A Romantic Meadow Wedding at Cottonwood Glen at Kiowa Creek in Bennett, Colorado

Brianna Moore (22 and a student) and Dakota Spellman (24 and a civil engineer)  were inspired by the idea of a romantic forest setting for their elegant, natural nuptials. When the bride and groom found out their original venue had closed mere months before their wedding day, family and friends pulled together to build the venue of the couple’s dreams. The ceremony site, tucked away in a lush, cottonwood-lined meadow, was accented with soft florals. 

The family commissioned an Amish craftsman to construct 12-foot-tall cathedral window frames, which were used as an altar backdrop to give the outdoor space a church feel. “Truly, the venue that love built,” Brianna says. After the ceremony, guests transitioned to the patio to enjoy cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres and custom blended beverages. For the reception, wood tables and chairs, florals, ferns, fruits and soft candlelight gave this outdoor room a romantic ambiance. Hand-painted elements adorned the invitation suite, wedding cake and even a canvas at the reception. A live painter was on hand to capture the event. “It was entertainment for the guests as well as a wonderful keepsake,” Brianna says.