McKenzie and Ryan // Maroon Bells Amphitheater Wedding
Describe your wedding in a few sentences:
We decided on a small, intimate celebration by choosing a destination wedding. Although we live in Eau Claire, WI, we traveled to the Aspen, CO area for our special day. Our ceremony took place at the breathtaking Maroon Bells Amphitheatre, truly the most stunning place we’ve ever seen. When people say, “pictures don’t do it justice,” this is exactly the kind of place they mean. Its beauty felt divine, like a glimpse of God’s artwork on earth.
We were joined by about 20 of our closest friends along with our immediate family. After the ceremony, everyone gathered at the Crestwood Condominiums in Snowmass Village, CO, conveniently where all our guests were staying. They had the perfect little event space for us to continue celebrating together.
“Its beauty felt divine, like a glimpse of God’s artwork on earth.”
Who loved you guys well on your wedding day and how did they do it?
My Matron of Honor truly went above and beyond in the most meaningful ways. She stayed with me the night before the wedding in our condo, making sure I felt calm and supported. She even coordinated with her husband to bring us coffee first thing in the morning. She and a few of our friends made breakfast for all of us girlfriends to enjoy together while I got my hair and makeup done. She gave me such a special portrait of the two of us too. Additionally, since I was the only one getting ready at that moment, having everyone’s full attention made me feel incredibly loved and celebrated, like the most special person in the world. For Ryan, family surrounded him the morning of, letting him relax and play his favorite card game together.
What did you two love about your wedding day?
What made our wedding truly unique and what we loved about it was how deeply it reflected where we feel closest to the Lord, through the beauty of His creation. We’ve always been drawn to the mountains and often say that if we didn’t prioritize living near family, we’d move there without hesitation. Choosing Maroon Bells for our ceremony allowed us to be in the mountains, surrounded by our favorite people, all experiencing that aweinspiring beauty together. It felt like worship simply standing there.
Another unique aspect was how we approached our wedding party. Because almost everyone we would have naturally included as bridesmaids or groomsmen were already our wedding guests, we decided to keep things simple and have only a Matron of Honor and a Best Man stand with us. We loved this choice. It made so many decisions easier and removed a lot of pressure, for us and for our friends.
Most importantly, it allowed all of our closest people to just be present and enjoy the day with us. Instead of assigning roles, we invited the individuals who mean the most to us, the same people who would have stood beside us in a more traditional wedding, to simply be part of the celebration in a relaxed, meaningful way. That simplicity and intentionality made our wedding feel uniquely “us.”
Who did you two love well on your wedding day? How did you do it?
One meaningful way we tried to love our guests in return was through the custom watercolor portraits we gave them as favors. We hired an artist to create live watercolor sketches throughout the evening, and guests could take home as many as they wanted. It felt personal, thoughtful, and unique. Something they could treasure long after the wedding day. And honestly, it’s been such a joy to visit friends and see those portraits displayed in their homes. It’s a little reminder that the love shared that day continues to ripple outward.
How did you honor your parents or family?
Family is at the heart of who we are, so we knew our wedding day had to reflect that in a genuine and meaningful way. One of the most intentional choices we made was the music we selected for our parents’ dances. These moments were especially significant to us because both of our families have faced cancer in the most recent few years. Ryan’s mom bravely battled breast cancer, and McKenzie’s dad fought pancreatic cancer.
Having them both healthy, present, and able to dance with us on our wedding day was something we never took for granted.
Is there anything else that you feel like would be helpful and/or encouraging for engaged couples to know?
Wedding planning is a lot, no matter the size of your celebration. Whether you’re hosting 400 people or just 20, there will be moments when things feel busy, decisions pile up, and the whole process becomes overwhelming. When that happens, the most grounding thing you can do is remind yourself of your WHY. At the end of the day, your wedding is only one day. Your marriage is the rest of your life.
Be intentional during this season. Remember that you’re not simply preparing for an event; you’re preparing your heart for a Godcentered marriage. Make choices, set boundaries, and hold priorities that reflect the kind of husband and wife you want to become. And the truth is, with how much happens during this season, it takes real, thoughtful effort to slow down and prepare your spirit for that commitment. But it’s worth it because the foundation you build now will bless your marriage long after the wedding day has passed.
Wedding Location: Maroon Bells Amphitheatre and Snowmass Village, CO
Photographer Name: Homeland Photography https://www.homelandphotography.co/
Other Vendors:
Videography - Klassey Productions - https://klasseyproductions.com/
Event Host - Aspen Vail Weddings - https://www.aspenvailweddings.com/
Lodging & Reception Venue - Crestwood Condominiums - https://thecrestwood.com/
Hair and Makeup - Full Circle Aspen - https://www.fullcircleaspen.com/bridal-services
Transportation - Blazing Adventures - https://www.blazingadventures.com/wedding-transportation/
Flowers - Lunaria Flowers - https://lunariaflowers.shop
Ceremony Cross - Unity Cross - https://www.unitycross.com/
Live Wedding Painting and Watercolor - Genuine Beautiful Art - https://www.genuinebeautifulart.com/