Nothing beats the excitement of being newly engaged. If you’re anything like we were, you can’t stop admiring that ring on your finger and you’re already poring over pictures and inspiration for your big day. But before you get there, you have the engagement party to plan, yes? With Connie Dai Photography and A Vintage Affair Events & Rentals by their sides, Caitlyn + Jimmer chose to celebrate their engagement at a casual yet elegant backyard cocktail party. With some romantic chalkboard signage, lush berry-hued florals, and a darling black-and-white stripe motif, it was a charming and ultra fun atmosphere. Even the pooches were dressed to the nines.
For the floral arrangements, Bare Root Flora used stunning peonies, sweet pea, ranunculus, lilac, roses, and other textural blooms in shades of coral, raspberry, and blackberry.
Their sweetest little love story, as told by Jimmer:
Caitlin and I began dating in our final year at Colorado College. As classmates in a late-evening course who also happened to live in the same apartment building, we got to know each other on our walks home at the end of the night. With free time in our busy schedules rarely overlapping, we shared our first official date on Valentine’s Day when we were both, ironically, available. To soften the blow of a first date on a holiday designed for love, I took Caitlin bowling, lost like a man, and am happy to say that we fondly celebrate this anniversary, now as an engaged couple, over four years later.
Somewhere between February 14, 2009 and December 2, 2012, Caitlin and I—in this order—moved to Denver, found jobs teaching, became roommates, bought a TV, bought a dog, and then bought our first home. Then, there was the proposal. With the help of our friend Jessica, who owns A Vintage Affair Events & Rentals, I told Caitlin we would be modeling in an outdoor photoshoot for her company. This was all a ruse to dodge any questions about the table, two chairs, and assortment of beautiful flowers and food that awaited us in the middle of an open field on a perfect wintery Colorado afternoon. After checking to make sure the ring was in my pocket for the hundredth time, I told Caitlin how much I loved her, promised to take care of her, dropped to my knee, and asked her to be my wife. She said yes!
We can’t wait for our laidback mountain wedding next summer in Estes Park. Though it becomes official then, we already anticipate a lifetime of friendship, love, and few more humiliating (for me) frames of bowling.
Photography: Connie Dai Photography / Event Design: A Vintage Affair Events & Rentals / Floral Design: Bare Root Flora / Lighting: Lighting and Design by Scott / Linens: La Tavola / “The Best is Yet to Come” Sign: The First Snow / “Oh My Darling” Sign: Oh, Albatross / Favor Bags: Pretty Sweet Stuff / Salted Caramel Favors: The Caramel Jar / Dog Bow Ties: Mia’s Closet
