1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Ranch Wedding at Midnight Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Kara, 29, a commercial property relator, and Jason, 31, a machine shop owner, met in high school. The couple exchanged vows in Steamboat Springs, Colo

Kara, 29, a commercial property relator, and Jason, 31, a machine shop owner, met in high school. The couple exchanged vows in Steamboat Springs, Colorado–one of their favorite vacation spots. They completed their fun, rustic wedding with burlap details and coral accents.

Kara wore an engagement ring from Shane Company in Denver. “I wanted something that had a lot of bling for not a lot of cost,” she says. Jason, on the other hand, designed and made his own wedding band. “Jason owns a machine shop and has always been interested in carbon fiber and metal work,” Kara says. “He had made a ring a few years back for a friend, so he knew he wanted to make his own. It turned out great!”
Kara wore a Maggie Sottero Boston gown from Bridal Collections in Centennial, Colorado. “I picked this dress because it fit me so well and fit in my rustic theme,” Kara says. “The scalloped lace especially reminded me of a rustic pattern. It was the one immediately.”
Casual Coral, Navy Wedding Party
Kara let each of her bridesmaids pick their own dresses from wherever they wanted. She just told them it had to be cocktail length and coral. “The first time I saw all the dresses in the same room was on our wedding day,” Kara says. “It turned out perfect and those dresses made it easy to put standing order to my bridesmaids.”
Kara carried dahlias, astilbe, lisianthus, tulips, freesia, larkspur, tweedia and seeded eucalyptus wrapped in an ivory satin ribbon. “I didn't give too much direction to the florist, and I am glad I didn't, because what she put together was better than what I could have ever dreamed up on my own,” Kara says. “I gave her a color palette and our rustic theme and she really created a beautiful part of our wedding.”
Dahlia, Astilbe, Tweedia Bridesmaid Bouquets
“With the rustic ranch, I decided cowboy boots would be fitting and they were such an interesting addition to everyone's outfits,” Kara says.
The groom and his groomsmen wore jeans, cowboy boots, plaid button-ups and tan or navy vests.
“I wanted something simple and manly that the men wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear,” Kara says. The boutonnieres were small white freesias completed with a burlap ribbon.
Midnight Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
“This location was chosen because it held a lot of significance for us,” Kara says. Every year Kara and Jason would plan trips to the Hahn’s Peak area to camp and ride dirt bikes.
Rustic Mason Jar, Burlap Aisle Decor
The flower girls wore mint green lace dresses with a coral ribbon around the waistline and jean jackets. The ring bearer wore cowboy boots, jeans, a white button-up, a navy tie and a vest.
An Outdoor Ceremony at Midnight Ranch in Colorado
Kara and Jason First Kiss
Kara and Jason took their first steps to “Good Feeling” by Flo Rida.
White Tented Reception in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Kara and Jason had guests sign wishing stones for their guest book. “I liked the idea of something that we could always have and look at to be reminded of that special day and the people that came to celebrate with us,” Kara says. The stones were placed in a clear vase that Kara and Jason now have near their fireplace at home.
Wooden Wedding Signs
Flower, Mason Jar Centerpieces
“For dinner, we chose a pig roast, which was flawlessly executed by our caterer and enjoyed by all,” Kara says. “I splurged on actual china and flatware rented from a local party rental service and not the paper plates and napkins traditionally served with a pig roast, and I was glad I did. It gave the dinner a bit more formality and elegance.”
The favors were packets of wildflower seeds that Kara bought for 20 cents each from American Meadows. “I thought the wildflower seeds fit the rustic landscape in our beautiful setting,” Kara says. “I used raffia to package them and added a self-made tag printed and stamped with the same decorations as our wedding invitations had–the two black silhouette birds.”
Kara and Jason enjoyed a three-tier pink buttercream wedding cake. “My parents were tasked with bringing the cake three and a half hours up through windy roads, and I knew they were nervous about it arriving in its perfection to the ranch,” Kara says. “Don't worry, it was!”
Kara and Jason danced to one of Jason’s favorite songs, “Ain't That A Kick In The Head” by Dean Martin.
“We had planned to exit our wedding ceremony and take some pictures rowing across the small lake that was on the property in a canoe,” Kara says. “It ended up being fairly cold that afternoon and we pretty much got in and right out of that boat. It was pretty frightening getting in a wobbly canoe with my dress knowing that one small misstep could cause a lot of problems!”