“With the Colorado mountain wind blowing through her hair, Clarissa VanHousen took her brother’s arm and started her walk down the aisle to her groom, Alex Grant. As a meaningful surprise, Clarissa stopped in the aisle next to her mother and invited her mom to join her for the final steps with her children. Clarissa’s mother raised her and her brother as a hardworking, single parent so it was only fitting that she joins her daughter on this important walk. From the delicate shoulder bow on Clarissa’s dress to Alex’s dance moves at the end of the night, the details of this gorgeous Vail mountaintop wedding meaningful and well thought out. It was an honor to document it and share this love story! Clarissa and Alex started out as co-workers, then became friends. Soon after realizing they were spending every meal together, they acknowledged their attraction and started dating. Soon after, Alex was offered a promotion, but the promotion came with a move from Houston to Miami! Taking a leap of faith in their relationship, the couple stayed together through the move and Clarissa soon joined him in Miami. They decided their life was meant to be spent together and on June, 19, 2021 Alex got down on one knee and Clarissa agreed to be his wife. When I asked Alex what makes their relationship special, he shared marriage advice that his parents who have been married for 40 years shared with him: “My parents told me to look for a wife who was a great business partner and a great roommate, and I found that in Clarissa.” Rather than return to Houston for their wedding, Clarissa and Alex decided to celebrate their love in the most beautiful place they’ve ever been—Vail, Colorado. Their classic wedding included blue and white details, friends and family from across the country, and a special cocktail honoring their two Dachshunds, Bourbon and Rye. One of my favorite details of the day was brought from Alex’s mother, all the way from Texas. After Clarissa arrived at the altar, and after her brother and mother took their seats, Alex’s mother stood up with a glass jar full of Texas soil. They may be having a destination wedding, but they would honor their roots be getting married on Texas soil! She proceeded to dump out the jar of soil at the altar, and Clarissa and Alex because husband and wife on Texas soil.”
– Colorado Wedding Photographer, Hillary Shedd Photography
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