Aspen Zen Elegance
Little Nell- Mountaintop Wedding Deck
Another great shot from Brinton Studios!
I didn't meet Lauren and Scott until their rehearsal the night before their wedding! Of course we had talked a lot via email and the phone. I had FedEx'd them cake samples and emailed photos of floral mock ups. Still I imagine it had to be nerve wracking for her doing this long distance, although she seemed pretty relaxed the whole time! I know that I would be a mess....again that perfectionist coming out in me....not being there to know the exact details would make me crazy....guess I'm in the right job! :) She was so thrilled with how everything turned out!
Before the ceremony Lauren requested a Rekki Master come and provide positive energy for the couple and the guests as they boarded the gondola. Then Lauren and Scott enjoyed a beautiful ride in the gondola on the way to the ceremony at the top of Aspen Mountain. It was a Jewish ceremony performed by a family friend who flew in for the wedding. Gorgeous ketubah!
Barb with Custom Design Floral drove the flowers up from Denver...brave florist, they have a scary 45 minute drive up the back of the mountain. I thought I was lucky getting to take the gondola, but read on!
There was no bridal party, just the couple, the rabbi and the gorgeous chuppah made of manzanita branches and white dendrobium orchids at the altar.
As the ceremony went on we could see this big storm heading our way, you could see it coming across the valley. At one point Lauren actually asked him to move the ceremony along a bit faster (he couldn't see what was coming!). As soon as Scott stomped on the glass & they kissed, the rain started down and Lauren was out of there ! :) Good timing!
Towards the end of the ceremony, I left my assistant at the top so that I could ride down the gondola to confirm all the setup for the lunch reception was done....my timing was not so good! The storm was hitting and the ride down the gondola was quite bouncy...I'm not one for heights, much less bouncy, windy stormy heights! UGH! I called my husband to keep me company on this ride down the hill in what I called my death egg (don't those gondolas look like glass eggs). I obviously made it down safely, but the rest of the party was still on their way down and the storm was getting worse! At one point they almost closed the gondola, with the bride and groom still at the top taking pictures. Good thing they decided to do a few pics after the luncheon instead!
The guests enjoyed a fabulous multi-course luncheon at the Little Nell, www.littlenell.com, with fabulous wines paired with each course.
I loved the contemporary little zen touches, even the tables were named after chakras. For escort cards we had black rocks with the names and the table chakra. We had really fabulous centerpieces with more manzanita, orchids, sand, black rocks and succulents (the cactus style plants). The green linens and chivari chairs added to the elegant sophisticated setting.
Even the fireplace was decorated to match.
Believe it or not, I drove the cake up from Denver as well from one of my favorite bakeries, The Makery, it traveled so well!
A great day, and fun gondola survival story :)