Rugged, Yet Romantic, Telluride Wedding | Sierra and Katherine

Sierra and Katherine’s Telluride wedding at The Observatory at Alta Lakes was a rugged, yet romantic, day. The couple loves the outdoors and traveling, so they wanted to reflect that in the venue they chose. The Observatory at Alta Lakes was the perfect place for them to tie the knot as it is a remote venue in the mountains that is accessible only by a five mile dirt road which takes about 45 minutes to drive. We loved getting to help Sierra and Katherine bring their outdoor mountain wedding to life!

Katherine and Sierra wanted a venue that highlighted the beauty of Telluride and The Observatory at Alta Lakes was perfect for that. Since it was such a remote location, we definitely ran into a few hiccups along the way. Everything had to be brought in – restrooms, dance floor, tenting, lighting, etc. The generator for the restrooms didn’t work for about an hour. The original cake melted on the way up from Denver, so Sierra’s mom had to find a local baker to remake it. The wrong rentals were originally delivered. A lot of small fires had to be put out which is expected with a venue that has minimal amenities and whose main focus is natural beauty around it. We were able to fix everything and for the most part, Sierra and Katherine had no idea!

Partners kissing after wedding ceremony | McArthur Weddings and Events

Complementary Wedding Dresses

Sierra and Katherine wore similar dresses by accident and they ended up complementing each other perfectly. They wore form fitting gowns with long lace sleeves and a deep V neckline. Sierra actually tried on the dress that Katherine ended up choosing, luckily her mom was able to talk her out of getting that one so that they didn’t have the same dress! Sierra and Katherine both carried hand-tied bouquets full of white flowers and greenery to create a classic, earthy look.

Black vow books with green velvet ring boxes on top of silver platter | McArthur Weddings and Events

Two brides standing in front of lake facing away from each other before first look at Telluride wedding | McArthur Weddings and Events

Lakeside Ceremony at Telluride Wedding

The ceremony for the Telluride wedding took place in front of the lake with a beautiful mountain backdrop. They kept the ceremony decor very minimal because they wanted to highlight the beautiful location. Their golden retriever, River, was a big part of their wedding day. River jumped in the lake about 10 minutes before she had to walk down the aisle, so she absolutely loved the venue! River was a little wet, but she made it down the aisle!

Dark wooden unplugged ceremony sign at Telluride wedding | Lakeside ceremony at The Observatory at Alta Lakes | McArthur Weddings and Events

Golden retriever wearing floral collar at wedding ceremony | McArthur Weddings and Events

Nature-Inspired Telluride Wedding Decor

Katherine and Sierra kept the reception decor simple and drew inspiration from the scenery around them. They chose classic white plates with green napkins and black paper goods and silverware. They opted for greenery running down the middle of the tables with white flowers sprinkled throughout and white candles. It all created an intimate, romantic feel at the reception that was perfect for the Telluride wedding.

Green napkins with black flatware, white candles, and greenery at wedding reception | McArthur Weddings and Events

Green napkins with black paper goods and black flatware | McArthur Weddings and Events

Unique Reception Details

The couple incorporated their dog River throughout the reception as well. She signed their marriage license and they also had a signature drink name after her. They also had a dog cake topper and they made it look like River took a bite out of the cake. For their guest book, they had guests sign a shot ski which they then used during the reception. Since the elevation was so high, they provided oxygen and blankets for guests as it got chilly up in the mountains. Everyone had so much fun on the dance floor and had a blast celebrating Katherine and Sierra.

Couple petting their dog after their ceremony | McArthur Weddings and Events

Dog signing couple's marriage certificate | dog's paw print on marriage certificate | McArthur Weddings and Events

We love planning weddings at unique locations! If you envision getting married at a remote location like Katherine and Sierra, we would love to meet with you to discuss your vision.