Travel bloggers Kristi and Thomas have been all over the world but wanted to wed in a memorable destination that they hold near and dear to their hearts. For them, tying the knot in Vail, Colorado gave them the perfect opportunity to connect with nature in a place with both familiarity and breathtaking beauty.

“Many of my best memories come from Vail,” the bride says. “Since Tom and I first started dating, we’d go together in the winter and the summer, and we love it year round. We just couldn’t think of a better and more beautiful place to have our wedding.”

But not every wedding comes without its challenges. At first, the bride’s parents were not sold on the idea of traveling out of state for the occasion and were worried it might be too much to ask of guests. Kristi and Thomas made sure to respect the decisions of friends and family who could not attend and also held a post-destination wedding reception at home for those who still wanted to celebrate with them.

“For the couple of close friends and family members for whom the trip was a financial strain, we covered airfare and board so that they could be there. We factored it in as a wedding cost, and it was totally worth it,” the bride says.

Kristi describes her overall wedding planning experience as fairly easy because of her familiarity with the town, her vendors and especially, her wedding planner. Although she originally wanted to eliminate the cost of hiring a wedding planner, she later changed her mind and ultimately enlisted the help of an extra set of hands.

“I thought I could do it on my own. Now, that seems like the same logic behind giving myself a manicure; I can do it if I really have to, but it’s going to be unpleasant and messy in the end. Especially for a destination, you need someone to be there when you can’t and someone who’s familiar with the lay of the land,” the bride says.

Guest experience was also a priority for the couple, as they wanted to make sure their guests were comfortable and well taken care of. Before the wedding, Kristi and Thomas individually reached out to friends and family members in order to help make the travel planning process as easy for them as possible. 

Once they arrived, they were welcomed with a bag that included an itinerary, a map of town, advice for acclimating to the altitude, mints, Advil, chapstick and custom water bottles with the wedding location and date. 

Although the couple splurged on key components such as travel expenses and pre- and post-wedding meals, Kristi says they saved on ceremony and venue décor.

“If you’ve got a generic reception hall, you have to really fill it with flowers and fancy lighting to create the right mood and atmosphere. When you’re in nature and surrounded by beauty, all you have to do is add a few highlights. You’re not creating the beauty, just framing it,” the bride says.

Thomas and Kristi’s Colorado wedding was a picture-perfect representation of their love for each other that celebrated the beginning of their life together as husband and wife.

Vendors: Photographer: Sarah Roshan Photography; Wedding Planner: Pink Champagne Events; Ceremony/Reception Site: Vail Wedding Deck & Game Creek Club; Florist: Bloom Flower Shop; Cake: Mountain Flour; Hair & Makeup: Beauty on Location Studio; Gown Designer: Waverly; Video: Larisa Graham Films; Other Vendors: Greatime DJ; Officiant: Leon Littlebird