(All
photographs by Kyla Jackson Photography)
2008 Southwest Colorado Cover Couple
Meryl & Matthias Giraud
Married 6/30/07 - Durango, Colorado
The Details
How long to plan the wedding: One year.
Number of Guests: 150
Number from out-of-town: 100. We sent invitations out to friends and family on every continent except Antarctica.
Ceremony Site: Boyce Lake at Durango Mountain Resort. We were surrounded by a cove of Aspens. It was very intimate.
Reception Site: Hamilton Chop House. Sherry did a great job creating a menu that would please everyone, she was fun and knowledgeable. She did a great French/American menu for the wedding and an awesome cajun brunch for the morning after the wedding!
The Planning
Together, Matthias and I added personal touches to create a celebration that was a reflection of the two of us.
The Flowers
Our floral scheme was tropical. Our bouquets contained brightly colored flowers including Birds of Paradise.
The Food
Fantastic food was the number one priority for my Dad and Matthias. The Hamilton Chop House created a French-American themed menu that everyone raved about.
The Favors
We got chalk board flower pots and put a parakeet (mini bird of paradise) in
each, these doubled as name places for the table and gifts for each guest!
As well as adding a bit of flowers to the table!
Special Touches
We actually eloped a year earlier on 6/30/06. In European tradition couples have a government ceremony first then a religious ceremony. Usually this is done on the same day, but we took our time and spent a year planning the religious ceremony.
My 86 year old grandfather married us. He was so nervous that he went straight to the vows skipping over the script.
We created edible centerpieces. On each table we had fresh baguettes, three kinds of French cheeses and 3 types of fruit.
We named all our tables from places where our guests had traveled from. It was quite the conversation starter since we had London, Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Canada and Paris…and many more!
Our get-away vehicle was a black cruiser bicycle. Since I was riding on the handle bars, we practiced the week before. I wore a skirt for our practice sessions although I was concerned that once in my wedding dress I would not fit on the handle bars. In the end, it worked and we had a fun time with it.
Matthias, myself, and all the groomsmen wore Converse high-top sneakers.
We gave each guest a check-in pamphlet that included tips on managing the altitude (drink plenty water, watch alcoholic intake, etc.) As well as an invitation to a brunch the morning after the wedding, hosted by my parents to thank all the out-of town guests for traveling to our wedding.
We provided shuttles for all our guests. We did not want anyone to be driving after our celebration.
Most Memorable Moment
For some reason, I was scared to death when I was about to walk down the aisle, usually I like to be the center of attention but for some reason
having all eyes on me made me super nervous!
Best thing about the Day
Being surrounded by all our family and friends.
What would you do Different
Absolutely nothing, we had a blast!
My Advice
First and foremost, establish what you want your wedding to be.
Have Fun! You want to be able to look back on your wedding day and have great memories. Also your guests will have fun knowing you are having fun!
If you are planning an outdoor wedding in Durango between July 15th – August 15th, be prepared for the afternoon monsoon rains. Have a backup plan.
Since your guests are traveling at great expense to attend your wedding day, be conscientious of their pocket books.
Only choose vendors you know you can trust. On your wedding day, you do not want to worry if the cake will arrive, if the flowers will show up on time, etc..
Honeymoon Locale: Not taken yet.
RECOMMENDED WEDDING PROS Reception Site/Caterer: Hamilton Chop House |
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