Love at The Ranch: Portraits

In an effort to drag my wedding out by (at least) one. more. post. I thought I'd show you saw of the amazing portraits our photographer, Tec, captured throughout the day. There weren't many of them, but the ones that were sprinkled in with our wedding pictures were strong and beautiful. They make me want to print them out for our guests and give them as gifts.

For a different kind of portrait, press "play" below. One of our friends joined the band on-a-whim and played a harmonica solo. We had no idea he even played harmonica, but he rocked it. This is the perfect way to portray him. (Sorry the visual is no good).

Grandpa Cowboy Boot

This one's by Amanda Wilson

The Harvest Moon finally decided to peek out

Up next, I'll tell you what went right, what went wrong, and treat you to a gorgeous a cappella solo by one of the musicians.

How did we get here?

• Mr. CB and I road-tripped it
• A peaceful morning
• A rowdy bachelorette party
• Two days before, we fought
• We made up.
• Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends
• Our rehearsal dinner
• The girls got ready
• The guys got ready
• Our First Look
• Budget breakdown: bouquets and bouts
• Portraits of the bride and groom
• Our wedding party
• We all lined up
• The wedding party walked
• Papa CB walked me down the aisle
• Our ceremony begins: a song from Grandma Cowboy Boot
• And ended with a kiss
• Some family portraits
• The details
• Our centerpiece budget
• Our photo booth!
• After toasts, we fed each other pie
• Our pie bar and reception signage
• The First Dance and Father-Daughter Dance

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head tohis blog for some serious eye candy.**

Love at The Ranch: Breakin' It Down (+ a video)

Soon after the first dance and father-daughter dance ended, everyone was on the dance floor. One of our friends is a square-dance "caller," meaning he calls the next move at square dance events, so thanks to him, everyone was having a blast dosey-doe-ing.

Three generations of Cowboy Boot women in action.

Mama Cowboy Boot

Mr. CB and his niece, Ariyahana

Right about here, someone stepped on my dress and ripped my bustle. The J. Crew belt saved me--I just tucked my train in.

Yep, that's leap frog

Mr. CB's half-brother break dancing.

Our friend looking like he's skipping down the yellow brick road.

Mr. CB after having slid through the set of legs to the right. Ha!

Swirling in my dress was too much fun.

I called in all my bridesmaid and felt like Queen Bee with fairies dancing around me.

It was one of the most fun moments of my life.

Want to see it in action? Check out the video, below, for a bluegrass version of the chicken dance and some break-dancing from a talented kid.

How did we get here?

• Mr. CB and I road-tripped it
• A peaceful morning
• A rowdy bachelorette party
• Two days before, we fought
• We made up.
• Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends
• Our rehearsal dinner
• The girls got ready
• The guys got ready
• Our First Look
• Budget breakdown: bouquets and bouts
• Portraits of the bride and groom
• Our wedding party
• We all lined up
• The wedding party walked
• Papa CB walked me down the aisle
• Our ceremony begins: a song from Grandma Cowboy Boot
• And ended with a kiss
• Some family portraits
• The details
• Our centerpiece budget
• Our photo booth!
• After toasts, we fed each other pie
• Our pie bar and reception signage
• The First Dance and Father-Daughter Dance
  

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**

Love at The Ranch: Special Dances

After toasts and feeding each other cherry pie, after everyone had exhausted the photo booth and enjoyed some ribs and cornbread, it was time for the first dance. Our band, Elephant Revival, took the stage (they'd learned Neil Young's Harvest Moon for us). If you remember, our wedding coincidentally fell on the night of the Harvest Moon which we didn't figure out until after we'd picked our song.

Press play to listen while we dance.

Our band played it beautifully.

We didn't practice but Mr. CB was spinning me so naturally--I think I was floating on pure bliss.

We were singing softly to each other.

Photo by Amanda Wilson

Three quarters of the way through, Mr. CB decided to invite everyone up to join in our first dance. It was totally unexpected but so sweet.

Many couples joined us and I wondered if the ones who were married were remembering their first dances.

After our first dance, my dad and I took to the stage. My dad and I decided on our song too late in the game to have the band learn it, so we switched to the iPod for a short, sweet dance to Amos Lee's Apple of my Eye (just like the lovely Mrs. Powder Puff).

How did we get here?

