The entire aesthetic of the weekend was shaped by the setting.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Zach and I are both creative and practical in different ways, which makes us a really good team. I am an architectural designer, and architecture is very much a family affair — both of my parents and both of my sisters are architects. I grew up in Denver and now work at my parents’ firm.
Zach grew up outside of Minneapolis and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Kansas, where we met. We always joke that he is the one who ruins my beautiful designs with practical engineering questions, but in reality, our different ways of thinking balance each other really well. Whether it is a renovation, a project around the house, or planning a wedding, we each bring something different to the table.
After graduating from KU, we both lived in Kansas City for a while — not together, but just a block away from each other. A few months after I started my first job as an architectural designer, Zach’s company offered to relocate him to Denver. It felt like the perfect opportunity, so we rented an apartment together and moved to my hometown.
Since then, we have built a life here with our dog, surrounded by family and all the little adventures that come with making a home together.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Zach and I were introduced by a mutual friend at The Wagon Wheel, a well-known bar in Lawrence, Kansas, while we were both attending the University of Kansas. There was an immediate connection between us. A few weeks after we met, I found out I would be spending the next nine months studying abroad in Paris. We decided not to officially start dating before I left, but we stayed close the entire time — talking almost every day and never really moving on from each other. When I returned to the U.S., we made it official on our first date back. We’ve been together ever since, since 2016.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
The entire aesthetic of the weekend was shaped by the setting. We followed in the footsteps of my two older sisters and chose to get married at my family’s mountain house and property. My parents, who are both architects in Denver, designed and built the house about 25 years ago, and it has become a meaningful place for our family.
The property sits within an aspen grove with 360-degree views of untouched mountain landscape, so we wanted the scenery to be the main character. Because the location already had so much natural beauty and sentimental value, we kept the design approach minimal and modern. The goal was to create a setting that felt intentional and elevated, but still quiet enough to let the landscape speak for itself.
Another element that became very influential to the overall aesthetic was the glamping experience. Because we were asking guests to travel to such a remote location, and the nearest town with hotels is about a 30-minute drive away, we wanted to offer an on-site option so our guests could spend the full weekend with us. At the same time, we wanted it to feel more elevated and comfortable than standard camping. The tents themselves became a major visual element and ended up influencing many of our other design decisions throughout the weekend.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
One of the things I enjoyed most about planning was how personal the process felt. Coming from a family of architects, we naturally wanted to be very hands-on with the design, layout, and overall feeling of the weekend. We loved thinking through the details and creating something that felt true to us and to the place.
My biggest lesson, though, is that planning the wedding and running the wedding are two very different things. We didn’t hire a day-of coordinator because we wanted to maintain control of the vision and felt confident managing the planning ourselves. But on the actual day, when the weather turned rainy and unexpectedly cold, we really could have used someone whose sole job was to handle logistics, troubleshoot problems, and take pressure off our family and friends.
In the end, that challenge became one of the most meaningful parts of the weekend. Our loved ones showed up for us in such a big way — moving tables, adjusting plans, and doing whatever needed to be done. It reminded us that a wedding is not just about the perfect plan coming together, but about the people who surround you.
My advice to couples would be: have a plan, but don’t let the plan become more important than the experience. Things will go wrong, or at least differently than expected. The bride and groom set the tone. If you can laugh, stay present, and keep choosing joy, your guests will feel that too. The day really is only as good as you make it.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
We were so lucky to work with such incredible vendors, many of whom went above and beyond to bring the weekend together.
Our photographer, Tippy Jordan, was absolutely incredible. She made us feel comfortable and understood, while also offering clear professional guidance when we needed it. I truly cannot imagine our wedding without her.
Our caterer, Byron, is a close family friend and has catered many events for us before, but this wedding was an especially big undertaking: three full days of meals, snacks, and bar service. He and his team exceeded every expectation. They stayed on-site, worked incredibly long hours, and somehow made everything feel effortless. The food and drinks were amazing, and the whole team was professional, kind, and so fun to have around.
Wild Productions, which provided the glamping tents, also deserves a huge mention. Creating an on-site glamping experience in such a remote location required a lot of coordination, and they knocked it out of the park.
