Operation Wedding: Mark & Brad’s Backyard Ceremony

April 20, 2020

Mark & Brad

Photos by Branson Maxwell

Mark and Brad met online and dated four years before getting engaged. According to Mark, one weekend he “had an epiphany” while the two were discussing their future. He realized just how sure he was that he wanted to marry Brad, so he went out and bought a ring the very next day.

The following weekend, the two headed down to a cabin in Colorado with some friends and commenced what Mark and his accomplices referred to as “Operation Question.” Mark and his co-conspirators staged a hike along a nearby lake. The group stopped to take photos and that’s when Mark dropped down onto one knee, pulled out a ring and popped the question. Brad said yes, or – to be exact – “YES, YES, YES!” and the two headed back to the cabin where they spent the evening calling family members and telling them the good news.

According to Mark, the pair chose to get married in their backyard because they love hosting and felt it was the perfect setting to share their space with all of their favorite people. To achieve the modern industrial look they were going for, the couple chose a color palette of copper, green, gray and navy.

Because of the intimate nature of the wedding, Mark and Brad wanted to ensure that the event was a largely mingling affair. “We didn’t want a dinner hour where people were sitting in a chair not socializing,” Mark explained, “so we provided one long table along the back yard with no seating assignment. The caterers served the entire meal on trays and brought them around to everyone. Most people were mingling and talking with new people while eating which is exactly what we wanted.”

Mark and Brad each selected a personal favorite cocktail to serve to their guests alongside custom wine made with labels that donned the same art as their invitations.

The pair had their first dance to Adele’s Make You Feel My Love before they invited both of their moms to the dance floor for Your Song by Elton John. Then the music picked up and they finished off the evening dancing alongside their family and friends.