Evergreen Nature Elopement and Restaurant Micro Wedding

A private elopement ceremony in Evergreen followed by an intimate micro weddin dinner reception at Tavernetta, a fine dining Italian restaurant in Denver, Colorado.

Gabby and Ryan’s choices are a perfect example of what wedding planning looks like in 2025 and 2026: let’s do it our way. Believe me, they went through their own iterations of wedding planning: a traditional affair in Michigan, where they live. A fun nature micro wedding in Crested Butte. Even though they were close to their family, they wanted a totally private ceremony - zero grandstanding, zero production. And most importantly, their favorite people eating their favorite meals at their favorite restaurant.

Tavernetta is brilliant. Beautifully designed, incredibly experienced, and most of all, very, very good at what they do. We were seated in the private gallery room, tucked behind gorgeous wooden doors and under framed Slim Aaron photographs. Gabby and Ryan booked a five course meal for their 30 guests, and everything we ate was phenomenal.

I’m telling you: restaurant weddings are the future for 2026 and 2027 weddings. They have mostly all-inclusive pricing. Tables, chairs, linens, flatware, dish ware, food, drinks, dessert, and the space is all under one single vendor. Your venue is literally built to cook and run food, which leads to far fewer complications with dinner coordination. And, because restaurants are spaces intended to please the sense, they’re usually well decorated. You’ll never have to pay premium pricing for dry chicken, impractically long broccolini, and mashed potatoes – your guests will dine on real, GOOD food.

So this is what Gabby and Ryan’s restaurant wedding looked like: No speeches. No formal dances. Just good food with good people.