Blackstone Rivers Ranch is located just 35 minutes west of Denver, Colorado and 3 miles south of Idaho Springs. Blackstone Rivers Ranch is located at 8,200 feet above sea level. The ranch can be found on Chicago Creek Road, known as Highway 103, eventually leading to nearby 14,000 foot mountain, Mt. Evans.
Originally settled on mining claims, Blackstone Rivers Ranch’s ceremony area sits adjacent to Chicago Creek. Just at the end of the Ranch’s road leads to where the 1859 Colorado Gold Rush first began, right at the meeting of Clear Creek and Chicago Creek.
Many of the interior and exterior designs of the family-owned and operated ranch are attributed to local Colorado history, including the ranch’s well-chosen building names, in addition to its serene and quiet natural environment. Blackstone Rivers Ranch has a strong commitment to historical preservation and crucial area non-profit organizations including facilitating the donation of bridal bouquets to local area senior living facilities.
Engaged on July 10, 2021 during a hike together in Colorado, Ivory Events couple Kory and Kelsey chose this local favorite venue for their own wedding ceremony and cozy outdoor tented reception.
Kelsey and Kory had their first look at nearby Echo Lake in Evergreen, Colorado as the Ivory Events team assisted and finalized details and setup for their ceremony, dinner reception and guest lounge area.
Ivory Events couple Kelsey and Kory’s floral design and aesthetic included various textures of greenery and dried foliage with blooms in soft neutral shades. Italian ruscus, dried palms, jasmine vines, bunny tail, dried hydrangeas, reflexed garden roses of playa blanca and toffee, philo orchids for front cascades, ranunculus, white king protea, white delphinium, and babies breath all created a breathtaking ceremony and tented dinner reception display flowered by florist Wandering Poppy Floral Co. Boutonnieres included one small orchid with bits of wild grasses, bunny tail, and a dried bloom. Kory’s Mom pinned his boutonniere before his wedding vows.
Bridesmaid’s bouquets included one philo orchid per bouquet, similar to Kelsey’s bridal bouquet. Kelsey and Kory’s parents’ corsages included a gold cuff with linen-silk tie, and an orchid with white ranunculus, bunny tail, bits of greenery and dried foliage nuzzled around. Their grandparent corsage was identical to the bride and groom’s parent corsages.
Assorted collection of blankets for guests were available upon arrival, for the family seating during the ceremony. ‘If We Were Vampires’ by Jason Isbelle, with the instrumental version played.
There were six aisle floral arrangements which were created by large, clear jars alternating down the inner aisle with sprays of pampas, and then were repurposed around the lounges.
‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros played as the wedding party walked down the aisle. Kelsey had a surprise bridal Procession song, as she walked down the aisle with her father, Kevin. Kelsey and Kory’s Recessional Song ‘Come And Get Your Love’ by Redbone played as they walked down the aisle.
For the cocktail hour, the twelve cocktail table votives included two pleated glass votive holders at varying heights placed around bud vases on cocktail tables with six cocktail table bud vases with varying heights highlighting one or two blooms with wild grasses and greenery, ranunculus, delphinium, reflexed garden roses, bunny tail, true blue eucalyptus, pampas, and babies breath. Their sixteen head tables had taper candles, antique gold taper holders, taupe taper candles with clear glass chimneys.
The seventeen dinner table floral arrangements contained poufs of babies’ breath, with two bud vases.
Ivory Events couple Kelsey and Kory’s tented and cozy dinner reception at Blackstone Rivers Ranch. Photography by Elizabeth Weitz.
There were two lounge areas completed with rentals from Wallflower Rentals & Decor. The decor for lounge area one which was an outside grassy area between the ceremony and tent included one oversized turkish rug repurposed from Kelsey and Kory’s ceremony to lounge one area.
Toasts and dancing at Blackstone Rivers Ranch. Photography by Elizabeth Weitz.
Cocktail hour followed vows with a time for family and friend photography by Colorado-based photographer Elizabeth Weitz. Ivory Events couple Kelsey and Kory were whisked away to Juniper Pass for sunset photos before being announced as husband and wife. Plated salads with a family-style dinner buffet by Footers Catering followed, with large serving bowls served on each table.
Kelsey and her father, Kevin, danced to My Wish by Rascal Flatts for their father-daughter dance. Kory and his mother danced to Days Like This by Van Morrison.
Kelsey and Kory decided to have a mini cobbler station as well as a festive fall s’mores station in lieu of a traditional wedding cake and departed with their wedding party to Black Hawk Casino after their last dance. To learn more about Blackstone Rivers Ranch, be sure to visit www.blackstoneriversranch.com/
Our Planning and Coordination | Ivory Events Colorado @ivoryeventsco
Venue | Blackstone Rivers Ranch @blackstoneriversranch
Photography | Elizabeth Weitz @lizweitz
Florist |Wandering Poppy @wanderingpoppyco
Officiant | Ari Swanson
Catering | Footers Catering @footerscatering
Make Up Artist | Wedlocks @wedlocks
Rentals | Wallflower Rentals and Decor @wallflower_rentals_decor
Ceremony Music and DJ | String and Sound @stringandsound
Guest Transportation | Hermes Worldwide