St Patrick's Catholic Church

Wedding Day

Wedding

Dinner and Dance at The Peaks Resort and Spa  (cocktail hour begins at  5pm)

Reception

As I crutched into the lab at UT post ACL surgery in October 2015 I did not know that the beautiful girl sitting in my chair would be my wife. She got up and kindly offered me the chair, which I took, because, well, I had one knee. A few days later she and I crossed paths again as we hung out with a group for Halloween. Instead of exchanging pleasant small talk as many people in the nascent stages of friendship do, I spent the better part of the night passionately disparaging New Mexico (which after tasting green chile, had no basis in reality) after learning that Lauren was originally from there. I apologized the next day though, and Lauren graciously accepted, opening the door to continuing our young, yet tumultuous, friendship. Over the next few months I routinely bothered Lauren by asking to sit on the couch in her office because my "knee was tired", but really I was becoming more intrigued by Lauren--who was fun, witty, kind, and thoughtful--and wanted to know her better. After a few months, she finally agreed to go out a date with me, and we never looked back! (I think mostly because of my boyish good looks ;) but actually mostly because Lauren somehow puts up with my antics!)

love 

It was Fall 2014 at the University of Texas in Austin. Cole had recently had his (first) ACL surgery, and Lauren had recently moved from Los Alamos to Austin to start her PhD program. Lauren and Cole first met through mutual friends at UT, where Cole was an undergraduate research assistant in the lab across from Lauren's office. With close working proximity, Cole frequently used the excuse that his "knee was tired" to come sit on the couch in Lauren's office and chat. After spending a school year building a friendship, they both knew it was only a matter of time.

Lauren and Cole

Our Story

Pre-Wedding Hike

We will be hiking the <a href="https://www.telluride.com/bear-creek-falls"> Bear Creek Falls</a> hike Friday morning. This hike is 2.5 miles one way, estimated to take a total of 2 hours, and is ranked between easy and moderate. As the great views of town and spectacular waterfall at the end attract a lot of visitors, we will plan for an earlier start and will meet at 9:30am at the end of South Pine Street in Town. As you finalize your travel plans, please let us know if you're interested in joining so we can get a head count.

Rehearsal Dinner

Please join us for a welcome rehearsal dinner at the Swede-Finn Hall, Friday evening. Drinks will begin at 5:30pm with dinner and remarks to follow at 6:00pm. Attire is casual!

Other Events

Our Wedding

Transportation in Telluride

Galloping Goose Transit Schedule

While Telluride is a very walkable town, there is a free loop service with the Galloping Goose Bus! Click <a href="http://www.telluride-co.gov/255/Bus-Schedule">here</a> for the route information and bus times. The bus makes a loop every 20 minutes from 7am-9pm. The closest stop to the church is Pine Street, which is a 4 minute walk away from St. Patrick's.

Gondola 

The 13-minute gondola ride links the historic town of Telluride to the Mountain Village, eliminating the 8-mile drive between both towns. It operates from 7am - midnight.

Details

Things to do

Whether you are looking to extend your trip or fit in a few sight-seeing activities over the weekend, there are plenty of options in Telluride and the surrounding area! Summer Activities The surrounding mountains offer many fun <a href="http://www.visittelluride.com/summer-activities">activities</a>, including horseback riding, hiking, and rock climbing.Restaurants There are <a href="http://www.visittelluride.com/dining-and-nightlife">many</a> delicious places to eat in Telluride and Mountain Village. Telluride has been ranked in the Top 20 List of Best American Cities for Foodies by Condé Nast. Nearby AttractionsThere are many <a href="https://www.telluride.com/day-trips">day-trips</a> available within 3-hour driving distance from Telluride. These include archaeological sites such as Mesa Verde, hot springs in Ouray, and the Durango &amp; Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Things to do 1

Wedding Party

Photos

Q + A

Registry

<li>There are a lot of different accommodation types in Telluride/Mountain Village--hotels, condos, and houses. The Telluride Wine Festival is the same weekend, so lodging will be scarce and very expensive if you wait to book. To help this situation, we have blocked off rooms at three hotels in Telluride and have a courtesy rate with another. However, bigger groups may find AirBnB/VRBO/TripAdvisor useful for booking condos to accommodate their size . Most importantly though, everything in Telluride and the Mountain Village is close--within walking distance or accessible by gondola. Explore the many options and book early! Regardless of where you decide to stay, please inquire about their deposit and cancellation policies when booking as they all differ. </li><li></li><li></li>