We also loved working with Thumpin’, our band. I cannot recommend a live band enough, and they were amazing. They don’t rotate performers like some wedding bands, so you know exactly who you’re getting, and they were helpful throughout the planning process. Zach is a real avid live music fan, so having live music was a must for us. Zach has gone to a major festival every year since high school.
Lastly, Mulberries Cake Shop really saved the day after our original cake provider fell through. We asked them to create a six-foot-long sheet cake, and they immediately embraced the idea. They were wonderful to work with, and the cake was incredible — people still ask me about it.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
For our wedding bands, we both wanted something really simple and timeless, so we chose gold cigar bands, similar to the wedding bands both of our parents have worn. I love that they feel classic and understated, and it’s also sweet that ours match.
For my engagement ring, I was very specific about what I wanted. I’m particular about what I wear, and because this is something I’ll have for the rest of my life, I knew it needed to feel exactly right. Zach and I looked at inspiration together and combined elements from a few rings we loved. From there, Zach had it custom-made, which made it feel even more special and personal
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
Someone advised us early in the planning process to choose three things we did not want to compromise on, and that ended up being some of the best advice we received. For us, those priorities were food, music, and photography.
Having those three things clearly defined made the rest of the decision-making process so much easier. Whenever we had to make budget or planning choices, we could come back to those priorities and remind ourselves what mattered most to us. In the end, we were so happy we invested in all three. The food was incredible, the music brought so much energy to the night, and the photography captured the weekend in such a beautiful and meaningful way.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
I loved the first look; it was nice getting to catch up with him after a day apart, and we loved that we got to enjoy our cocktail hour and talk with our guests because we had taken most of the portraits already. And I also loved walking down the aisle; in no way did the first look take away from that moment. We were both full of tears all over again. It was so special.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
For us, being married is about deepening a partnership we had already been building for years. We had a house, a dog, and so much shared history, so I honestly wasn’t sure marriage would feel very different. But it has. Ever since getting engaged and then married, it feels like our relationship has settled into an even stronger sense of commitment. We feel more solidified as life partners and even more like a team.
We didn’t include any special rituals in the ceremony because adding something just for tradition’s sake didn’t feel authentic to us. Instead, the most meaningful part was making sure the ceremony itself felt personal. We knew we wanted someone to officiate who truly knew both of us, rather than someone who was simply stepping into the role for the day.
We asked my cousin Alix to officiate, and it was one of the best decisions we made. The three of us became really close during the pandemic, when we were in a little pod together, so she understood our relationship in a very real way. She took the responsibility so seriously — meeting with us, asking for stories, and thoughtfully shaping the whole ceremony. She made it feel intimate, funny, emotional, and completely true to us. I truly cannot imagine the day without her.
LOCATION Private Residence BRIDE Olivia, @oh_brown GROOM Zachary, @zachmaeser PHOTOGRAPHER Tippy Jordan, @tippyjordan STYLIST & PLANNER By the bride FLORIST Bride’s sister CELEBRANT Bride’s cousin, Alix Benear Shad, @alixbenear ENTERTAINMENT Ceremony & Reception Band – Thumpin’, @thumpinband HIRE Glamping, Party Tents, Bathrooms, & Furniture – Wild Productions, @wildproductionsusa; Furniture, Linens, & Tableware – Colorado Party Rentals, @copartyrentals CATERING Chef Byron of Borel’s Colorado Kitchen CAKE Mulberries Cake Shop, @mulberries.cakes STATIONERY Wordshop Paperie, @wordshopdenver SIGNAGE Bride’s sister RINGS BC Clark OTHER SIGNIFICANT JEWELLERY We borrowed all of our jewellery from loved ones BRIDE’S WEDDING DRESS Vagabond Bridal, @vagabond_bridal from a&bé bridal shop, @aandbebridalshop BRIDE’S STYLIST Lucas BRIDE’S SHOES Manolo Blahnik, @manoloblahnik BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Veil – Borrowed from bride’s cousin; Jewelry – Borrowed from bride’s sister and aunt
MAKEUP By the bride, with the help of MAKEUP BY KELLI ANNE app
HAIR Joelie Serrano, @joelie_serrano GROOM’S SUIT Suitsupply, @suitsupply GROOM’S SHOES Santoni, @santoniofficial GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Watch – Bulova, @bulova BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Own dresses GIFT REGISTRY BC Clark; Williams Sonoma, @williamssonoma
