Issuu

We love nothing more than to adventure together, so to us, there was no better place to get married than in the crisp mountain air

Golden

We always knew we wanted to get married in Colorado. It’s where Brooke grew up, and over the years it’s become such a special place to Gavin as well. We love Golden and its quaint, old-time western charm, and the unique energy the town has. We were so excited to share one of our favorite places with our family and friends.

There’s no place quite like it.

July28

We woke up so excited on our wedding morning. We started the day on the rooftop of The Eddy, wearing robes and drinking coffee. We exchanged cards with each other - that were oddly similarand then we went our separate ways to get ready for the big day.

It wasn’t until around 2pm that all hell broke loose. What do we mean? A small forest fire broke out a few miles from the venue.

Our vendors were calling saying they were being diverted. Then we started getting calls and texts from family and friends that they too were diverted and stuck in standstill traffic.

We had no idea how bad the fire might get and whether our wedding would be canceled.

We are so grateful for the Intercanyon fire department, who were able to quickly contain the fire. We were back in business (just a little late!)

As a tribute to my father my suit included several custom pieces: This tie patch, a paisley suit liner symbolic of his 90s ties, and I wore his U.S. Army cufflinks.

Everyone exiting the 3-Hour Tour Bus had to pay a mandatory toll (Fireball or Tequila).

And this guy, saved the day...

Now you will feel no storms, for each of you will be shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness, for each of you is companion to the other, You are two persons, but there is one life before you, and one home. Turn together to look at the road you traveled, to reach this—the hour of your happiness. It stretches behind you into the past. Look to the future that lies ahead. A long and winding, adventure-filled road, whose every turn means discovery, new hopes, new joys, new laughter, and a few shared tears. May happiness be your companion, May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead; And through all the years to come. Go this day to your dwelling place and enter into your days together. May your days be long and good upon the earth.

On behalf of Benny, Brooke and Gavin’s adorable dog, I’m here to tell you how Falling In Love Is Like Owning a Dog.

First of all, it’s a big responsibility. So think long and hard before deciding on love.

On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security; when you’re walking down a street late at night and you have love on a leash, ain’t no one going to mess with you.

On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises.

Love wakes you up at all hours of the night with its needs. It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy

Love doesn’t like being left alone for long. But come home and love is always happy to see you. It may break a few things accidentally in it’s passion for life, But you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! Nooo!

Love can be bad. Bad, love, BAD! VERY bad love!

Love makes messes. Love leaves you little surprises here and there. Love needs lots of cleaning up after. Sometimes you just want to get love fixed!

Love will beg you to go out for a nice long walk. But take caution, because love is known to pull you in many different directions at once or wind itself around and around you until you’re all wound up and cannot move.

But throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again.

And most of all, love needs love, lots of it.

In return, love loves you and never ever stops.

Gavin,

When I met you, I was a young 24 year old, unsure of who I was or what I wanted out of life. I was interviewing for that job in San Francisco, and I honestly already had one foot out the door. But you stopped me in my tracks.

I remember from the very start, you brought me a sense of calm and security, and a knowing that I was enough just the way I am, which you honestly figured out for me before I did. I didn’t have to be tough, successful, pretty… I just had to be me. I had never felt 100% accepted, every inch of me on the outside and in, until I met you.

After our first couple dates - once I realized that you were not in fact boring - I remember telling some friends that I was pretty sure I was either going to marry you, or it’d be the greatest heartbreak of my life and I’d move far away from Connecticut. Well, even though we are still in Connecticut (hehe), I am so, so glad that the former ended up being right. Deep down I felt so relieved when I didn’t get that job in San Francisco, because it meant I could stay with you. I already understood that life with you would always be better than life without you. And here we are, six years later, finally marrying each other in one of our favorite places, with a rock solid partnership.

