyptus in gold pedestal vases topped the round reception tables.
A crystal chandelier anchored the room above the long head table at Nicole and Alex's barn reception. Warm uplighting and ivory draping softened the wood and brick space and added to the romantic feel.
A 22 foot garland of plumosa, sprengerii and tree fern ran the length of the long wooden head table.
Guests raised their champagne glasses to toast the newlyweds at the reception.
Nicole and Alex's three tier buttercream wedding cake was finished with fresh flowers, jasmine vine and a wooden Mr. and Mrs. topper.