Leah and Jared rented an entire romantic ghost town for a weekend, and invited their closest friends and family to say their "I dos" under a rustic log alter beautifully coated with a foot of snow.
Nestled deep in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies, Dunton Hot Springs Resort is a romantic venue, set in an extraordinary alpine valley. This perfectly restored ghost town thrives on contradictions; hand-hewn log cabins exquisitely furnished, a life-worn saloon serving food of startling quality, lung torturing trails followed by pampering massages, sensuous hot springs beneath shimmering snow banks.
A little Q & A:
HWI: How, when, where did you first meet?
Leah: Jared and I actually first met at work in Houston TX, but we didn’t really get to know each other until we both played on the company kickball team. We really bonded over our love of cheap beer, bar food, and terribly corny jokes.
HWI: How did he propose?
Leah: The proposal happened on my birthday while Jared and I were vacationing in upstate New York in Tarrytown.
HWI: Okay … but more importantly … tell us about that RING! It’s gorgeous.
Leah: My engagement ring is an emerald, which is also my birthstone. Jared had the ring made by a local jeweler (Deustch & Deustch) after realizing no one really sells solitaire emerald rings. An emerald just felt right, more “me”.
Since I had an emerald engagement ring, I knew I wanted a diamond wedding band. We had it custom made by the same jeweler. I knew for daily wear after the wedding, I would mostly just wear the wedding band, so I wanted it to be simple, but also interesting.
HWI: What was your vision for the wedding?
Leah: At first a January wedding in Colorado was a tough sell to both of our parents, but I love winter weddings. I love all of the snow and how beautiful it looks. I went with lots of white and then just natural décor. Nothing too fussy.
VENDORLUST
All the vendors Leah and Jared used for their beautiful "retreat to the mountains" style wedding.
Photography //
Brooke Pavel Photography, loves telling a story and evoking emotion through images.
Florist // April’s Garden, creates beautiful arrangements that
are sustainably grown too.
Wedding Planner //
Belle of the Ball, will keep you stress free.
DJ and Entertainment //
The Porchlights will have your guests dancing all night. And when the bride walks down
the aisle to the game of
thrones theme song, you know the entertainment is great.
Cake // Made by Bread, they will make a cake that is almost too
gorgeous to eat.
Venue // Dunton Hot Springs Resort, a natural beauty where everyone can getaway.
BOTTOMS UP!
We couldn’t help getting
inspired by Leah and
Jared’s winter wedding
with it’s bear skin rugs
and tumblers full of whiskey.
While you’re trying to
stay cozy this winter,
try our very own …
CRANBERRY
WHISKEY SMASH
5 – 7 fresh cranberries
3/4 oz ginger liqueur or
ginger beer/ale
2 oz whiskey or bourbon
1 oz lemon juice
crushed ice
lemon peel or rosemary
sprig to garnish
In a cocktail shaker, muddle cranberries with ginger liqueur. Add the whiskey and lemon juice. Cover and give it a couple dry shakes (no ice).
Pour into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish
with a lemon peel or sprig of rosemary.