A Colorful Outdoor Wedding at Halfway House in Boulder, Colorado 

Sydney Rusow (she/they) walked down a pine-lined stone path at the Halfway House in Boulder, Colorado, accompanied by their dog and a loved one on each side, as guests looked on from white folding chairs arranged beneath an open Colorado sky. Hannah Rusow (she/her) followed moments later, carrying a loose, garden-style wildflower bouquet past a rustic stone structure framed by towering pines. Together, they met beneath a wooden arch adorned with lush greenery, with the Flatirons rising behind them and their closest people gathered close. It was August, and the sun was beginning its descent over the mountains.

Sydney and Hannah’s Love Story

“Sydney proposed to me on June 28, 2024 at Harmon Park in Kearney, Nebraska,” Hannah says. “When we first started living together, we would take walks through the park because of the beautiful waterfall, winding stream and gardens. Every time we walked there, we’d talk about what we were looking forward to next. First it was moving into a new apartment together. Then it was getting our dog, Phillmore, and imagining bringing him on walks with us. Later, after we bought our house, we’d walk there with Phillmore and talk about how exciting it was to be homeowners. That park became our place where we celebrated each new chapter of our lives.”

“Sydney planned the proposal perfectly,” she continues. “Our close friends from Omaha told me they were in town for work and offered to walk with me to a picnic for Sydney’s work at Harmon Park. I didn’t think anything of it until we started walking toward the waterfall at the top of the hill. I looked up and saw Sydney standing there with flowers.”

“When I reached her, she reminded me of all those conversations we’d have over the years and how every walk there had marked a new milestone in our lives. Then she got down on one knee and asked me to marry her. I said, ‘Of course.'”

The Ceremony

“The ceremony was outdoors at the Halfway House in Boulder, Colorado,” Hannah says. “It took place as the sun was setting on the Flatirons, and we were surrounded by our family and friends.”

Phillmore the dog joined the processional, trotting down that pine-flanked path alongside his people and was at the couple’s side when they exchanged vows beneath the greenery-draped arch. The wedding party stood close in coral, sage, dusty blue and pink. Guests settled into white folding chairs as pine-covered foothills and open meadow grasses held the whole scene.

“During the ceremony, we tied a braided rope around our joined hands,” says Hannah. The handfasting brought a tactile, grounded quality to the vows, the braided cord connecting two people who had been building a life together long before this day made it official. Laughter moved through the ceremony naturally. Photos show the two of them grinning through vows, their officiant, their closest friend, smiling between them in sage green. When they walked back up the aisle together, Phillmore in tow, guests filled the stone terrace with cheers.

Wildflowers and Color: The Wedding Palette

“We wanted our flowers to feel colorful, natural and inspired by Nebraska native wildflowers,” Hannah says. “Instead of a traditional, tightly arranged bouquet, we chose a loose garden-style look with lots of different blooms, textures and greenery.”

That philosophy carried through every arrangement on the day. Hannah’s bridal bouquet was a loose, lush mix of red, pink, purple and cream blooms, deeply saturated and gathered the way something might be if you cut it straight from a field. Sydney wore a pink rose boutonniere pinned to a navy blazer. The wedding party dressed in mismatched colors, pink, blue, navy, terracotta and yellow, each person in their own shade, the whole group reading together like a wildflower meadow rather than a uniform row.

“The wedding had a rainbow of colors that brought out the spring and summer feeling,” Hannah says. “The wedding party each had a different color that they wore and lots of wildflower inspiration was woven throughout the day.” Outdoors in the golden meadow, with the Flatirons behind them and tall prairie grasses at their feet, the bouquet Hannah carried and the embroidered blooms on her gown echoed the mountain landscape.

How They Personalized Their Wedding

“We tried to make every part of our wedding reflect who we are and what matters most to us,” Hannah says. “We chose to get married in Colorado because we love the mountains, feel safe there and wanted the mountains as a backdrop to our ceremony.”

“Even though we were in Colorado, we wanted to bring a piece of Nebraska with us,” she says. “Sydney made all of the bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces and other floral arrangements by hand, incorporating flowers from our own garden back home. Our best friend, who was also the first person we lived with, officiated our ceremony and our dog, Phillmore, was there to celebrate with us.”

Hannah, a wedding gown designer, made her own wedding gown, which was covered in colorful embroidered wildflowers, with a floral veil to match and white low-rise Vans on her feet. Sydney wore a tailored navy suit from SuitShop with thrifted floral shoes from J.Crew and a blush boutonniere at their lapel. The reception unfolded inside the Night Owls at the Halfway House, a room lit by star-shaped chandeliers, warm Edison string lights and purple uplighting, with an owl mural and a hand-lettered quote from Og Mandino painted above the bar. Floral centerpieces anchored the candlelit reception tables inside the Night Owls. 

“My dress was custom made with floral details,” Hannah says. “Every piece of decor was thrifted or bought secondhand to reduce waste and to make the day feel even more intentional.” Their first dance was to “Because You Love Me” by the Rare Occasions. 

Challenges Faced During Wedding Planning as an Lesbian Couple

“One of our biggest challenges was navigating the uncertainty we felt after the 2024 election,” Hannah says. “We had originally planned to get married in Nebraska in 2026, but we decided to move our wedding up a year and celebrate in Colorado because we wanted the peace of mind that came with getting married there. We also made intentional decisions about creating a space where we felt fully supported and surrounded by people who celebrated our relationship.”

That decision reshaped the entire arc of their wedding: the location, the timing, the guest list. They built a day that held them rather than one they had to defend or justify.

Pleasant Surprises

“Looking back, one of our biggest challenges became our biggest pleasant surprise,” Hannah says. “Choosing to move our wedding to Colorado gave us the opportunity to spend the entire day feeling safe, celebrated and completely ourselves. It also turned our wedding into a weekend away with our closest friends. Since we were married on a Friday, we got to spend the rest of the weekend exploring Colorado with our bridal party, making memories together as newlyweds. We wouldn’t change a thing.”

Advice for Engaged LGBTQ+ Couples or Marriers

“Plan the wedding that feels right for the two of you, not the one you think you’re supposed to have,” Hannah says. “Choose a place where you feel safe, surround yourselves with people who truly celebrate your relationship and don’t feel obligated to invite anyone out of guilt or expectation. We intentionally kept our guest list to the people who brought us joy and support, and it allowed us to be completely present and enjoy every moment.”

“We also recommend finding vendors who genuinely celebrate LGBTQIA+ couples,” she adds. “It made such a difference knowing everyone around us was excited to be part of our day.”

 

“Make your support visible and genuine,” Hannah says. “Small things, like using inclusive language on your website and forms, asking for pronouns and avoiding assumptions about roles or traditions, go a long way. Most importantly, create an environment where LGBTQIA+ couples don’t have to wonder if they will be accepted or tolerated. They should know they are celebrated.” ❤️

Featured LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Queer Affirming Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Claire Katan Creative LLC
Wedding Ceremony Venue: Halfway House
Wedding Reception Venue: Night Owls
Wedding Gown: Hannah Caroline Couture
Wedding Suit: SuitShop