• Mr. CB and I road-tripped it
• A peaceful morning
• A rowdy bachelorette party
• Two days before, we fought
• We made up.
• Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends
• Our rehearsal dinner
• The girls got ready
• The guys got ready
• Our First Look
• Budget Breakdown: Bouquets and Bouts
• Potraits of the bride and groom
• Our wedding party
• We all lined up
• The wedding party walked
• Papa CB walked me down the aisle
• Our ceremony begins: a song from Grandma Cowboy Boot
• And ended with a kiss
• Some family portraits
• The Details
• Our centerpiece budget.
• Our photo booth!
• After toasts, we fed each other pie
• Our pie bar and reception signage.

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**

Love at The Ranch: The Pie Bar!

Cake did not make an appearance at our wedding. Instead, we served up a pie bar (by Denver's Teacup Bakery) for our guests to enjoy. All eight pies were natural and organic. We had the venue cut the pies into 12 slices, instead of 8, so people could enjoy multiple flavors. You'd want to too given these flavors: blueberry peach, cherry, apple, pumpkin, caramel apple, chocolate cream, lemon meringue, and banana cream.

Paula from Teacup was so cute when I went in for a tasting. She told me how she goes down to the farmer's market and buys the fruit at its peak (which was way before October). She froze it when it was at its best so our fruit pies would still taste seasonal.

Our calligrapher, Pretty Pen Jen, wrote out the pie types.

I collected the cake stands from garage sales, thrift stores, and Hobby Lobby.

Photo by Amanda Wilson

The card holders were purchased from Bliss & Bloom in the UK. I couldn't find anything even remotely close to them here in the States.

How did we get here?

Mr. CB and I road-tripped it to Colorado.

I spent a peaceful morning with my girls.
Followed by a rowdy bachelorette party.
Two days before the wedding, we fought.
Then, we made up.

On Saturday, Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends.

We celebrated our rehearsal dinner.

Sunday Morning: The girls got ready.

And the guys got ready.

Mr. CB and I had our First Look.

Budget Breakdown: Bouquets and Bouts.

Potraits of the bride and groom.

Our wedding party braved the cold for photos.

We all lined up for the ceremony.

The wedding party walked (and performed hand shakes).

Papa CB walked Ms (soon to be Mrs.) CB down the aisle.

Our ceremony began with a song from Grandma Cowboy Boot.

And ended with a kiss.

We hugged and took some family portraits.

Then our guests to to see The Details.

I broke down our centerpiece budget.

Then showed you our photo booth!

After toasts, we fed each other pie.

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**

Love at The Ranch: Reception Signage

A while back, I asked all of you for help with our reception signs. You offered up your best rhymes but nothing clicked until I got home and looked at my stamp collection. I'd bought an adorable stamp from Hobby Lobby with the word "Love" on it, which I used on our out-of-town bags. I decided I'd make the signs cohesive by incorporating the stamp into each sign somehow.

I sent the stamped stationary off to Pretty Pen Jen in Texas and here's what I got back. I used samples of Crane's Lettra letterpress paper for this signage. Yay for free paper!

Photo by Amanda Wilson

Pie Bar Sign:

"Love is sweet

Try as many flavors as you like"

Escort Card Sign:

"For the Love of horses

Find your name

Your tag matches the image at your table"

Birdcage Guest Book Sign:

"Leave well wishes for the Love birds

Drop your postcard in the cage"

Photo Booth Sign:

"Love the camera

Press the button

You have 10 seconds to strike a pose"

And here are a few more pieces Pretty Pen Jen wrote out for us:

How did we get here?

Mr. CB and I road-tripped it to Colorado.

I spent a peaceful morning with my girls.
Followed by a rowdy bachelorette party.
Two days before the wedding, we fought.
Then, we made up.

On Saturday, Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends.

We celebrated our rehearsal dinner.

Sunday Morning: The girls got ready.

And the guys got ready.

Mr. CB and I had our First Look.

Budget Breakdown: Bouquets and Bouts.

Potraits of the bride and groom.

Our wedding party braved the cold for photos.

We all lined up for the ceremony.

The wedding party walked (and performed hand shakes).

Papa CB walked Ms (soon to be Mrs.) CB down the aisle.

Our ceremony began with a song from Grandma Cowboy Boot.

And ended with a kiss.

We hugged and took some family portraits.

Then our guests to to see The Details.

I broke down our centerpiece budget.

Then showed you our photo booth!

After toasts, we fed each other pie.
Pie bar, anyone?

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**