 |
 |
 |
|
|
the ceremony décor
Cream, blue, and tangerine flowers hung in bistro-style
glasses from a wooden gazebo. |
|
 |
|
 |
the location
After lots of debating, Tracy and Kevin
decided to exchange vows in the backyard of Tracy’s
childhood home in Frisco. “The yard was a huge
inspiration—very beautiful and rustic,” says Tracy. “My mom
worked on the garden all summer for the big day.” |
|
 |
their story
Tracy Lyon Glass (now a 30-year-old event planner and
fundraiser) and Robert (Kevin) McKenna (a 32-year-old
commercial real estate broker) were only a year apart at the
University of Colorado Boulder, but their paths didn’t cross
until later, when fate found them both living in San
Francisco. Tracy wound up helping a friend play cupid
(trying to set another girl up with Kevin), but an
unexpected match was made. “The friend and Kevin wound up
knowing each other,” says Tracy. “She wasn’t interested, but
I was.” Years later, the loving pair headed to Southeast
Asia to do a bit of traveling. On one of the first evenings
abroad, at sunset on a remote beach in Krabi, Thailand,
Kevin asked Tracy to be his wife. —E.W. |
|
 |
the ceremony
The couple got hitched under a gazebo made from Tracy’s
childhood tree house.
the details
Guests were given pouches of petals to toss as the newlyweds
exited the ceremony. |
 |
|
|
|
|
Tracy picked her colors—light blue and tangerine—from
the invitations that she found. “I just thought they
were so pretty together and a different color
combination that one would not normally see. Also, I
knew I wanted a dress with a blue sash, so the light
blue was something I knew I wanted to use from the
start,” she says. The couple mixed these colors with a
backyard, French country theme. |
|
|
 |
|
the ceremony décor
The aisle was lined with tangerine rose petals, and lavender
and rosemary filled small white pots at the ends of some of
the rows. A path of ribbons and flowers hanging from
shepherd’s hooks led guests toward the ceremony. |
|
|
 |
|
the bridal style
Tracy's bridal look was completed with pearl and
rhinestone dangle earrings, a long, ivory tulle veil,
and white dendrobium orchids in her hair. |
|
 |
|
the gown
Tracy wore a strapless, ivory, satin gown by Amsale. The
dress was fitted through the bodice with a slight dropped
waist, a light blue sash, buttons up the back of the bodice,
and a full skirt with a slight train. |
|
 |
|
the cake
Tracy and Kevin chose to have several whimsical cakes and
also several other desserts made by close friends and
family. The cakes were different flavors, including a carrot
cake with cream cheese frosting and a pink patterned fondant
and a chocolate cake with raspberry filling and blue dotted
fondant. |
|
|
the guest book
Guests hung well wishes for the couple on a potted
arrangement of bleached manzanita branches and tangerine
roses. |
|
|
the reception décor
The reception was cozy and festive, with ribbons dangling
from large, cream and blue, paper lanterns and homemade
artwork on the walls. |
|
 |
|
|
SITE The bride’s parents’ home
PHOTOGRAPHY Karina Heneghan
Photographics, KarinaHeneghan.com, Denver
CONSULTANT Tracy Glass, As You Like It Events
(303) 880-8583, Denver
OFFICIANT Ed Costie, godfather of the bride
GOWN Amsale, Andrisen Morton
(303) 321-0404, Denver
VEIL Andrisen Morton
INVITATIONS Denver Printing Center
(303) 238-8700, Denver
FLOWERS The Perfect Petal
(303) 480-0966, Denver |
RENTAL EQUIPMENT Colorado Tents and Events
Party Rental (970) 262-6858, Silverthorne
CATERING Hearthstone Catering
(970) 453-7028, Breckenridge
MUSIC Flamenco guitarist Miguel Espinoza
CAKE Hearthstone Catering
TRANSPORTATION Executive Mountain
Transportation (970) 486-0168, Breckenridge
ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel Frisco
(800) 262-1002
HONEYMOON Boulder, CO; southern India |
|
|
 |
|
Sara Gans (who’s now 28 and a publicist) and John Barclay (JB)
Blue (who’s 29 and an accounting fund manager) met through a
mutual friend who’d later be JB’s best man at their wedding.
Sara had just snagged a summer internship at Merrill Lynch,
and it turned out her supervisor was one of JB’s cousins.
