The bride and groom at The Ranch Country Club with mountains in the background.

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Home » Blog » Weddings » Love Stories » Winter Wedding at The Ranch: Kristin + Colten

A Story of Faith

Kristin and Colten’s prayers for finding the perfect match were answered when Christian Mingle, an online server, connected them both.

Their relationship started with a first date out to a bowling alley. Following seven months of dating, they announced their engagement. The proposal happened on a hike, next to a beautiful lake.

Jump ahead:

The bride and groom hold hands together in front of the officiant, blurred in the background.

Sacred Celebration

Kristin and Colten chose Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Broomfield as the site for consecrating their marriage. The ceremony officiants included Kristin’s pastor, Chris Matthis, from her church in Castle Rock, and the groom’s brother, Pastor Joseph Highley.

Guests waited for the ceremony to start enjoying beautiful piano music played by Rachel, cousin of the groom. The service began with a processional down the aisle as the ring bearers, matron of honor, and flower girl entered the church and assumed their places. The bride, escorted by her father, took her position at the front of the church and linked arms with her future husband.

Close up of the bride and groom holding and squeezing their hands tightly together and the bridal bouquet.

For most of the service, the bridal couple entwined their arms and hands together in mutual love and support of each other. As the service unfolded, they occasionally laughed together as the officiants interjected humor into the program. Overall, the mood felt sacred, yet joyful.

The Readings & Sermon

The service incorporated scripture readings from Isaiah 61:10-11 and Colossians 3:12-17 by the bride’s father. Subsequently, Pastor Matthis gave an inspirational sermon for the congregation. Next, the parents gave the couple their blessings and consent for marriage.

The couple expressed their wedding vows and exchanged rings under the blessing of the groom’s brother, Pastor Highley.

  • The bride places her hands gently around the neck of the groom in anticipation of their first kiss.
  • The bride and groom engage in their first kiss following their wedding ceremony with the altar in the background.
  • Officially married, the wedding couple face toward the congregation, hold hands, and smile at the congregation.

Once the pronouncement of marriage occurred, they kissed each other and received applause from those attending.

Post Ceremony

After the recessional, the couple gave each other a long hug and a kiss. They waited for the guests to exit the church into the warm vestibule. While wedding receiving lines often get a bad rap, Kristin and Colten’s moved quickly and efficiently. Each guest paused just a moment to express their congratulations and give a quick handshake or hug before moving forward.

Wedding Colors

Dessert table with miniature white wedding cake, fudge and vanilla-topped cupcakes features a quote from CS Lewis about love.

Kristin selected brown and green for her winter wedding day. These natural colors gave an earthy, yet warm vibe to the celebration. In keeping with the theme, Colten wore a brown tweed suit. Kristin’s attire incorporated emerald green in her jewelry, which coordinated with the stone in her wedding ring.

At the reception, the decor and food also echoed these colors. For example, pine cones on a rustic wooden base with candles added a brown-colored ambiance. Brown tones appeared in the food with Cocoa Krispie single serves and chocolate iced cupcakes. Finally, napkins and touches of green leaves on the tables completed the scene.

The Reception

  • Winter wedding photo of the wedding couple with the Rocky Mountains in the background.
  • The wedding couple smile at each other in a snowy scene with the mountains in the background.
  • Nose to nose the bride and groom share a moment together in a snowy scene with mountains in the background.

Upon arriving at The Ranch Country Club, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with appetizers. Before heading inside to join them, the couple reserved a few minutes to venture to the western side of the venue for some mountain photos.

Fortunately, enough snow and ice had melted to make a path for Kristin to navigate the way without getting her feet too wet. The stunning panorama of snow-topped Rockies provided an amazing and romantic backdrop.

Afterward, Kristin and Colten made a grand entrance into the building complete with music and applause. To kick off the festivities, the bride’s father gave a prayer and everyone enjoyed a buffet-style luncheon.

The groom’s brother emceed the affair and passed the microphone for the matron of honor and best man to say a few words. The bride’s brother also gave a speech reflecting on the quick passage of time. He mused how his sister had matured from someone that he teased, into a beautiful person with whom he now had meaningful conversations over books and life.

Traditions

  • A traditional cake smash with the bride and groom smooshing cake and frosting into each others faces.
  • The groom with pieces of cake and frosting in his beard just after the cake smash with his bride looks at his sticky fingers full of crumbs and frosting.
  • The bride with her hands and face full of cake and the guests looking on in the background.
  • The bride wipes crumbs and frosting from the beard of her husband following the traditional cake smash at their wedding.

