Vail, Colorado may be most famous for its luxurious ski resorts, but its beauty in the fall is just as showstopping! Annaleisa and Chris met on Bumble in 2017 and instantly bonded over fun topics like their favorite dinosaurs and bucket list travel destinations. On their very first date, they knew they had something special. These years of love and happiness culminated in a stunning bohemian wedding that needs to be seen to be believed!
The beautiful grounds of Camp Hale would be the site of their nuptials. At 9,200 feet above sea level, the mountain views are unlike any other! The couple imagined a wedding that gave off Autumnal Festival vibes, with a dash of boho influence. Think terracottas, seasonal florals, and out-of-the-box rings. And the best part? Annaleisa and Chris planned it themselves! The couple owns a wedding photography and videography business called Meraki Wedding Photography, making them uniquely qualified to plan a wedding as stellar as this. But alas, they can’t photograph their own wedding! Instead, they trusted the talented Abbey Rice with this responsibility – and the results were just wonderful.
A Stroke of Luck
Fun Fact: The Autumn of 2021 was the longest fall season Colorado has experienced in nearly 100 years! This allowed Chris and Annaleisa the unique opportunity to truly experience seasonal colors that would typically be shrouded by winter at this time of year.
We love receiving submissions from fellow wedding professionals because it gives such a unique perspective on how the pros put their own twist on trends! Calligrapher Scarlet Gilia Creative made these chic terracotta invites stand out for this one-of-a-kind couple.
Annaleisa’s ring set is too stunning! Her salt and pepper diamond can be found on Jewelluxe. Looking for something without a diamond? We’ve got 37 suggestions for you!
Time for the girls to pop some champagne! (and if you are looking for robes for your gals, we got you!)
Annaleisa absolutely stunned in her boho gown from Lovers Society! We can’t get enough of that lace pattern! Chris looked just as handsome in a dapper red velvet suit. We love when grooms are daring with their wedding day style!
Say Hello to Fall
Let the fall festivities begin! We couldn’t think of a better backdrop to celebrate love than these orange-covered mountains. Not to mention how seamlessly the arch blends into the background. Urban Canyon Floristry absolutely killed it!
In Colorado, it is SO hard to plan a wedding with the Fall leaves, so we added plenty of color assuming the leaves would be far off the trees by the time of our wedding.
A little rainy weather didn’t stop these guests from being excited to see their favorite people get married.
The bride and groom were both teary-eyed during their ceremony. Reading vows to your new spouse is such an emotional experience!
Let’s hear it for the bride and groom!
Our advice to brides planning now is to add your story and personality into the day. Especially the ceremony! We're a photography and videography team and many couples find a ceremony script online and don't change a thing. Often you hear guests are the least excited for the ceremony, so we knew we needed to keep it fun and personal. Your guests will LOVE that you add unique touches that no one else could have as a part of your day. If possible, ask a friend or family member to officiate too.
This is the look of a happily married man!
The planning and design of the day was honestly so fun. Being in the wedding industry ourselves, so many of our vendors are close friends and people we’ve worked with many times. It made the day so special not only to be with vendors we love, but vendors who know and love each other!
The wedding day wouldn’t be complete without Annaleisa and Chris’ beloved pup! Look at that face!
Mountain views are amazing, but they’re even better with a beautiful lake in front of it. The newlywed couple looked fantastic both in person and in their water reflection.
Annaleisa’s bouquet of seasonal flowers and colors was the perfect complement to her beautiful wedding day look.
Love On the Record
Aside from embracing fall and its colors, another big theme of this wedding was music! On the evening of their first date, Chris and Annaleisa returned to her apartment to listen to some records. The two shared their first kiss as Billy Joel’s “Stranger” crooned in the background. Their first dance was to “She’s Always a Woman to Me” – a song off the same album they listened to when sharing their legendary first kiss.
Fun Fact #2! These record table numbers were a fun (and incredibly adorable) DIY project!
We wanted the table numbers to represent some of our favorite music we listen to and sing together, from classics to modern favorites we see in concerts. It was a fun project sitting down and picking our favorite albums and lyrics.
This super simple terracotta cake from Cāk the Bakery looks too delicious to resist!
Congratulations to Annaleisa and Chris on your beautiful wedding! The whole team at GWS wishes you well!
photography: Abbey Rice Photo // venue name: Camp Hale, Vail, Colorado, USA // planning: Sugar Willow Events // florals: Urban Canyon Floristry // wedding dress: Lovers Society // wedding dress boutique: Lovely Bride Denver // bride's shoes: Mezcalero // bride's ring: Jewel Luxe // bridesmaid dresses: Azazie // getting ready robes: Hayden Harlow PR // hair stylist: Wedlocks // makeup artist: Wedlocks // groom attire: Express // groom's ring: Jewel Fire Diamonds // videography: Klassey Productions // paper goods: Scarlet Gilia Creative // cake: Cāk The Bakery // music: Diamond Empire // photo booth: Mugshot Photobooth
That wedding is screaming autumn. Wonderful rich hues throughout, lots of fun, a great-looking wedding. Nice one, well done all.