A Three-Day Mountain Celebration: Dora & David’s Refined McCabe Ranch Wedding

Some wedding weekends feel like a collection of separate events, but Dora and David’s felt like one continuous story: three days of meaningful places, personal traditions, unexpected Colorado weather, and celebrations that felt entirely their own. From welcome drinks at Hotel Jerome to a hike up Smuggler Mountain, a rehearsal dinner at the Aspen Art Museum, and a breathtaking tented wedding at McCabe Ranch, every moment was thoughtfully designed to reflect who they are and what Aspen means to them. Naturally, unpredictable Aspen weather kept everyone on their toes the entire time.

The weekend kicked off on Thursday with an easygoing welcome gathering in the Hotel Jerome courtyard. Rather than a formal dinner, guests stopped by to grab a drink, enjoy a few bites, and ease into the celebration. The design was intentionally clean and understated, complementing the existing landscaping with organic, homegrown-feeling florals. A custom beanie embroidery station allowed guests to personalize beanies complete with a little crowned bear—a nod to their nicknames for each other (“bear”) and David’s last name (King). When a sudden rainstorm moved the party inside, no one missed a beat; if anything, it made the relaxed evening feel even more spontaneous.

Friday highlighted Dora’s deep connection to summer in Aspen. She and David kicked off the morning by leading guests on a favorite hike up Smuggler Mountain, followed by a casual deli sandwich picnic at Rio Grande Park. That evening, everyone gathered at the Aspen Art Museum for a rehearsal dinner designed to feel like an artistic cocktail event rather than a preview of the main day. Sculptural florals blended into the museum’s basket-weave architecture while food stations and passed appetizers kept the mood social. Between heartfelt speeches sharing stories of their lives together, another unexpected rain and windstorm rolled through, adding one more memorable twist to the night.

On Saturday, the vision of refined Colorado elegance came to life under a sailcloth tent on the polo fields of McCabe Ranch. Mid-afternoon brought 40 mph wind gusts that prevented the chuppah from standing. Leaning into the unexpected, four of David’s groomsmen stepped in to hold the traditional tallit above the couple throughout the ceremony, creating an extraordinarily intimate moment surrounded by family and friends.

Guests then moved to cocktail hour featuring a statement 24-foot bar wrapped in chinoiserie wallpaper and signature drinks like the golf-inspired Transfusion. Inside the tent, playful design touches—including silver accents honoring Aspen’s mining history, family silver on the tables, supple linens, and caterpillar-style arrangements—complemented a bright, family-style meal and a showstopping four-tier Lambeth-style wedding cake. The reception quickly turned into a high-energy dance party as DJ Savvy kept the floor packed straight through dinner. The celebration wrapped late into the night at Silver City Saloon with a casino-themed after-party featuring blackjack and craps—a detail subtly teased earlier in their invitation suite’s playing-card accents.

Through the mountain weather, wind, and rain, Dora and David’s wedding weekend embraced everything beautiful and unpredictable about Colorado—a personal, heartwarming celebration that couldn’t have turned out more perfect.