Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
As students of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Jenna and Tyler ran into each other often, but it was Tyler's "cheesy pickup lines," Jenna insists, that convinced her to date him.
Now graduates working in their field—Jenna a dentist and Tyler a peridontist—this couple took a more serious approach to their June wedding. "We wanted a wedding that was timeless and classic, and we wanted to incorporate everything from a black tie evening with friends," Jenna says. "In order to accomplish our goal, we had to focus on things that mattered most to us—friends, family and fantastic food and drinks."
The bride tried on 10 dresses before settling on a trumpet-style gown with lace details across the bodice. But "when the dress arrived," Jenna recalls, "it really didn't feel like my wedding dress."
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Jenna was determined to make the dress work. "I wasn't willing to pay for a second dress," she explains.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
The bride brought her dress to a seamstress who "transformed my dress, after several fittings, into the one that was perfect for me," Jenna says.
Jenna completed her look with a tennis bracelet, flower-shaped earrings and a floral hairpiece accented with thin, white feathers. Around her waist she wore a belt with crystals shaped to look like petals.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Tussie Mussie Floral Design made an all-white rose bouquet for the bride.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Because Jenna "wanted all the bridesmaids to feel comfortable in what they were wearing," the four women chose their own LulaKate dresses in a cream hue that complemented the couple's black, white and champagne color palette.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Groomsmen matched Tyler in black tie attire, with white orchid and rose boutonnieres pinned to their lapels.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
The groom's Catholic background made it easy for the pair to select St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church for their ceremony site.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Jenna describes their ceremony as a traditional Catholic service in which their family and friends took center stage by reciting the readings.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
The priest "really summed up our vision for marriage during his homily by focusing on the goal of trying to embody the true love that our relationship was founded on for the rest of our lives," Jenna says.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Many of the couple's 125 guests complimented the ceremony and especially the priest's "simple, but tangible message for each couple who heard it," the bride says.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Jenna and Tyler held their reception at the Four Seasons Denver, which was the first venue they visited during their engagement. "After walking in, we knew no other venue was comparable," the bride says. "The hotel is modern and beautiful, but the truly amazing aspect was the customer service." The service was so good, in fact, that when the couple's limousine broke down on the way from their ceremony to the reception, the Four Seasons sent "a fleet of SUVs to take us directly to the hotel, with very little delay."
"We wanted our beautiful day captured as a story in photos," Jenna said. Guests took Polaroid pictures of themselves, which they placed inside the couple's guestbook along with a message.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
The bride, along with friends and family, made the reception centerpieces by floating white orchids suspended in cylinder vases and floating crystals, which played off the Four Seasons' "gorgeous crystal chandeliers," Jenna says.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
The couple also up-lit the ballroom's champagne panels in cool colors of blue and purple.
Photo: Kara Pearson Photography
Jenna and Tyler struggled to choose the food for their multi-course menu because the Four Seasons "has amazing food," the bride explains. But they ultimately served guests coconut shrimp with pineapple glaze, Ahi tuna on wonton crisps and vegetable maki rolls during their cocktail hour; and mesquite-grilled beef tenderloin and sun-dried tomato risotto with seasonal vegetables, and Cabernet-reduction Chilean sea bass with ginger-glazed baby bok choy wasabi potatoes for dinner. As a sweet treat, guests also enjoyed macaroons as favors.
The couple's white cake was trimmed with white orchids and champagne-colored ribbon. Its five layers alternated in flavors of tiramisu with sweetened mascarpone and chocolate-covered crispies and vanilla cake with lemon cream and fresh raspberries. The cake, the bride says, was "stunning."
—Jillian Kramer
Wedding Planner: Four Seasons || Ceremony Venue: St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church || Reception Venue: Four Seasons || Bride's Shoes: Angela Nuran || Bride's Accessories: Hyde Park || Bride's Wedding Ring: Shane Co. || Groom's Tux: Al's Formal Wear || Groom's Wedding Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Bridesmaids' Dresses: LulaKate || Groomsmen Attire: Al's Formal Wear || Florist: Tussie Mussie Floral Design || Caterer: Four Seasons || Cake Baker: Four Seasons || Favors: Four Seasons || Entertainment: Top Hat Entertainment || Photography: Kara Pearson Photography