Callie RieslingFour Seasons Vail Elopement at Christmas- Dan + Devon - Vail Wedding Photographer
DAN + DEVON - FOUR SEASONS VAIL WEDDING AT CHRISTMAS
FOUR SEASONS VAIL AND VAIL RESORT, COLORADO
Vail Wedding Photographer
PART TWO
Doing a wedding in the mountains just days before Christmas is challenging. There are scores of people everywhere, wearing brightly colored ski/snowboarding clothes. It is definently cold. The sun sets super early and the mountain closes even earlier. Weather like this is hard on clothing, makeup, hair, flowers (they freeze and wilt!), toes and chaps your lips. You may remember seeing Dan and Devon's Mississippi Engagement Session where they are currently stationed. If not you can see it HERE. Dan and Devon decided to have a more private destination elopement in Vail, Colorado and to celebrate with their friends and family once Dan's schooling was done. They stayed over the Christmas holiday at the Four Seasons Vail with a beautiful view out their balcony of the slopes. We changed our ceremony location a few times but Dan and Dev decided together (with some phone conversations and relays through me or my husband) to say their vows on the balcony at the Four Seasons overlooking the pool and the slopes behind. I noted below, but will also add here that Dan and Dev are pretty private people and have decided to share two photos from their ceremony and the other ones, you would have to see as a guest in their home. Make sure you scroll AAAAALLLLL the way down to the bottom... I know, it's annoying how many beautiful photos are in this blog ;) Dan and Dev did something that VERY few wedding couples do... especially at the Four Seasons Vail. I hope you all enjoy the gorgeous photos from Dan and Dev's Vail Winter Wedding!
Dan and Dev have requested that most of their ceremony at the Four Seasons to remain private, but were happy to share these two images with us!
After their intimate ceremony, we ran back down to the salon to change up Dev's hair for another look and then headed up the mountain in Lionshead Village.
We closed down the top of the mountain.... pretty much the last ones down the Lionshead Gondolas, most everyone else was skiing or boarding down though!
When we got down the mountain, we were greeted in Lionshead with a huge group of people (we had no idea who the heck they were) who insisted on taking selfies and giving well wishes to Dan and Dev. I always find it so funny when strangers take photos of brides and grooms (it happens ALL the time)... but like what are you going to do with your selfie with a random couple lol? Post it on your facebook? It's all in good fun and part of the experience. As strange as it is, it is always heartwarming to see people come cheer on complete strangers.
Since their wedding was 3 days before Christmas, Dev had requested some Christmas photos. I knew the Arrabelle Vail had the most classically beautiful lobby in terms of Christmas Decor.
We headed back to the Four Seasons at the end of the night to drop off Dan and Devon. I had jokingly said something to Dev earlier about jumping in the pool at the end of the night... well when they said yes.... they weren't joking! They decided to take the plunge into the pool at the Four Seasons. They were only there for themselves and didn't have anyone else to be all done up for and were planning on changing. Dev kept her face dry so her makeup wouldn't need to be redone and really just had to do some touch ups on her hair! As weird as it may sound, I do have some knowledge and experience with this type of thing, so I made sure that they jumped into a shallow part of the pool... not to protect her hair or makeup, but because the weight of her wet wedding dress could pull her under. ;) Always looking out for my couples... never putting anyone in real danger!
I would like to remind you that these photos were taken at dusk. The foggy haze in the photos is not editing or error, it is the steam coming off of the warm pool. It was well below freezing, it was at dusk and they had to get out and get back to the room!
