The Homestead at Black Canyon Inn

Rehearsal Dinner

Welcome Party

The Boulders at Black Canyon Inn

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

Guest Arrival

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Dinner & Reception

Winter

Our Wedding

A Texan and a Kiwi

So many little things came together over the years; coincidences that made us know from the moment we met, we were always destined to find each other.

Marco's favorite bird from his home is the Kea, a cheeky native alpine parrot from New Zealand, and he has one tattooed on the back of his arm. Katie's full name is Katherine Elyse Armstrong, which conveniently shares the initials KEA. Somehow, we both ended up with the same Apollo 11 50th Anniversary t-shirt, years before meeting. We were both captains of our high school's robotics teams. Our first car was a Ford Focus. We have both always shared a deep passion for and connection to space exploration.

After a year spent traveling the world, and nearly moving permanently to the Netherlands, Marco stumbled his way to Colorado. He and Katie first began getting to know each other during a ski trip with friends in Steamboat Springs. A few weeks later, they had their first date on December 30th, 2024.

As they say, the rest is history.

Our Story

Moke Lake, Queenstown, New Zealand

Photographed by <a href="https://kelliefrancis.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kellie Francis</a> on March 27th, 2026

Photos

Lisa Brown Armstrong

Rebekah Tyler

Don Armstrong

Stephan Rodrigue

Amy Armstrong Stewart

Matt Hanley

Kristin Gilbert

Jane McNicoll

Rachael Collins

Ben Mules

Annie Barta

Jackson Smith

Alex Sklar

Jack Tyler

Wedding Party

Black Tie

We kindly ask guests to wear black tie attire for the ceremony and reception. For men, this means a tuxedo or formal dark suit; for women, a floor-length gown or formal evening dress, jumpsuit, or suit. Since we’re hoping for a snowy winter wedding in Estes Park, please plan for cold weather and bring a warm coat or wrap for any outdoor moments. We also ask that guests please avoid wearing white, ivory, or cream.

Smart Casual

Our welcome party will be smart casual (polished, but still comfortable). For men, this means slacks or chinos with a button-down, sweater, or sport coat; for women, a dress, jumpsuit, skirt, or dressy separates. Please plan for cold weather and bring a warm coat. We ask that guests please avoid jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, or overly casual attire.

Dress Code

Flight

Denver International Airport

For our guests traveling from out of town, Denver International Airport (DEN) is the best airport to fly into for the wedding. Our venue is a 90 minute drive from the airport, so we recommend either renting a car or using <a href="https://estesparkshuttle.com/airport-shuttle-information/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Estes Park Shuttle</a> to get to your accommodations.

Transportation

Getting Around Estes Park

Please note that Uber and Lyft are not reliably available in Estes Park.If you do not plan to rent a car, we recommend arranging transportation in advance through a local shuttle or car service, especially for airport transfers and late-night rides.

Our wedding venue is a 90 minute drive from Denver International Airport (DEN). If you don't want to rent a car, Estes Park Shuttle offers door-to-door airport pickup and dropoff service for $155 per person (roundtrip). Click <a href="https://estesparkshuttle.com/airport-shuttle-information/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to view the airport shuttle schedule.

Estes Park Shuttle

Accommodations

Our wedding venue and the wedding party's lodging are both located at Black Canyon Inn. The property offers individually owned condos that can be booked by guests on a first come, first served basis. Because the condos are independently owned, Black Canyon Inn does not offer traditional room blocks, so we recommend booking early. Click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ntR_Mr4cZq7W1uHcvrL3vZ3JNJAds9_4/view?usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to view the property map.Click <a href="https://blackcanyoninn.com/vrp/search/results/?search%5Bbedrooms%5D=&amp;bedroom_exact_value=&amp;search%5Bbathrooms%5D=&amp;search%5BAdults%5D=&amp;search%5Bcity%5D=&amp;search-arrival=Mar+05%2C+2027&amp;search%5Barrival%5D=03%2F05%2F2027&amp;search-departure=Mar+07%2C+2027&amp;search%5Bdeparture%5D=03%2F07%2F2027&amp;showmax=true&amp;search%5Bshow%5D=1000&amp;search%5Bsort%5D=random&amp;search%5Brandom%5D=1&amp;search%5Border%5D=9&amp;search%5Bshowmax%5D=true&amp;search%5Bbedroom_exact%5D=0&amp;search%5Bbathroom_exact%5D=0&amp;search%5Battrs_exact%5D=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to view the available condos. Use promo code 'WED' for 10% off your reservation!

Black Canyon Inn

Available Dates: Friday, March 5, 2027 to Monday, March 8, 2027Rate: $219 + tax (USD) Trailhead Lodge serves as a modern basecamp just a half-mile from Downtown Estes Park and minutes from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Guests enjoy discounted rates, plus free WiFi, and free nightly parking. Must book by Tuesday, February 2nd, 2027. Use <a href="https://book.passkey.com/go/KatieMarco" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this booking link</a> to apply the discounted rate.

Trailhead Lodge Estes Park

Available Dates: Friday, March 5, 2027 to Monday, March 8, 2027Rates: $135 + tax (USD) Quality Inn Estes Park offers a comfortable mountain stay just minutes from downtown and all the charm of the Rockies. Guests enjoy discounted rates starting at $135 + tax (Friday, Saturday) and $132 + tax (Monday), plus free WiFi, complimentary daily breakfast, nightly parking, and access to the fitness center and pool. Must book by Tuesday, February 9th, 2027. Use <a href="https://book.passkey.com/go/KatieMarco" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this booking link</a> to apply the discounted rate.

Quality Inn Rocky Mountain National Park

Need Assistance?

Reach out to our Travel Coordinator at Help@EngagedSourcing.com or +1 (720) 593-8534 and reference “Katie &amp; Marco's Wedding.”

Travel & Accommodation

Q + A

Rocky Mountain National Park is just 4 miles from our wedding venue, making it an easy and unforgettable stop during your time in Estes Park. From peaceful meadows and wildlife viewing to alpine lakes, snowy trails, and dramatic mountain views, there’s something magical to explore in every season. If renting a car or planning to drive into the park, be prepared for winter driving conditions.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Buckle up and ride down 2000 linear feet of one of Estes Park's most iconic horse ranches! All the fun of a trail ride, on a different kind of horse! Fun for families with the ability to accommodate kiddos as young as 3 years old. Open year round.

Mustang Mountain Coaster

The Stanley Hotel, built in 1909 by F.O. Stanley, is one of the Estes Valley’s oldest and most grand hotels. Originally conceived as an upscale resort and wellness retreat, it also has notable pop-culture ties: Stephen King stayed one snowy night and was inspired to write The Shining, and the hotel appears in films like Dumb and Dumber (the bride's favorite!). The Stanley offers nighttime paranormal tours that explore its ghost lore, plus daytime history tours that highlight the hotel’s architecture, famous guests, and local significance.

Katie & Marco

Katie & Marco

Photos

Moke Lake, Queenstown, New Zealand