Dominic & Leah’s Wedding Day

What’s better than a boho wedding day, with dried florals, sunny mountains, an outfit change, and epic dance party? We can’t think of anything! Their day was full of beautiful, dried florals, greenery dripping from the chandeliers, and lots of personal, intimate moments. Dominic and Leah are so in love, and every thoughtful gesture didn’t go unnoticed.

What a celebration! What a couple!

We could not get enough of these sweet little moments they shared many times throughout the day! How can you not love them?

Photos shared by Tattered Lens Photography.

Four Tips for Planning a Colorado Wedding

Yay! You’re engaged! Now, you’re looking at every wedding venue you can find, trying to find the perfect mountain back drop to say “I do.” To make your planning as easy as possible, we’ve put together a list of five essential tips.

Tip #1 - Determine Your Budget

This should be the first and most important step! Sit down with anyone contributing to the wedding, and pin down the most you’re willing to spend on a day. Then, plan on breaking up your budget as follows: plan on 30% of your budget for food and drink, 30% for the venue and decor, then 30% for your photography/videography, and the final 10% for miscellaneous items, like your clothes, hair and makeup, invitations and more. We keep our pricing on our website so you can easily review what the venue’s cost will be!

Tip #2 - Hire a Planner

Whether for full service planning, month of, or week of coordination, a planner is a life-saver. The Colorado wedding market is busy. Colorado is one of the hottest destinations for a wedding, for good reason. There are countless beautiful venues, great vendors, and unforgettable experiences in every corner of the state. A planner will help keep you on budget, and ensure you’re not stressing before your wedding day about the small stuff.

Tip #3 - Think of Accommodations

Since many mountain venues are a destination for guests, think about accommodations and lodging early on, securing room blocks or AirBnbs as far in advance as you can so the planning process is easy for your guests. We are happy to offer recommendations on nearby hotels or campsites so guests have the best Colorado experience they can! Colorado’s mountain towns are busy year-around, so keep an eye on calendars!

Tip #4 - Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

We get it - most folks will only plan a wedding once! It can feel all-encompassing and overwhelming. Be sure to take breaks during your planning so little things that may go wrong don’t become big things. Everything will work out!

Our Story

After a few years of owning and operating Guyton Ranch just outside of Fairplay, and genuinely enjoying the experience, the opportunity to own and operate a former equestrian center near Grand Lake fell into our laps. Because of its picturesque views, immaculate property, and stunning buildings, we saw an opportunity to turn a horse barn into a dream wedding destination. Almost accidentally, we found ourselves the owners of this stunning venue, ready for a new era of life!

After a few layers of paint, furnishings, the installation of benches and arches for two separate ceremony spaces, our ranch was open for business, and ready to celebrate!

We decided to get creative and have fun with the property’s unique past, by incorporating elements of its former equestrian persona into the venue. For example, the old warm up area for the horses is now a gorgeous 100-person beer garden surrounded by wildflowers for cozy happy hours during sunset.

We created two ceremony spaces in former pastures, both with unbelievable mountain views, velvety grass uncommon in mountain areas.

The interior of the main barn was spruced up with white paint on the walls to give it a more modern feel, blended with wooden rafters and wainscoting for a touch of warmth. The windows lining the venue allow tons of natural light to flow into the venue effortlessly.

We are so excited to share this space with our sweet couples, and celebrate together for years to come!