As fate would have it, Hanna Bird and Lauren Smith met at a wedding. “We got to chatting and realized we simply had to know everything there was to know about one another,” Lauren shares.
A little more than three years later, Lauren proposed to Hanna on the night before Thanksgiving, while they were visiting Hanna’s family in Florida. Oysters are special to the couple, so Lauren handed Hanna a custom engraved oyster knife that read, “Will you marry me?” before shucking shells for a holiday recipe. Once engaged, Hanna found her moment and proposed to Lauren on Christmas Eve, while they were with Lauren’s family in Houston.
Ever since Hanna’s family purchased a home in Colorado, Hanna and Lauren quickly made Beaver Creek their home away from home. When they spotted Spruce Saddle Lodge on a ski trip, the pair knew the venue at the top of Centennial Gondola was perfect for their celebration.
Aesthetically, Hanna and Lauren have always been drawn to the western lifestyle. Lauren grew up in Texas, and after Florida-raised Hanna visited Kemo Sabe, she was hooked on the look. “This love for western-wear and culture inspired the desire to have a very Ralph Lauren meets Yellowstone aesthetic. . . but make it a little gay,” Hanna smiles. “That’s where the beautiful rainbow-themed floral arrangements and disco photo moment came into play.” To help bring their “mountain formal” vision to life, the couple entrusted Colorado-based GoBella Design & Planning and Birch Event Design. Over The Moon The List Photographer Abby Jiu and The Andrews Films were behind their lenses all weekend
For Lauren’s ceremony look, she had always been confident that she’d end up wearing a jumpsuit or suit versus a dress. “I fell in love with the Colorado aesthetic—call it Yellowstone wannabe,” she laughs. “Western attire just spoke to us, and I’m told I wear cowboy hats well.” At Axel’s in Vail, the bride found a white jacket that became the starting point for her custom outfit by The Tailory New York.
“Wanting to lean into the western Ralph Lauren aesthetic was not easy, when it came to wedding dress shopping,” Hanna shares. As a compromise, she leant hard into it for the welcome party at 4 Eagle Ranch and maintained a classic yet unique approach to her main bridal look. At Alexia’s Bridal in New York City, Hanna found her Ines Di Santo dress, which she paired with an overskirt by Marchesa. On the day-of, the brides got ready with Divine Beauty Artists.
On August 10, 2024, the outdoor ceremony was officiated by Lauren’s best friend, Dominique. “I couldn’t get to the altar fast enough,” Lauren gushes. “My dad, who walked me down the aisle along with my mom, had to slow my pace down a couple of times.” Hanna reiterates, “I felt like a star. . . I truly could have stayed at that moment forever, listening to Dom’s perfect ceremony speech, Lauren’s incredible way with words in her vows, and watching the smiles of our people.”
On the second floor of the lodge, 15 tables lined the middle of the hall for the reception. “Continuing the theme of Ralph Lauren—but make it gay—the tables were set with wooden chargers, forest green napkins, bone-handle silverware, and colored florals set in sections to create a rainbow throughout the room,” Lauren explains.
Starting the fête, the newlyweds were announced by the band of Great Family Artists to “Sissy That Walk” by RuPaul, which brought the energy up. Later, as a surprise, Hanna’s mother, Paula, performed her own rendition of “You Don’t Own Me”— a nod to her and her daughter’s favorite movie, The First Wives Club. Her version was titled “You’re a Wife Now” and began with the lyrics, “You’re a wife now, you’re not a single girl anymore.” The room roared with cheers.
After the delicious seated dinner, Hanna was passionate about having a sweet treat table with their cake by Cornerstone Chocolate. “Desserts are her favorite part of the meal, and cookies are her kryptonite,” Lauren divulges. Then the party started with light-up cowboy hats and fans, espresso martini shots served in cowboy boot shot glasses, and ballet slippers for tired feet. One of Hanna’s favorite moments of the night was when she ended up on top of the bar taking pictures and shots with friends.
For the couple’s grand exit, the brass section of the band formed a second line–esque parade and led them to the gondola for their ride back down the mountain. And continuing their aesthetic, Hanna and Lauren were surrounded by the elevated ranch vibe during their mini-moon at Hotel Jerome.
