Clare and Kobe found each other the modern way, on Hinge, in 2021, at a time when neither was looking for anything permanent. Kobe was still playing football at Colorado School of Mines in Golden; Clare had recently graduated from the University of Denver and was living downtown. “Neither of us expected the date to turn into forever,” Clare says. Her first impression of him: “a cute southern man with a mullet.” His first impression of her: “She could clearly hang with five football players alone after she entered the door and asked for a beer.”

They hit the ground running: ski days, trips to Aspen, introductions to each other’s families. A year in, they moved into a small basement apartment in Denver with Clare’s rescue dog. Then, two and a half years after that first date, Kobe proposed in San Diego on a trip with friends. Clare was expecting nothing more than a quick look at the sunset before dinner. “It was completely unexpected,” she says. “I had thought it would happen the following summer.” He had secretly flown in her best friend to witness the moment.

Why They Chose Aspen, Colorado for Their Destination Wedding

When it came to the wedding, the location was almost a foregone conclusion. Both Clare and Kobe are from other parts of the country, and their guest list was scattered just as widely. “We knew everyone we wanted at our wedding was going to have to travel regardless of where it was,” Clare explains, “so why not pick a beautiful place like Aspen?” The Colorado mountain town had become their place over the years, a steady backdrop for the adventures they kept choosing together. “We wanted all our guests to feel the same magic and adventure that we feel every time we go to Aspen.”

They found their venue the way some of the best decisions get made: on instinct, under imperfect conditions. Clare’s mom toured McCabe Ranch with the planning team during a full blizzard, visibility nearly zero. They put down the deposit anyway. “We didn’t actually see our own venue till a couple of months after we submitted the deposit,” Clare says. When they finally visited months later, it confirmed everything. “The view was stunning, the barn was beautiful, and we could really picture our day.”

How They Designed a Western Chic Ranch Wedding Aesthetic

Planning began some 20 months out, and from early Zoom calls with their planner, Juls Sharpley of Juls Sharpley Events, a clear aesthetic emerged. “We had always wanted a western-style ranch wedding, but also wanted an elevated feel to the whole event,” Clare says. Together, they landed on the term “western chic,” a phrase that ended up governing every decision across what became a three-day celebration. “When planning a destination wedding, we really loved having three days of events, including our wedding day,” Clare reflects. “Each day was a chance to see people we love, party, and have such a good time.”

The florals, designed by Mountain Flowers of Aspen, grew naturally from there. Clare and Kobe wanted a combination of Colorado wildflowers and larger, traditional blooms, and the color palette followed from what was seasonally available. The stationery made a quiet appearance throughout the weekend in a way guests noticed: the reception and afterparty each featured custom dance floors that pulled design elements directly from the wedding invitations. “So many of our guests remembered our invitations because of the custom vinyl on the floor,” Clare says.

Inside Their Intimate Mountain Wedding Ceremony at McCabe Ranch

Clare wore a gown by Sarah Seven, sourced through Lovely Bride; Kobe dressed in Isaia. Both exchanged their vows in boots (Tecovas and Lucchese, of course), a detail in keeping with the spirit of the day.

The ceremony itself was deliberately kept short, with the couple’s focus squarely on the exchange of vows before the people they love. They handed the ceremony script to Clare’s brother, who served as officiant, with essentially no guardrails. “He interviewed us both separately with a handful of questions about our relationship, our opinions on love, and how we viewed each other,” Clare says. “It was a very personal ceremony that really emphasized our love for each other.”

Inside the Ranch Wedding Reception

Following the ceremony, guests moved into a cocktail hour outfitted with lounge furniture from House of Wilde, a deliberate design choice that invited people to settle in rather than scatter. “This created a very welcoming space for us to convene with our guests prior to the party,” Clare says. The reception that followed carried the western chic theme through every element, with catering by Aspen Elevated Catering and music by Mannequin Entertainment. Because McCabe Ranch is a working ranch, live animals roamed the property throughout the day, one of the details that made the weekend feel genuinely singular. “It truly was a one-of-a-kind weekend,” Clare says. “I wish we could do it all over again.”

Vendors: Planning: Juls Sharpley Events; Photographer: Megan Wynn Photography; Venue: McCabe Ranch; Band: Mannequin Entertainment; DJ: DJ Simone Says; Flowers: Mountain Flowers of Aspen; Video: Films About Love; Caterer: Aspen Elevated Catering; Furniture, Chandeliers, Tableware, and Bar Pieces: House of Wilde and Little Mad Events; Hair & Makeup: G.R Hair & Makeup; Ceremony Dress: Sarah Seven from Lovely Bride; Reception/After Party Dress: Donna Beth Creations; Suit: Isaia; Cowboy Boots: Tecovas and Lucchese