1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Purple Wedding at The Pinecrest in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Tessa Tomkins, 24, a housewife, and Jesse Tomkins, 25, a special education teacher, met through mutual friends. After living together for a year, the

Tessa Tomkins, 24, a housewife, and Jesse Tomkins, 25, a special education teacher, met through mutual friends. After living together for a year, the couple took a vacation to Tessa's family’s vacation cottage in northern Michigan. Jesse proposed on the sandbar at Torch Lake. The couple exchanged vows in an adorable chapel a couple hundred feet from their reception venue both on the property at The Pinecrest in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The couple loved the beautiful exposed wood in the small church, and the raw, rustic feel it provided. The reception hall also had the exposed wood and a fireplace decorated with rock, so they chose to keep their decor minimum to enjoy its natural beauty. They wanted a rustic mountain wedding complete with pinecones and burlap, and the wood and rock added to the vibe. At the end of the night, they enjoyed forest-themed wedding cake and danced into the night. Although the wedding was rustic, the couple added a touch of romance with purple accents throughout the bouquets and linens. The couple honeymooned at Tessa’s parent’s cottage in northern Michigan, where Jesse originally proposed, and one of Tessa’s favorite spots.

Jesse proposed with a halo square-cut engagement ring and paired it with a simple diamond band.
Tessa wore an all lace wedding dress with cap sleeves and a low back from Something New Boutique. “I chose it because it was what I wanted and would fit well with our rustic theme,” she says.
Tessa carried a white peony bouquet accented with lavender, which were created by Secret Window Floral Studio.
Simple, Natural Bridal Look
Tessa and Jesse took a vacation to her family’s cottage in northern Michigan. “The second day we were there he wanted to go to Torch Lake and go to the sandbar,” Tessa says. “He kept rushing me that day, and I didn't understand why he was in such a hurry. When we got there we wandered away from the boats and he said he wanted to go swimming in the drop off area. He told me to wait for him while he went swimming. When we came up from diving down he told me he found a really cool rock and wanted to show me. He got down on one knee and told me how he felt about me and proposed.”
The bridesmaids wore forest green cocktail dresses in different styles from David’s Bridal. “So, all the dresses were different, which looked better than them all being the same because it fit each of my bridesmaids personality and style,” Tessa says. The groomsmen wore tan suits with green ties to match the bridesmaid dresses. “The suits weren't as formal as tuxes but it went well with our theme,” she says.
The groom wore a simple white rose decorated with lavender to match the bride’s bouquet.
The Pinecrest Wedding Venue
“We chose The Pinecrest in Colorado Springs,” Tessa says. “It is tucked away in the mountains and had a real rustic feel to it. We wanted a rustic wedding and the second we saw this place we knew it was where we wanted to get married. It also had an adorable chapel a few hundred feet up from it that was beautiful.”
Champagne, Green Hydrangea Ceremony Decor
Tessa and Jesse First Kiss
Tessa and Jesse Recessional
The brown paper escort cards were decorated with lavender and green ribbon and rustic pinecones to keep with the outdoor, mountain feel.
The Pinecrest Wedding Reception
Rustic Burlap Centerpieces
The bride’s mother made the burlap-wrapped vases for the centerpieces. They were filled with stephanotis, hydrangea and other wildflowers.
“Our wedding cake resembled a rustic tree that had leaves and branches coming out of it,” Tessa says. The top was decorated with a heart with the couple’s names inside.