schedule of events

~FRIDAY~
JUNE 20

WELCOME DRINKS
6:00 - 8:30pm

Lola’s Place
725 E 2nd Ave.
Durango, CO

DRESS: SMART CASUAL

~SATURDAY~
JUNE 21

WEDDING CEREMONY
5:00pm

COCKTAIL HOUR
5:30pm

DINNER & RECEPTION
6:30pm - 11:00pm

LePlatt’s Pond
311A County Road 501
Bayfield, CO

DRESS: GARDEN FORMAL

~SUNDAY~
JUNE 22

FAREWELL BRUNCH
10:00am - 1:00pm

Mainman Residence
54 Turtle Lake Meadows Dr.
Durango, CO

DRESS: DO YOUR BEST

travel + lodging

The most convenient option is to fly into Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO). Connections are available through Denver (DEN), Phoenix (PHX), and Dallas (DFW).

If you’re planning to take advantage of the federal holiday, or just want to save a bit on airfare, driving is also a great option — the summer views are breathtaking, and the wildflowers should be in full bloom. There are nearby airports in Telluride (2 hours), Moab (3 hours), Albuquerque (3 hours), Santa Fe (4 hours), Denver (6 hours), and Salt Lake City (7 hours).

We’ve reserved a block of rooms at the Strater Hotel, which was built in 1887 for mining executives and land speculators. It’s located in the heart of downtown Durango, within walking distance of dozens of restaurants and shops. We strongly recommend booking here. There are plenty of other nice places to stay, but early summer is high-season for tourism in the Four Corners, and you’re unlikely to find a better rate elsewhere (unless you’re splitting a large Airbnb).

With our group rate, a classic room is available for $219 per night, and a deluxe room is available for $239 per night. For reservations, call (970) 247-4431, and tell them you’re with the Ribel group. (The sooner you book, the easier it is for us to know if we need to expand the size the size of the block.)

All wedding shuttles will pick up (3:45pm) and drop off (10:30/11:00pm) at the Strater. (We do not recommend staying near the venue, because it is 20+ minutes away in cattle country.)

q+a

  • You can click on the RSVP button near the top of the page, or use this link.

  • Our expectations are typical for a formal summer wedding — no jeans or shorts, please. Ties are absolutely not required, but a jacket of some kind is preferred for men.

    You are welcome to wear heels, but be advised that the wedding will be held at a grassy, pond-side venue — plan accordingly!

    Above all else, we encourage everyone to have fun with their colors, silhouettes, fabrics, and accessories. But don’t stress too much about it.

    You can find an inspiration board here.

  • If you're staying downtown, almost everything is walkable (except for the venue). There's also a reliable trolley and bus system, and you can find a map here.

    On wedding day, we'll have shuttles picking up and dropping off guests at the Strater Hotel. The shuttles will depart the hotel around 3:45pm and depart the venue around 10:30pm. There's also ample parking at the venue for anyone who chooses to drive.

    If you're planning to explore the Four Corners region, you'll need to rent a car. The airport has rentals available on-site through all the major companies. There are also cars available via Turo.

    Uber and Lyft are virtually non-existent in Durango. If you need a ride to/from the airport, you can hire a cab, but we recommend arranging it in advance to avoid a long wait.

  • We’re registered here.

  • For generations, Durango was a mining town. Today, it's an all-season destination for recreation.

    Outdoorfolk can hike numerous sections of the Colorado Trail; swim, kayak, and paddleboard on Lake Nighthorse; fly-fish, tube, and whitewater raft down the Animas, Rio Grande, and San Juan rivers; mountain bike at Purgatory or Horse Gulch.

    The leisure-minded can soak at Durango Hot Springs; explore the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park; pick wildflowers at Coal Bank Pass; drive down the scenic San Juan Skyway or La Plata Canyon; or spot moose, bears, and mountain goats along the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad.

    There is also plenty of eating, drinking, shopping, and relaxing to be done downtown.

  • Breakfast: tacos at Lola's Place; burritos at Backcountry Gourmet; diner fare at Oscar's or Rupert's; coffee and pastries at BREAD, The Smiley Cafe, or Hermosa Cafe.

    Lunch: sandwiches at Sage Fresh Eats, BREAD, or EsoTerra Ciderworks; counter-serve pasta at PRIMI; tacos at Switchback.

    Dinner: pub grub at Derailed Pourhouse or Steamworks Brewing; bistro fare at 636 Main Ave; sushi and noodles at Rice Monkeys or Akami; new American at Eolus, Chimayo, or El Moro.

    Dessert: Go to Cream Bean Berry for ice cream.

    (Avoid anything inside a hotel.)

  • Durango is located 6,500 feet above sea level.

    If you're visiting from a low elevation, you're going to feel the difference. You can minimize your chances of mild altitude sickness by: (a) over-hydrating, starting a few days before you travel; (b) eating three meals a day; (c) getting enough sleep; (d) taking a night to acclimatize before exercising or drinking.

    (We cannot stress this enough: Your body metabolizes alcohol different up here. One drink at altitude equates to two drinks at sea level. Pace yourself, and please work water into the rotation.)

    In June, the humidity in Durango is 20 percent; in New York or DC, it's more like 70 percent. Prepare for dry hands and lips.

    The sun's ultraviolet rays are much more intense at elevation, and there's not much cloud cover to block them. If you're not wearing sunscreen, you will burn fast.