Yes, You Should Wear the Black Wedding Dress

In my opinion, a non-traditional, black wedding dress is always a great idea.

Travis and Molly, a gothic QUEEN, said “I do” on 4/20 at Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. Their intimate wedding was a perfect blend of incorporating family that means so much to them and focusing on their own private moments. Molly was so stoked to wear her black wedding dress, and it was one of the highlights of the day for me.

The Details

• Molly and Travis rented an Airbnb near Pikes Peak for everyone to stay in. The place they found was such a perfect reflection of their day. The main house was an amazing gathering place for everyone, but there was a detached cottage where Travis and Molly stayed, giving them a space of their own.
• Another moment that was a perfect balance? They did a private first look upstairs at the Airbnb, and then made their grand entrance for family and friends who were waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.
• On our way up to Pikes Peak for the ceremony, it started to randomly snow. But, as soon as we were ready to start the ceremony, the blue skies came out. The most Colorado shit ever.
• Molly’s son walked her down the aisle, which was a really special moment. It was incredibly important to her to have him there, and it was super sweet.
• These two incorporated two different rituals into their ceremony – handfasting and an exchange of axes. I had never seen the axes before, and they did it in such a tasteful way.
• The TLDR on the rituals – handfasting is a symbolic act in which partners bind their hands together with ribbon or cord to represent their commitment to each other. Couples exchange axes to represent their ability to overcome obstacles together. It’s a powerful gesture that signifies their shared commitment to facing life’s challenges head-on.
• Once the ceremony was over, their family headed back to the Airbnb while Molly and Travis spent more alone time together. On our way down the mountain we stopped randomly to take photos in the snow. Because of course it started snowing again. Then we stopped in Manitou Springs to pick up some liquor and snack on a charcuterie board.
• We did family photos back at the Airbnb and then went to Molly and Travis’ private cottage for them to have a smoke break. It was 4/20, so we had to celebrate appropriately!
• The day ended with everyone sharing dinner together. It was so low key but perfect at the same time. Everyone had their comfy clothes on and just enjoyed spending time together.

Must Knows

• You need a permit to get married at Pikes Peak. Because the weather can change randomly, I recommend planning your ceremony for the summer or early fall. Also, you need to choose from designated locations for your ceremony – you can’t just pick any spot to get married. Travis and Molly chose Crystal Reservoir as their location.
• If you get married in the mountains, you NEED to be flexible and roll with the weather. Molly and Travis were soaked by the end of the day, but they were so unbothered by it. They focused on enjoying their time together, and that’s all that mattered.
• Wear whatever the hell you want on your wedding day – it’s YOUR day! I loved seeing how happy Molly’s black wedding dress made her. Everyone should feel like that.
• If you’re doing an intimate dinner at the end of your wedding day, don’t overthink it. I tell my couples this all the time. It doesn’t have to be some huge, complicated ordeal. Travis and Molly ordered BBQ and donuts, and it worked out perfectly.

Vendors

• Florals – Boulder Blooms
• Catering – Broken Bones BBQ and Happy Hour Donuts
• Charcuterie – Cheese Meat Board
• Suit – Halberstadt’s
• Dress – DressCulture
• Hair and Makeup – The Day

Other non-traditional wedding outfit options.