Community Highlights: Meet Emily Smith of Mountainesque Weddings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Smith.

Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Mountainesque Weddings and Elopements started from my love for being in the mountains and my love for creating lasting memories and experiences for others. Becoming a planner isn’t a far stretch – If you knew three-year-old me who reorganized my toy bin while also playing in the mud and drinking from the hose. I’ve always been a mixture of structure and adventure.

Fast forward to my later years when I graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in Environmental Studies and Marketing. Having no idea where the two of those degrees would get me, I took a job as a Sales Assistant to the Sales and Catering Director at the Historic Strater Hotel. My love for events grew within those very walls, where I worked countless weddings and special events.

In 2018 my husband and I left our small town with our sights set on something bigger. Seattle, Washington – where the mountains are taller, the cities are larger, and the job opportunities are endless. I landed a Special Events Coordinator position at a mom-and-pop catering company just south of the city. It’s the experience from that job that launched my dream of starting Mountainesque!

In 2021, that dream came to fruition when we moved back to Durango to settle down for good. I was among my familiar mountains and had the big city experience to do something I had always wanted to do. Planning and designing beautiful mountain weddings and elopements for those adventurously in love! Mountainesque is just shy of two years old now, with roots in the ground and a small team on the horizon.

I am so excited to see what the future holds and thankful for this community and our couples who have allowed us to continue doing what we love! Special shoutout to Emily Spencer, the person who introduced me to the event world and provided me with the tools and expertise to take my dream one step further. And of course my husband for allowing me to full-heartedly chase my dreams and giving me the confidence to do so.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I learned early on that as much as I love being a planner, things don’t always go as planned. The perception that mistakes equal failure is something I am still trying to unlearn. I set extremely high standards for myself and my business (not necessarily a bad thing), but rather a challenge at times. I catch myself comparing, and creating goals mostly based on the influence of what others are doing.

For example, when starting Mountainesque I had the idea that my planning company would be for anyone and everyone – any type of wedding, and I would plan it. Rather than focusing on my strengths and my ideal clients I was focused on appealing to the masses. I have since transitioned to a niche market, where I’ve found my ‘why’ and my true passion for doing what I do! Struggles are simply stepping stones, and if you don’t experience growing pains you’re not doing it right!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mountainesque is a planning company for couples wanting a celebration that’s as memorable as it is beautiful! Whether it be a breathtaking mountaintop, a beautiful venue, or an Airbnb in the woods we’ll create your day just about anywhere! Our couples hire us to create weekend experiences rather than 6-hour soirees. We love traditions and trends, but we’re also cool with throwing them out the window.

We’re as organized and detail-oriented as they come, and strong supporters of keeping things lighthearted and fun. We’ve built lasting relationships with many of our fellow industry vendors, so we’ll always point you in the right direction when it comes to creating your dream team! Marriage is such an exciting time in your life, and planning your day should be too! Mountainesque will be here to make sure of that.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
There’s not a whole lot that I dislike about Southwest Colorado… that’s why we’re here! I truly believe we have some of the prettiest mountains and towns in the state of Colorado! I always get so excited when couples choose Durango or one of our neighboring towns to celebrate their day. It makes my job that much more enjoyable, getting to drive around the windy roads of the San Juan Mountains. Let me know when you’re in town, and I’ll take you to some of the prettiest spots that hardly anyone knows about!

Pricing:

• Wedding Planning Services start at $2,200
• Inclusive Elopement Package starts at $3,500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mountainesqueweddings.com
• Instagram: @mountainesquewed
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainesqueweddings 

Image Credits
Aubrey Beth Photography, Colt + Hannah Photography, and Kara Cavalca Photography