A Rustic, Whimsical Wedding at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Tabernash, Colorado

Kristen Hopkins (28 and a physician with child neurology) and Sean Arredondo (28 and a physician with surgeries) met in medical school.They didn’t get more serious until they were into their residency programs. They went on an intimate winter getaway in Winter Park, Colorado, for vacation. “We were going on all sorts of nice dinners and even a horse-drawn sleigh ride for two with a hint of wedding talk. Then, one morning after snowmobiling, I found myself standing with a mascara wand in one hand, face half down, probably in a questionable state of half-dress, when Sean walked into the bathroom in ski pants and got down on one knee. Three feet away from a toiler, mind you. Then we went to the sulfur hot springs to celebrate.” Kristen is from Denver and Sean is from San Antonio. However, they love going to Winter Park, Colorado for vacation. Having wined and dined at Devil’s Thumb Ranch’s restaurant before, and adoring the delicious food, gorgeous mountain view and cozy atmosphere, they knew that’s where they wanted to get married. They had a winter wedding in January in the Broad Axe Barn with the doors open so they could swoon over the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and remember the enormity of the commitment they were making. Afterwards, they had a glamorous, romantic reception decorated with aspen trees from Kristen’s parents’ front yard, tons of string lights and a roaring fire in the cobblestone fireplace. They decorated with plum, mint, peach and gold throughout their whimsical, rustic accents. The bride wore a champagne Marisa dress with a white fur stole and the bridesmaids wore plum Love Lane dresses with faux fox fur stoles. "In retrospect, we looked Game of Thrones-esque according to many of our guests," Kristen says. “We greatly appreciate the comparison as quite a compliment!” The couple enjoyed a seated dinner of potato truffle bisque, choice of elk strip loin with currant and juniper sauce or Rocky Mountain trout with bacon relish by Devil’s Thumb Ranch and ended the night dancing to Jammin’ DJs. “There were a lot of oxygen-deprived Texans getting wild on the dance floor.”