Hillside Gardens & Event Center

Reception

Cocktail Hour

Reception Kick Off + Dinner

Dancing + Celebration

Bride + Groom Send Off

***Please note that to have more time to celebrate (and tear up the dance floor) we have changed our start time to 5 PM. ***

Our Wedding

We met online and had our first date on the very last day of 2020 in Castle Rock. What started as a low-key meet-up quickly turned into something special. At the time, McKenzie lived in Denver and Thomas was in Colorado Springs, so we spent our early days making the most of weekends—exploring each other’s cities, road-tripping to the mountains, and racking up miles (and memories) along I-25. By that fall, McKenzie made the move to the Springs, and not long after, we welcomed our first puppy, Ellie—our spunky, curly-haired adventure buddy. Since then, life has been full—in the best kind of way. We've traveled to visit family in Texas and Washington, explored national parks across the country, and crossed off several countries from our bucket lists. Closer to home, we’ve built a life we love—surrounded by a great group of friends, picking up new hobbies, and getting out in the Colorado sunshine whenever we can! In December 2023, during a trip to the Bahamas with friends, we snuck away for a quiet walk on the beach, and Thomas proposed. Since then, we’ve added a second furry friend to the mix, and now we get to enjoy the mountains (and twice the butt wiggles) together as a little family of four. Together, we've built a life rooted in adventure and we are so excited to celebrate our next journey with you all — Thank you for joining us on our big day!

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

***You must copy the link above and paste in your URL. Clicking on the link will not take you to our designated page*** Please make sure you book your stay by June 30th. This hotel is 2.5 miles from the venue which makes arranging an uber really easy and cheap! You can pay for parking in the hotel garage on site or you can leave your car in a city garage, right next to the hotel for a $11 a day. In addition, you are able to leave your car at the venue overnight behind a locked gate. Reach out to McKenzie if you have any questions about lodging!

Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs Downtown

Travel

Garden of the Gods

Climb to 14,000 feet by traveling up this gorgeous road with wicked hair pin turns. <a href="https://coloradosprings.gov/pikes-peak-americas-mountain/page/tickets-and-reservations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Drive </a>(reservation required), or head up via <a href="https://www.cograilway.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cog railroad! </a>

Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

SunWater Spa in Manitou Springs, Colorado, is a wellness retreat offering a serene experience through outdoor cedar soaking tubs filled with mineral-rich spring water, as well as spa treatments, and yoga classes — all set against the backdrop of Pikes Peak's natural beauty​

SunWater Spa

The Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs is a legendary hike featuring 2,744 steps and nearly 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile, requiring a free reservation to tackle this steep and rewarding challenge. *** This is HARD if you are not use to being at high elevations***

Manitou Incline

Exploring downtown Manitou Springs offers visitors a charming mix of strolling and shopping, with its historic streets lined with unique boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops, and souvenir stores. There are also amazing Penny Arcades that are worth a visit! We love love the Kentucky Derby Skee Ball the most!

Manitou Springs

Old Colorado City is a charming historic district in Colorado Springs, perfect for leisurely strolling and exploring. With over 100 unique shops, it’s a great place to find locally crafted goods, antiques, art galleries, and boutique clothing. The area is steeped in history, with beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the gold rush era.

Old Colorado City 

Red Leg Brewing Company in Colorado Springs is a veteran-owned brewery offering a variety of award-winning craft beers and a great atmosphere. Located near Garden of the Gods, it features a spacious taproom, rooftop views, and local food vendors.&nbsp;A go to spot of ours for sure!

Red Leg Brewing Company

Things to Do

Registry

The party doesn't stop after the reception! We are thrilled to welcome you to our home on Saturday afternoon for a backyard BBQ starting at 5 PM! Come on over for a casual backyard hang with some corn hole, good food, and good company! BYOB- We can't wait to host you!

Thomas & McKenzie

Thomas & McKenzie

Photos