Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life and so navigating the planning process can be a daunting task. But no need to worry – just head out West to Colorado’s Flatirons for an unforgettable outdoor wedding with white boots, stunner shades, and warm sunshine all around! Whether you’re looking for some adventuring or just blissful relaxation surrounded by nature, this unique destination will definitely set the stage for a truly special event.
Logan and RJ decided to elope at Lost Gulch because their original wedding plans were spoiled by the pandemic. Their intimate ceremony was attended by their closest friends and family and streamed online. Unfortunately, RJ’s sisters and mother couldn’t attend the event, so Logan went out of her way to invite two of RJ’s best friends to surprise him and still make it feel special. They plan to host a full wedding at the house they will be buying in the next few months!
Logan and RJ’s first date involved a Phish Stream and a bunch of beers—and that sounds pretty awesome (Heather and I subbed Phish for an ice hockey game in Central Park for ours). We’re all about keeping it simple; it actually has been one of the silver linings. It has loosened the formalities of what can or should be done at weddings and invited a whole slew of thoughtful creativity. For instance, Logan decided to rock a pair of badass boots and white stunner shades and we were all about it! If you’re not doing what you wanna do when it comes to your wedding then what are you doing?!
From the Photographer: Driving by the Flatirons of Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado, will always remind me of one of the first weddings Heather and I photographed as Apollo Fields. I remember being so nervous that I was going to miss a shot or drop a piece of equipment; I remember watching in admiration as Heather wrangled people from their drinks for family formals—but perhaps most importantly—I remember the couple. They taught me the invaluable lesson that the better you know your couple the better you will be at telling their story. So as the Flatirons moved from our periphery into the rear view, we headed up to Flagstaff Mountain and I kept getting more and more excited to begin to tell the story of Logan and RJ.
How did you meet?
We met through a mutual friend when we were 18 years old, in front of the Ferris wheel at Phish Bader Field in 2012.
What is your proposal story?
RJ and I love to ski! He took me to highest peak of Arapahoe Basin to “take a picture.” He got on one knee, told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and he loved me. I kissed him, said “HOLY SHIT” when I saw the ring, and then threw my gloves at our friend who was filming to say “your both so stupid.” I said this because all I wanted to do was ski but they made me push myself over to this overlook and I complained the entire time. It all made sense once he got down on one knee. Happy to provide if you want to watch! We went with our photographer on the Loveland Pass, which connects i70 to Arapahoe Basin.
Tell us a little a bit about your wedding.
We planned to have a 200+ person wedding in August of 2020, but COVID happened. We were ready to be married. We were ready to be done with wedding planning. So we called off the big event, and chose to elope on Flagg Staff Mountain, which is the place where he asked me to be his girlfriend in 2013 before the 3 night Phish run at Dicks Sporting Goods Park. It felt like the perfect place to start the next phase of our lives, but this time we live here! And permanently now! We used the money from the wedding to purchase our first home in Evergreen in August 2021. I work for the Parks and Recreation Department of Evergreen, so we plan to rent the Lake House out for party with our friends and family in 2023.
Tell us about your attire choices.
I chopped up my wedding dress, found an EPIC pair of white boots and fun pair of shades. I wanted to feel and look like me on my wedding day, so I curled my hair and my little sister did my makeup. I asked for everyone to wear yummy fall colors and to feel beautiful. I genuine did not care about anything but marrying my best friend.
What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip?
We randomly surged on the cake. Designing it with the Phish logo was super fun, and felt like US. Before Covid, the wedding planning stuff was really hard on me. I genuinely feel like a weight was lifted when we chose to elope, and our wedding day ended up being far more authentic to us and our relationship. When we first started dating, we would joke about me being Leslie Know because my favorite thing to do was go to the Morristown Diner and order waffles. So spending the morning in the mountains and then having breakfast just felt like the perfect day, then Breck with the small crew was even more memorable.
What were your favorite parts of the day?
My favorite part of the day was after the day. My husband, his two best friends (Teddy + Willie), my best friends (Michele and Averi) and me drove up to Breckenridge. We spent the night playing board games, laughing, dancing, and just enjoying the time we had together. Teddy, Willie and Michele were no match to my sister, RJ and I in Salad Bowl, which is a charades type game.
Tell us about your wedding flowers.
They were from Whole Foods. We are not into spending a bunch of money on this that don’t last. RJ and I value experiences, and I LOVE WHOLE FOODS, plus their flowers are gorgeous.
Tell us about your wedding cake.
Also – My mom, Randi, took care of the cake – WHICH WAS EPIC! It was half formal boring wedding cake, and half Phish’s logo. So us <3
What did you do for favors?
We spent the most money on the cake, and I must tell you that the champagne cake from the Bakery Bakery is EPIC and almost tastes like a strawberry shortcake.
Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.
The night before, I got matching the dye sweatsuits for everyone. We all put them on to drive up to Breckenridge.
Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now?
Your day should reflect who you are and what you care about. We didn’t do a traditional ceremony, reception or really anything. We legit just signed a paper and exchanged rings then got breakfast. At first, we didn’t even want to invite anyone. Do what will make you happy and whatever feels most authentic to you! If you want to spend 10K on a cake, then do it! Live your life and advocate for yourself! Nobody is going to remember the day like you will.
What’s your biggest piece of advice for other couples planning a mountain wedding?
RJ and I are from Jersey. We essentially traded in the ocean for the mountains, and NEVER LOOKED BACK! We feel at peace in the mountains, whether we are hiking, skiing, or just taking some time to relax and clear our minds. Mountain Weddings can come with challenges. For example, at Flagstaff during COVID we could only gather in groups of 10 or less. My photographer and I were worried about fines, but I contacted their parks and recreation department to get approval and see if I needed a permit. Definitely work with your local Parks and Rec to sort out details like this.
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