DIY Woodland Park Mountain Rental Wedding with Pizza and Sweatsuits
At a vacation rental above Woodland Park, Megan (she/her) and Aimee (she/her) traded centerpiece drama for a front row seat to Pikes Peak. They invited their favorite people and built the whole thing by hand. Think Cricut signs on wooden tables, batch cocktails in big dispensers, and a pizza dinner that made everyone happy. They wrote vows in private, walked with both parents, and poured bright glass beads that will be fused into a heart later. After sunset they pulled on white sweatsuits, turned up the music, and bounced on the trampoline. With Rachel Kobernik Photo documenting the laughter and the quiet moments, this queer mountain wedding kept the focus exactly where they wanted it. Their love, their people, that view.
How did your love story begin?
We met in high school before either of us realized we were queer. We were doubles partners on the tennis team, co-editors on the yearbook, and ice skating instructors. Aimee was the first to recognize her feelings, and Megan took a little longer to recognize hers. When we officially became a couple, Aimee gave Megan a blank canvas and said, we can write whatever story we want on this canvas, it is our story now. We both drew mountains, and mountains have been at the center of our relationship ever since.
Through long distance in college and later moving to Colorado together, that mountain theme kept showing up. Seven years after we met, Aimee proposed during a sunrise hike in Rocky Mountain National Park with a ring from Brilliant Earth.
Why did you choose Woodland Park and a VRBO as your wedding venue?
We wanted an outdoor setting that felt immersed in nature, with the freedom to DIY food and drinks. After searching venues, nothing fit our vibe or budget until we saw a video of a VRBO wedding that overlooked Pikes Peak. It was perfect. It slept 15 which turned the day into a full weekend with out of state friends and family and it let us shape every detail ourselves.
What was your approach to planning and budgeting?
Our biggest challenge was keeping costs low. A micro wedding helped with that, but so did our DIY projects. We made a list of priorities we were willing to spend more on like the venue, the photographer, and tables and chairs. For everything else, we went the DIY route.
We used The Knot wedding planner app and homemade spreadsheets to track expenses. Then we got creative. We made signage with a Cricut, created bud vases from grocery store flowers, and pretty much DIYed the open bar. For table settings, we bought plates, glassware, and silverware new from the store to save money and planned to resell later. We also cut napkins from drop cloth and tied them with twine.
How did you find your photographer?
We won a free engagement session through a social media giveaway with Rachel Kobernik Photo. We were initially nervous because she did not yet have a queer couple in her portfolio, but once we met her, we instantly clicked. The engagement photos matched our vibe perfectly, so we booked her for the wedding.
On the day, Rachel felt like another guest we had known forever. She captured candid moments and emotional details and even cried during our private vows. We are so grateful we found her through that giveaway because she was the perfect fit.
Tell us about your outfits.
Megan: I wanted a dress but never felt connected to the idea of spending thousands. I ordered try ons from Azazie and JJ’s House, and when I found the one that fit perfectly, it was about 75 dollars. I paired it with a veil from Etsy SavchenkoDesign that matched beautifully.
Aimee: Dresses never felt right for me. I wanted something androgynous and comfortable, so I went to Suit Shop in Denver. Their team was so affirming, helping me find a dark green suit that felt exactly like me. It was tailored in a way that worked for my body and my style.
Later in the evening, we both changed into matching white sweatsuits and sneakers. Cozy, warm, and ready for dancing in the mountains.
What did the ceremony look like?
We skipped traditions that did not feel right. We slept in the same bed the night before, got ready with friends and family, and then had a private first look with vows before the ceremony. Megan had her hair styled by The Day, and she did her own makeup. Both of us walked down the aisle with our parents, which felt important to show our appreciation to all of them.
Aimee’s cousin officiated since anyone in Colorado can legally marry you. Instead of a unity candle, we poured colorful glass beads into a vase that will later be turned into a glass heart. It felt like a meaningful way to mark the start of our marriage.
What stands out most when you think back on your wedding day?
Our private vows are still one of the most powerful moments. Sneaking upstairs after the ceremony to look out at our guests laughing below was another. It made every bit of effort worth it.
Changing into sweatsuits and bouncing on the trampoline under the stars was unforgettable. And our first dance to You and Me by Dave Matthews Band, with music by A Music Plus Entertainment, will always be a favorite memory.
What food and drinks did you serve?
We wanted food that felt fun, affordable, and easy. Dinner was pizza, garlic knots, and salad, and our guests loved it. For drinks, we set up a self serve bar with buckets of ice, beer, wine, seltzers, and waters. We also made two batch cocktails and one batch mocktail in 3 gallon dispensers for guests to pour themselves. Dessert came out later in the evening and the DJ announced it, which kicked off round two of dancing.
Our Brilliant Earth wedding rings were the perfect finishing touch, a detail we will carry long after the day ended.
Any advice for couples planning a wedding?
Focus on what really matters to you. Make a list of your non negotiables and put your budget there. Then DIY the rest. Our wedding worked so well because we did not force ourselves into traditions that did not fit us. It is your day, so create something that feels authentic to you.
Photography by Rachel Kobernik Photo
DJ A Music Plus Entertainment
Hair Stylist The Day
Rings Brilliant Earth
Suit Suit Shop
Veil SavchenkoDesign
