A Winter Wonderland Wedding at Four Seasons Vail

Lauren Megerdichian
November 27, 2023
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

[section title=”The Planning”]

[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The wedding vision was winter white with ice blue accents. [/field]

[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The ceremony vision was always a winter white wedding where we would walk down the white bridge spanning the entire pool in the snow right before sundown. The pool steam with the juxtaposition of the fireplace, chandelier, and decorated tree lights created a unique winter wonderland. The reception ballroom had a floral chandelier with hanging twinkle lights, ice blue monogram on the white dancefloor, white/pastel yellow/rose/blue/eucylptus florals, ice blue uplights, ice blue & white linens, ice blue napkins, ice blue foil menus/placecards, table numbers named after Vail Mountain Ski Runs.[/field]

[field title=”Proposal Story”]Hailey and Alex met their senior year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2014. He had just finished a sports management presentation with his team and headed to the local watering hole, Joe’s, for drinks after in their suits. A friend introduced this 6’4” guy in a snazzy suit in a college bar to Hailey (who happened to be wearing a Bull’s jersey) as a Chicago Bull’s basketball player. It was believable until he came to her senior house the following week as just a regular student (GDI).

The pro jersey didn’t matter as Hailey and Alex quickly became friends. Their friendship grew as Alex started to attend Tridelt social events and their favorite bar The Red Lion where Hailey bartended, they shared their first kiss, and the rest is history.

They graduated from the College of Applied Health Sciences together. Hailey would go on to the Wake Forest Emerging Leaders program to graduate with a Masters in Management and Medical Science in PA Studies and Alex by her side.

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the orthopaedic surgery practice Hailey worked with stopped elective surgeries and she joined a COVID-19 emergency response clinical team in Chicago. At the end of 2020 they both found a week off of work and chose Vail, CO as their saving grace that year. Hailey’s grandma from Germany, Omi, always told her stories about her skiing adventures across the globe into her 70s and loved Vail for it’s Bavarian style, Christmas magic, and top of the line terrain.

After having lunch at the Four Seasons Vail Remedy Bar balcony, not realizing yet they were overlooking their future wedding venue, Alex offered the idea to ride the gondola up the mountain to see the breathtaking views since it was a perfect bluebird day. Alex proposed to Hailey on top of the snowy mountain with a beautiful ring and pop of champagne, and she said yes!

Over dinner at Montauk in Vail that night, they made a toast to the beautiful Vail getaway from the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic they experienced in Chicago and vowed to get married here.[/field]

[/section]

[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]

[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]

[board_carousel title=”First Look”]

[/board_carousel]

[section title=”The Fashion”]

[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride wore all white including a fur stole, Cornelia James gloves, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Sareh Nouri gown, and Untamed Petals earrings. The bride, Hailey changed into the “Hailey” Nadine Merabi jumpsuit for the dance floor. [/field]

[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The color theme of the bridesmaids and reception was Icy – They wore mismatched ice blue BHLDN dresses, silver shoes, and white fur shawls to stay warm![/field]

[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]he groom wore a black velvet tux and velvet bowtie from The Black Tux and Christian Louboutin black velvet loafers.The groomsmen wore black tuxes and velvet bow ties from the black tux and ice blue pocket squares. They all wore black ear muffs in between pictures to stay warm![/field]

[/section]

[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

[/board_carousel]

[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]

[section title=”The Details”]

[field title=”Food & Drink”]The signature cocktails for the evening were “Merky Mule” (for the bride, Hailey Merk)- cranberry moscow mule and “Nelsy Old Fashioned” (for the groom, Alex Nelson)- bourbon old fashioned.[/field]

[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Cocktail hour/ Seating chart- 2 White & Ice Blue Christmas Trees with Gondola Ornaments & Ski Lift Tags with guest name and table number and table name after Vail Mountain ski runs

Ski Lift Photo Booth with “The Nelsons Love at Frost Sight” Ice Blue Sign with ski/snowboard props was so much fun! The print outs were personalized with our monogram and hashtag #AprèsEverAfter.

The reception ballroom had a floral chandelier with hanging twinkle lights, ice blue monogram on the white dancefloor, white/pastel yellow/rose/blue/eucylptus florals, ice blue uplights, ice blue & white linens, ice blue napkins, ice blue foil menus/placecards, table numbers named after Vail Mountain Ski Runs.

[/field]

[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The all white with white florals wedding cake was made in house by the Four Seasons catering team. [/field]

[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The bride has asked if she and the groom can be mentioned by name- Hailey & Alex Nelson. I included her IG handle in the vendor credits above (@hailnelsy). Thank you![/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]

[/section]

[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]

[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]

[board_carousel title=”Wedding Weekend Events”]

[/board_carousel]