Some wedding venues are booked years in advance. Others are built over decades, one tree at a time.
The property where Clayton and Kiley got married was built by Clayton’s father — and the trees he planted those decades ago had grown into the best shaded yard you could hope for on a hot day in late spring. That greenery was paired with greens and yellows and fresh flowers, pulling together that summery backyard wedding vibe the couple had wished for. It felt less like a decorated venue and more like a place that had always been waiting to host them.
The Dog Came First
If you were a guest at this wedding, you met Pepper.
Their pup stayed nearby the whole day — desperately asking every guest to throw her well-loved frisbee for as long as she could keep their attention. She found her most important post during the ceremony itself, seated at the end of the aisle, frisbee beside her, laying watch over the union. After Clayton and Kiley exchanged their vows and sealed the moment with a kiss, the pair met Pepper back down the aisle and basked in that beautiful shady yard with their friends and family.
Their Ceremony Under the Trees
Kiley’s brother officiated. Her family came ready to give — her mother read aloud a poem for the almost-newlyweds, and another family member offered a song as their wedding gift. These weren’t formalities. They were the ceremony. After exchanging personal vows and rings, and that kiss, it was done. Simple, theirs, and exactly right.
The Reception
The party carried on under the sail tents nearby with tons of laughter, tears, and heartfelt toasts amongst the delicious dinner. After sunset photos — again accompanied by the pup — Kiley changed into her reception dress and the pair came out to a grand entrance of bubbles guiding their way straight to the dancefloor for their first dance.
Following that, Kiley danced with her father — a sweet dance where they each twirled around the floor. Why should Kiley have all the fun, after all? Then the dancefloor opened to all guests for the rest of the night.
Before I left for the evening, Kiley and Clayton cut their cake, the twinkly lights strung from the trees lighting the background. It was truly an incredible day.
Backyard Weddings on Colorado’s Western Slope
This wedding was a good reminder that the best venues aren’t always on a venue list. Western Colorado has no shortage of family land, private properties, and backyard spaces that are deeply personal — especially when the landscape has had decades to grow into itself.
If you’re dreaming of something like this — intimate, personal, located somewhere that actually means something to you — I’d love to hear about it. Whether you’re envisioning a backyard ceremony near Hotchkiss, a vineyard gathering in Palisade, or something else entirely, this part of Colorado has more to offer than most people realize.
