River Bend Ranch

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

You might be wondering how a girl from Texas and a boy from New York met and fell in love in a small mountain town in Colorado! It all began at The Nugget Mountain Bar where Jessica and Patrick first met in August 2023. They met just 3 days after Jessica moved to Durango and initially connected over a shared passion for drumming. Jessica and Patrick soon realized that they shared many passions including a love for snowboarding, hiking, and outdoor adventures. Over the past few years, Jessica and Patrick have gone on countless adventures including surfing in California, hiking in the Adirondack Mountains, paddle boarding with dolphins in Florida, off roading in Moab, riding horses through the San Juan Mountains, and snowboarding at Purgatory and Telluride. However, the greatest adventure of all was falling in love with each other! Jessica and Patrick continue to love life together and look forward to celebrating their love with each of you this summer!

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Travel Notes For All:In order to fly in to Durango Airport, you must fly via United Airlines or American Airlines. No other airline companies fly directly to Durango. If you prefer a cheaper option or different airline we recommend flying into Albuquerque and driving up to Durango from there (about a 4 hour drive). Traveling from Texas:There are direct flights from Dallas to Durango every day and direct flights from Houston to Durango a few times a week via American Airlines. No other Texas cities offer direct flights to Durango. You can drive to Durango from north, west, or central Texas in 10-14 hours depending. You can drive to Durango from south or east Texas in 16-17 hours. Traveling from New York: There are no direct flights from New York to Durango. The most direct route is via American Airlines from Albany to Dallas to Durango. You can also drive to Durango but it will take approximately 30 hours.

The bride and groom invite you to stay 30 minutes north of the town of Durango at Purgatory Ski Mountain for beautiful mountain views and close proximity to outdoor adventures! The bride and her family/wedding party will be staying at Purgatory the week of the wedding and invite all family and friends to stay close by if they wish! Use code "Groom26" at checkout for a 20% discount off any Purgatory rental property. https://www.purgatory.ski/lodging/

Purgatory Resort

Travel

Dress Code

The bride and groom recommend taking a one or two hour horseback ride at Bears Ranch during your stay in Durango! Jessica has worked as a wrangler/trail guide at Bears Ranch for the past three summers. Viewing the stunning scenery of the San Juan Mountains from the back of a horse will never disappoint! *Kids 7 years and older are allowed to ride on the trail. Kids under 7 can do a pony ride at the ranch!

Bears Ranch

The Durango Hot Springs is one of Patrick and Jessica's favorite local spots! Enjoy a couple of hours of relaxation in mineral rich natural hot spring pools. Food and bar located on site. You can also book a massage or facial at the on site spa before you soak for the ultimate stress free day!

Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa

The wildflowers are in full bloom during the month of July in Durango and one of the most beautiful places to see the flowers is from Engineer Mountain! You can hike (or bike if you are an intermediate-advanced mountain biker) this stunning trail in 3-4 hours.

Engineer Mountain Trail Head

Drive the Million Dollar Highway for a day of stunning mountain views, waterfalls, and shopping in the iconic towns of Silverton and Ouray.

Million Dollar Highway

If you are looking for fun for all ages, spend a day at Purgatory Ski Resort! You can race each other down the alpine slide, ride the mountain coaster, pan for gold with your kids, or ride a bike down the many downhill mountain biking trails!

The lakes across Durango are phenomenal in the summertime! Lake Nighthorse offers a full day of family fun featuring an inflatable wibit out on the lake for kids and adults to jump and play on as well as paddle board and canoe/kayak rentals on site! Other nice lakes in the area for fishing and swimming include Haviland Lake, Molas Lake, and Lake Vallecito!

Lake Nighthorse

Enjoy a day of off roading through the San Juan Mountains, exploring abandoned mining communities, eating lunch in Lake City, and seeing phenomenal mountain scenery all day long!

Rock Pirates Backcountry Adventures

Summertime is river season in Colorado and it does not disappoint! You can raft, kayak, or paddle board down the iconic Animas River that runs through Durango! Patrick and Jessica plan to spend time out on the river the week of the wedding and all are invited to join!

Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours

Enjoy a half or full day of fly fishing on the San Juan River in New Mexico (just one hour from Durango)!

Duranglers Fly Fishing Shop & Guides

The train is an icon of Durango and has been since 1882! Enjoy breathtaking mountain landscapes and a piece of Durango history! Jessica and Patrick recommend that you only take the train one way (which takes approximately 4 hours) as taking the train both ways can be a very long day for most people :)

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Enjoy views of the Hermosa valley red cliffs and the Animas River while you play golf! Other golf courses in the area include Hillcrest, Pinon Hills, and Glacier Club.