The wedding couple elected to include just a few wedding traditions for their reception. A cake cutting started the events. While the feeding of cake to each other seemed to start innocently enough, the couple ended up smashing cake into each other’s faces. They both reacted to the experience in a good-natured way and relied on their friends and family to make their faces and attire presentable.

Once free of frosting and crumbs, Kristin and Colten made their way to the dance floor. They performed a choreographed first dance complete with twirls, turns, and several beautiful dips.

Thereafter, the bride and her father enjoyed a dance together. When the song ended, the groom’s brother started up a personal playlist and many of the kids and adults joined in the dancing.

The matron of honor, bride, and groom link arms and dance together during the reception.

Final Words

Kristin and Colten, I wish you many blessings in your adventures together. May your love of music, books, learning, and faith bring you closer together over the years. And, may your laid-back personalities allow you to continue to live joyfully, throughout life’s twists and turns. Cheers!

  • The best man assists the groom with pinning on his boutenniere.
  • A prayerful moment before the ceremony with the best man, groom, and the officiant.
  • The bride receives assistance with hooking the bodice of her dress from her mom.
  • A friend applies lipstick to the bride helping her get ready before the ceremony.
  • Accessories of the bride include strappy metallic sandals on a winter wrap with a necklace and matching earrings featuring emeralds.
  • The bride looks downward as she is helped into her shoes.
  • The bride is finished getting ready and stands with her wedding bouquet.
  • The mother of the bride helps clasp a pretty shimmering vintage looking bracelet on the wrist of her daughter.
  • The altar of Risen Savior Lutheran church with a floral arrangement and burning candles.
  • The cousin of the groom plays the piano as guests anticipate the start of the wedding ceremony.
  • The flower girl strews petals down the church aisle prior to the entrance of the bride.
  • The bride and her father just appear in the doorway of the church with the congregation looking back.
  • The groom smiles and beams as he sees his bride for the first time.
  • The father of the bride walks proudly down the aisle with his daughter.
  • The father of the bride stops with his daughter in front of the groom.
  • The Pastor opens his book with a cross on the cover to begin the wedding ceremony.
  • The father of the bride at the church lectern recites inspiration scripture passages for the wedding.
  • Close up of the bride and groom holding and squeezing their hands tightly together and the bridal bouquet.
  • The bride, linked arm and arm with the groom, tips her head back and laughs during the wedding ceremony.
  • The parents of the bride seated with the congregation during their daughter's wedding.
  • The bride and groom nervously stand during the wedding ceremony.
  • Wide view of a wedding ceremony showing the bride and groom facing each other and holding hands as the matron of honor looks at the couple.
  • The bride smiles as she holds hands with the groom and recites her vows.
  • The bride and groom hold hands together in front of the officiant, blurred in the background.
  • The bride eases the ring onto the left hand of the groom.
  • The bride places her hands gently around the neck of the groom in anticipation of their first kiss.
  • The bride and groom engage in their first kiss following their wedding ceremony with the altar in the background.
  • Officially married, the wedding couple face toward the congregation, hold hands, and smile at the congregation.
  • The ceremony completed, the wedding couple hold hands and walk down the aisle of the church between the pews.
  • The bride and groom reach the end of the aisle and stop for a photo together.
  • A warm and passionate hug between the recently married bride and groom.
  • The matron of honor and the best man exit the church arm in arm.
  • The bride and groom in a brightly lit lobby turn toward each other and gaze at each other.
  • The bride and groom at the front of the church surrounded by both sides of their families for a large group photo.
  • The bride and groom lean over the bridal bouquet and kiss at the altar of the church.
  • The brother of the groom and acting officiant make faces as he stands between the couple.
  • One ring bearer uses his hands on the face of the other to show everyone how to properly smile.
  • The flower girl, three ring bearers, and the bridal couple at the front of the church.
  • The bride and groom sort out the details on their marriage license before signing it.
  • The bride and groom at The Ranch Country Club with mountains in the background.
  • The groom wraps his arms around the bride as her veil flutters to the right side in the wind.
  • Winter wedding photo of the wedding couple with the Rocky Mountains in the background.
  • The wedding couple smile at each other in a snowy scene with the mountains in the background.
  • Nose to nose the bride and groom share a moment together in a snowy scene with mountains in the background.
  • The groom holds his bride in the snow and they laugh together.
  • A bride and groom playfully touch noses during their photo session in the winter snow.
  • The table settings at this wedding included candles, pinecones, and leaves on a wooden centerpiece, water glasses, green napkins, and single-serve containers of Cocoa Crispies brand cereal.
  • The best man holds a microphone and tells stories of the groom to the wedding guests during his toast.
  • The groom at the sweetheart table with his bride smiles during the toast given by the best man.
  • With tears in her eyes, the matron of honor stands and makes a toast to the bride.
  • The bride seated at the sweetheart table with her husband bends her head downward and laughs during the matron of honors touching toast.
  • The brother of the bride stands with a microphone and recounts the passage of time and how his sister has grown up and is now married.
  • Wedding dessert table filled with crystal pedestal stands of cupcakes and a miniature white fondant wedding cake with mountain details in frostingin front of a dark brown rustic wooden paneled barn style door features warm glowing holiday lights around the edges.
  • Dessert table with miniature white wedding cake, fudge and vanilla-topped cupcakes features a quote from CS Lewis about love.
  • The bride and groom together hold a knife and cut the first slice of their miniature white wedding cake with mountain details etched in the fondant.
  • Close up of vanilla and chocolate frosted cupcakes at a wedding on the dessert table.
  • The groom raises up a piece of cake and the bride closes her eyes in anticipation of a cake smash.
  • A traditional cake smash with the bride and groom smooshing cake and frosting into each others faces.
  • The bride and groom feed each other cake and in the process smash the pieces into each others faces.
  • The bride with her hands and face full of cake and the guests looking on in the background.
  • The groom with pieces of cake and frosting in his beard just after the cake smash with his bride looks at his sticky fingers full of crumbs and frosting.
  • The bride and groom perform a choreographed first dance as their guest look on in the sunny room.
  • The bride wipes crumbs and frosting from the beard of her husband following the traditional cake smash at their wedding.
  • The groom elegantly supports and dips his bride during their choreographed first dance.
  • The white dress of the bride swirls outward as the groom leads her in their choreographed first dance.
  • A father and daughter dance together at her wedding.
  • The bride gives her father an emotional hug as the crowd looks on following their daddy daughter dance
  • The groom flanked on either side by his smiling father and mother.
  • The bride in a sunny alcove prepares to throw her bouquet to the eligible single women in the flower toss.
  • A beautiful woman in a blue dress prepares to catch the brides bouquet in mid-air during the toss.
  • A beautiful dark-haired woman catches the bridal bouquet during the flower toss while relieved single women motion applaud in the background.
  • The bride and groom face and hold each other in front of reflective doors that mirror the mountains and warm light across the way to the west.
  • The matron of honor, bride, and groom link arms and dance together during the reception.
  • The groom wears the bridal veil in his beard and makes a solemn face at his bride as they both try to be serious and not laugh.

