Bart & Yeti's

Welcome Party

Vail Golf & Nordic Wedding Island

Wedding Ceremony

Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse

Wedding Reception

Fall

Our Wedding

Steph &amp; Don met in May of 2019 in Flagstaff, Arizona at the Flagstaff Climbing Gym! Steph was climbing with a mutual friend of theirs, and Don decided to come over and ask this friend if he could climb with them for the afternoon. After climbing, Don decided to ask Steph for her number and asked her to come climbing with him again later that evening. After that first day full of climbing and getting to know one another, they both knew a connection was there. They would spend the next few months of summer climbing, swimming in the creek, and enjoying nights out on the town; and in August of 2019, Don &amp; Steph decided they wanted to continue this journey together and make things official! Flash forward to March of 2020, COVID-19 hit and Don &amp; Steph decided to move in together. They would spend the next two years living in Flagstaff, AZ and every chance they got they went skiing, cliff jumping, rock climbing, camping and anything else to get them outside. In March of 2022, they decided it was time for a change so they moved to Don’s home state of Colorado! Their first summer in Colorado was everything they hoped it would be. They were able to spend even more time in the outdoors, while Steph began her hunt for a new career path and Don began to grow his career in the golf industry. This new career path for Don led him &amp; Steph on a new adventure of living and working in Avon, CO during the summers &amp; Palm Desert, CA during the winters! They spent the last 2 years moving back and forth and this summer they have decided it was time to settle back in Colorado. Over these last 5 years, Don &amp; Steph have fallen more in love with each other than either of them thought was possible. They have created a beautiful life full of adventure, laughter, excitement and love; and they both knew their time was coming to take their next step. So, on September 7th, 2024, Don &amp; Steph hiked to their favorite high alpine lake for the first time all summer; Beaver Lake. Once they arrived, they admired the beauty of the lake so early in the morning and took in the fact that it was just the two of them at their favorite spot. Just before Don began to fish, he sat his rod down, got down on one knee and asked Steph if she would spend the rest of her life with him. And of course, Steph said yes! Little did she know, they were not the only two at the lake that morning… One of Don’s dearests friends, Burke, was hiding in the trees and caught this beautiful moment on camera! (A HUGE thanks to Burke for hiking up an hour ahead to capture these beautiful engagement photos, he killed it!) Don &amp; Steph are stepping into a wonderful new season of life come the Fall of 2025 and they are excited to celebrate their big day with their friends and family.

OUR STORY

Our Story

Our first fall together in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Steph learning how to fly fish during their first trip to Colorado to meet Don’s family!

Visiting Don at work in Flagstaff, Arizona. Couldn’t keep us away from the mountain!

Our first time at Beaver Lake; we both had no idea this is where we would get engaged!

Our first Colorado Christmas, harvesting our first tree together!

Our first trip floating the Green River in Utah together! We spent the weekend camping and fly fishing.

Our first international vacation!

Backpacking the Fancy &amp; Missouri Lake trail.

A quick over night trip to Booth Lake, where we spent the night with friends &amp; mountain goats!

And finally, our engagement photos from Beaver Lake!

Photos

There are virtually no Uber &amp; Lyft options here in the Vail Valley, so please be aware of this before you arrive!There are great shuttle services to take you to and from the airport that Don &amp; I use all the time. Once in town, there are some local taxi options and a great bus system that can be of use if you plan on not having a vehicle.If you want to explore more of the area while you are here, we highly recommend doing a car rental or even making a road trip and bringing your own car! During this time of year the weather can be variable, so be aware that you may see rain and even snow on the roads.

AIRPORT OPTIONS

The Denver International Airport (DIA) is roughly 2 - 2.5 hours away from Vail, Colorado (weather dependent). This is a larger airport, so you can typically find better pricing and more airline options!Many people still visit Vail in the fall to see the leaves changing, so please make sure you are checking how long it will take you to get to the airport before you leave!

Denver International Airport

The Eagle County Regional Airport is roughly 35 - 45 minutes away from Vail, Colorado. This is a smaller airport so the prices tend to be higher and there are not as many airlines traveling into this airport. Sometimes you can find a good deal, especially in October, so keep an eye out for that!