Soon JB started an internship himself, and Sara was assigned
to work with him. On his second day on the job, JB asked
Sara on a date, and a few years later proposed. —K.W.
the escort card display
Square escort cards in green and white were hung from a
clothesline, leading guests to their tables named after
Colorado towns. |
|
|
the ceremony site
Sara and JB wed in a traditional Jewish ceremony held on the
lawn outside the bride’s parents’ home, with a view
overlooking Denver. |
|
 |
the bridal bouquet
To complement her asymmetrically draped A-line gown,
Sara carried a bouquet of white and pink peonies and other
blooms down the aisle. |
|
the personal touches
A bucket of flip-flops was placed beside the dance floor so
that guests could ease their tired feet. It definitely
worked—guests hit the dance floor all night long. |
|
the ceremony music
Sara and JB hired a group of four college students to
perform their ceremony’s music. |
|
|
the dessert
Instead of a traditional wedding cake, Sara and JB opted for
cupcakes in both chocolate and vanilla, that way guests had
the opportunity to choose their favorite flavor. |
|
|
the ceremony
The couple stood beneath a huppah Sara’s brother helped make
before leaving to spend the summer in Israel. The huppah was
draped with tallitot belonging to members of Sara’s family
and decorated with flowers. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Planning Notes |
|
Sara had always dreamed of having her wedding at the
house where she grew up. Though it was undoubtedly the
perfect setting, getting married at home proved to be a
challenge—after all, everything had to be brought in
just for the wedding day. Fortunately, Sara has plenty
of event planning experience that she was able to put to
good use. |
|
|
|
the centerpieces
Springing from handmade wooden boxes, loose,
wildflower-inspired arrangements added a burst of
color to the reception tables.
the first dance
Beneath a tent set up near the ceremony site, Sara and JB
enjoyed their first dance to the sounds of “It Had to Be
You” by Harry Connick, Jr. |
|
|
 |
|
their ingredients |
|
SITE The bride’s parents’ home
PHOTOGRAPHY Karina Heneghan
Photographics, KarinaHeneghan.com, Denver
VIDEOGRAPHY Randy Holman, R.H.
Productions (303) 660-6538, Franktown
GOWN AND VEIL Felice Bridal (303) 388-7637, Denver
SHOES Ann Taylor
HAIR Zuri Salon and Spa (303) 377-3377, Denver
BRIDESMAID DRESSES J.Crew
INVITATIONS Papyrus (303) 370-6935, Denver
FLOWERS Missy Fisher, Amizetta (303) 526-0478
CATERING LeBrian’s Gourmet Catering (303) 526-7939;
liquor: Argonaut Liquors (303) 831-7788, Denver
MUSIC Ceremony: Rocky Mountain String Quartet,
booked through Veronica Pigeon (720) 252-6021, Denver;
reception: DJ Scott Gray, Pyramix (303) 300-2006, Denver
CAKE Boulder Breadworks (303) 444-5667, Boulder
FAVORS Boulder Breadworks
TRANSPORTATION Bus: People’s Choice Transportation
(303) 289-9999, Commerce City
ACCOMMODATIONS The Magnolia Hotel (303) 607-1131,
Denver
HONEYMOON Two weeks in Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
melissa & justin
SEPTEMBER 23, SEDALIA
photography by Karina Heneghan
When Melissa Gonnion (who’s now 26 and an
account executive) hit it off with Justin Kroll (also 26 and an
institutional consultant), she was actually the first to make a
move, having the courage to ask him out for pizza. That first
move was a smart one, as the two were soon inseparable. Years
later, Justin planned a sweet proposal at the Denver Botanic
Gardens, including a custom-designed engagement ring and
Melissa’s parents, sister, and grandmother hiding just out of
sight. “It was one of the best nights of our lives,” Melissa
recalls.
During their 10-month engagement, both Melissa
and Justin changed jobs, Justin was in school part-time, and the
two managed to buy a house. “Sometimes I think back on
everything we did this year…and I have no idea how I got it all
done and it came together so flawlessly!” Melissa says. “I think
that’s a huge testament to our vendors.” Her extensive research
resulted in a wedding with a classic, understated elegance
imbued in every detail.
The neutral colors of the wedding venue provided
the backdrop for the day. Melissa pulled from the deep brown of
Sanctuary’s dark wood and added different shades of green and
cream to complement it. All of the stationery was printed on
cream linen paper using deep brown and green and a lace design
inspired by Melissa’s Monique Lhuillier gown. The bridesmaids
wore dresses in a cognac brown that contrasted richly with the
green blooms in their bouquets.
