Photo: Kate Holstein
Brooke Carroll calls her first meeting with Ryan Raybould a "chance encounter." "I was visiting a business school in Dallas, and was going to Starbucks to study for the GMATs between visits," she remembers. "The only open seat was next to his, and we started talking before I could even open my book." What followed was a whirlwind long-distance love affair, with Brooke in California and Ryan in Texas until his job and her acceptance to Georgetown brought them both to D.C. A month or so later, Brooke was in Aspen visiting her parents and was surprised with flowers, love letters, and a video about her relationship with Ryan. "As soon as the video ended, I heard a knock on the door, and there he was," Brooke says.
The couple wanted to wed before Brooke started her MBA, which gave them just six short months to plan the wedding of their dreams on July 19th, 2014 in Aspen. So they got to work, hiring Kate Ryan of Gold Leaf Event Design to pull together all of Brooke's ideas, and Kate Holstein to capture them all in gorgeous pictures.
Photo: Kate Holstein
The neutral-toned invitations featured a mix of fonts, as well as an invitation to the couple's barbecue rehearsal dinner.
When she started dress-shopping, Brooke was sure that she didn't want lace. She even had it narrowed down to two silk gowns when her sister asked her to try on a Monique Lhuillier gown. "Everyone gasped when I walked out of the fitting room," she says. The winning gown? A re-embroidered lace mermaid with buttons down the back.
The bride and her bridesmaids carried a mix of blush, coral, and yellow roses, ranunculus, hydrangea, and eucalyptus leaves.
Ryan looked dapper in a textured navy Hugo Boss tuxedo with satin trim.
The ceremony took place in front of a stunning mountain backdrop. The aisle, covered in white, yellow, and peach rose petals, led to an arbor decorated with white fabric and lush roses and greenery. As guests arrived, they were offered paper parasols to protect them from the sun.
Brooke and Ryan's ceremony was officiated by the judge Ryan was clerking for when the couple first met.
Photo: Kate Holstein
"After we decided we'd get married in Aspen, we had to find a venue that fit," says Brooke. "When we saw the Roaring Fork Club, we knew we'd found it!"
Guests found their table assignments tucked into custom pockets made from different styles of lace. The tented reception featured a combination of long wooden tables and round tables topped with lace linens.
Chandeliers lit the tables, topped with soft pink and ivory hues. Centerpieces included garden roses, ranunculus, hydrangea, dahlias, and silver dollar eucalyptus leaves for a pop of green. Tables were named after the bride and groom's favorite runs on Snowmass Mountain.
For dinner, they dined on a duet of salmon and short ribs (the groom's favorite!) and sipped on the Aspen Kiss, a rum, lime, agave, and mint concoction designed by the bride.
Photo: Kate Holstein
Dinner was capped off with a four-tiered wedding cake decorated with fresh flowers and fondant lace appliques. "We had to have two flavors, because I love vanilla and Ryan's more of a chocolate guy," says Brooke. The options? Chocolate cake with crunchy praline buttercream and salted caramel or old-fashioned sour cream cake with cream cheese frosting.
After the bride and groom had their first dance to "Latch" by Stan Smith, guests flooded the dance floor as the DJ mixed dance hits with country favorites. "The dance party was awesome!" Brooke says. After their honeymoon to Kauai, Brooke and Ryan returned to D.C. — where they found out they're expecting! "We couldn't be happier!"
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Roaring Fork Club || Wedding Planner: Gold Leaf Event Design || Bride's Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier || Shoes: Jimmy Choo || Jewelry: Nadri || Hair: Crown Jules of Hair || Makeup: Beauty by Patrick Ta || Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier || Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss || Groomsmen's Attire: Jim's Formal Wear || Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: May Jewelers || Florist: Carolyn's Flowers || Invitations & Paper Goods: ChikPea Graphics, Express Yourself || Music: Who Is Chris Lewis || Catering: Roaring Fork Club || Cake: D'Elissious || Rentals: Premier Party Rental || Videography: Story of Us Films || Photography: Kate Holstein