Cake Table Quotation

You might be wondering about the beautiful signage on the wedding cake and cupcake table. The quote on display is a favorite from C.S. Lewis.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

To love is to be vulnerable.”

– C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Details

  • Ceremony: Risen Savior Lutheran Church
  • Officiants: Pastor Chris Matthis and Pastor Joseph Highley
  • Pianist: Rachel Andersen
  • Bridal Hair: Marcia Andersen
  • Bridal Makeup: Melanie Andersen
  • Reception & Catering: The Ranch Country Club
  • Cake: Button Rock Bakery
  • Photographer: Anne Stephenson Photo
  • Shoutouts: Gratitude to everyone helping out with risers and extra help during the family photos and throughout the day at the church. Special thank you to Melissa, the matron of honor for ensuring Kristin’s dress looked great in every photo and for getting the veil tossed in the wind (not to mention keeping the photographer hydrated). Appreciation to Gary the catering coordinator at The Ranch who took time out to show the beautiful venue and the opportunity to advance scout locations to keep our timeline moving quickly.
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Leave a Memory or Congratulatory Note

In the comments, leave a note for Kristin or Colten with a favorite memory of the day. Also, if you were unable to attend, feel free to leave a blessing or note of congratulations! Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the comments section.

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Photographer

Anne Stephenson is a Denver, Colorado photographer who captures honest, unscripted moments rooted in connection and story—reflecting who you truly are at weddings, mitzvahs, and beyond.

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