A Hip Restaurant Wedding at Coohills in Denver's LoDo District

In May 2013, Jacqueline Fitzpatrick walked up to a guy she found attractive and hit on him. It wasn't her now-husband Dylan Unger. “It was Dylan's younger brother!” she admits with a laugh. “But he introduced me to Dylan instead. We hit it off immediately and the rest is history." More specifically: The Denver-based couple dated for five years—then, in July 2018 while on vacation in Cancun, Dylan popped the question.

From there, the couple started planning a wedding in their hometown of Denver, saying it would be "modern, edgy, and celebrate the city we fell in love in.” On September 21, 2019, they did just that, posing for photos in front of Union Station, exploring the streets of LoDo, and, finally, exchanging vows on a bridge outside Coohills restaurant. "Dylan and I are obsessed with food and loved the idea of getting married in a restaurant to celebrate that," Jacqueline says. "As soon as we realized we could have our ceremony on the bridge, we were sold! 

Keep reading for all the details on Jacqueline and Dylan's modern city wedding—they transformation of a historic bridge into a ceremony site and dance floor!—planned by First Look Events and captured by Bokeh Company.

“Originally, I wanted a bridal jumpsuit,” admits the bride. “But the moment I tried on my Made With Love gown, it fit me like a glove and I knew it was the one.” Jacqueline accessorized with a veil she found on Etsy and Steve Madden heels.

A lush bouquet of garden roses, dahlias, and natural grasses completed her look. “I wanted an oversized bouquet with lots of texture,” she says. 

Before the ceremony, the couple met for their first look at Denver Union Station. Dylan donned a custom maroon suit from Suit Supply, which matched Jacqueline's berry-hued bouquet. He also wore shoes that he purchased while in New Orleans for his bachelor party.

For their portraits, Jacque and Dylan traveled to locations around Denver’s LoDo District, the city's oldest, known for its hip boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. 

The wedding took place at Coohills, a French restaurant run by a husband-and-wife team. But first: Jacqueline and Dylan said "I do" on the historic Wewatta Bridge across Cherry Creek, which leads to the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

“We decided to have the ceremony be just the two of us and focus on our commitment to one another rather than have a wedding party,” explains Jacque, who walked the aisle with her mother.

The couple worked with First Look Events to transform the Wewatta Bridge into their dream ceremony space. The outdoor location was elevated with black bistro chairs, a hanging altar of greenery, and an abundance of string lights. “They created a lighting design that softened the space and brought in 300 feet of green garland, as well as an amazing chandelier that was the centerpiece of the bridge,” says the bride.

The couple’s 140 guests looked on as they exchanged vows they’d written themselves. “It was one of our favorite moments,” admits the bride. A family friend performed the ceremony. 

The newlyweds recessed to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, a nod to their September 21 wedding date. 

Cocktail hour was also held on the bridge. Guests nibbled on passed hors d’oeuvres including blue crab cakes, marinated gulf shrimp, and fried chicken skewers. “One of our favorite wedding items was the black acrylic welcome sign,” Jacqueline says. “It was three feet tall!” 

After, guests moved inside Coohills for a family-style dinner of salad, New York strip steak, and roasted chicken. Tables were decorated with a mix of votive candles, burgundy taper candles, and arrangements in brushed gold vessels. "The floral centerpieces added warmth and a depth of color, but most of the décor was already in the restaurant, which is one reason we chose the venue,” says the bride.

After dinner, the party moved back onto the Wewatta Bridge, which doubled as a dance floor. The couple shared a dance with their parents to Disclosure’s “Latch.” A version of the song by Sam Smith also served as their first dance song. 

When asked about wedding planning, Jacqueline had one piece of advice to offer: "Hire a day-of coordinator!" she says. "That way, you’ll feel like a guest at your own wedding. We had the time of our lives!”