Carly Jones and Jason Prideaux don’t remember much about meeting in preschool; however, they do recall seeing each other when they were 12 years old. “I remember seeing him and thinking he was the cutest boy I had ever met… I have had a crush on him ever since,” smiles Carly.

They became friends and once they were older, a couple. After graduating from college, Jason realized he wanted to have Carly by his side for the rest of his life. Armed with her father’s blessing and a sparkling engagement ring, he proposed on Christmas at her family home in Austin. “It was perfect!” she exclaims.

Since the two reside in Texas and wanted their celebration to be different from those of their friends and family, they elected to have a weekend-long destination wedding. They both grew up vacationing in Beaver Creek, Colorado, so the city was selected as the ideal location to host over 500 attendees. “My parents have a home there and we attend church in the most beautiful chapel located at the base of the mountain,” notes Carly. “I had always wanted to get married there, so when the time came, the decision was quite simple!” 

The bride was exquisite in a long-sleeve, A-line gown with illusion detailing as she carried a creamy bouquet comprised of hydrangeas, ranunculuses, cymbidium orchids, lisianthus, and garden roses down the aisle. A white-and-gold aisle runner, crafted by The Original Runner Company, was customized with a biblical verse – 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”

To make the service even more personalized, the organist who played at the weddings of Carly’s parents and sisters performed, and her 93-year-old grandfather – a retired pastor – served as the officiant. The pair also made sure to honor the bride’s late brother, lighting a remembrance candle in the place where he would have stood as a groomsman.

Following the traditional service, loved ones were transported to a luxury reception venue. The dramatic space was awash in violet lighting, which served as a lively contrast to the crisp ivory tablescapes decorated with rustic elements such as antlers. “We wanted the entire weekend to flow with the feel of fall and Colorado – but with an elegant touch,” affirms the bride.

Neutral décor was paired with pops of autumnal colors such as burgundy, yellow, and orange to reflect the changing leaves of the surrounding Aspen trees. “The décor of the wedding was extravagant,” declares the groom. “Every detail had meaning and thought behind it.” 

The celebration was not just limited to the main reception space, however. The newlyweds also had respective tents outside filled with additional libations and activities for attendees to enjoy. The bride’s all-white structure featuring touches of gold showcased a custom ice bar designed to look like trees that served up Moscow mule cocktails; the tent also presented female guests with flats to make dancing more comfortable and pashminas to stay warm. Jason’s tent had a masculine-rustic vibe with cowhide rugs and brown leather couches, which provided the perfect setting for attendees to enjoy whiskey tastings, partake in leather crafting, and relax with cigars in hand.

To keep the opulent event from feeling too structured, loved ones dined on a variety of fare from various food stations around the ballroom. When it was time for dessert, slices of the couple’s exquisite 11-foot-high wedding cake were enjoyed. The immaculate confection was adorned with thousands of sugar flowers on a rustic bark design, and 16 flavors delighted those with a sweet tooth.

The groom’s cake – a replica of the University of Texas tower to honor his alma mater – stood six-feet high and provided eight additional flavors to savor. With their palates satisfied, friends and family headed to the custom-made dance floor designed to look like birch wood or relaxed on the plush seating choices surrounding the area until the live music came to an end at midnight.

“The entire wedding weekend was phenomenal,” muses Jason. “It doesn’t get much better than having all of your friends in Beaver Creek, Colorado celebrating... It’s a place that’s very special to us and always will be.”

The bride encourages other couples to be thankful throughout each part of the process. “Everyone always says to take it all in because it’s over so fast, which is definitely true,” she shares. “You spend months planning this special day and you only have 24 hours to reap the benefits from all your hard work, so taking in every little detail is so important. And of course, have fun!”