Alyssa + Densel
8 | 17 | 2024
Photography by Sage Design & Co.
Alyssa and Densel Barnes are true free spirits who have always had a passion for adventure. When it came time to plan their wedding, they knew they wanted to do something completely unique. After nearly two years of living in a small Colorado cowboy town surrounded by mountainous landscapes, they decided to create a wedding that captured the wild beauty of the West. A “Desert Chic” theme emerged from their shared love for the Colorado landscape—terracotta tones, dry floral arrangements and earthy textures inspired by the state’s rugged terrain.
“The breathtaking rock formations and natural beauty inspired me to incorporate these elements into our wedding,” Alyssa says. “The Desert Chic/ Western style became a clear choice.”
Alyssa and Densel’s love story began on the East Coast, however, at West Virginia University, where she says there was an immediate “spark.”
“We quickly became gym partners, and our weekends turned into unforgettable adventures — hiking through the hills of West Virginia, sledding down snowy roads and exploring every hidden gem we could find,” she says. “Densel opened my eyes to a new way of living, filling my life with excitement and boundless possibilities.”
Their bond grew, but after graduation, they went their separate ways.
Fate had other plans—the couple reconnected at a wedding in Houston, and once again, became inseparable.
“A month later, Densel made the effort to visit me in Philly from upstate New York, and he planned an epic three-week road trip,” she says. “It was during this adventure that Densel realized what he truly wanted in life. On December 17, 2023, he got down on one knee, and I knew my life was forever changed.”
The couple initially moved to Colorado for Alyssa to further her education, but they fell in love with the state and decided to stay and now have two dogs and two horses together.
Reflecting their love for their small cowboy town and adventure, Alyssa says they worked with York wedding planner Leah Barnes (Perfection Bridal), to create the Desert Chic theme, and Alyssa credits Leah for dreaming up the concept and bringing the details to life.
“For our table design, we used terracotta stone scraps that my horses had broken apart in the backyard. My cousin Savannah helped me with the calligraphy for the table numbers,” Alyssa says. “For the florals, I wanted mostly dried arrangements to echo the natural beauty of Colorado. Cowboy hats were my ideas, enthusiastically supported by Densel, also known as the ‘Chocolate Cowboy.’”
Other details included terracotta bridesmaid dresses, a turquoise ring and incorporating Irish and Jamaican dances on the dance floor to honor their heritages.
“I truly feel we caught our guests off guard in the best way possible. Many of them shared how unique and special our wedding day was, expressing their appreciation for our family traditions,” she says.
Alyssa adds that the most memorable parts of the day for her were the first look and getting ready with the bridesmaids and groomsmen— and the venue they selected, Bentley Farms, “perfectly embodied everything we envisioned and represented us as a couple.”
She encourages other couples to be as unique as possible when planning a wedding, “dare to be different” and to choose a theme that truly reflects your life together.
For the future, she says theirs is full of more adventures, their passion for fitness, having children and living on a ranch surrounded by family and animals.
“I wanted everyone to feel the love Densel and I share, and I believe the entire day reflected that. I think this experience opened my family’s eyes to a new way of life,” she says. “Densel took a suburban girl and introduced me to the joys of country living, and I absolutely love it. I can’t imagine our life any other way.”
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Photography by Sage Design & Co.
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Photography by Sage Design & Co.
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Photography by Sage Design & Co.
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Photography by Sage Design & Co.
Details
Dress: Emma and Grace Bridal Studio, Denver, CO
Cake: Exquisite Wedding Cakes
Caterer: Farmacy Catering
Florist: Perfect Stems
Hair: Hairbyheisler
Invitations: Truly Engaging
Makeup: Linda and Co.
Musical Entertainment: Mixed-Up Productions
Officiant: Mary Morlando (Alyssa’s mother)
Photography: Sage Design & Co.
Videography: JR Videography
Planner: Perfection Bridal
Rings: Thorum (Groom)
Tux/Suits: Bespoke Edge Denver, CO (Groom) Generation Tux (Groomsmen)
Venue: Bentley Farms
Other Vendors: Mixed-Up Productions (Photo Booth); After the Tone; Philly Soft Pretzels; Rita’s Italian Ice
