Ten Peaks is a relaxed mountaintop venue that oozes mountain elegance and takes “mountaintop wedding” to a whole new level. Melissa and Zach celebrated their love at this breathtaking Crested Butte venue. This wedding, styled by the Bride’s sister and owner of Ali Fortunato Botanics + Styling, Ali Fortunato, had a personalized airy feel. With Ashley Sawtelle behind the camera, it was a day for the books!
Down on one Knee story
Melissa and Zach met right after a beautiful sunrise at Burning Man in 2015. 478 days later they were hiking above San Francisco. At the top of the hike Zach handed Melissa a leather-bound notebook titled “Field Notes on Melissa Fortunato”. It was filled with memories, beginning on Day 1, a photo from the day they met. It went all the way to “Day 478: The day I asked her to marry me.” You know what happened after that.
Their connection to Crested Butte is that Zach’s grandfather built a cabin in the area back in the 60’s and every year they have a family reunion over the 4th of July.
The mountainous landscape surrounding Ten Peaks inspired the design elements. Wedding invites included a hand torn silhouette of Crested Butte and Gothic mountains. Each dinner table was named after local mountains and escort cards included a silhouette of the mountain the guest was assigned to. All paper was designed and produced by the talented BRYLO Wed.
The gorgeous wedding cake was designed, executed and brought from Eagle, Colorado by Megan Joy Cakes. The four layer cake was accented with thin strips of fondant painted in shades to match the maid of honor’s dresses. Guests were treated to citrus olive oil cake with lemon white chocolate ganache, caramelized pine nuts, and honey rosemary buttercream or chocolate pistachio cake with luxardo cherries, milk chocolate fudge with salted pistachios, and chocolate buttercream.
Ali Fortunato Botanics + Styling (the Bride’s sister and one of the Maids of Honor) dressed the tables with ceramic urns and bowls filled with clematis, lysimachia, and ferns. Cream velvet napkins topped white chargers and were paired with white dipped cutlery. Guests were served a duet plate of Colorado elk sirloin and Rocky Mountain trout, trout and wild mushroom risotto or vegan rustic ratatouille.
As a wedding planner, I see a lot of packed dance floors. But this celebration had something I had never seen before, literally all 150 guests were up dancing. The dance floor was overflowing and satellite dance parties were popping up around the tent.
Some of the state’s top pros coming together to make this day happen:
Photography: Ashley Sawtelle
The Wedding Styling & Floral Design: Ali Fortunato Botanics + Styling
Venue: Ten Peaks on Mt. Crested Butte
Paper Products: BRYLO Wed
Wedding Day Coordination: Lucky Penny Event Planning
Bride’s Dress: Rime Arodaky
Tailor: JAKE
Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Bride’s Jewelry: Lizzie Fortunato
Hair: Brittani Estes Hair
Makeup: Faces by Liz
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN
Groom’s Attire: Tailors’ Keep
Groomsmen’s Attire: Indochino
Engagement Ring: Anna Sheffield
Wedding Bands: Anna Sheffield, Adeline
Catering: Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Cake: Megan Joy Cakes
Entertainment: The Bow Ties, Soul School
Rentals: Yonder Floral + Décor House, La Tavola Fine Linen
Videography: Kasala Productions
Hello,
I am looking for a wedding venue for June or July of 2019. If you could send me details and package information on your venue that would wonderful!
Thank you!
-Molly Motsinger
Hi Molly,
Thank you for reaching out. I actually don’t work for or at a venue but instead have a wedding planning and rental business. There are some wonderful venues in the Crested Butte Valley. Please email me at ciera at luckypenny.events if you are interested in setting up a consultation.