There are few things I appreciate more than simple elegance, and this wedding from Sarah Joelle is just that…

Says the bride, “For the ceremony, we both wanted something intimate and beautiful that wouldn’t be affected by any changes in the weather. There is something so classic and sweet about getting married in a chapel. The chapel is also located on the campus of the my Alma Mater. The grounds at the University of Denver are always immaculate and I knew it would be ideal for picture taking.”

“It’s difficult to tell but Nick’s suit is navy blue and my dress is champagne (as opposed to the typical black tux, white dress). I wanted a timeless look for my wedding, one which will always look classic when I look back at pictures, regardless of the change in trends.”

“For the reception, we loved the combination of classic and modern elements at Palazzo Verdi. The labyrinth on the floor is an exact replica of the labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral which I saw when I studied abroad in France. Nick and I are both artistic and we loved the attached art gallery as well as the floor-to-ceiling painting by Todd Siler which is his own interpretation of poet William Blake’s work. Opposite the painting are floor-to-ceiling windows which lit up the room and made all of our photos appear heavenly.”

The wedding cake was pink champagne with buttercream frosting, with a croquembouche-inspired topper of custard filled choux puffs.

SEE THE FULL GALLERY FOR MORE FROM THIS ELEGANT BLACK AND WHITE WEDDING.

 

What was your favorite moment or part of the day?  My favorite moment was walking into the chapel and seeing Nick’s face because I had surprised him by having the guitarist play a special song when I walked down the aisle. He was holding back tears. It was perfect.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding?  We actually omitted a few traditions such as the garter and bouquet toss – it just didn’t fit with our dynamic. We did, however, create our own tradition by having both sets of parents give a blessing on us during the ceremony. It was very meaningful to each of us.

What advice do you have for other brides?  If you work full-time and/or have kids, make room in your budget for a wedding planner. If you don’t, you will wish you had! I was busier than I would have liked to be on my wedding weekend. The bride should not be frazzled the day before the wedding!

Do you have any budget tips for other brides?  Create an outline, highlight priorities and budget around those things. The rest will fit in as needed. In hindsight, I would have budgeted more for a wedding planner and less for other elements.

Photographer: Sarah Joelle / Ceremony venue: Evans Memorial Chapel at the University of Denver / Reception venue: Palazzo Verdi in Denver, Colorado / Dress: Justin Alexander via The Bridal Collection / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Suit, shirt, shoes, bowtie: Banana Republic, Nordstrom / Floral Designer: Banisters Flowers / Rentals: Event Rents /  Cello: Kara Tafoya / Guitar: Stephan Hume / Band: The Sinatra Band / Catering: Epicurean Catering / Cake: The Makery Cake / Transportation:  Uber / Hair, Makeup: Erin Tafoya of Blondies Beauty Salon

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