We’ve been through so much over the past six years: Immense joy and happiness, incredibly painful loss, epic travel adventures, COVID quarantining, new jobs and passions, fostering pups, and adopting our first child, Benny. We’ve been tested and challenged and we’ve grown and evolved together. I have no doubt that the foundation we’ve built will carry us through our lifetime, no matter what comes our way.

You are the greatest person I know. You’re so smart, silly, humble, and you have an ability to meet every person where they are and let them feel seen. To this day, I’m still consistently in awe of the kindness and generosity of your heart. You bring brightness to everyone who is blessed to cross your path.

And for me, you have given me grounding and stability, and you’ve taught me how to slow down and enjoy the little moments, instead of always looking to the future and wishing the present away. You never pressured that 24 year old girl to figure it out. You gave me all the room and patience to let me figure it out on my own, and supported me fully along the way. I truly can’t believe I get to spend the rest of my days with that type of unconditional love, kindness, and support. What a blessing it is to have a life partner like that.

Now, the vows…

I vow to never stop adventuring with you.

I vow to always let you watch your Boston sports, and to tease you about how hard it is to be a Boston sports fan along the way.

I vow to try to open my mail more frequently and to pick up Benny’s poops more often.

I vow to continue loving you with that same kindness, patience, and silliness that we have built our foundation on for the past six years.

I vow to let you grow and change and evolve - and to be your biggest cheerleader as you flourish into all that you are and will be.

I promise to support you in every twist and turn life brings us. And most importantly, I vow to choose you and work hard to keep our relationship healthy and thriving every day.

I love you so much and I can’t believe I get to wake up next to you for the rest of my days. You are everything to me. I’m so proud to be your wife.

Now let’s get married!!!

Brooke, my love,

I’m going to start my vows with a selfish confession. When we first met, and you told me you were likely leaving for a new job and life in San Francisco, I said I was okay and it was still worth spending time with you until that day came.

I lied.

Deep down I didn’t want you to get that job. Because even though I hardly really knew you, I knew I felt something different towards you. Something I wanted to at least give a chance to see grow, because deep down I had this feeling there could be something special.

It turns out, I was right. You not moving to San Francisco was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Selfish, I know. But I’m not sorry. Because if you hadn’t missed out on Google, I would have missed out on the greatest love I have ever known. And we would have missed out on this incredible journey, life, and love we’ve built together. And Benny! And I wouldn’t be standing here today about to marry my best friend and soulmate.

The truth is, I believe we were meant to find each other, and meant to be together at that exact moment in time because we are the perfect compliment to each other. How else can you describe two people from opposite ends of the country and different upbringings having their lives collide and mesh so perfectly together like they were meant for each other.

With you, I have an everlasting love. My comfort. My home. And I will forever do everything in my power to give all of that back to you.

I vow to…

Never stop loving you with all my heart.

Always give you my very best because you deserve nothing less.

To always be true and faithful. To always take care of you.

I promise to follow you wherever you go.

I promise to always support you and uplift you in everything you do.

To always push myself… for us… in all the great ways you challenge me.

To never stop exploring with you. And to never stop having fun with you!

I’ll never stop Tom-Coteing the door on our trips to keep you safe.

I promise to always be your rock and your balance.

To always be your shoulder to lean on through tough times as you’ve been for me.

I promise to listen to you and give you my undivided attention with my phone down!

I vow to just let you vent and not always have to give a positive response, because sometimes you just need to be heard.

I promise to always take Benny out at night, do the dishes, and cook you dinners.

Somehow… I feel like I’ve always known.

I knew I was going to marry you five years ago when we stood on the bluffs in Watch Hill for the sunset.

I knew four years ago when we laid on our private beach in Kauai.

I knew three years ago when we sat and overlooked Horseshoe Bend.

I knew two years ago, deep in the Andes, and you rested your head on my shoulder as we looked out over the Urubamba Valley. Thousands of miles away, I was home.

I damn well knew one year ago when I asked you to marry me.

And right now, I’ve never been more sure. And finally, after six years of waiting to marry you… Today, I don’t have to wait anymore.

I love you forever.