(Photography by Carol Cardwell Photography)
Cassandra & Chris of
Austin, TX
Married September 23, 2006 •
Durango, Colorado
A snowstorm dumped four feet of snow at our ceremony/reception location the day before the wedding. Needless to say, we had a last minute venue change. Instead of marrying at the top of the mountain, Dante’s Peak, we moved the ceremony to a lower elevation location (Boyce Lake) and moved the reception to the base of the mountain at Hoody’s Camp Lodge.
How long to plan wedding: One year.
The planning
Fortunately my best friend, my Mom, planned 80% of the wedding. We both used the internet a lot. She was doing the planning from Arizona while I was helping out from Texas.
My mom used the Southwest Colorado Wedding Guide exclusively to find all the vendors needed for the wedding/reception. She made one trip to Durango, her first, four months prior to the wedding to meet personally with all the vendors she had interviewed by phone. What a wonderful team she put together—little did we know that they would save the day for us.
Difficulties in planning a Destination Wedding
My family in Arizona, the groom’s family in California, myself and my husband-to- be in Texas, and the wedding in Durango, CO!! Lots of e-mails and phone calls.
Number of Guests: 50.
The Décor
Jackie Mischker, who we hired as an independent wedding co-coordinator, did the most incredible job of transforming Hoody’s from a western bar/restaurant into a beautiful fall wedding reception room with one days notice. She did this incredible job with twinkle lights and champagne tulle, bunches of silk fall leaves and lots of candles.
The Flowers
Pink, red and maroon roses.
The Favors
Gift baskets filled with items from Durango; coffee, tea and Durango mugs and a map of the city of Durango. These were given out at the Rehearsal Dinner.
The wedding reception favors were from Honeyville, located in Durango. Honey with a honey dipper and jams with a small gold spoon.
Special Touches
1. I had always dreamed of riding in a horse & carriage on my wedding day – so we found one. Dave and Tracy Harwood of Prairiefire Percherons supplied the most beautiful team of white horses pulling an all white carriage. It was a dream realized.
2. It wasn’t planned but because the weather prior to the wedding day had been so bad the roads into the forest at Boyce Lake were not in the best shape for the shuttles we had arranged to transport all the guest to the wedding site. Dave Harwood suggested transporting all the guests by horse and carriage. It worked beautifully and was the hit of the day for our guests!
3. A six minute photo montage of Chris and I growing up was put together and shown at the start of the reception. This was very special.
4. My Uncle, who is also my godfather, presided over the ceremony.
Best thing about the Day
Chris & I took a private ride in the horse & carriage before the ceremony – it was a special time.
What would you do Different
Have a more definitive back-up plan for an outdoor wedding in September in Durango.
The Rehearsal Dinner
Chris’s parents put together a great western themed buffet dinner at Hoody’s. Everything right down to the “cowboy boot” centerpieces filled with beautiful fall flowers was enjoyed by all.
My Advice
1. Be extremely organized
2. Take photos before the ceremony.
Honeymoon Locale: Costa Rica
RECOMMENDED WEDDING PROS We can not say enough good things about all the vendors listed. When the venue had to be moved at the last minute they all pulled together and gave 200% to make our wedding day everything we hoped it would be. Photographer: Carol Cardwell Photography. Carol was awesome. Venue: Durango Mountain Resort:
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