Eagle County Regional Airport

The Grand Junction Regional Airport is roughly 2 - 2.5 hours away from Vail, Colorado (weather dependent). This is a smaller airport, similar to Eagle, so there may not be as many airlines flying into this airport. However, for those traveling from California, they do have direct flights from Orange County &amp; San Fransisco!

Grand Junction Regional Airport

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT

You can book an Epic Mountain Express shuttle to and from Denver International Airport (DIA) or Eagle County Regional Airport. Use the link we’ve provided to get 20% off your booking! Just enter your pick-up location, destination, and flight details so they know exactly where to drop you off.Please note: this shuttle service does not operate to/from Grand Junction Regional Airport.Don &amp; I use Epic Mountain Express every time we fly out of DIA and love it! Important: Shuttles don’t run 24/7—typically, the first shuttle leaves around 6 AM. Be sure to plan enough time to get to the airport and your gate.

Epic Mountain Express 

This is another top-rated shuttle service in the Vail Valley that will pick you up and drop you off at the Denver International Airport or the Eagle County Regional Airport. This shuttle service does not go to the Grand Junction Regional Airport. Similar to Epic Mountain Express, when you go to their home page you can add in where you want to be picked up from, where you are going, and add in your flight details.We have not personally used this shuttle service, but we do see them throughout town! *Please be aware while booking that these shuttles do not operate 24/7, and their first shuttle typically leaves around 6 AM. Make sure you will have enough time to travel to the airport and get to your gates.

Peak 1 Express

This is going to be the best option for those who want to take full advantage of exploring Vail, but do not want to do a road trip! Each airport will have options for car rental services (listed below) and we highly recommend getting something with 4WD / AWD because the weather can be variable this time of year.Denver International Airport Car Rentals: <a href="https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/rental-cars/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/rental-cars/</a> Eagle County Regional Airport Car Rentals: <a href="https://www.flyvail.com/parking-transportation/rental-cars/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.flyvail.com/parking-transportation/rental-cars/</a> Grand Junction Regional Airport Car Rentals: <a href="https://gjairport.com/Ground_Transportation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://gjairport.com/Ground_Transportation</a>

Car Rental

TRANSPORTATION WHILE IN TOWN

Ride Taxi is the best local option for transportation if you are looking for something similar to Uber &amp; Lyft. They operate 24/7/365, and you can make bookings in advance. There are (3) ways to book; online, over the phone, or through their app. They are a great reliable option for those who do not want to rent a car!

Ride Taxi

Ride Vail Transit is the local bus system that runs through the Town of Vail, so this is a great option for those of you staying in Vail! This bus system is completely free and runs as early as 6:00 AM and as late as 1:20 AM. Please select "Intown" as your route if you are staying in one of the villages, as this will be the bus you take.

Ride Vail Transit - Town of Vail Bus System

The Town of Avon also offers a free bus system that runs through the entire town. This is a great option if you choose to stay in Avon, which is only 10-15 minutes outside of Vail and where we live!If you head to the Town of Avon website, you will see on the top of the page a hot button that says "bus schedule". This bus runs every thirty minutes, as early as 6:30 AM and as late as 10:00 PM. They have not yet put out their Summer/Fall 2025 schedule, but the page will automatically update as we get closer.

Town of Avon Bus System

Travel

Map of the Vail Valley

There are 3 main locations to stay while visiting us; Vail, Avon &amp; Edwards.I will list below great options in all of these areas, but please keep in mind that the wedding will be taking place in Vail. So if you would like to be close to the venue and the pick-up location for our transportation to the wedding, we suggest staying there!There are also plenty of Airbnb's in the Vail Valley, so feel free to check out those as well.

Vail

The Town of Vail is located about 3 miles away from our venue and this is where our transportation will be picking our guests up for the wedding! There are 2 villages in the Town of Vail; The Vail Village and Lionshead Village. If you are looking to be immersed in the town, we highly suggest staying in one of the two villages!

Vail Village 

This hotel is located in the Vail Village and it is made up of condos with kitchenettes.

The Lodge at Vail

This hotel is located in the Vail Village and is made up of regular hotel rooms and some rooms with a kitchenette.

Sitzmark Vail

This hotel is located in the Vail Village and offers studios &amp; condos.

