A Telluride Celebration: The Wedding of Alex and Claire Was a Dream Come True
By Linne Halpern
Photos by Jason and Daris Photocinema
When the week leading up to your wedding consists of skiing every day and catching up with family every evening, you know you’ve done something right. Such was the case for Claire Fraley and Alex Miller, who brought their loved ones together for an intimate celebration in Telluride.
The duo met in medical school in their home state of New Mexico (Claire is a pediatric oncologist and Alex is an ER doctor), and bonded over a shared love of skiing and outdoor adventure. Hailing from the Four Corners city of Farmington, Claire grew up spending time in Telluride — attending camps in the summers, honing her ski skills in the winters and forging a special love of the town that led her to dream about someday tying the knot amidst the San Juan Mountains. Luckily, Alex was on board.
To make this dream a reality, the couple decided on a small wedding with family, followed by a larger reception in Alex’s hometown of Santa Fe. Alpino Vino offered everything they were looking for in a venue — stunning views and on-mountain experience coupled with outstanding food and elegantly cozy vibes. They worked with wedding planner Kathleen Bonneau of Telluride Presents to bring their vision to life, including warm winter florals by Natalie McClain of Adela Floral.
Leading up to the ceremony, Claire and Alex were able to enjoy the slopes with parents and siblings. The day before, they headed out with Jason Hicks of Jason + Daris Photocinema to capture some vintage-style ski portraits. Claire donned a snow suit that previously belonged to her mother-in-law, even finding a Ski Santa Fe lift ticket from 1997 still attached to the jacket. And come the wedding morning, they couldn’t resist getting a few final turns in before it was time to get ready back at their Mountain Village accommodations.
In a truly one-of-a-kind moment, the couple and their guests took a snowcat up the mountain to Alpino Vino, dressed in their wedding finest. Champagne greeted everyone on the deck before the ceremony began. The couple’s beloved Episcopal pastor from their home church, who’d previously married both of Claire’s brothers, presided over the nuptials, adding to the sincere feel of the day. The highly personal ceremony was followed by a delectable, celebratory meal — an extravagant five-course dinner with custom wine pairings that Claire describes as “the main event.”
Mostly, Claire remarks, she is grateful to have marked such a milestone in the place that served as backdrop for so many of her favorite childhood memories. “To be on the mountain, with those views, surrounded by just our families was so special. It felt like the perfect way to welcome Alex into my family, and to share such a meaningful place with his family too,” she says.
The end of the memorable evening came with a return snowcat ride down the mountain, coincidentally driven by a man that Claire and her mom had met on a chairlift days earlier, poignantly illustrating the familiarity and charm that makes a Telluride celebration so unique. And after a night spent at The Peaks Resort & Spa, Alex was ready to get back on his skis, while Claire opted for a different kind of Telluride morning — at the spa.
For more information about weddings in Telluride, click here.