bride and groom gaze at each other under a clear umbrella at Arapahoe Basin wedding

Can you imagine getting married at 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado? Maggie and Jon could! They had their wedding at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado. “We chose our venue because one of Jon and I's first dates was skiing at Arapahoe Basin and it is now one of our favorite spots all year long! We've had a season pass to A-Basin for the last 3 years and go frequently in the winter and the summer,” said Maggie.

From Online Dating to Ski Lifts: How Maggie and Jon Met

These two met online, and Maggie loved that Jon had the quote “Buy the ticket, take the ride,” on his Hinge profile. “I loved that quote and you will hear it in our officiant’s speech,” she said. Jon proposed to Maggie when they were with Maggie’s family in her hometown of Buffalo, New York. It was at a barbecue on the fourth of July, surrounded by family. “Jon pulled everyone's attention and he got down on one knee! It was very exciting! Short but sweet!” Maggie said.

I photographed these two at their engagement session in beautiful Guanella Pass, Colorado. Surrounded by tall pine trees and yellow fall colors, Maggie and Jon are clearly outdoor lovers! It’s only fitting that they’re having their wedding in the Rocky Mountains.

Wedding Morning Preparations with a Sprinkle of Rain

The wedding morning started with a light sprinkle of rain and Maggie and Jon getting ready in log cabins next to each other. Maggie had her hair and makeup done by Angie Crozier from Weemala Hair and Makeup. Then, she zipped up her elegant dress from Little White Dress Bridal and stepped into her cream flats from Christian Louboutin. She wore earrings bought at Costco, which contributed to a running joke that Costco is the couple’s favorite place. The couple spends a lot of time shopping there, and guests joked that they might love it more than anywhere else!

Jon had more than just himself to get ready to look great. The couple’s dog, Bear, was a key member of the wedding party! Bear had a custom collar and leash so that he could match the teal color palette of the day. I loved how involved Bear was in the whole wedding day.

Arriving in Style: Ski Lift Ride to the Wedding Venue

We arrived at the location in a unique way—via ski lift! All guests rode the ski lift to the location facing the mountains. “We think the beauty of the venue is going to do all the hard work and allow the pictures and the memories to come out perfect,” said Maggie. And it truly did! Even though it was misty and rainy, we got tons of beautiful pictures with the mountains in the background.

Maggie walked down the aisle holding a bouquet of white flowers from Madelyn Gallagher Floral Design, which had pictures of late family members tied to it to include them. After a short ceremony, the couple exchanged rings from The Diamond Reserve.

Right at the end of the ceremony, we all ran inside because the rain had just started! We snuck back outside for a few pictures, and then were back in for the rest of the reception. The couple was super flexible to embrace the unpredictable weather, and even willing to get some pictures taken in the rain! The photos of them underneath clear umbrellas came out beautifully.

Reception Highlights: Oxygen Bar and a "Shoe-y" Toast

The reception had an oxygen bar from Peak Oxygen so guests who were uncomfortable with the high altitude could get a bit of relief. This was a nice touch for the fellow flatlanders!

Maggie and Jon had their first dance to Beyond by Leon Bridges and then enjoyed the rest of their reception with family and friends. Instead of champagne, the couple had a “shoe-y” which involved pouring beer into a shoe and drinking it.

At the end of the night, the rain settled down and we were able to ride the ski lift back down. I grabbed some photos of the couple on the ski lift in the dark to conclude a great day!