Melissa and Justin exchanged vows beneath an
outdoor pavilion with a view of Pike’s Peak in the background.
Afterward, guests headed inside for a reception with a subtle,
only-in-Colorado feel: flagstone fireplaces, raw wooden beams,
low centerpieces in green and ivory, and silver candelabras. The
newlyweds kicked off the sweet evening with a first dance to Rod
Stewart’s “Have I Told You Lately,” a surprise from the bride to
the groom. “Justin loves to sing, and that one song in
particular always brings a smile to my face,” Melissa says. The
two wound up singing to each other for almost the entire dance,
setting the tone for a party filled with love and laughs. —K.W.
>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
MELISSA & JUSTIN’S INGREDIENTS
SITE Sanctuary (303) 796-3311 PHOTOGRAPHY
Melissa and Justin were so impressed with photographer
Karina Heneghan’s portfolio and references that they hired her
before they’d even met in person. Karina Heneghan Photographics,
KarinaHeneghan.com, Denver VIDEOGRAPHY Over the Moon
Films (303) 570-0414, Denver OFFICIANT A friend of
Melissa’s family, Dr. Vernon Goff of Omaha, NE, performed the
ceremony. GOWN “I knew I wanted lace because it is so
timeless and romantic, and the shape of the dress was
sophisticated, elegant, and exactly what I was looking for,”
Melissa says of her Monique Lhuillier gown. Auer’s Bridal at
Andrisen Morton (303) 321-0404, Cherry Creek VEIL “I’ve
always wanted a long veil, so I visited Sara Gabriel Veils with
my mom and sister,” the bride says. “Sara helped me pick out the
perfect cut and color of veil to accentuate my gown.” Sara
Gabriel Custom Veil Design (303) 722-0718, Denver SHOES
Melissa wore kitten-heel sling backs, which she had dyed to
match the deeper-colored silk of her gown. Saltz Bridal Shoes
(800) 962-3453, St. Petersburg, FL HAIR Bang Salon (303)
282-5444 MAKEUP Bobbi Brown, Neiman Marcus (303) 329-
2600, Cherry Creek BRIDESMAID DRESSES Melissa’s eight
bridesmaids wore strapless, cognac brown, duchesse satin,
two-piece dresses with floorlength, A-line skirts by Wtoo for
Watters & Watters. NetBride.com FORMALWEAR The groom and
guys wore traditional tuxes with white suit shirts and black
ties. Justin opted for a mocha brown tie to stand out from the
crowd. Mister Neats Formalwear (303) 706-0001, Englewood
INVITATIONS Melissa worked with a friend of hers who is a
graphic designer to create all of the wedding stationery. The
lace from her gown was incorporated into the design, along with
the wedding colors. FLOWERS Melissa carried an unusual
and beautiful bouquet of calla lily petals with lily of the
valley at the center, arranged in a hand-tied design that
complemented the silhouette of her gown. Her bridesmaids carried
free-form bouquets of green flowers such as hydrangeas, bells of
Ireland, and green gladiolas. The Flower House (303) 840-1973,
Denver
RENTAL
EQUIPMENT
Silver
candelabras from Butler Rents (303) 388-5971, Denver CATERING
Sanctuary MUSIC Reception: DJ Rockcandy (303)
933-3535, Denver CAKE Melissa found her wedding cake’s
design in a magazine. She and Justin loved its “’50s retro”
feel. The three-tier confection featured large sugar cookies
that spelled out “just married” and a cookie bride-and-groom
topper. Kelley Farrel, Iced Dreams (303) 766-3793, Denver
FAVORS Table tents featuring photos of the couple’s beloved
pets (Mattie the cat and Sadie the golden retriever) informed
guests that in lieu of favors, Melissa and Justin had made
donations to the Denver Dumb Friends League and the Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University David J. Gunnion Memorial Scholarship
Fund in honor of the bride’s late brother. TRANSPORTATION
A Advantage Limousine Service (303) 421-4300, Denver
ACCOMMODATIONS Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows (303)
925-0004, Littleton HONEYMOON Since Melissa and Justin
felt a full-on honeymoon was too much to handle right after the
wedding, they opted for a mini-trip to Colorado wine country
instead. They stayed for three nights at a bed and breakfast,
visited the vineyards, and, Melissa says, “just relaxed a bit.”
Palisade Wine Valley Inn (970) 464-1498, Palisade |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
