Greeting the New Year In Earth’s Northernmost Settlement

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Mountaintop Real Wedding

Waiting is hard. But to wait for the love of your life to show up, especially when you’re a professional wedding photographer for over 15 years, now that is hard. What got Melissa through it? Her faith in God and an unrelenting trust that someone like Bruce would eventually come into her life.

Online dating hadn’t really worked, meeting friends-of-friends turned out to be a bust and being an entrepreneur doesn’t exactly produce a huge work place dating pool. So, when she took a leap of faith and got on Christian Mingle, it turned out to be a game changer. To say their love was fast and furious is an understatement. Bruce had written a letter to his future wife on his online profile, drawing interest from Melissa immediately. A few bits of correspondence sparked “a two-and-a-half week marathon of phone calls and video exchanges,” until he flew out to Phoenix to meet her in person.

“We planned to spend three days together and I cleared my calendar, despite it being the middle of busy season,” recalls Melissa. That three-day trip was stretched out to a week, then another and then another! “Those three weeks were amazing and helpful to me in discovering his heart and what he is about.”

Several months later, Bruce, with the help of friends and family, staged an elaborate scavenger hunt proposal and popped the question.

The couple resided in two different states and Melissa’s busy season for her business is during the nicest weather in Arizona, so a summer wedding in Colorado fit the bill perfectly.

Every year, Melissa attends an event with Forge Ministry called Deep Camp in Colorado, so the couple made sure to schedule the wedding around the event. In part, to make sure their ministry friends could attend and also so some of their guests could attend the camp with them post W-day. “Yep, we spent our first week of married life at a camp with our family and friends! It was an incredible way to get extra quality time with loved ones,” recalls Melissa.

Via chairlift, 120 guests traveled to Granby Ranch in Colorado to witness a touching, personal vow exchange, officiated by friend and Forge founder, Dwight Robertson. “During the ceremony, our bridal party and immediate families prayed over us. I just loved that moment,” says Melissa.

After the tear-jerking ceremony, guests headed back down the mountain to a dinner under the open sky. During the reception, a few sprinkles and a sudden storm rolled in. It lasted only a few minutes, but resulted in a gorgeous, full rainbow.

Isn’t that just a perfect metaphor for marriage and life? Without the storms, we wouldn’t have the rainbows.

Vendor List: Wedding Planner: Kayla with Some Like It Classic; Venue: Granby Ranch; Photographer: Daniel Kim; Florist/Decor: Sarah's Garden; Bridal Dress & Veil Boutique: Emma and Grace Bridal; Bridesmaids Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo; Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Bella Bridesmaids Scottsdale; Hair: Emily Hughes; Makeup: Arielle Rondeau; Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar; Groom's Suit: Magro Clothing; Groomsmen Suits: The Black Tux; Ties: vKnit; Stationery: Electric Dreams, Design & Roots and Rain Creative; Musicians: Mountain City Music; Officiant: Dwight Robertson with Forge; Vow Booklets: Art + Alexander; Rentals & Lighting: Event Rents; Linens: La Tavola; Cake: Megan Joy Cakes; S'mores: Ruze Cake House; Videographer: Sula Studios; Photo Booth: Rendezbooth; Ribbons: FrouFrou Chic

Partly Cloudy tomorrow!

With a high of 43F and a low of 33F.

Nova Scotia Styled Shoot

This stunning coastal French Chateau “Harbour Mist” on the maritime province of Nova Scotia, Canada was the inspiration for this wedding design with pretty French details and colors that mimicked the estate's architecture. The home's gray cedar shingles, the coastline's bluish-grey stone that has been smoothed by years of the tide washing over it, and mussel and clam shells found along the shoreline, all determined the color palette for this wedding.

To complement the smoky blues and grays, the bride wore an appliquéd blush Monique Lhuillier wedding gown and blush Jimmy Choo heels. Her art deco diamond ring from Walton’s Antique Jewelry looked lovely placed in a vintage ring box with gold fleur de lis on the lid. Bridesmaids wore a smokey blue Watters dress with a blush underlay. Long flowing strands of a hand-dyed ribbon by Cocoon Silk Ribbon were tied around the bouquets to catch the ocean breezes.

Weathered wood guest tables sprinkled the plush green lawn and boasted gathered floral centerpieces by Thorne & Thistle, including native blooms, such as white lilac and Canada Mayflower, along with blush pink peonies, roses and foraged greenery. Guests were mesmerized with 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a view of the estate, orchard and hillside on the other.

Calligraphy place cards by Gracefully Made Art were tucked into blue mussel shells at each guest’s seat. The custom wedding invitation, calligraphy and illustration of the estate were all created by Anna Lora Whitley of Silt & Pine. The Bride and Groom chose to handwrite their vows in a gray velvet Vow book by Elmo Paper Stories.

Maple syrup in a bottle shaped like the maple leaf, also seen on the Canadian flag, were parting gifts for guests and used the next morning at a brunch given by the groom’s family for out-of-town guests. It was the loveliest of days.

Vendors: Photographer & Creative Direction: Heather Durham; Floral & Event Design: Lisa Smith Thorne; Local Flower Farmer + Floral Design Assistant: Denise Stockdale; Rentals + Props + Styling: Joanna with Staged for Upsell; Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Ivory & White Boutique; Bridesmaids Dress: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaids (Nashville); Hair + Makeup: Kerri Bunn; Talent: City Models; Models: Maggie Sutherland & Kyle Hynick; Venue Location: Harbour Mist in Nova Scotia, Canada; Venue Inquiries: Stay Over Sea; Estate Rings: Walton's Jewelry; Custom Invitation + Calligraphy: Silt & Pine; Vow Book: Elmo Paperstories; Calligraphy on Labels: Gracefully Made Art; Silk Ribbon: Cocoon Silk Ribbon

Sunny tomorrow!

With a high of 36F and a low of 27F.