Important Lodging Advice

Telluride is located in Southwestern Colorado in Shoebox canyon. While it may be a bit of a journey to get here, the scenery along the way and upon arrival make it well worth it!If you plan on flying to Colorado, there are a number of airports to choose from. You will want to do some price shopping at the regional and major airports, since each will offer unique deals depending on when you book your flights and some will require renting a car. If you do plan on flying into a major airport and are interested in carpooling with others, please let us know so we can put you in touch with others.

Getting to Telluride

Denver International Airport (DEN)* The airport is a 7 hr/215 mile drive away and will require renting a car. Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ)*The airport is a 5.5 hr/211 mile drive away and will require renting a car (211 miles)*For guests coming from Austin, there are Southwest flights (both direct and 1 stop) and Allegiant Airlines flies direct on Thursdays and Sundays. These flights often get booked fast but are really convenient if you can get them.

Major Airports

If you fly into one of these smaller airports there are <a href="http://www.tellurideskiresort.com/trip-planning/directions-transportation-and-parking/ground-transportation/">shuttle options</a> to Telluride or you may decide to rent a car. These airports are within 3 hours of Telluride. Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) * 6 milesMontrose Regional Airport (MTJ)* 66 miles/ 1.5 hr Durango-La Plata Regional Airport (DRO)*130 miles/2 hr 30 minGrand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)* 140 miles/2 hr 40 min

Regional Airports

The Hotel Telluride is a boutique hotel located on the west end of town, providing a variety of room types and suites. The hotel is a 10 min walk into the center of town, but the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service. We have set up discounted courtesy rates but rooms are not reserved. The rates are comparable between Camel's Garden and The Hotel Telluride, but please feel free to inquire if you'd like specifics on different room rates. Reservations can be made through individual call-in or online with the code Castro. If you have difficulties with the code for on-line reservations, please email lacastro225@gmail.com and we will send you a link.

The Hotel Telluride

The Manitou Lodge is a more modest and budget-friendly option. It is conveniently located across the San Miguel river from the Camel's Garden Hotel and the Oak Street gondola station. Rooms may sleep between 3-6, and two units have small kitchenettes. This is an option if you are just looking for an affordable place to sleep and plan on being out and about most of the time. We have placed units in this lodge on reserve until May 24th. This is a Telluride Alpine Lodging option and should be booked though Chris Esch under the Castro/Thompson wedding for a 15% discount.

Manitou Lodge

The Camel''s Garden Hotel is conveniently located in the central part of Telluride near the gondola. The hotel provides a variety of room types and condos, all complete with fireplaces and balconies. Additional features include a free continental breakfast and underground parking. We have reserved standard and select rooms with discounted rates until April 24th. Please call the hotel to inquire about room types and specific rates available under the Castro/Thompson wedding.

Camel's Garden Hotel

Telluride Alpine Lodging offers vacation rental properties in both Telluride and Mountain Village. If you choose to book a property through them, please contact Chris Esch and mention the Castro Thompson wedding to get a 15% discount.The Telluride Alpine Lodging company also maintains the Mountainside Inn. This is another affordable option with rooms and condos available. It is located near to the free Galloping Goose shuttle, which can take guests to downtown Telluride. A 15% discount should also apply here.

Telluride Alpine Lodging/Mountainside Inn 

The Ice House Suites &amp; Condominiums are located near to the Camel's Garden Hotel and Manitou lodge in central Telluride. These luxury suites may be more suitable for families or parties with multiple couples. We have on reserve at discounted rates 4 Deluxe King Suites , 2 Deluxe Suites with 2 Fulls, and 2 Two Bedroom Suites . Please email lacastro225@gmail.com or call directly the hotel for more information. Rooms can be reserved under Castro/Thompson.

Lauren & Cole

Lauren & Cole

Registry

What we really want is all of our friends and family together for our big day, but for the traditional gift-giver out there we are registered at: