1. Real Weddings

A Classic, Shabby Chic Wedding at Crooked Willow Farms in Larkspur, Colorado

Melissa Genoshe (27 and a production coordinator) and Chris Donnan (32 and a producer) chose to get married in Colorado where Melissa grew up because

Melissa Genoshe (27 and a production coordinator) and Chris Donnan (32 and a producer) chose to get married in Colorado where Melissa grew up because it seemed like good middle ground for the LA-based couple and Chris’s family in New Jersey. They exchanged vows on the huge lawn with the mountains in the background, had cocktail hour in a beautiful courtyard and used the carriage house ballroom for the reception. Melissa and Chris used a lilac and ivory color palette in honor of their spring wedding, and they loved the way it looked against the exposed brick and barn wood of their venue. R.S.V.P. Weddings created all the floral arrangements using peonies, roses, hydrangeas, dusty miller and lilacs. “I knew I had to have lilacs in the bouquets because the scent reminds me of home, family and my Dad, who unfortunately passed away before the wedding,” Melissa says. “Growing up, there was a lilac bush outside my window, and I've always loved the fragrance.” Wanting to incorporate a whole lot of fun into their wedding, they rented a skeeball machine for guests to play during cocktail hour along with more classic bean bag toss and a photo booth, too. Celebrity DJ set?the upbeat vibe for the reception especially when Melissa’s cousin requested “Let It Go” from Frozen. “It was then belted out by everyone in the crowd,” Melissa says. “A lot of us worked on the film.” At the end of the night, the couple gave guests freshly baked individual mini pies wrapped with wooden forks decorated with puns such as “at first bite,” “tried and chew” and “forkever and always.”

Chris proposed with a round-cut solitaire diamond engagement ring and chose a simple yellow gold band for himself.
Melissa carried peonies, roses, dusty miller and lilacs in her bouquet. “I knew I had to have lilacs in the bouquets because the scent reminds me of home, family and my Dad, who unfortunately passed away before the wedding,” Melissa says. “Growing up, there was a lilac bush outside my window, and I've always loved the fragrance.”
The groom wore a classic blush rose for his boutonniere.
“I fell in love with my dress the moment I put it on (and it had pockets!),” Melissa says. She wore a classic ball gown with ornate silver beading on the bodice.
“We love nature and being outdoors, so knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony where we could see the mountains,” Melissa says. They exchanged vows in a huge lawn at rooked Willow Farms in Larkspur, Colorado.
Melissa and Chris Traditional Rose Ceremony for the Mothers
Melissa and Chris Recessional at Crooked Willow Farms
“Crooked Willow Farms was the perfect venue for us,” Melissa says. “There is a huge lawn for the ceremony, a beautiful courtyard that we used for the cocktail hour and carriage house ballroom for dinner and dancing.”
Although Melissa and Chris didn’t add a lot of decor to their wedding, they did sprinkle in a few chalkboards. Melissa’s favorite was the ivory and blush ombre escort card board (which is currently hanging in their dining room!).
A Simple Reception at Crooked Willow Farms
Classic Black-and-White Table Numbers
The reception tables were decorated with lavender roses, purple carnations, white hydrangeas and dusty miller.
Four-Tier Ornate White Buttercream Cake
Melissa and Chris gave their guests freshly baked individual mini pies wrapped with wooden forks decorated with puns such as “at first bite,” “tried and chew” and “forkever and always.”
“Our first dance was pretty special,” Melissa says. “We are no dancers, so worked for weeks learning a routine.”