This Rain-Soaked Ranch Wedding In Colorado Was an Autumnal Dream Come True

Do you remember the 21st night of September? For Spencer and Curtis, it was a night they’ll never forget.

With dreams of an outdoor ceremony surrounded by sweeping mountains and western sunshine, Spencer and Curtis planned their wedding for September in Carbondale, Colorado. However, the forecast had other ideas. The 21st of September ended up being one of the rainiest days of the year….an anomaly for Colorado, but an unexpected romantic twist for the couple!

From kisses in the pouring rain to a cozy soundtrack of raindrops, the celebration was an autumnal dream come true, and photographer Lauren VanDame captured all the romantic details. Let’s dive into this romantic rain-soaked ranch wedding! ⛰️💛

A Dreamy September Day

Starting off strong, we LOVE these minimalist wedding invitations from Goods Gang. They set the mood for the entire celebration: sleek, modern, and totally timeless.

Keeping with the timeless vibes, Spencer opted for simple makeup and a laid-back wedding hairstyle. Loving the effortless look of those loose waves!

Consider this your sign to have a first look with your bridesmaids! The reaction of this bridal party is EVERYTHING.

For his wedding day look, Curtis kept it classic with a sleek black tuxedo.

“Curtis had already owned his custom tux and I begged him to wear it because who doesn’t love their man in a tux!” says Spencer. We couldn’t agree more!

The groomsmen followed suit with matching black tuxedos, bow ties, and loafers. When it comes to groomsmen suits, it doesn’t get much cooler than that.

A Rainy and Romantic First Look

For Spencer and Curtis, this day was years in the making — so they weren’t going to let a little rain dampen the mood. After being introduced through mutual friends (and then matching on Hinge), the couple dated long distance for six years before getting engaged. And now on a rainy day in September, they were ready to make it official!

“The rain created a different sort of magic that you don’t find on a sunny day,” says photographer Lauren VanDame.

From the chic umbrellas to the moody mountain views, this first look was as romantic as they come.

A moment of appreciation for Spencer’s sunny yellow bouquet! 💛

Yellow is one of our top wedding color trends for 2025, and we love how the vibrant color adds a dose of sunshine to the rainy day.

Obsessed with ALL of these looks! “I went dress shopping with two girlfriends in LA who made me try on every dress style under the sun (highly recommend). I did not end up with what I thought I would, but when I put on THE dress (Isobel by Alex Perry), I knew that was the one,” says Spencer.

To complement her timeless gown, Spencer’s crew rocked stunning mismatched bridesmaid dresses in a chic earthy color palette. So gorgeous with the natural scenery!

An Earthy Outdoor Ceremony

Spencer and Curtis embraced the western vibes of Colorado with their venue, tying the knot at the rustic Old Thompson Barn at River Valley Ranch.

The setting was also the inspiration for their outdoor ceremony. “Taylor Tracy Ward brought their design vision to life in the most amazing way, blending organic textures, colors, and materials seamlessly with the Colorado scenery,” says VanDame.

We’re especially digging the earthy autumnal vibes of these floral arrangements from Marked by Alex. If you’re looking for more fall wedding inspo, check out our complete list of ideas here!

When your mom is your “something blue”! We love this navy mother of the bride dress worn by Spencer’s mother — such a perfect color for a fall wedding.

Cheers to the official Mr. and Mrs.!

The best way to celebrate your newlywed status? A well-deserved signature cocktail!

For our fellow mixologists, don’t miss our round-up of unique cocktail ideas for your big day.

Have we gushed about Spencer’s wedding shoes yet? They add such a modern and trendy touch to her classic look…and we found a similar pair here!

A Modern-Meets-Rustic Reception

“The ceremony location was then flipped into the most stunning and romantic reception space,” explains VanDame. “Half the guests dined outside, while the other half dined inside of the historic Old Thompson Barn.”

The modern-meets-rustic theme continued with this minimalist table decor, featuring a neutral color palette and earthy textures.

With elegant tapered candles and simple floral stems, these centerpieces are proof that sometimes less really is more. Check out more of our favorite wedding centerpiece ideas here!

Love these minimalist seating chart ideas! Simple, but SO effective.

Gourmet catering from House and Howell and cozy round reception table layouts gave the entire reception a warm, family dinner feeling.

“After dinner, the guests danced the night away inside the barn — the band kicked off the dance floor appropriately singing ‘September’ by Earth, Wind and Fire,” says VanDame.

“From the band to the décor, we made sure every detail felt meaningful and authentic to us,” shares Spencer. “Ultimately, it was about celebrating our journey together in a way that felt uniquely ours.”

Another unique touch to their celebration? This whimsical two-tier cake from Coppelia Cake Design! With bright flowers and abstract frosting designs, it’s a wedding-ready twist on the chaos cakes trend.

Get more ideas for your dream wedding cake here!

To end the night, Spencer changed into this iconic fringe dress from Cult Gaia — aka, the perfect after-party dress!

“With no formal send off and wanting to hold onto every moment, the two spent every last moment late into the night with their guests, while the rain outside created music of its own,” says VanDame.

Congratulations Spencer + Curtis on your dreamy fall wedding! We loved every earthy, rain-soaked detail. Best wishes from all of us here at GWS! 🏔