Boots, Ink, and High-Altitude Love: Maddie and Colton’s Silverthorne Wedding
If you think a mountain wedding has to be all soft lace and quiet whispers, Maddie and Colton are here to show you a different side of the Rockies.
Maddie is a personal trainer with a powerhouse personality, and Colton is a bartender who knows exactly how to keep a party moving. They didn’t want a “cookie-cutter” wedding; they wanted a day that felt like a rugged, honest celebration of their life here in Colorado. There was no fluff—just boots, hats, and a commitment as permanent as the ink they got later that afternoon.
A Mountain-Western Aesthetic
Living in the mountains means embracing the elements. These two traded traditional wedding shoes for cowboy boots and topped off their formal wear with cowboy hats.
The Silverthorne Pavilion was the perfect stage for this. The venue’s massive wood beams and stone architecture felt less like a ballroom and more like a high-end ranch. We spent their portrait hour exploring the riverside trails, which gave us that Adventure Engagement feel right in the heart of Summit County. As a Denver Wedding Photographer, I’m always looking for that “mountain-meets-modern” vibe, and these two nailed it.
Making it Permanent: Wedding Day Tattoos
Maddie and Colton wanted to skip the traditional rituals in favor of something that felt like them. After a ceremony overlooking the Blue River, they did something I’ve rarely seen: they sat down and got matching tattoos right there on their wedding day. As a photographer who focuses on modern, honest, and story-driven imagery, capturing the buzz of the tattoo gun against the backdrop of the Rockies was a highlight of my season. It was a bold, permanent way to say “I do” that perfectly matched their grit.
The Party of the Year
With Maddie’s fitness community and Colton’s industry friends, the guest list was high-energy. The Pavilion’s layout handled the crowd perfectly. Between the crisp mountain air on the patio and the packed dance floor inside, the energy never dipped. It reminded me of the vibrant atmosphere you find at modern Denver city weddings, just with better views and more Stetson hats.
Seeing a couple so unapologetically themselves—from the cowboy boots to the fresh ink—is exactly why I love Colorado wedding photography.
🏔️ Planning your own Silverthorne Wedding?
If you love the look of Maddie and Colton’s day and want to know more about the logistics, guest capacity, and my favorite photo spots at this venue, check out my full Silverthorne Pavilion Wedding Venue Spotlight for all the details.