Summer Wedding at North Star Gatherings

North Star Gatherings Venue in the Summer

Coming from Texas, Avery and Nick had their hearts set on a summer wedding in the mountains of Colorado. They chose North Star Gatherings as their venue – one of the best Colorado venues with mountain views and a great approach to sustainability. If you’re unfamiliar with North Star Gatherings, it’s a self-sustaining wedding venue situated at around 9,000 feet between Idaho Springs and Evergreen, Colorado. Yes, the entire venue runs on solar power. It also has some of the best mountain views – and sunsets – for your out-of-town guests to truly enjoy what Colorado has to offer. With the help of their awesome vendors and attendance of their favorite people, Avery and Nick’s summer wedding at North Star Gatherings turned out to be everything they dreamed of.

The Girls

Avery and her bridesmaids started their June morning relaxing and getting ready in the loft as vendors were hustling and bustling in the great hall below. Shortly after the ladies arrived, Nick sent his best man up the hill to deliver a wedding gift to Avery – a stunning flower arrangement with a handwritten note – seriously, so sweet! The ladies got dressed as Avery’s mom helped her into her wedding dress and shoes. 

The Guys

In the meantime, the guys arrived in fashion at their hut down the hill. These groomsmen walk-up photos will be unmatched…forever. Talk about a fun group really embracing the pink! Nick and his buddies got ready in the groomsmen suite, and Nick prepared for his first look with Avery.

Before the Ceremony

I will always be an advocate for a first look for a few reasons: it calms the nerves, gives you a practice round if you want to read your vows to each other, and it gives you a lot more time to enjoy your wedding day together. Without it, you’ll be spending more than half your wedding day apart.
Nick and Avery shared a sweet, intimate first look on the hill above North Star Gatherings. We were also able to take some wedding portraits – which is always a blessing because you truly never know if you’ll get a sunset or an evening storm in the mountains. I always try to squeeze in a short couples portrait session right after the first look.

We also took advantage of this extra time for family photos and wedding party portraits. Hats off to Avery, because this color palette was *chef’s kiss*. Her and her bridesmaids looked absolutely stunning, and these dresses matched the florals PERFECTLY. These colorful florals really reflected Colorado in the summertime so well.

Speaking of, let’s address these florals right now, because I cannot wait any longer. I’m still drooling over them, and it’s been months since this wedding. I’m all for a neutral palette, but let me just say I’m ECSTATIC that a bolder color palette is making a comeback in wedding design. From the ceremony arches to the tablescapes and fireplace design, Floral Wild Designs knocked my socks off with these flower details.

North Star Gatherings Ceremony Deck

Nick and Avery’s summer wedding on the deck of North Star Gatherings was filled with joy. From the wedding party to the guests, everyone was smiling at the ceremony. Nick and Avery shared their vows in front of their loved ones. They lit a unity candle – which proved to be quite difficult given the wind! They exchanged rings and shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

Cocktail Hour on the Patio

Thankfully we had taken most of our portraits pre-ceremony. This gave Avery and Nick the chance to mingle with their guests during cocktail hour. North Star Gatherings does require cocktail hour to be on the patio to give vendors time to transition into the great hall. This also gives your wedding photographer time to photograph all those special details that you spent months (or years!) working on. Guests are free to roam the patio, get drinks from the bar, and head up the hill to take in the mountain views before dinner.

As soon as the guests sat down for dinner, the wedding party made their grand entrance and speeches began. Dinner was served. First dances were had. Evening coffee from Good Hart was enjoyed.

Everyone was excited to get on the dance floor with DJ Tony. The Get Down is THE BEST DJ in the biz, and I will always be excited to work alongside them. Think of it this way – the more bangers the DJ plays, the more unhinged the photos get as the night goes on. Anyway, I’ll leave you with some “details after dark” and a wild dance floor gallery to scroll through.

Venue: North Star Gatherings
Photographer: Taylor Hassebroek Photo
Planning + Coordination: A Touch of Bliss
Florals: Floral Wild Designs
DJ: The Get Down
Coffee Bar: Goodhart Coffee
Catering: Greenspoint Catering
Cake: Love, Emily
Transportation: Ride Experiences
Hair & Makeup: Captivate Beauty
Dress: Grace Loves Lace

North Star Gatherings holds such a special place in my heart. If you’re dreaming of a summer wedding at North Star Gatherings, please reach out to see if we’d be a good fit for your wedding day!

xo, taylor

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