6 - 10 - 2017
We're getting married!
The proposal >
Alyson and I met at a PA conference in Sedona, Arizona in the spring of 2014. Alyson was in the middle of her first year of graduate school and I was in my second. We chatted a bit at the conference and then she conveniently disappeared before I could ask her on a date. So I looked her up in the school directory, emailed her, and we went on our first date a week or so later. Our first date was at a hole in the wall sushi place followed by pool at a local dive bar.
I would like to say it's all smooth sailing from there, but of course, life never is. Because of how life in PA School ends up, it took us another year before we could officially be a couple. March 5, 2015 we made it official and it's been amazing ever since!!
Jake & Alyson
Our Love Story
I'd known for a long time that I wanted to marry Alyson, sometimes it takes a while to get everything together, and I didn't want to rush anything. Over the summer of 2014, Alyson was getting settled in Grand Junction and I was living out of my truck, finishing my time in Denver. One night at work I had a critically ill patient that I was taking care of. That patient was in her 20's and it just really shook me about how short life is.
The next day I was having coffee at our favorite coffee shop in Golden and when I left, I went directly into the jewelry store next door and bought her ring.
It took another *cough* 2 months to give it to her, but in the meantime, we both started working at our new jobs and were spending every free minute trying to get the ranch ready to live on before winter. I had all the pieces together at the end of October, but I needed a day where Alyson was working and I was off so I could place everything. Luckily, she switched shifts on the first weekend of November and the timing was right. I planted some wine and the ring at a nice overlook on our property.
The proposal
next>
-Jake
On November 8th Jake and I had been up on the ranch getting our well pump set up and finishing up what we call the water containment facility.
We got done a bit early and started off on our evening walk around the property. Jake wanted to show me a new spot he had found. We hiked up onto a little ridge that overlooked the valley to the south of us. It was beautiful. He told me he actually stashed a cooler there the day before. Not suspecting a thing, I said "Oh that was smart! What's in the cooler?"
As he grabbed it from under a bush he told me some wine and my early Christmas present! I was intrigued but still naïve to what was going on.
I opened the cooler and folded up on top was a vest, not just any vest, but a Carhartt vest with JW Bison embroidered on it.
I was so excited and put it on immediately. I slipped my hands in the pockets and, to my surprise, felt a ring.
Jake got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him. The first thing out of my mouth was "Are you serious right now!?!" We sat on the ridge enjoying the wine, cheese and crackers and watched the sunset. It was a perfect proposal!
The proposal
<back
-Alyson
"She never had a clue and before she knew what had happened the ring was on, and she was mine!!"
— Jake
Mesa Community Center
48973 K E Road
Mesa, CO 81643
5:30 - 11 pm
Reception
56001 KK Road
Molina, CO 81646
4:00 pm
Our Ranch
4 hours west of Denver, 4.5 hours south of Salt Lake City
Wedding Ceremony
Click here for detailed
directions to the ranch > >
Directions to Ranch:
1. Take the De Beque exit #62
2. Turn left (south) onto 45 1/2 Rd and continue south 15-18 miles until it ends at CO Hwy 65
3. Turn left onto Hwy 65
4. Go 1/4 mile and turn left again on CO 330 towards Collbran
5. Go 4.5 miles, you'll see a sign pointing towards Molina up to the right DO NOT TAKE THAT TURN!
6. Take the next right after going under the water pipe onto LE 5 Rd
7. You'll come to a 3 way intersection, stay LEFT and switch back up onto the mountain. Continue on KE Rd and follow the signs to the wedding
From I-70 Eastbound
1. Take Grand Mesa/Collbran Exit #49
2. Continue onto CO Hwy 65 South about 14 miles
3. Turn left onto CO 330 towards Collbran
5. Go 4.5 miles, you'll see a sign pointing towards Molina up to the right DO NOT TAKE THAT TURN!
6. Take the next right after going under the water pipe onto LE 5 Rd
7. You'll come to a 3 way intersection, stay LEFT and switch back up onto the mountain. Continue on KE Rd and follow the signs to the wedding
From I-70 Westbound
Back > >
Location Information
Clean and casual! Our property is a little rough, so we recommend that ladies wear flats, boots, or wedges. The ceremony site is down our gravel driveway and will require some walking.
Wedding Attire
There is limited parking at our ranch and the reception hall. If taking the buses, please park downtown and use street parking or hotel parking (if you are staying at Springfield Suites or Fairfield Inn). Uber is also available in the downtown area if you prefer not to park on the street.
Parking
Buses will be provided from downtown Grand Junction hotels (Springfield Suites and Fairfield Inn) to the Wedding Ceremony, from the Ceremony to the Reception, and from the Recpetion back to downtown hotels. Buses will leave Grand Junction at 3 pm, arriving at the ceremony site (our ranch) a little before 4.
Buses will be leaving once per hour from the reception starting at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, and 11pm. The final bus will be stopping by the ranch to drop off those who are camping.
Transportation
We encourage peope to use our ranch to camp if they are so inclined. We are providing a shower house, drinking water, porta-pottys, and the use of our storage cabin cook stove. There is plenty of room, so if you feel up for it, let us know! Camping equipment is available for rental at the REI in Denver, if you are coming through that way. You can also look at renting a RV. There is an RV site in Mesa for emptying and filling tanks. We do not have the ability for electric or water hookups for RVs.
Camping
Call for reservations
Wagon Wheel
10900 CO-65, Mesa, CO 81643
970-268-5220
If you are wanting to be adventurous and stay in our neck of the woods, this is a small motel across from the reception site which is about 45 min from downtown Grand Junction and 15 min from our house.
Call for reservations
This is a small historic hotel in the center of downtown.
This hotel does not have blocked rooms but you are welcome to make a reservation here.
Hotel Melrose
337 Colorado Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-242-9636
Call for reservations or Book your room here
Hampton Inn
205 Main St. Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-242-3222
Call for reservations or Book your room here
Fairfield Inn and Suites
225 Main St. Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-242-2525
Call for reservations or Book your room here
Springhill Suites
236 Main St. Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-424-5777
There are many hotels in Grand Junction that are located near the airport, about 15 min from downtown.
We have blocked off rooms under "Weirich Keen Wedding" at the main hotels (info below) in the downtown area of Grand Junction. Downtown and main street are wonderful for walking down with lots of sculptures along the walkway and some great window shopping!
Hotels
Wedding Information
Timeline
Rehersal Dinner/ Out of Towners Gathering currently in planning stages
3:00 pm - Buses Depart Grand Junction for Ranch,
4:00 pm - Wedding Ceremony,
5:00 pm - Buses Depart for Reception.
5:30 pm - Reception begins,
6:30 pm - Dinner is served
8, 9, 10, 11 pm - Buses depart back to grand junction.
11:00 pm - reception concludes
11:00 am - Coffee and Bagels Gathering (1520 N 7th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501)
We would love it if you would stop by and give us a hug before you head out.
8:00 pm - Rehearsal Dinner/ Out of Towners Gathering
Edgewater Brewery - 905 Struthers Ave, Grand Junction CO 81501
3:00 pm - Buses Depart Grand Junction for Ranch
4:00 pm - Wedding Ceremony
5:00 pm - Buses Depart for Reception
5:30 pm - Reception begins
6:30 pm - Dinner is served
8, 9, 10, 11 pm - Buses depart back to grand junction
11:00 pm - Reception concludes
11:00 am - Coffee and Bagels Gathering (1520 N 7th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501) We would love it if you would stop by and give us a hug before you head out.
friday, June 9, 2017:
Saturday, June 10, 2017:
Sunday, June 11, 2017:
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Roice-Hurst Humane Society
