Huntfest 2018

Weddings are just about the most tender and love-filled celebrations on the planet!  My niece, Karlee Kuhlmann married John Hunt on July 14, 2018, and they planned and carried out an amazing celebration attended by 140 family members, friends, and co-workers.  I've collected the pictures from my son, Duane, my brother, Larry, and various social media sites.  Words and pictures don't really capture the tender moments, but compiling them in a blog post will help retain some of the lovely memories made at Aspen Canyon Ranch.  

Marilyn, escorted by her sons, Jeremy and Justin and happy Dad, Dan walking his only daughter down the grass-lined path.

Karlee's nephews, Carter and Sammy, stole the show as ring bearers

The first kiss of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt.  

It was not love at first sight for this couple, or any romance in the beginning.  John did not say “hello beautiful” when he first met Karlee.  Oh, no, he said, “nice kicks” after noticing her Sanuk Slip on shoes.   They exchanged smiles and pleasantries for four years while she worked at INK Coffee and he at a ski boot shop and pool hall.  John moved to Durango in 2009 and perhaps his absence kindled the fire that led to their committed relationship.  They took a big risk in 2012 and moved away from the mountain into a small apartment near the Denver airport.  This transition was not an easy time for them, but Karlee had fire in her eyes to make a better life for them – away from roommates and the maddening crowd.   John and Karlee have had honest talks about many things…lots of talks and it took a lot of talking to convince Karlee to buy a house, before John gave her a ring.  He quoted the wise words of his 94 year old grandmother, Bunny, who said to them, “you can buy the house now, it will make both of you richer in money and spirit.  The only thing left is the ring.”  Solid Hunt logic.    On January 7, 2017, John once again had to convince Karlee to relax and enjoy the day, rather than be worried about getting back to Denver in the middle of a big snowstorm.  She fell into his trap and he executed the most romantic proposal on the backside of Ajax Mountain in Aspen!  And, here we are today, witnessing the beginning of this new family.

The couple honored me with the role of officiant and I read their sweet words to each other about why they wanted to live out the rest of their lives together.

John said this about Karlee, "I am blessed to have a teammate that is there for me through the fun and the bad. The next chapter of our adventure starts today and the peaks and valleys that come with it are going to make our relationship stronger. She has made me comfortable with what felt unknown, she has shown me love that I've never thought possible, and she has accepted me as who I am without judgment."

Karlee said this about John, "John allows me to be real with him.   I can be the person I am and he can be who he is.   He knows how to make me laugh and cry. Most of all, he knows how to make me take deep breaths and trust that every thing will be all right." 

Karlee, her mom, and friends brought all the treats and decorations for the Main lodge.

 I helped Marilyn embellish the tablecloth for the head table.  Lace from her wedding dress runs down the center of the table covering.

Karlee and Marilyn collected over 100 vases and bottles for the table centerpieces.  My ex-logger, son-in-law cut the wood rounds from dead trees in the Umatilla National Forest.  

Kids and adults painted wishes on rocks and Marilyn made sure there were fleece blankets for guests to wrap up in as the sun went down.  The rest of the pictures were taken at various times during the celebration, just wanted to capture images of family who attended.

Anne, Colin, and Duane

Junior Pimienta, Dale Stubbs, and Garry Esser

Tai, Anne, and Amanda

Maureen, Ann Marie, and Karen

Larry and Connie

Kaitlyn and Junior observed everything and answered a lot of questions about their upcoming wedding in May, 2019

Levi and I tried the selfie way!  Colin seemed to get a lot of attention because he's grown so tall!

Dan and Judy Kuhlmann; Raya and Justin

Larry, Kaitlyn, and Junior; Zeke & AnnMarie, Taylor and Kennedy

 

Connie and Kaitlyn; Karlee with the Gaeke's

Tai and David with their sweet, Quinn, also the center of attention with Don and Dena

Connie and Garry; Allan and Lisa

Paul, Maureen, PJ, Ryan, and Grace

Lots of sunshine shining on my son, Duane, and his sweet family!

These two love birds will celebrate 25 years of marriage on August 25.

Justin, Dan, and Jeremy

Karlee and her mother-in-law, Cindy

The Kopczynski family, missing Joan

Larry has a new camera and captured the Milky Way above their vacation rental house in Granby.

We came together to celebrate the gift of love present in the lives of John and Karlee.  We blessed them with  a privileged intimacy that touched the tender places in their hearts as they began the joy-filled and challenging journey, called marriage.  All guests witnessed the creation of a brand new family! 

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Hunt