Sunset in the Gardens – Cherry Creek Magazine

A winter sunset sparked the palette. The Denver Botanic Gardens set the mood. The rest was texture, intention, and a celebration designed to feel as good as it looks.

WORDS & FASHION BY BETSY MARR  •  PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARLY SWAN •  PLANNING & DESIGN BY JENNA RITTER, MARIGOLD EVENTS • SHOT ON LOCATION AT DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Winter in Denver is often defined by restraint: bare branches, crisp air, clean lines. And yet, every so often, the season offers a reminder that warmth is not reserved for summer. It appears in the sky at sunset. It lingers in terracotta tones. It glows through candlelight.

This cover editorial began with that exact idea, winter reimagined as inviting. To bring it to life, we partnered with planner Jenna Ritter of Marigold Events, who approached the day the way a real wedding should be built, from the inside out. Not just aesthetics, but movement. Pacing. Energy. The way guests settle into a space and feel held by it.

“Almost all of my creative ideas start the same way, noticing something small and beautiful in everyday life and letting it grow from there,” she told us.

At first, the vision was quieter, more neutral, the kind of winter palette you expect. Then everything shifted during an ordinary moment that became the spark: an evening walk at sunset. Peach tones softened the horizon. Blues layered into each other. Corals deepened as the light faded. It was warm and comforting in the middle of winter, and it felt like permission to design winter differently. “That moment became the starting point for the entire design.”

From there, the palette took shape in a way that felt effortless: soft peach and terracotta balanced with oceanic blues and layered greens. Winter color, but not winter cold. Romantic, grounded, and emotional, which is exactly what we wanted this story to be: a wedding day, not a photoshoot.

The setting was the perfect match. Inside the intimate green solarium at the gardens, namely, The Woodland Mosaic Solarium. The inviting space’s Victorian architecture exudes symmetry and eleganc. Glass walls, ironwork, and a lush, living backdrop create a room that already feels like an occasion. It’s the perfect Denver venue for intimate gatherings. This allowed our design to lean into texture and color without overpowering the space, because the room itself has confidence.

And then there is the light. It shifts throughout the day, filtering through glass and greenery, changing the mood hour by hour. That rhythm shaped the editorial, helping each scene feel elevated while still unfolding naturally. “Intentional, immersive, seamless, and unforgettable,” is how Jenna described the goal. We felt it in the way every moment connected to the next.

The Ceremony: THE INTIMACY ARC

The ceremony was designed to feel close, almost enveloping, the kind of layout that draws guests inward before anyone says a word. Chairs were placed in a gentle semi-circle to echo the Solarium’s arches, creating connection and softness rather than straight-line formality.

Florals framed the aisle and gathered around the couple in a meadow-like way: romantic, natural, and perfectly scaled to the room instead of competing with it.

It’s the kind of ceremony design that doesn’t rely on drama. It relies on feeling.

The Reception: A TABLE BUILT LIKE A SUNSET

At the reception table inside the stunning Woodland Mosaic Solarium, the palette became tactile. The design translated that winter-sunset inspiration into materials you could feel: deep blue stoneware plates reflecting the cooler tones of the sky, peach and terracotta linens echoing the fading light, and subtle greens grounding everything back into the garden setting.

Even the smaller choices carried intention. Seashell-textured elements nodded to nature. Modern silver flatware brought a clean contrast against the solarium’s traditional architecture. It was elevated, but not stiff. Editorial, but not untouchable.

And then, the detail that made it all feel quietly brilliant: terracotta bread-and-butter plates that were repurposed plant saucers, topped with name cards dusted in pink Himalayan salt. “Personal, one-of-a-kind, and rooted in storytelling,” Jenna said.

Cocktail Hour: EXPERIENCE AS A DESIGN ELEMENT

Cocktail hour was treated as its own chapter, immersive and experiential, not just a transition. This is where the guest experience became interactive: custom-crafted cocktails from Cocktail Caravan paired with a candle-making moment with Wax Crescent. It added texture to the day in a way guests could participate in, not just photograph.

Signature cocktails weren’t simply a menu detail. They became structure, making ordering feel effortless, while carrying the story forward through naming, signage, and glassware choices that tied back to the overall aesthetic.

Lounge: THE LUXURY OF A PAUSE

Luxury weddings are not only defined by what guests see. They are defined by what guests feel. A lounge moment is pacing. It is comfort designed with purpose. It gives the celebration room to breathe, and it gives guests a place to linger in conversation, not just pass through.

Jenna describes them as “intentional living rooms within a celebration,” which feels exactly right.

Favors &  Cake : WARMTH YOU TAKE WITH YOU

The best favors do not feel obligatory. They feel considered. They weave personality into the day and honor the setting, ideally while supporting local makers. Candles, also from locally-owned Wax Crescent, were the perfect choice, a favor that is actually used, enjoyed, and re-lit long after the last dance.

And the decadent carrot cake from Sweet Sisters Bake Shop carried the same warmth: earthy tones, a modern asymmetrical shape, and a soft ruffled detail that read as romantic without leaning overly traditional. Against the green glass of the Solarium, it landed as its own visual exhale: a final moment that felt like part of the story, not an add-on.

In the end, the takeaway is simple, and it’s the kind of advice worth stealing. Have fun with color and texture.

When design reflects who you are, the celebration feels personal, elevated, and memorable.

The Details

PLANNER & DESIGNER Jenna Ritter, @marigoldeventsco • PHOTOGRAPHER Carly Swan, @willowrayphoto • FLORIST Melissa Johnson, @pepperroseflorals •  RENTALS Oak & Twine, @oakandtwinerentals • LINENS BBJ La Tavola, @bbjlatavola  •  VENUE Denver Botanic Gardens, @denverbotanic • CAKE Sweet Sisters Bake Shop, @sweetsistersbakeshopllc  • COCKTAILS Cocktail Caravan, @cocktailcaravanco • CUSTOM CANDLES Wax Crescent,  @waxcrescent • MAKEUP Gina Comminello, @gina.comminello.makeupartistry • HAIR James Mucker, @yjameswhy •  SIGNAGE The Social Archives, @the.socialarchives • GOWNS Anna Be Bridal Shop, @annabebridalboutique; 2050 W. 30th Avenue Denver; anna-be.com; 720.855.1111  • TUXEDOS State & Liberty, @stateandliberty; 2800 E 2nd Ave Denver; stateandliberty.com; 720.299.9379 • MODELS Wolves Management, @_wolvesmanagement

Fashion Credits

Bridal Fashions: Anne Be Bridal Groomswear: State & Liberty

Ceremony: ON THE BRIDE: Floure “Daphne” Gown, $10,800; Sara Gabriel “Honey” Veil, $1,475 ON THE GROOM: State & Liberty “The Springer” Button Down, $105; Stretch Flat Front Tuxedo Pant, $180; “Stretch” Tuxedo Jacket in Cream, $600

Reception: ON THE BRIDE: Guardiola “Valentina” Gown, $5,125; Stylist’s Own Oscar de la Renta Earrings ON THE GROOM: State & Liberty “The Springer” Button Down, $105; Stretch Flat Front Tuxedo Pant, $180; “Stretch” Tuxedo Jacket in Black, $600

After Hours: ON THE BRIDE: Katherine Tash “Bella” Gown, $3,960; Stylist’s Own Lele Sadoughi Earrings  ON THE GROOM: State & Liberty “The Springer” Button Down, $105; Stretch Flat Front Tuxedo Pant, $180; “Stretch” Velvet Tuxedo Jacket in Black, $600