Dalton Ranch Golf Club & The Club House Restaurant

During your visit, the bride and groom recommend visiting historic downtown Durango! You can enjoy a fun afternoon of shopping on main street at cute boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, and local tourists shop. There are also great restaurants, breweries, and bars to enjoy!

Historic Downtown Durango

Things to Do

James RanchJames Ranch is an iconic local burger spot located north of Durango in the Hermosa Valley (between Purgatory Resort and downtown Durango). It is a family run cattle ranch and restaurant that delivers the highest quality beef and best hamburgers in town! Pop SushiOne of Jessica and Patrick's favorite restaurants in Durango is Pop Sushi! You can enjoy fresh made sushi rolls as well as amazing ramen bowls and rice bowls. Perbacco CucinaIf you are craving the best Italian food in Durango then Perbacco Cucina is the place for you! Located in downtown Durango on historic main street, you can enjoy a lovely Italian dinner after an afternoon of shopping. The Nugget Mountain BarThe Nugget is a very special place to Jessica and Patrick as it is where they first met! Located north of Durango, right before you get to Purgatory Ski Resort, The Nugget serves great drinks, amazing food at their on-site food truck serving sliders and french fries, and usually has live music! It is the perfect place to spend a warm summer evening! ProspectorIf you are looking for a fine dining experience, look no further than Prospector, located at Glacier Golf Club north of Durango. Prospector is Jessica and Patrick's favorite date night spot as it offers quality cocktails and wine as well as amazing food! Olde Schoolhouse CafeLocated north of Durango (close to Purgatory Ski Resort) "The Schooly" is an iconic local dive bar and hang out spot where you can enjoy a beer, shoot some pool, and eat the best pizza in the area! Perfect spot to go after a day of outdoor adventures! The Durango Mountain ClubIf you are staying at Purgatory Resort then Jessica and Patrick recommend you stop into the DMC! The cocktails are remarkable and the lunch and dinner menus have something for everyone! Patrick is also the assistance manager at the DMC so his staff will make sure you have the highest quality dining experience! Chimayo Stone Fired KitchenChimayo is one of Jessica's family's favorite places to eat when they are in town due to it's fabulous cuisine and wonderful atmosphere! Eolus Bar and DiningAnother fine dining recommendation is Eolus! It is truly some of the highest quality cuisine in the area. Great spot for a date night during your time in Durango! La HaciendaIf you like Mexican food and jumbo margaritas then La Hacienda is the place for you! Great spot to take the whole family and it is one of Patrick's favorite restaurants in town! Bookcase and BarberDisguised as an old bookstore and barber shop, Bookcase and Barber is Durango's one and only speak easy! Once you receive the secret passcode of the day (via their website), you can step beyond the bookcase and enjoy the best drinks in all of Durango!

Places to Eat

What is the dress code?The bride and groom ask that wedding guests dress in semi-formal attire. Suits or jackets and slacks are recommended for men and dresses are recommended for women. They also request that guests do not wear white, ivory, or cream. What is the weather like in Durango in July?July is one of the most beautiful months in Durango! Temperatures range from 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Recommend bringing layers as it is typically much cooler in the mornings and evenings. July is monsoon season which means there potentially will be rain showers that pass through every afternoon. Due to the daily chance of rain, it is recommended that visitors bring a rain jacket/umbrella and plan your hiking and other outdoor adventures in the morning. Finally, July is wildflower season so the bride and groom recommend you take time to hike, off road, horseback ride, or drive through the mountains to see the stunning flowers! Is a rental car needed?It is recommend that out of town guests rent a car if you will be staying outside of the town of Durango (such as north at Purgatory Resort) because the ride share services that will provide rides to the northern part of the county are very limited. If you will be staying in downtown Durango, there is Uber and Lyft ride share services as well as the Durango Trolley/Transit and rides provided through the DuranGO! App. If you plan on staying for 4 days or more, it is recommended that you rent a car so that you can access all the outdoor beauty that the San Juan Mountains have to offer. Enterprise, Avis, and Budget car rentals are all available at the Durango Airport. Can plus ones and children attend the wedding?As space at the wedding is limited, the bride and groom kindly ask that you only bring children and plus ones that are listed on your invitation.

Jessica & Patrick

Jessica & Patrick

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