authentic western welcome bbq

As a destination wedding in Aspen, Colorado, Ryan and I wanted to create a weekend of festivities beginning with an authentic, western Welcome BBQ and ending with a modern, black tie, mountain wedding.

​The country-themed Welcome BBQ was held at the Sopris Mountain Ranch Equestrian Center, a tranquil property featuring beautiful pastures and spectacular mountain views. Cocktail hour started on a grassy knoll, where we were able to take advantage of the site’s natural décor using their trucks, tractors, hay bails, horses and epic western scenery, while adding our own rustic décor. Dinner transitioned into a large hay barn featuring naturally decadent wooden architecture.  The barn was decorated with hanging café lights, Navajo rugs, and two long dining tables displaying burlap linens and navy runners, complimented by custom birch wood and copper vases, filled with ivory and light blue hydrangeas, and deep maroon wild flowers. Hickory House Ribs, southern style BBQ, grilled in front of guests, while Colorado-favorite bluegrass band, Tom Paxton and the Buffalo Joes, performed country tunes, bringing guests to their feet to “do-si-do” during square dancing lessons (one of my favorite moments of the night).

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