Mary O' Leary and Kevin Jacobs both grew up going to a dude ranch called C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, Colorado. Although they frequented the ranch from a young age, the two didn’t officially meet until 2016, when Kevin’s family invited some other home owners over for cocktails.
“Three weeks after I moved to Chicago, Kevin proposed on the rooftop of Gibson’s Italia overlooking the Chicago River. ”
“We spent time talking that evening and both noticed a connection,” Mary recalls. “Kevin and I lived in different cities at the time, but eventually decided to date long distance. We traveled frequently between Chicago and Kansas City for over a year before I made the move Chicago. Three weeks after I moved to Chicago, Kevin proposed on the rooftop of Gibson’s Italia overlooking the Chicago River. Our families were waiting downstairs in the restaurant to celebrate with us.”
Like all couples who were planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin and Mary’s wedding planning experience was surrounded by an air of uncertainty. The most they could do was go ahead with their original vision and hope that everything would unfold like any “normal” wedding. Since the couple knew they wanted to get married in Colorado, their search for the perfect wedding venue led them to the Broadmoor, which they chose for its elegance and grandeur.
For the first part of their wedding itinerary, the bride and groom had an intimate Catholic wedding ceremony with family in the historic Pauline Chapel, located on the Broadmoor property. It made for an exquisite setting, with the Spanish Mission-style chapel being completed in 1919 and containing an impressive religious art collection.
The following day, Mary and Kevin blessed their marriage in front of all their wedding guests on the Lakeside Terrace. The bride spent the morning getting ready with her sister, mom, and bridesmaids while the groom and his groomsmen enjoyed lunch at the golf club and a drink by the lake. From the moment they started getting ready, the entire day proved to be a magical one that surpassed anything the couple had previously imagined.
“We decided to take the majority of our photos prior to the ceremony,” says Mary. “Our photographer did an outstanding job coordinating different locations for the large wedding party. Some of our favorite photos were taken in Kevin’s family’s 1956 Jaguar XK-120. This car originally belonged to Kevin’s late father, Bill Jacobs. Kevin and his family still drive the car in the Colorado Grand each fall.”
The reception was the epitome of an elegant Colorado wedding, highlighting everything the Broadmoor has to offer. Understated yet stylish, the room itself bore large French doors, arched walkways, and white marble floors.
“I wanted simple white flowers placed individually in vases, with hundreds of candles to give the room a glow,” the bride adds. “During the reception, we had a surprise visit from a traditional Irish bagpipe musician to pay homage to my Irish roots and grandfather who passed in 2020. Another special musical moment was when my father took over on the drums and played Hard to Handle with the band. Kevin and I danced on the stage while the crowd was stunned by Terry’s musical talent.”
The newlyweds jetted off on their honeymoon the very next day, flying direct to Honolulu where a smaller plane picked them up and took them to Lanai. Their private plane drop-off was part of their stay at the Four Seasons, where they reveled in the beauty of Hawaii nei.
“We spent the first half of our trip staying at their oceanfront property,” Mary describes, “and enjoyed a wonderful boat ride, seeing large groups of dolphins and snorkeling in the clear blue waters. We are both foodies and were lucky to enjoy the wide range of restaurants on the property including Nobu, Malibu Farms, One Forty, and The Break.
For the second half of our stay, we moved farther into the island to the even more secluded Sensei Lanai Four Seasons Resort. We were blown away by this property with the pine-covered mountains, artwork, private spa experience, and fine dining.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO; Wedding Planner: Sapphire Celebrations, Denver, CO; Floral & Event Design: Design Works, Denver, CO; Wedding Dress: Elihav Sasson; Bridal Salon: Mira Couture, Chicago, IL; Photography: Jody Zorn Photography, Denver, CO