Elegant, epic, and magical might not be the first words that come to mind when hearing the phrase “backyard wedding”; but Kat and Michael’s intimate Colorado Springs wedding was all of those things! The couple opted to have the wedding at Michael’s parent’s home which is absolutely beautiful and has epic views of Pikes Peak.  They had their closest friends and family (including their two dogs!) in attendance on a perfect August evening.

When I got to the house, family and friends were finishing set up on the ceremony area while Kat was getting ready inside. The first thing I noticed were the flowers. They were amazing. Light pink, bright pink, and white they were so healthy and vibrant. An impressive feat here in the dryness of Colorado. Even more amazing is that Michael’s dad grew them all himself! They were absolutely beautiful and added so much to the ceremony space. As I headed up the deck stairs, I caught a glimpse of the view from the house- Pikes Peak clear in the distance. Many actual venues don’t even have a view that spectacular! The days leading up to Kat and Michael’s wedding day were extremely smokey, sometimes the mountains weren’t even visible. Miraculously the smoke cleared enough by the end of the week that the mountains, while still blue and hazy, could be seen.

Kat and Michael got ready separately with the help of their two pups and wedding party. They opted to do a first look which was such a special way for them to have a moment alone before the ceremony began. One of the best things about small weddings is how involved family gets to be. Michael’s sister played violin as everyone walked down the aisle, Kat’s brother officiated, and of course, the dogs walked Michael down the aisle and celebrated the first kiss.

The couple loves the outdoors and adventure, so it was only right to incorporate that into their wedding day. After the ceremony and family photos, the couple, wedding party, and dogs headed to a nearby open space for a short hike. We hiked up to the top of a rock formation that overlooked the entire city of Colorado Springs. The guys brought beer and everyone toasted at the top. And then, through the clouds, came the most unexpected golden sunrays. We all squealed with excitement and took full advantage of the unexpected perfect weather we had. If you’ve never watched a sunset on top of the world, I highly recommend it- especially on your wedding day.

After our adventure it was back to the house for dinner, dances, toasts, and mini cupcakes. Fairy lights were strung all across the deck, making the flowers and bright purple napkins glow and glasses sparkle. I love how much color was incorporated into their day! From the guys’ bow ties and girls’ bouquets to the napkins and ribbons tied to the chairs, there were so many vibrant wonderful colors. Everyone enjoyed the catered dinner from Buffalo Gals before the couple fed each other mini cupcakes. Anyone else think of Kevin from the Office when they see mini cupcakes? Then after their wedding party gave toasts, Michael and Kat finished out the night with first dances. The sky was a velvety midnight and the fairy lights shined overhead. It was epic, magical, and most special of evenings.