Brittany & James || San Sophia Overlook

The Proposal

of

Brittany & James

JC and I met in unexpected ways long before we knew any better. JC and I initially met in the ambulance bay of our family’s local emergency room. My grandfather was just given a short number of days to live and was out of state, so he was transferred home and arrived at our local hospital in a large RV, ready to say his final goodbyes. JC dashed out the hospital doors, unsure what to anticipate from this RV and a bunch of upset family members in the ambulance bay. A few months later, while visiting my grandfather in the hospital, I received a call informing me that my father was in the emergency room and that I should go downstairs to meet him.
JC appeared not long after I entered my father’s room. He was also my father’s doctor on this particular day. We didn’t start dating for another year and a half, but I recall seeing him. The Lord provided us with these brief glimpses into our future. He offered us hope for something better to come. JC and I dated for 2.5 years before he proposed to me in Telluride, Colorado, on a ski holiday in February.
The day after I got engaged, I went on my first black diamond ski run, “The Plunge.” We like to think I did my first black diamond the day after he proposed with a white diamond. We had been engaged for 5 months and married on August 1st at the San Sophia Overlook. We married on the ski run “See Forever” at the ski resort, where we engaged in February. We said our vows on a mountain amid a rainstorm with 7 family members. The sky cleared, the sun came out, a double rainbow appeared, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was performed during a shower.

The Wedding

of

Brittany & James

Leading up to our wedding, many plans began to fall apart. August is the rainy season in Telluride, but we were told it was usually spotty and easily avoided. We decided to take the risk of a quickly planned wedding in August. We arrived in Telluride a week before the wedding. It was beautiful and such a fantastic time, but it rained. A lot! We started getting nervous, so a couple days before the wedding, we called the planner and asked about moving the wedding to earlier in the day, when it was typically less rainy. She was amazing and offered to change whatever we wanted to make us most comfortable with the weather. Ultimately, we decided to trust the process and see how the weather treated us at our original wedding time. Around that same time, we discovered JC’s brother (his best man) and JC’s sister-in-law (my bridesmaid) had COVID-19. They would not be able to travel to attend the wedding. We continued with plans despite the sad news. The day of rehearsal arrived, and we were so excited for the final few family members and close friends to join us in Telluride. The rehearsal was beautiful, and we continued to be more and more excited. Unfortunately, one of my closest friends (and my bridesmaid) got altitude sickness at rehearsal dinner. She had to leave later that night to go to a lower altitude. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, our wedding day arrived, and JC and I couldn’t have been happier to get married. It was overcast all day, and we were afraid the rain would close the gondola to the wedding location on the top of the mountain. Thankfully our crew got up the mountain, the décor was set, and we even had time for a first look before the storm. We could take shelter in a yurt while waiting for the storm to pass.

We were given the signal that we may have a few short minutes of sunlight coming soon, so we lined up for the processional. As my dad walked me down the aisle, the sun appeared. The ceremony was beautiful as our family played an intimate role in our day, walking me down the aisle, reading scripture, or standing beside us. After the ceremony, JC and I had our first dance, and we participated in Father-Daughter and Mother-Son dances. JC and I went on a photo/video adventure session throughout Telluride following family photos. We saw new parts of the town that means so much to us, and we are unbelievably thankful for the time we had to soak in the little moments of our wedding day during this adventure. We met our family at a local restaurant (221 South Oak), where we had an intimate reception dinner, cut the cake, indulged in a champagne toast, and watched as two families became one.

Brittany’s

Bridal & Formal

Experience

Many plans started to fall apart in the weeks leading up to our wedding. Telluride’s rainy season is August, although we were informed it was usually sporadic and easily avoided. We decided to take the risk of a last-minute August wedding.
We landed in Telluride about a week before the wedding. Although it rained, it was gorgeous, and we had a great time. A lot! We started growing anxious, so a few days before the wedding, we called the coordinator and asked about shifting the ceremony to earlier in the day when it was usually less rainy. She was terrific and offered to modify whatever we needed to be more comfortable with the weather. Finally, we decided to trust the process and see how the weather treated us on our wedding day.
We identified COVID-19 in JC’s brother (his best man) and JC’s sister-in-law (my bridesmaid) at the same time. They would be unable to travel to the wedding. Despite the sad news, we continued with our plans. The day of rehearsal approached, and we couldn’t wait for the last few family members and close friends to arrive in Telluride.
The rehearsal was lovely, and we were growing increasingly enthusiastic. Unfortunately, one of my best friends (a bridesmaid) became ill with altitude sickness at the rehearsal dinner. Later that night, she had to leave to go to a lower altitude. Despite these unfavorable conditions, our wedding day arrived, and JC and I couldn’t have been more excited to tie the knot. We were worried that rain would shut down the gondola to the wedding destination at the top of the mountain.
Thankfully, our crew arrived on schedule, the décor was in place, and we even had time for a first look before the storm. We could seek cover in a yurt till the storm passed.
We were given the signal that there would be a few minutes of sunlight shortly, so we prepared for the processional. Sunlight began to shine as my father led me down the aisle. Our family took an intimate role on our wedding day, escorting me down the aisle, reciting scripture, or standing behind us. JC and I had our first dance and Father-Daughter and Mother-Son dances after the ceremony.
JC and I went on a photo/video adventure session throughout Telluride following family photos. We explored new places in town that mean a lot to us, and we are so grateful for the time we got to take in the little moments of our wedding day during our adventure. We gathered our family at a local restaurant (221 South Oak), where we had an intimate celebration supper, cut the cake, drank champagne, and witnessed two families become one.