Colby & Tess got married at Red Butte Garden in July which may be the very prettiest time at an always gorgeous venue. Everything was in bloom and lush and smelled amazing. Tess was even able to pick a few flowers and her talented hair artist weaved them through her hair.

Colby and Tess met while Colby was pouring beer and cooking pizza at a small mountain town in South Dakota. Prior to Tess’s arrival, Colby had been discussing with a couple of guys at the bar about how a college degree doesn’t always take you the direction you’d expect. As Tess was leaving, she approached him and asked, “Did I overhear those guys say you studied ‘mathematical biology’? And are you really serving beer with a PhD?” She needed to know more about this mysterious bartender and asked for his contact information. He responded, “Instead of calling me later, how about we meet back here tomorrow night, and we can talk over a beer?” She agreed, although neither of them knew exactly what this meant.

Friday evening came, and immediately jumped into conversation, like two friends that hadn’t seen each other in years. One thing was becoming increasingly evident: this was a date. They went on a few more dates, but Tess was leaving South Dakota soon. They said their goodbyes, and made plans to keep in touch.

And keep in touch they did. They talked for hours a day, every day. Colby visited Tess in Texas, and they both communicated their feelings. They grew to realize this was it – they needed to be with each other – for good. So Colby returned to South Dakota, packed up, and moved down to Texas. They crafted plans to align their lives: Tess to finish up her landscape architecture degree in Texas by May, Colby to return to teaching ecology near his first home in Salt Lake City that spring.

It was lovely to have their wedding in their new state. And they have a certain fondness for mountain towns 😉

Florist: Collen Hanson with LUX

Catering & Cake: LUX

Hair artist: Magdalena Langdon

Dress: TB Dress