We're MARRIED! 02.02.25

We were incredibly excited for our Crested Butte summer wedding, but things don't always go according to plan. We received some very shocking and concerning news regarding Michelle's health at the end of January. While no one wants to be confronted with a cancer diagnosis, the silver lining that has brought us immense comfort is that facing this scary new reality has brought us closer than ever to each other, our family, and our faith. Follow us on this journey by joining our Caring Bridge site (linked below) We didn't feel right beginning this fight without beginning our marriage, so we decided to have a small intimate ceremony with our immediate family in the place we've made our home. Our families flew to Denver and immediately got to work. Flowers, make-up, dress shopping (and returning), catering, and photography were all handled- the day arrived. We spent the uncharacteristically warm and sunny Sunday morning together going for a walk in our neighborhood with Indie. Mason went down to Tennyson street to hang with the guys, while Michelle spent the rest of the morning with her girls. Mama Mia played throughout the morning to appropriately set the scene. Mason and the family began arriving at the house in the afternoon and could enjoy the sunny rays in the backyard. We met on the front porch to see each other in our wedding finery for the first time, tears quick to form. It's safe to say our eyes rarely left each other's for the rest of the day. Together in the living room and kitchen, we shared a private first dance to "Spin" by Sumbuck, off the album Mason gifted to Michelle on their second date. Michelle's brother in law Grant officiated our wedding in our favorite room in the house. He shared a beautiful message with our family to witness. We felt with us too, those we lost to soon, our cherished guardian angels: Mason's Dad Bill, Mason's grandparents Bill and Pam, Michelle's niece Isabel, Michelle's grandparents Andrew, Anne, Dap, and Frank. Mason's Dad, Andrew, shared a reading and prayer from his father Papaw. Our hands were linked the whole time. We exchanged rings, shared a kiss, and the bubble girls (Michelle's nieces) got to shower the happy couple in bubbles. After the ceremony, Michelle's Dad, David, shared a toast, and the family signed our guest book- the skiing trail map coffee table book Michelle got for Mason on their first Valentine's day together. Appropriately, everyone signed the Big Sky page where we first said "I love you" in the state we mined our engagement and wedding ring stones from. We shared private vows with each other after the ceremony and took some time alone to enjoy being together in our house as husband and wife for the first time. The party moved to Michelle's sister Heather's house, where we had a small reception with Italian food (as demanded by the DeStenas) from Parisi. We enjoyed the night with our family filled with lots of niece cuddles on the couch. It was the perfect day and throughout it all we felt so much peace and conviction that things were as they were meant to be. We know that the road ahead won't be easy, but a marriage is never all easy, and we feel confident starting down the path together hand in hand. "The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have any power over the present. Health and hope GREW STRONG in them, and they were content with each good day as it came, taking pleasure in every moment and every word and song." J.R.R. Tolkien https://www.caringbridge.org/site/0fe0d890-ee1e-11ef-ae12-6f20035fe0e7?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=share_button&utm_term=&utm_content=link_share_button&utm_campaign=private_home_page