Mother of: Lauren
Wedding locale: Outdoor ceremony at the Dairy Block in downtown Denver; reception at Union Station
Vibe: Iconic grandeur
Dress: Chiara Boni La Petite Robe from Neiman Marcus
When your daughter is the chief meteorologist at CBS Denver and her groom is an executive with the Colorado Rockies (who also happens to be the son of owner Dick Monfort), you can be sure the wedding is going to be a grand, storybook affair that also feels like a love note to the Mile High City. Indeed, the 2019 union of Lauren Whitney and Walker Monfort was the one of those made-for-magazine-coverage events. It started with an outdoor ceremony at the Dairy Block in LoDo, a downtown Denver shopping and entertainment district with brick sidewalks and and a charming alleyway that transformed into a wedding aisle with lights strung overhead between buildings. Then the celebration, with 450 guests, transitioned to the nearby Union Station, an iconic historic landmark.
So what’s a mother to wear? “The shopping experience was a challenge,” Lisa recalls. “I ordered and returned dozens of dresses and tried on nearly as many in store. My personal style is understated with an edge. Beading, sweetheart necklines, lace—they look great on others but aren’t my thing.”
And while it may seem like most special occasion dresses are made with 6-foot-tall models in mind, Lisa actually fits that description and can attest that being tall can make dress shopping just as challenging as being petite. “Finding a floor-length dress that fit me properly—and that I liked—was not easy,” she says. Another requirement: she wanted sleeves. “I didn’t want to be cold if the venue was over air conditioned.”
She found the winner at Neiman Marcus: a Chiara Boni La Petite Robe fit and flare gown with bell sleeves. In a vibrant shade of purple, the dress made a statement without any embellishment. It also stood out from the bridesmaids, who wore muted shades of blue, green, blush and apricot.
“A pair of chandelier earrings were the only sparkle,” Lisa says of her mother of the bride ensemble. “I thought the vibrant color and shape of the dress were enough drama.”
As a fun wink to her dress, Lisa’s husband wore purple running shoes to match. Lisa’s were a dazzling pointed toe metallic flat.
“The day went by in a flash,” Lisa says. “Seeing my daughter deliriously happy with the love of her life was everything. And having our families and friends come together to celebrate with us was even more wonderful than I had imagined. All the love in the room is what I remember most.”
| Photography by Laura Murray