Donovan Pavilion wedding in Vail, Colorado
      Liz and Brian
      Donovan Pavilion
      Vail, Colorado
      March 20, 2010

      It was a perfect weekend for a winter wedding in the mountains. After a Friday storm, the sun came out on Saturday to reveal a fresh coat of snow decorating the Vail landscape. Liz and Brian got married at the Vail Interfaith Chapel and celebrated with a lively reception at Donovan Pavilion. It was a destination wedding, with guests traveling in from all over the country, including a large group from Texas. Liz and Brian really showed them the best of Colorado.

      My good friend Tamera Goldsmith photographed the wedding with me. The two of us had such a fun weekend!

      River through Vail, Colorado


      Brian and his friends began the afternoon at the bar at the Vail Cascade Resort. (Photo Tamera)

      Purple wedding shoes for a bride
      Liz wore gorgeous purple Kate Spade shoes!

      Bride getting ready at the Vail Cascade Resort
      The ladies got ready in a suite at the Vail Cascade Resort.


      Liz and her mom

      Green flower girl pomander
      It was the flower girl’s fifth time in a wedding, so she was very helpful with all that experience. (Photo by Tamera)

      Winter bride
      Beautiful Liz

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

      Bridesmaids with purple shawls and green flowers

      Groom and groomsmen in black tuxedos

      Winter wedding bride and groom

      Vail wedding

      Donovan Pavilion wedding

      Donovan Pavilion wedding

      Donovan Pavilion wedding

      Wedding centerpiece with green orchid in glass bowl

      Green wedding centerpiece in a round vase

      Skis as guestbook at a winter wedding
      They used antique skis as a guestbook — a perfect touch for a winter wedding.

      First dance
      First dance

      Donovan Pavilion wedding
      (Photo by Tamera)

      Donovan Pavilion wedding

      Donovan Pavilion wedding
      With Liz’s parents

      Donovan Pavilion wedding
      Liz’s grandparents

      Parents of the bride
      Liz’s parents

      Engraved champagne glass
      Brian’s engraved champagne glass, during the toasts


      After the maid of honor toast


      Brian’s 13-year-old brother gave an eloquent and entertaining best man speech.(Photo by Tamera)

      Donovan Pavilion wedding

      Donovan Pavilion wedding
      Father-daughter dance (Photo by Tamera)


      Mother-son dance


      Brian’s fraternity brothers serenaded Liz to “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling.”

      Donovan Pavilion wedding


      This was one of the sweetest wedding moments I’ve seen. At the end of the anniversary dance, it was revealed that Liz’s grandparents had been married longer than anyone else in the room. Next the DJ played the song from their wedding first dance 53 years ago.


      We were all crying.

      I cried so hard that I lost a contact lens. I went to the restroom to put in a new one, and found this guest calling her own grandparents, still crying.

      Donovan Pavilion wedding

      Donovan Pavilion

      Bride and groom preparation: Vail Cascade Resort
      Ceremony venue: Vail Interfaith Chapel
      Reception venue: Donovan Pavilion
      Wedding coordinators: Mindy, Courtney, and JoAnn of Mountains and Meadows
      DJ: Randy Waters

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      COMMENTS

      […] parents, and two 8×8 leather coffee table books for their grandparents. I really loved their winter wedding at Donovan Pavilion in Vail, and the final albums are […]

      I got them at the Kate Spade store in Houston, you may still be able to find them!! So sorry for the delay, hope you found something fabulouse for yor wedding!

      Where did she get those purple shoes? They’re beautiful! I need them for my wedding. Can you find out for me?

      Gorgeous photos and beautiful couple. Great job on the great outcome of the photos.

      Thanks again for everything!!! I LOVE all the pictures, you captured everything perfectly!! I would recommend you to anyone!!!

      Beautiful wedding, great pictures! Love love love them!!!

      You and Tamara, what a team.
      Your images have always been beautiful, but it looks like there was something very very special about this wedding. The images are so crisp and clean, and you couldn’t have asked for a better looking couple. They must be sooo happy with their photographs.
      b

      It’s great to hear from you, Randy! I such a great time working with you, and would recommend you to anyone!

      By the way…Great shots! I especially love the black & white of Liz & Brian during their first dance…but also, the shadow they cast in the shot of the two of them walking toward the Pavilion holding hands.

      Charlotte,
      What a pleasure it was meeting you and Tamara…and what a wonderful group of people! Yes,
      Laura is correct with the song. Liz and Brian danced to “This Year’s Love” by David Gray…Liz and her Dad chose a great version of “The Way You Look Tonight” by Alan Silvestri and sung by Steve Tyrell (from the Father of the Bride soundtrack)…and Brian danced with his Mom to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.

      The song my grandparents danced to was “True Love” by Bing Crosby from the movie High Society:) Charlotte, they look great!! Thanks again!

      Beautiful as always ๐Ÿ˜€

      i love the bride’s shoes and that shot of the bride’s parents – they look so in love!

      Unfortunately I can’t remember which song was the grandparents’ first dance. If anyone reading this remembers, please chime in. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Great set of pictures here Charlotte! Lots of emotion, pretty faces and nice place. I bet you had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

      I LOVE that photo sequence of them dancing in front of the chapel.

      Also, Charlotte, I have had the most up and down day and I finally thought I was done crying but nope – the grandparents story did it for me too. What song did they dance to?

      I LOVE that photo sequence of them dancing in front of the chapel.

      Also, Charlotte, I have had the most up and down day and I finally thought I was done crying but nope – the grandparents story did it for me too. What song did they dance to?

      Yes, bringing extra contact lenses is one of my favorite tips! This was the first time I’d ever lost one, but I always bring extras just in case. I’m completely useless without corrective lenses. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Thanks for all the kind words, everyone!

      That is indeed a very lovely wedding. And good tip about the contact lens! Lately, I find myself crying more at weddings too, and I never thought of bringing spares.

      That is indeed a very lovely wedding. And good tip about the contact lens! Lately, I find myself crying more at weddings too, and I never thought of bringing spares.

      Those are wonderful photographs. That’s fantastic candids there. It’s really a wonder how much you can shoot on a wedding day, so many things to cover..so many emotions.

      Great detail shots. Nice light.

      Good to see you back in action.

      Beautiful wedding and beautiful photos, as always. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Amazing as usual! Your blog has become a total guilty pleasure of mine! ๐Ÿ™‚ Guilty because I WISH I could take pics 1/100th as good as yours, but certainly a pleasure- no explanations needed! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thanks for beautiful shots! They always cheer me up!

      Love the story about the grandparents, if that doesn’t make you cry, I don’t know what would, maybe Old Yeller? lol.

      Amazing as usual! Your blog has become a total guilty pleasure of mine! ๐Ÿ™‚ Guilty because I WISH I could take pics 1/100th as good as yours, but certainly a pleasure- no explanations needed! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thanks for beautiful shots! They always cheer me up!

      Awesome possum! I had so much fun shooting this with you Char! Beautiful job! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Beautiful work Charlotte!

      What a gorgeous wedding! They look so in love. I love the ski signing idea! Congrats, may you dance to your first dance music at your grandchildren’s wedding in 53 years ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Great photos – really crisp and clean, and captures the day brilliantly.

      Charlotte Geary

      CHARLOTTE GEARY

      Lifestyle, event, and portrait photographer with a vibrant, joyful style and 17 years of professional experience.

      Located in Reston, Virginia near Washington, D.C. and available for travel.

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