Retro, Poem-Inspired, A-Frame Cabin Elopement in Idaho Springs, CO | Rachel + Austin
The night Rachel and Austin first met at a downtown bar in Chicago, Rachel had a vivid dream where she wrote a poem about Austin. When she woke up, she wrote that poem down.
Their elopement day is a reflection of that first encounter, their lives up until their elopement day and, of course, that poem. When Stevie (lead designer) first met with Rachel and Austin she knew right away that their partnership in planning together would be a good one.
Stevie is a poet herself and our team is especially inspired by humans that are vulnerable and open about who they are. Rachel and Austin were just that, and it was an absolute honor to craft a day based on their story.
The poem Rachel wrote was hand written on the napkins of their table design. The colors mentioned in the poem - yellow chartreuse and blue - are incorporated throughout the design of the day, in the stationery and flowers. And the drink that started it all - which the poem references and was drunk throughout their first date - was mixed as their "unity cocktail" during their ceremony.
Rachel and Austin have a deep love for music, concerts and fashion. We incorporated punk-band orange into the design in subtle areas and balanced the powerful colors with black accents. Rachel wore vintage items from iconic designers like Alexander McQueen, reflecting her career in the fashion industry.
Though currently living together in Nashville, they chose to elope in Idaho Springs, Colorado at an A-frame cabin Airbnb tucked in the mountains, only an hour drive from downtown Denver. They both love experiencing new cities and wanted their day to be shared between just the two of them. Colorado seemed to be the perfect place to escape.
We incorporated a surprise itinerary into their day, a service we offer to couples who are down for some fun and surprises that fit their hobbies and interests! As the planner, we took hints from all their favorite things to do and crafted an adventure around downtown Denver the morning of their elopement. They didn’t know what they would be doing till the morning of their elopement when we handed them a list.
Here's what they did:
Coffee and breakfast at Crema Coffee House
Tour of the Denver Botanic Gardens
Got matching tattoos at Dedication Tattoo
Perused a vintage store called Goldmine Vintage
Rachel and Austin got into their attire together and also self-solemnized, meaning they didn’t have an officiant present at the elopement, they married themselves! They mixed the cocktail they had on their first date during the ceremony and shared a first dance to This Must Be The Place by The Talking Heads.
Afterwards, they shared a charcuterie board from So Damn Gouda at a table we designed just for them. It featured custom napkins with Rachel’s poem printed, hand-painted menus, handmade ceramic cups from artist Studio Arhoj, a hand cut abstract hanging installation and a poppy-filled floral arrangement.
After their ceremony, first dance, app hour and portrait session, we arranged a private car to take them to a surprise dinner at Wildflower in the Lower Highlands neighborhood of Denver. We had worked with the restaurant staff beforehand to make the dining experience intimate and engaging. Rachel and Austin told us it was one of the best dining experiences they'd ever had!
Rachel and Austin took their polaroid camera with them throughout the day - documenting their experiences just the two of them. We hired Heathery Jackson Photography to document the details of their day at the Airbnb and take portraits of the two of them.
One of our favorite things about Rachel and Austin’s elopement was that they got matching tattoos on the morning of their day. If you look close, you can see a bandage on Rachel's wrist from where she got her tattoo.
Before they started taking portraits Heather, their photographer, asked Rachel if she wanted to remove the bandage because it would be in all the photos. Rachel said nope, she didn't mind the bandage being in the photos. The “imperfection,” as some would call it, was perfect because it captured THEM in the present moment.
Wedding and elopement days aren't about perfection. They're about embracing every aspect of you and your partner - bandages and all.
Ready to make your day show-stopping? Send us a note HERE.
Photo: @heatherjacksonphotography
Designer + Planner: @wildlycollective
Venue: @staywithhideaway
Florals: @wildlycollective
Rentals: @hazelgroverentals + @wildlycollective
Tablecloth: @latavolalinen
Stationery: @wildlycollective
Charcuterie: @sodamngouda
Jacket & Pants: @bonobos
Shirt: @ted_baker
Shoes: @thefryecompany
Dress: @alexandermcqueen via @therealreal
Earrings: @dior via @queenvin.archive
Veil: @am_faulkner