Manor Vail Lodge

This hotel is located in the Vail Village and is made up of regular hotel rooms, suites, condos &amp; penthouses.

Sonnenalp Vail

This hotel is located in the Vail Village and is made up of lodges; however, they also have about 30 rental condos within town that range from one to five bedroom properties.

Christiania Lodge at Vail

Lionshead Village

This lodge is located in Lionshead Village and it is made up of suites that come with a kitchenette.

Lift House Lodge Vail

This hotel is located in Lionshead Village and offers regular hotel rooms, condos, and homes for rent.

Evergreen Lodge at Vail

This property is located in the Lionshead Village and it is made up of condos with full kitchens.

Antlers at Vail

This property is located in the Lionshead Village and is made up of condos with full kitchens.

Montaneros In Vail

This hotel is located in the Lionshead Village and is made up of hotel rooms, suites, condos, residences &amp; penthouses.

The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail

Avon

Avon is located 10 miles away from our venue and it is roughly a 15-minute drive.

This lodge only offers 1 &amp; 3 bedroom suites.

The Christie Lodge - All Suite Property, Vail Valley/Beaver Creek

The TownePlace Suites will be more similar to a condo and comes equipped with a kitchenette.

TownePlace Suites Avon Vail Valley

There are regular hotel rooms and suites with a kitchenette available here.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley

Edwards

Edwards is located 11 miles away from our venue and it is roughly a 20-minute drive.

﻿There are regular hotel rooms &amp; condos with kitchenettes available here.

The Inn At Riverwalk

Hotels 

Outdoor Activities

Walking / Hiking

If you are looking for a nice walk to explore a bit of nature, check out the Betty Ford Alpine Garden, the Village Streamwalk &amp; Botanic Gardens, or the Gore Creek Trail. These are all beginner-friendly and the Gore Creek Trail is even paved! If you want to do a hike in Vail, try Strawberry Lane or Meadows Loops. There are also some beautiful hikes outside of Vail such as Grouse Creek, Meadow Mountain, or even Beaver Lake (where we got engaged!).

Biking

One of our favorite trails to bike is the Gore Valley Trail! This can be accessed in either Lionshead Village or the Vail Village and it is paved the whole way. You can use this trail to bike to Minturn, Avon, and even Edwards. If you are looking for a challenge you can even take this up the Vail Pass! There are plenty of other great spots, so feel free to check All Trails for other ideas.To rent cruisers, e-bikes, or mountain bikes, check out <a href="https://vailbiketech.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vail Bike Tech</a> or <a href="https://avonventuresports.com/bike/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Base Camp - Venture Sports</a>!

Fishing

Even though it is a bit colder during October, it is still a great time to fish! If you want to book a Fly Fishing Guide, we highly recommend going with <a href="https://flyfishingoutfitters.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fly Fishing Outfitters</a>! Their website has plenty of great information to book a fly fishing guide, or you can even rent equipment to go out on your own.

Golfing

Believe it or not, the golf courses are still open this time of year and it is a great way to get some outside and enjoy the fall colors. A few places we recommend are <a href="https://www.eaglevailgolfclub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eagle Vail Golf Course</a>, <a href="https://www.beavercreek.com/explore-the-resort/activities/summer-activities/golf/beaver-creek-golf-club.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beaver Creek Golf Club</a>, or the <a href="https://www.vailrec.com/vail-golf-club" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vail Golf Club</a>, where we will be getting married!

Horseback Riding

If you are looking to get a beautiful mountain experience while being horseback, we recommend going to <a href="https://bearcatstables.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bearcat Stables</a>. The terrain is like nothing else in the valley and you have the opportunity to see an abundance of wildlife, such as wild turkey, deer, and even heards of elk! The leaves will be gorgeous back in this draw as well, so it is a great leaf-peeping opportunity!

Dining

There are plenty of places to dine in the Vail Valley, so I will break it into categories below: If you want something casual but tasty, check out Blue Moose Pizza, El Segundo, Blu Cow, or Southside Benderz. If you want to have a nicer dinner but not break the bank, check out Root + Flower or Mountain Standard. Finally, if you want to enjoy some of the Valley's best foods, check out Matsuhisa, Mirabelle, or The Left Bank.

Stephanie & Donald

Stephanie & Donald

Photos