Lindsay and Kai’s September 27 wedding at Buttermilk had the kind of Colorado weather you hope for in the fall: sunshine, just enough cloud cover to soften the light, and peak color across the mountains. Looking toward Pyramid Peak, the valley below was full of yellows and oranges. It was a spectacular setting for a day that felt playful, relaxed, and unmistakably theirs.
Watch Lindsay and Kai’s Buttermilk wedding film
A chairlift ride to a mountaintop ceremony
The trip up Buttermilk was part of the celebration. Guests rode the chairlift to the ceremony near Cliff House, taking in the fall landscape along the way. Everyone loved the ride, and it made arriving at the ceremony feel like an experience of its own.
Bonnie Kowar’s schedule made room for a first look and family photographs before the ceremony, followed by portraits together afterward. Once we finished the couple’s portraits, Lindsay and Kai rode down with a “Just Married” sign on the back of their chair. With the autumn trees around them, that ride became one of my favorite visual details of the day.
A wedding film with room to be silly
In their questionnaire, Lindsay and Kai described the feeling they wanted as “Fun, genuine, joy-filled, not too cheesy but also not serious.” They loved creative shots and said they were happiest being silly and themselves in front of a camera. That gave me a clear direction: let their personalities lead, and give the landscape a place in the story without losing the people in it.
Their plans also balanced quieter moments with plenty of energy. The timeline paired their first dance with a playful choreographed dance and brought guests onto the dance floor early in the evening. The goal was a celebration people could enjoy together, with space for both meaningful words and a good time.
Buttermilk Mountain Lodge, transformed
The reception decor was one of the best I have seen. Buttermilk Mountain Lodge felt almost like a jungle, with greenery filling the space and creating a completely different atmosphere from the open mountain setting above.
Flower Franch’s floral work connected the ceremony and reception. Bonnie’s design plan included greenery wrapped around pillars and draped over the dance floor, lanterns suspended at different heights, and flowers on the outdoor swing. JAK Innovations handled the lighting, while Nuage Designs linens and Bethel Party Rentals helped bring the room together. The finished space was a remarkable backdrop for a reception where everyone had a great time.
Experience their personalized film gallery
The film deserves a setting of its own, too. Lindsay and Kai’s personalized gallery pairs their wedding imagery with a cinematic presentation, turning the delivery page into another way to step back into the day. Open it full screen to experience the gallery as the couple does.
The wedding team
- Planning and coordination: Bonnie Kowar
- Ceremony and reception: Buttermilk / Cliff House and Buttermilk Mountain Lodge, Aspen Snowmass
- Wedding film: Summit Photo & Film
- Photography: Travis and Bri Newcomb, Capture TEN — @capture.ten
- Florals: Flower Franch — @flowerfranch
- DJ and ceremony sound: DJ AV — @aspen_dj_av
- Lighting: JAK Innovations — @jakinnovations
- Photo booth: SocialLight — @SocialLightColorado
- Cake and cupcakes: d’Elissious custom cake studio — @delissiousaspen
- Rentals: Bethel Party Rentals
- Linens: Nuage Designs — @nuagedesigns
Planning an Aspen wedding film
A mountaintop ceremony and a lodge reception can feel like two different worlds within the same day. A thoughtful timeline leaves room to enjoy both, including the ride between them. Explore our Aspen wedding videography or tell us about your wedding to start planning your film.