1. Real Weddings

A Mountain Wedding in Divide, CO

Amber and Mark met online and took seven-and-a-half months to plan their fall wedding in Divide. The Bride Amber Meola, 27, web and graphic designer

Amber and Mark met online and took seven-and-a-half months to plan their fall wedding in Divide. The Bride Amber Meola, 27, web and graphic designer The Groom Mark Robertson, 33, mortgage broker The Date September 6 The couple's brown couch and chartreuse blanket inspired their wedding colors, which they chose the morning after Mark's proposal. They also incorporated Aspen trees into the decor and mimicked the bridal gown detail with lots of polka dots.

To keep the day casual, the couple served vegan chocolate peanut butter cupcakes topped with chartreuse balls and displayed on tall tower. A miniature bride and groom, painted to match the couple, topped the display.
Guests went home with a taste of Colorado -- small jars of locally collected honey and a wooden honey dipper, covered with small squares of fabric printed with the couple’s names and wedding date.
To complement the rustic surroundings, the couple displayed their menu on a chalkboard for guests to see as they entered the barn.
Mark chose the song “Luckiest” by Ben Folds for his first dance with Amber. “He had said for several years before we got engaged that he wanted that to be our wedding song,” says the bride.
A real canoe mounted on two tree trunks served as the drink cooler. The couple filled the boat with ice, beer, soda, water, milk and juices. “It was a huge hit,” says Amber. “People kept saying, ‘Mark and Amber had a boatload of beer at their wedding!’”
The couple asked guests to write messages on postcards of Colorado landmarks and nature scenes. “We read the postcards on the plane on our way to the honeymoon, which was so fun!” says the bride.
Amber wanted a pretty but casual gown, like the one she spotted at J. Crew, covered in pale gold polka dots. It wasn’t available, but she luckily found her size in the same dress on eBay! The design inspired the polka dot details in much of the wedding décor.
Mason Jar Centerpieces
Bright green mums were loosely gathered in Mason jars and hung from shepherd’s hooks along the aisle.
A brief rain shower delayed the outdoor ceremony by about 15 minutes, but when it stopped a rainbow appeared over a field behind the barn where the ceremony was to be held. “It was completely magical,” says Amber.
The bride glued wood veneer to dark brown cardstock and loosely tied the pages of her DIY programs with baker’s twine.
Chartreuse shawls gave a fun pop of color to the bridesmaids’ espresso brown strapless Juliet dresses.