Like our we're-going-to-do-it-our-way ceremony, our reception wasn't at a hall with a DJ and the Electric Slide, but at a cabin overlooking the lakes and the 14ers. Us and several of our guests stayed in the large cabin on the slopes south of Twin Lakes, Colorado, and some party rentals, a lot of great decorations fashioned by our parents, lots of craft beer, and a crowd-sourced playlist transformed it to a reception venue with a view.
But while our great wedding party was getting everybody off the mountain and back to the cabin, Sarah and I were getting our post-wedding euphoria captured at the top of a ridge near Cottonwood Pass, overlooking the Collegiate Peaks.
Photo session complete, we joined the party in progress back in Twin Lakes. The beverage selection was from a shopping spree at a well-stocked Denver beer store and a trip to Elevation Beer Company in Poncha Springs, and the decorations, like those at the ceremony, were from some hard work by my dad and Sarah's mom. Double Diamond Chefs from Vail did some fantastic in-home catering, and Batter Cupcakes, also from Vail, delivered the dessert. It wasn't just a great reception, it was OUR kind of reception.
We can't thank our wonderful friends and family enough. It was a long way for almost everybody to travel, and we leaned on most of them to help with set-up and logistics. We had such a great group of people to celebrate with!
We have to especially thank our parents for all the work they put in to this. Sarah's mom BJ made the flower girl outfit, all the centerpieces and linens, and all the flower arrangements for both the ceremony and reception. My dad made the beautiful posts for the ceremony and the display stand for the cupcakes.
Sarah surprised me with the most touching gift - a beautiful engraved compass with the coordinates of our wedding on it. She knows me like no one else, and it was the perfect thing to commemorate our mountain wedding.
As the sun sank toward Mt. Massive, our parents and wedding party gave some truly touching speeches. I have to thank my brother for his delightfully snarky and hilarious speech!
Dan becomes an honorary physicist by osmosis.
Sarah becomes an honorary FLEO by osmosis.
After all that, why not some dancing? Sure, none of us can really dance. But there was a gazebo next to the cabin, and I'd spend several midnight shifts carefully curating a playlist and lining up a rental speaker, and darn it, I was going to use them.
Is this guy up for some dancing? With that tie, you'd better believe it!
Maid of honor Rebekah struts out to the dance floor
