A Rustic Fall Wedding at Purg
Rebecca & Matt | September 29th
From the bride…
We wanted a wedding to celebrate who we are as a couple, as well as individuals. Having our wedding at Purgatory Resort allowed us to celebrate our marriage in the mountains that have shaped us into who we are today. The resort had everything we were looking for in a wedding venue, no shortages of stunning views and incredible scenery. We knew Durango would offer our out-of-town guests a multitude of activities to round out their travels.
THE STYLE
I’ve always loved the rustic touches that are found throughout the Southwest, and fall is my favorite season. We were fortunate enough to be able to utilize much of the local vegetation in our décor – aspen leaves, pine tree stumps, and oak leaves. I’ve also never been one for over-the-top frill, so having little touches of elegance intermixed with the rustic feel of the Southwest was what we aimed for when deciding the ceremony and reception feel.
The bridal bouquet had white roses and hydrangeas, with two red roses placed as accents within the bouquet. My grandmother, who passed away several years ago, was a rose enthusiast. This was my way of honoring her presence in my life at our wedding.
THE DAY OF
On the morning of our wedding day, some family and family friends hosted a pre-wedding brunch. It was nice for Matt and I to spend time with friends and family in a casual setting before the excitement of the day began.
THE CEREMONY
Our ceremony took place at Engineer Meadow with Engineer Mountain framed by the aspens and evergreens. For the bridal procession, we played “All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar, which set everything off on a fun, upbeat note.
We’ll treasure forever having our dogs accompany us as we concluded the ceremony.
THE RECEPTION
Our reception at Purge’s restaurant had a rustic yet elegant feel. The room was filled with aspen stumps topped with candles. Red and yellow aspen branches with evergreen arrangements adorned the tables. We loved seeing our diverse group of guests sharing cigars around the fire. Watching everyone’s dance moves was highly entertaining.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
My dad passed away unexpectedly a month before the wedding. I was on the fence about what to do for this part of the reception, and it hit me about a week after he passed that this would be a wonderful opportunity to honor his memory. I picked two songs by artists that he loved (Led Zeppelin and The Beatles) and invited our guests to join me for a group dance. It was a great way to remember David and kick off the rest of the evening. The night ended with a small group of us singing “Friends in Low Places,” we will never forget that moment.
ADVICE
Make time to have fun and be with those you love, don’t stress the little things. If something goes wrong, it will only make the day more memorable.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Venue, Caterer & Lodging: Purgatory Resort
Photographer: Ginger Moose Photography