A Queer Villa Parker Wedding in Denver with Pretzels and Personal Vows

For Mia (she/her) and Jay (she/her), it all started at a rock climbing gym in California, and from there, things moved fast in the best way. Between mountain biking adventures, music festivals, and bringing their three cats (and a bearded dragon!) along for the ride, their life together has been anything but ordinary.

Their wedding day in Colorado was just as full of personality. Think light-up juggling pins, soft pretzels, and cardboard cut-outs of their cats’ heads on the dance floor. Set at Villa Parker, just outside of Denver, it was the perfect blend of heartfelt moments and a massive celebration with their closest people. From custom rings to chosen family to a late-night dance floor full of drum and bass, Mia and Jay’s day was unmistakably them.

Let’s talk about the proposal—what happened?

Mia had won a mountain biking photo shoot with Jenna Weston Photography, a local photographer. Jay secretly reached out to Jenna and asked if she’d help her turn it into a surprise proposal.

So we ended up biking 19 miles along the gorgeous Flume Trail in Lake Tahoe, and somewhere in the middle of that adventure, Jay popped the question. It was totally us; epic, outdoorsy, and full of love. (And yes, Jenna captured every second of it!)

Why did you choose Villa Parker for your wedding?

Villa Parker had the timeless, romantic vibe we were after, plus a nod to Mia’s Italian roots. It was also close enough to downtown Denver for our guests to access easily (we didn’t want to make people hike into the mountains, even though we love hiking ourselves).

Bonus: it fit our budget and vision in a way that just clicked.

Did you face any challenges during wedding planning?

We definitely hit a few bumps. We were denied by one venue after they found out we were two women – heartbreaking, but not entirely surprising.

Some family members weren’t supportive either.

But instead of focusing on that, we surrounded ourselves with the people who truly love and support us. Out of our 75 guests, only 13 were family. The rest? Our chosen family from across the country.

How did you keep track of everything and stay on budget?

Jay is an Excel queen. She built the most incredible spreadsheet that our coordinator even called “the best she’s ever seen.” We planned most of it ourselves, which helped keep costs manageable. The spreadsheet covered everything, vendors, timelines, budget breakdowns, you name it.

Tell us about your wedding day outfits and rings!

Mia wore a dreamy gown from Carol Hannah, and Jay found the perfect look through Suit Supply, a brand we loved not just for their style but because they’re super queer-inclusive.

Our rings were equally personal: Jay’s was a custom piece from Catbird, and Mia’s was designed by Lauren O’Jewels using a stone that had belonged to her mum.

Any fun or non-traditional elements you included?

So many! We skipped the traditional bridal party setup and instead had our besties help us get ready in our hotel room. The vibe was chaotic in the best way; games, juggling balls, and so much laughter. Our community includes performers and acro yogis, so yes, the light-up juggling pins made an appearance later on the dance floor.

Oh, and we made giant cardboard cut-outs of our cats’ heads. We danced around with them at the reception, and it was everything.

Were there any vendors who went above and beyond?

So many! Jenna Weston was a dream. She not only photographed our proposal but flew to Denver to shoot the wedding – no extra charge. She’s become such a dear friend.

Our florist, Parker Blooms, blew us away. Jodie greeted us with a welcome-to-Colorado gift bag and even custom-ordered Campanella roses after learning Jay was taking Mia’s last name (Campanelli, which means “little bells” in Italian). Thoughtful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

And we have to shout out Michael Lancaster – he played guitar for our ceremony and then seamlessly transitioned into DJ mode for the reception. We requested the last two hours be nothing but drum and bass (our favourite genre), and he understood the assignment.