This timeless castle wedding in Sedalia, Colorado wedding looks straight out of a Vogue Weddings Magazine! Which makes sense since that was our bride, Clara’s, vision. This stunning wedding took place at Cherokee Ranch and Castle in Sedalia, Colorado. Clara said when they saw the venue the first time “it was breathtaking”.
Stunning Sedalia, Colorado Wedding Venue
It has Scottish-inspired architecture along with a 360 view of the Rocky Mountains. There is also lots of lush greenery surrounding the grounds. Clara said to “never settle”. In their wedding venue search, all they had come across were farm-style venues, and that wasn’t what she was going for. Right before they were about to settle for the farm-style venue, they stumbled upon this place. They were so happy to learn it was only one hour from their home!
“We spent our engagement praying for peace in our own hearts, and that the people would experience peace that evening.” That is exactly what happened, all Clara and her husband, Peter, remember is a feeling of peace. “Our whole weekend was an answered prayer.”
Clara is a very detail-oriented person and with the amount of time and energy spent leading up to the day, she said “the moment you’re standing at the end of the aisle with your life-long partner, all of the worry kind of slips away.”
Things To DIY When Planning A Wedding
When she started planning for her wedding, Clara “had no idea how much everything could cost! It adds up quickly”. She has always loved the look of the timeless weddings that Vogue posts and she figured out how to achieve that on a slightly different budget. Which made her day even more special, she had help from close friends to help with the details of her day. “The cake(chef’s kiss), the flowers, and signage were all done with the help of close friends.”
Should You Do A Last Dance?
One of our personal favorite moments is doing a last dance. It’s such a good way to end your night away from the crowd and really just be with your partner. Clara and Peter really loved their last dance. She said “it is worth it to take a few moments at the end of the evening to soak in everything that happened.”
Timeless Castle Wedding in Sedalia, Colorado Featuring Alyssa Kristin Dress
When it came to wedding dress shopping Clara “initially came in desiring something more edgy and beaded.” Alyssa Kristin’s ‘Natalie’ dress quickly changed her mind.
Although she tried on many dresses, that Alyssa Kristin dress was everything she didn’t know she wanted. “The square neckline, side slits, and pure white was what won me over.” It was elegant and timeless just like her venue.
Investing In A Wedding Photographer
Something that Clara thinks is totally worth the splurge is a photographer. A good wedding photographer can really “enhance your day so much!” It’s so important to find someone who makes the day easy and comfortable for you and your partner, and Delany Hady did a wonderful job of that.
Clara said, “invest in someone who wants to invest in you and make your vision come to life. She was the one who kept the timeline moving, interacted so well with our bridal party and family, captured the story of our day beautifully, and had fun in the process of it all!”
How To Shop For A Second Look
Clara said “this may be an unpopular opinion, but I personally regretted changing out of my wedding dress midway through the reception.” Having a second look for the reception is something that many brides debate about doing on their big day.
Our advice would be to make sure you start looking early (some short dresses can take up to 14 weeks to arrive!). Also, really make sure you love your second dress as much as your wedding dress.
She said “I wish I had put more thought into the detail or that outfit or that it would have better expressed my style but I didn’t give myself enough time to.”
Advice For Planning A Wedding
Some advice Clara has for future brides is “You don’t need to prove yourself or your relationship through this event – it’s really hard to not be image-oriented with social media or being surrounded by friends who are also planning a wedding.”
This day is really just about you and your partner, and sharing that love with the people closest to you. Having people you love and trust is so important for your big day. Clara said to “communicate your worries for the evening with the people you trust. We found a lot of freedom showing up knowing that there were people at this event who were for us – if something went awry, we knew we weren’t going to be in it alone.”
Truly the biggest part of the day for Clara and Peter was their “surrender of control, of people, of weather, etc.”
This is what gave them the most peace throughout their wedding planning process and on the big day. Always try to find little moments of peace and joy on the wedding day. We know it can be stressful but remember why you are there.
By: Kennedy Williams
Bride & Groom: Clara & Peter / Dress Designer: Alyssa Kristin / Photography: Delaney Hady Photography / Planning: Come Join Us Love / Venue: Cherokee Ranch and Castle / Hair & Makeup: The Day Colorado / Florals: Lisa Bear & Lisa Hurlen / Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulu’s Weddings & Show Me Your Mumu / Cake: Emmy Bear / Catering: Serendipity Denver Catering / DJ: DJ Guy / Rentals: Event Rent / Seamstress: A Stitch in Time by Diane
