Eliza & Jeremy

When Jeremy Windham showed up at a friend of a friend’s house for a barbecue, he had just traveled back from China for work and was jet-lagged and hungry. “I was expecting a casual hot dog and beer,” laments Jeremy, who is in sales. Instead, he had walked into an intimate four-course seated dinner hosted by Eliza Smithwick. But his mood brightened when he realized how bewitching the hostess was. As dinner wrapped up, the two realized they weren’t quite finished learning new things about each other—like how much Eliza is obsessed with seafood—so they headed to a local bar and spent hours talking and playing games.

Over the next five years, they lived together in two different houses, drove across the country six times, skied at eight different mountains, and took lots of fly-fishing trips with their golden retriever, Wally—all culminating in a proposal by Jeremy in June 2021 at Boordy Vineyards, a winery Eliza’s godparents own.

Even though they live in Denver, they both quickly agreed they wanted their wedding at Eliza’s family’s horse farm in Monkton, a special place that’s been in her family since 1954.

When the planning process started, Eliza, a graphic designer, also knew that she wanted to utilize multiple areas of the property. They held the ceremony in the back field overlooking the pond where Eliza’s dad grew up riding horses before following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a jockey. Eliza was surrounded by nine bridesmaids who were simply instructed to find a dress in an olive green or champagne palette. “The dress combinations turned out better than I could have ever imagined, with different patterns, textures, and colors,” she says.

Next, they hosted the cocktail hour in the family’s barn, which was built in the 1850s. To match the vibrant red color of the structure, the florals for cocktail hour were colorful and boasted a centerpiece arrangement that overflowed out of a beloved wooden Breyer Barn that Eliza used to play with as a child.

After cocktail hour, the guests headed to the sailcloth tent in the front horse paddock. There was also a grand wooden bar and a bar back decorated with books and family heirlooms. “Having my wedding take place on my family’s farm, where my father and I were raised, was just the icing on the cake,” says Eliza.

Well, that and the full steamed lobster that Jeremy surprised his crustacean-loving wife with during dinner. Balancing the significance of the day with playfulness is key, says Eliza.

“Don’t stress on the small stuff. The day is about you as a couple becoming husband and wife. Have fun with it.”

BEAUTY Brushed Beauty CATERING Be My Guest FLORAL DESIGN Cold Spring Floral GROOM AND GROOMSMEN Suitsupply custom suits HONEYMOON Masai Mara African safari and the Seychelles INVITATION ILLUSTRATOR Promarie Creative MUSIC For Your Pleasure OFFICIANT Barrett Chow, a close friend  OYSTERS Mother Shuckers PNB Photographer Andreea Russo REHEARSAL DINNER Citron RENTALS Pretty Little Wedding Co. and Something Vintage TRANSPORTATION Thoroughbred Sedan, Van & Bus VIDEOGRAPHY Rivion Wedding Films WEDDING DRESSES Bespoke Sassi Holford gown and Lela Rose Bridal veil (ceremony) from Little White Dress, Denver; Catherine Deane dress (reception); Loeffler Randall shoes WEDDING PLANNER Lauren Corrigan Events