A Shabby Chic Backyard Wedding at a Private Residence in Centennial, Colorado

Ashley Konkel (23 and owner of Aka Tea LLC) and Evan Olson (23 and a financial analyst) met through church. Ashley loves Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains because of the memories she made their with her late grandmother, so Evan took her snow shoeing where her and her grandma used to go at Bear Lake Trail. “After snow shoeing through tall, beautiful trees and iced-over waterfalls, he had me take a picture,” Ashley says. “Right as I was about to take the picture, he put the ring in front of the camera, and I ended up taking a picture with the mountains in the background and a silver, leaf-encircled diamond ring in the middle of it. I was surprised by it, and after a few seconds it finally registered what was really happening. Then, I was shocked to find he was on his knees, in snow shoes, on a frozen lake, proposing to me. And, of course, I had to say yes to my best friend!” Ashley’s grandparents always dreamed of having a wedding in their backyard, and after her grandmother passed away, she knew that’s where she would get married. Inspired by her grandmother’s vintage style and favorite color, blue, Ashley and Evan had a romantic, rustic, shabby chic wedding. Ashley entered the ceremony through a tree-arch path and the couple exchanged vows in the rain. At the beginning of the reception, Evan, his brothers and father sang “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John. “At first, I thought it would be cheesy, but with their beautiful a capella voices and the twinkle from the hanging lights, people's smiles and laughter, it turned out to be very romantic and memorable.” The reception was decorated with many wooden DIY details such as the wood trunk cake stand, guest book coasters and bird table numbers. Colorado Catering Company served pork loin, chicken, scallop potatoes, asparagus and a big salad. “The food was mouth watering and the guests definitely enjoyed the food more than we did because we were so in the moment with everything else that was going on,” Ashley says. “Everyone that was in the wedding gave a speech and every speech was full of deep love, tears and endless laughter.” Ashley and Evan sent guests home with forget-me-not flower seeds because they represent external love, but also because it was Ashley’s grandma’s favorite flower and because they are blue.