Ryan and Caroline celebrated their unique small wedding on a sunny June day in Colorado at the Pines at Genesee, and everything from the details to the party was magical! Hot air balloons, cats, and some blue dancing shoes – this couple made sure to share their personal love story by incorporate it into their big day in the simplest ways.
First, a little background! The couple met during their freshman year at Carleton College in chilly Minnesota, when their paths would literally cross when they would journey from class to class. Before the end of their freshman year, they had started dating and have been together ever since!
When Ryan proposed, he invited Caroline to a CSA farm breakfast, which started at six in the morning (no thank you!). Since both of them love to sleep in, she nearly declined. Fortunately, he was so enthusiastic that she agreed to go with him. When they arrived, it turned out the farm was hosting hot air balloons and the couple took a sunrise flight over Boulder. He proposed midair with Caroline’s great-grandmother’s ring. Childhood dreams do come true!
As a part of their unique small wedding, they made sure their DIY card box reflected their special proposal. The couple designed it to be a miniature hot air balloon – cute and artistic! Their creativity showed throughout the rest of the wedding as well, from the groom’s polka-dot socks to the bride’s bright blue shoes to the kitty cake toppers, the couple’s personality was highlighted the entire day!
The other special touches on their big day came from family. Caroline walked down the aisle wearing a stunningly delicate necklace that her grandmother had received as a wedding gift and that her mother and sister wore at each of their weddings. She incorporated a second “something old” in her bouquet by using a handkerchief that has been handed down through her family for five generations as a wrap around the flower stems.
Before their emotional ceremony, Caroline and Ryan took some time to be with each other. Taking part in a modern wedding tradition, their first look was a tender moment. It was so easy to see how much they did truly love each other as they shared what had been inscribed on each other’s wedding bands – the bride wrote a surprise message to the groom and the groom did the same for the bride!
After their ceremony, the festivities took off! Because of the small size of their wedding, the party was filled with wonderful family and friend dancing moments! When it was time for the couple to leave the party and officially begin their lives as husband and wife, they were showered with sweetly-smelling lavender. They drove into the night in their bright blue car that had their names and wedding date written on it in gorgeous handwriting.
Their unique small wedding at the Pines of Genesee in the hills of Golden, Colorado provided so many touching moments and filled their special day with personal DIY details. It was a beautiful day for Ryan and Caroline to celebrate their love for each other!
