matt + sarah
colorado adventure elopement
let me just begin by saying that this will forever be at the very top of my list for favorite weddings and couples of all time. i’ll explain in a bit more detail below, but first i want to share part of the invite that matt and sarah sent their wedding guests. i also should mention that i didn’t get to meet these two lovebirds until their wedding day because sarah’s brother gifted them a photography package as a wedding gift (best idea ever), so i he sent me their invite so i could have a better idea of what this dusty, desert dance-fest would be like.
“It’s the desert. It’s dusty, spikey, and runs a permanent fever. There will be dancing. Dress accordingly? Outlandishness highly encouraged. But most importantly, wear what makes you feel happy and free! Slip on some dreamily comfortable Crocs, and accessorize with socks if your tootsies get cold/you want to look extra smashing. Those that neglect to wear Crocs will be blindfolded and driven to a secret location bereft of friends, dancing, and libations. Don’t be that guy.
This place is obscure enough that there’s barely even a map of it, so be prepared for your phone to turn into an expensive brick once you leave the pavement. Just follow the map below and look for markers – the adventure is just beginning!
The crypto is lava! This black, crusty cryptobiotic soil takes its sweet time to grow, so please try to stick to well trodden dirt and rocky ground. Wandering off can destroy one hundred years of painstaking growth, so think before you seek a pee spot.”
I read that and my first thought was, “These are my people!”. I could easily see any one of my friends writing something like this, so I knew we’d get along swimmingly once we met. I followed the signs (pictures of Crocs, of course) on the drive out and found their middle-of-nowhere ceremony site no problemo. I was immediately greeted by a handful of dogs and friendly folks in excellent party attire. I felt like one of the guests from the get go.
I do need to mention one important detail that you might not be able to fully appreciate just by looking at the photos.
It was windy.
Like, really windy.
No, like it was really windy the entire time. Gusty and strong and dusty and epic wind. For hours.
This is something that could easily ruin a couple’s day. People could get grumpy and complain about sand in the food, or their eyeballs, or their pants. You know what this crew did? They freaking partied. Nobody gave a crap about the wind. We all joked that maybe it would settle down once it got dark, but once it got dark everyone was too focused on dancing their faces off under the stars that the wind was soon forgotten. I mention this only because I think it really speaks to Matt and Sarah’s thirst for adventure and love for the outdoors, and their incredible tribe of friends and family surrounding them.
Okay, back to their day: these two were married in a short, intimate ceremony, with friends in camp chairs gathered round (and the keg not too far away). They were so enamored with each other and ready to seal the deal that they completely forgot to exchange rings before kissing. There was good tequila and heartfelt speeches from parents. Dog kisses were aplenty and the windy kept howling it’s song of congratulations to the newlyweds. We took a few fun family and group photos and then it was time to keep hanging with people and dogs, to share the best damn tailgate charcuterie I’ve ever seen, and smash brownie bits in each other’s faces.
Thank you Peter for finding me and asking me to be there for your sister and brother-in law, and thank you Matt & Sarah for being your wonderful, genuine selves, and for turning me into a full-blown Croc lover. xoxo
Location: Somewhere in the desert
Dress: I think she said $20 off the internet?
Suit: Custom tailored for Matt by a dear friend
Flowers: Dried and brought to the states from Sarah’s home country of Australia by her mother
Jewelry: Vintage, belonging to Sarah’s aunt
Dinner: Cooked by their friends on the grill
Dogs: There were like 20 and I loved every single one of them
Shoes: Crocs, for everyone!
