Piney River Ranch

Rehearsal Brunch

Highline Vail - a DoubleTree by Hilton

Welcome Party

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

Kayla here, and you get to hear about our story from my perspective! Alex and I met in McBride Hall, freshman year at Miami University. We shared some mutual friends and we quickly turned into a friend group for life. Many of those friends are in our wedding! Alex and I instantly became best friends because we had so much in common. Sophomore year came around and we decided to give dating a try. Of course, I made the first move and I was happy he felt the same way about me. It wouldn't be long before winter break, so Alex cooked me dinner and asked if I wanted to make it official. My reaction was, "Are you sure?". We laugh now because both of us were so sure about "us". After graduating college, we did three years of long distance dating. Alex got an incredible job with Nestle and I took a gap year before going to graduate school. Over those three years Alex lived in California, Idaho and Colorado and I spent two years at Indiana University. Although we were apart, we got to experience so much of our country, visiting each other. When graduation came around, I was hired by Opera Colorado and it was the perfect excuse for Alex and I to move to Denver, as we had wanted. We moved in together and adopted our sweet golden-doodle puppy, Bailey. We spend just about every weekend in the mountains, fly fishing, camping, hiking and skiing. We wanted to get married at Piney River Ranch so we could share the lifestyle we love so much, with all of the people that mean the most to us.

Our Story

For memorial day in May 2024, I was told we were going on a trip to Steamboat, CO with Alex's family. The girls were to go to brunch downtown Denver and the boys were going golfing before we headed to the mountains. Brunch was wonderful and the ladies and I headed up to Steamboat, planning to arrive before the boys. After a 3 hr drive, we pull into a mountain neighborhood and my future sister-in-law, Jade, hands me an envelope that reads my name. She says, "Kayla, can you read the check-in instructions for the Airbnb". I look at the card and realize Alex's car is sitting in the driveway up ahead. I immediately start crying as I realize what is happening. To say I was surprised would be an understatement! The card says, "Kayla, this is the start to our next chapter. Meet me around back". I emotionally, walked around to the back of the A frame cottage to see Alex standing there on a porch flooded in candles. He is playing our favorite song, "Keep Me" by Novo Amor. He reads this beautiful letter to me and popped the question. We spent the entire weekend there, just the two of us. Turning our cellphones off and taking in the best weekend of our lives. It couldn't have been more perfect.

The Proposal Story

Photos

Sophie Berger

Josephine Fernandez

Katie Hansen

Jade Carlson

Brianna Dooley

Morgan Shumway

Hollyn Orr

Hannah Falcione

Nathan Carlson

Peter Levy

Eric Hansen

Bradley Hauptman

Robbie Dee

Dakota Stark

Kevin Cummings

David O'Neill

Wedding Party

Set on the edge of Piney Lake, and nestled at the foot of the majestic Gore Range, Piney River Ranch is a private, forty-acre Rocky Mountain retreat, long known as a favorite wedding and day-trip destination. Piney is located just twelve miles north of Vail Village, surrounded by thousands of acres of back country wilderness within the White River National Forest, at 9,300 ft. Piney River Ranch holds active partnerships with both the National Park Service and the Denver Water Board, each established to preserve the natural beauty of the ranch and its surrounding areas. We cannot wait for you to experience the natural beauty this special place has to offer.

About the Venue

Q + A

Transportation to and from the venue will be provided via 14 passenger vans. The vans will leave the hotel, promptly at 2:30 pm and return to the hotel after the reception concludes at 10 pm. An RSVP for van transportation will be required and included in the formal invitation.

Transportation 

The Highline Double Tree will also host our Welcome Party on Friday evening. The room price includes parking, resort fees and a free shuttle service into Vail village.

The room price includes breakfast, resort fee and a free shuttle into Vail Village. Parking is an additional $45 a night. Room block expires July 14, 2025.

Residence Inn Vail

Travel

ATV, Archery and Fly Fishing Tours

Nova Guides

Take the Eagle Bahn Gondola to the top of Vail Mountain for panoramic vistas.

Eagle Bahn Gondola

Explore the shops, restaurants and bars in the Bavarian inspired village.

Vail Village

Recommended Trails: - Upper Piney River Falls Trail (moderate): enjoy this 2.5 hour hike at our venue. - Lost Lake Trail (moderate): Lost Lake is a truly a beautiful little lake, offering hikers some breathtaking, picturesque views. This hike takes about 3 hours. - Gore Creek Path (easy): The Gore Creek Trail follows the path of Gore Creek. It begins in a woodland with towering trees, and you'll be rewarded with the calming sound of the brook all around you. Great for running and walking.

Hiking

- August 14th : Mt. Joy is playing- Take a hike around the area and view the concert venue.

Kayla & Alex

Kayla & Alex

Photos