“Garren and I have known each other since kindergarten! We both grew up in a suburb of Denver and ended up in the same kindergarten class. I moved schools when we were young and ended up reaching out to Garren when we were sophomores in high school! Ever since March of 2017 we have been inseparable. We reconnected and it felt like we had never missed a day since kindergarten. We ended up going to different colleges (for about a semester ahaha) – Garren ended up going to Montana State University in Bozeman while I went to CU Boulder. I found myself visiting Garren as much as I could, not necessarily just because I missed Garren, but I fell in love with Montana. There is such an indescribable level of peace we have both found here and I knew the first time I visited, I would be transferring the following fall. For our proposal, Garren and I were out for a hike in Red Lodge, Montana, and in true Montana fashion, we run into SO. MANY. BEARS. Before this day I hadn’t seen any bears on the many hikes I’ve done and found it so funny that this was the day all of that changed. I had known that the proposal was coming since we had gone and designed my engagement ring and it had been delivered (I knew it had been because I instantly tried it on… is that bad luck? I’m not sure but I really didn’t care!!). We were finishing the hike and Garren was behind me and I heard a rustling in his backpack but I just kept going. He finally told me “Gracie turn around” and I instantly knew this was the moment. It was the simplest, sweetest, best proposal that could’ve been for us. Just the two of us, outside, doing one of our favorite things. One of the most special parts of my engagement ring is that my diamond was originally my grandmothers. She had passed a couple years before. I had always, always envisioned her being at my wedding – we had always talked about my wedding and what it would be like, so having her diamond was a very special way to keep her close throughout our engagement, wedding, and life. Another layer making our rings so special was who designed and made them for us. Jay and Laina have been longtime family friends with the groom’s dad and brothers – so having them make such a special set for me and ring for Garren was amazing. Their shop is on the corner of Pearl Street in Boulder – the most perfect place for such a store! It was such an easy process. They made every idea and vision come to life, perfectly.
The main goal I had for our wedding weekend was to make our friends and family feel so important and included in many of the details and aspects of the wedding. We had a smaller ceremony and reception of just over 70 people – truly our closest friends and family. Every single person there had played a role or been a part of different times of our relationship, each being so special. There was such an ease throughout all of our weekend that was exactly as I imagined. We were able to spend time and talk with everyone throughout the course of the weekend. For Garren and I, I really wanted to have a sense of overwhelming peace and calm and we really got it. We ended up spending a couple hours before the ceremony with each other and of course Brittany, our photographer, while we got ready. Another reason I think we were both so calm for the day. We also did a first look and I am so thankful that we did. I knew I was going to be as emotional as ever, so having the first look allowed both of us again the time to be present together before the night really kicked off. It was a feeling and time neither of us will forget. Another very special time was at our reception Garrens aunt and uncle were celebrating their 27th anniversary on our wedding day, so it felt extra special to be celebrating our marriages and love together, truly as a family. We had a smaller cake made for them, in the same style as our wedding cake, adding in another moment for us to really spend time with them and celebrate the four of us!”
– Gracie, the bride
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