Unpaved Memories

Most brides worry about rain on their wedding day; I was worried about frostbite.

On a beautifully frozen January day, we stood on top of Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet to say our vows. The thermometer hit a high of 5°F, and the windchill was deep in the negatives. The opened lace back of my dress was less than ideal (normally I am all about dressing for the weather, but you have to take chances on your wedding day). Our ‘wedding chapel’ was a frozen ridgeline, and our ‘limo’ was a heated car where I had to retreat every few minutes just to regain feeling in my fingers between photos.

Looking back at those photos, you see the spectacular views and the dramatic light, but I see something more. I see us in our truest form. We chose the cold and the wind because the outdoors is where we know ourselves—and each other—best. We also know that with every bitter cold breeze we felt, there would also be times in marriage that would feel just as cold, and potentially just as bitter. It wasn’t about the fluff or the flowers; it was about starting our life together in the wild, raw environment that made us fall in love in the first place.