From a breathtaking ceremony view to a golden velvet napkins, I’m thrilled to share with you Rosalyn and Chris’ moody, romantic Garden of the Gods wedding. With a graphic invitation suite and a red rock portrait session that has me weak in the knees, this one takes modern to a place I’m absolutely loving. I can’t get enough of the black stoneware chargers and the gold foil stationery —and I’m starting a petition for all weddings to have a “fry-yo” bar. Rich fall tones in siena, bone, and black and a function-meets-form wax seal moment comes together to create an aesthetic that falls somewhere between gothic and modern…and we’re loving every second of it.

The view from the Reflection Pool at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club is one of the prime reasons R&C selected their venue. To highlight the view, we selected clear chiavari chairs and a minimal – but impactful – ceremony columns to allow the red rocks to shine.

Looking for drama and freshness, the invitation suite featured a graphic typographical design and foil-pressed details. Phrases like “Party” replaced traditional headers to set the tone for an all-weekend-long celebration while the elegant black envelopes and gilded wax seals kept the formality of a wedding in place.

Pro-Tip: After their first look, R&C stole away – with their photo/video team in tow – to the Garden of the Gods park for private portraits. These moments away created an opportunity for the couple to soak in their wedding day just the two of them. If you’re looking for a way to get some one-on-one time with your love but don’t envision a first look, consider a private moment after post-ceremony portraits where you can enjoy a plate of appetizers and some cocktails together before rejoining guests for dinner and dancing.

Upon arrival, guests were invited to enjoy a pre-ceremony glass of champagne on the patio before heading to their seats for the vows. Earlier, I declared 2022 the year of the pre-ceremony drinks and it continues to prove to be true. You can check out some other examples here and here!

We opted to rent black chiavari chairs to increase the moody atmosphere of the rock walled Grand View Dining Room. These grounded the room and pulled together the other black accents – like the chargers, candlesticks, and flatware handles.

To soften the look of the hard modern black elements, we utilized velvet napkins, a cheese cloth runner, and a linen-like base tablecloth. Juxtaposing textures creates depth in a design and creates that modern-meets-gothic romance the couple was envisioning.

Pro-Tip: Around here we love when we can meld form and function together. For this plated meal, we needed a way for servers to easily re-confirm which entree was going to which seat. Different colored wax seals attached the place cards to the menus and also directed staff during service. The wine red indicated beef, soft champagne specified scallops, and the yellow gold designated butternut squash raviolis.

I’m just giddy over all the containers & knickknacks Southern Charm Colorado incorporated into the tablescapes. These various textures and colors created an eclectic, modern feel that was right on par with the overall vision.

Rosalyn & Chris’ friends and family knew how to celebrate! With an 7-piece band and a great taste in music, this crew kept the dance floor rocking throughout the night.

One of the bridesmaids, Carly, is known for a particular question she asks new members of their friend-group… “What is your fry of choice?” To honor their friendships, and this fun tradition, R&C decided on a late-night “fry-yo” bar. Taking inspiration from a fro-yo shop, guests could fill a custom cup with curly fries, steak fries, or sweet potato fries and top them with number of delicious sauces and toppings. After a night of drinks and dancing, these were a hit amongst guests and a special personal touch that was all their own.

Pro-Tip: For a late night snack, you don’t need to order for 100% of your guest count. We recommend ordering for one-third to one-half of your guest count depending on the makeup of your guest count. If you’re inviting a lot of your parents co-workers or older guests, the majority tend to duck out before the late night snacks are served. But if your guest count is comprised majority of your friends, you might find the numbers to be higher.

P.S. Want to see some behind-the-scenes of planning this moody, romantic Garden of the Gods wedding? Here’s a play-by-play of R&C’s on-location planning day.

Creative Partners

Beauty: Ember Hairstream

Cinema: Prime Wedding Films

Entertainment: Diamond Empire Band

Floral: Southern Charm Colorado

Lighting: Event Design by Scott & Katie

Photography: The Tinsley Co.

Rentals: Colorado Party Rentals

Stationery: Minted Weddings

Venue, Catering, Cake: Garden of the Gods Resort & Club

Planning, Design, & Coordination: Skylar Caitlin for Chancey Charm Weddings