Chaco Wedding: Big Love, Bold Branding, and Smart Signage by Brightformat
How Brightformat helped Chaco bring weather-ready signage to their quirky outdoor amphitheatre wedding.
When Chaco decided to celebrate its 35th anniversary, they did it the only way that felt right—by bringing their community together outdoors for an unforgettable wedding celebration. The result? A one-of-a-kind Chaco Wedding set against the stunning backdrop of The Mishawaka, where love, music, and adventure all met by the river.
On June 30, 2024, 35 couples were married or renewed their vows (one for each year of Chaco’s history), surrounded by 300+ attendees, live music, and the unmistakable spirit of Chaco For Life.
Brightformat was proud to help bring the day to life by creating bold, functional signage that visually branded the space, guided guests, and made a big impact without breaking the budget.
Event
Chaco Wedding (35th Anniversary Celebration)
Date
June 30, 2024
Number of Couples
35
Attendees
300+
Location
The Mishawaka, Bellevue, CO
Wedding Photo Arch
Wedding Photo Arch
A Wedding That Felt Like Chaco
The Chaco Wedding was part of the Chaco For Life Tour, complete with the iconic tour bus on site offering custom sandal builds and repairs, a meaningful nod to longevity, care, and commitment (in footwear and relationships).
Two group elopement-style ceremonies were framed by live performances from Tall Tall Trees and DJ Neon Brown, creating a festival-meets-wedding atmosphere that felt celebratory, inclusive, and deeply personal.
Chaco opened the event to the public, inviting anyone, not just couples, to come celebrate. The response was overwhelming. Hundreds gathered riverside to witness vows, dance to live music, customize sandals, and take part in a moment that felt both intimate and expansive.
This wasn’t a traditional wedding, it was a community gathering rooted in the outdoors, designed to be joyful, relaxed, and visually unforgettable.
Custom Stickers
Branding an Outdoor Amphitheatre, Without Overbuilding
Banners
Outdoor venues, especially sprawling riverside amphitheaters in Colorado, come with unique challenges: wind, sun, shifting light, and unpredictable weather. The signage needed to be:
Highly visible in a large, open environment
Durable enough to withstand finicky mountain weather
Easy to install and remove for a one-day event
Cost-conscious, while still delivering a strong brand presence
Brightformat delivered a signage system that checked every box, providing:
Directional and experiential event signage
Pop-out signage elements for the riverfront photo arch
Custom stickers to add playful, personal touches throughout the venue
Large-scale banners to anchor the space
Each piece was designed for one-time use, but engineered to perform like a multi-day installation, proof that temporary doesn’t have to mean fragile.
The Photo Arch: A True Pièce de Résistance
Wedding Photo Arch
The standout moment of the day was the wedding photo arch by the river. Using an existing structural arch at the venue, Brightformat created custom cutout shapes that clipped directly onto the frame using mounting pads and zip ties. From there, CC’s Florals layered in vibrant blooms, transforming the structure into a colorful, joy-filled photo moment that felt unmistakably Chaco.
It was a smart, high-impact solution:
Leveraging existing infrastructure
Adding lightweight, inexpensive branded elements
Creating a focal photo moment for guests
Built to Adapt
When the team arrived on site, the original attachment plan was no longer viable and the pieces could not be affixed as initially expected. Brightformat immediately stepped in with a solution.
Specialty mounting clips were overnighted to site, along with a simple instructional video to ensure seamless installation. The updated system was secure, venue-safe, and easy to execute under time constraints.
“When we realized we couldn’t install the pieces the way we had planned, Brightformat immediately overnighted specialty clips and sent a video showing exactly how to use them. It removed a huge layer of stress at a critical moment, and the arch became one of the most photographed spots of the entire event.”
— Jamie Kirby, Event Designer & Producer, Chaco Wedding
Why It Worked
This event proves that you don’t need permanent structures or massive builds to create a powerful brand moment. With thoughtful design, durable materials, and strategic placement, Brightformat helped Chaco:
Visually brand a large outdoor venue
Create memorable guest touchpoints
Deliver standout photo moments
Stay on budget without sacrificing impact
Beyond the emotional highs of the day, the event delivered real results for Chaco, generating 680MM PR impressions, driving social growth and website traffic, and creating meaningful on-site revenue. Most importantly, it deepened connection with Chaco Nation and produced content that continued working for the brand long after the wedding day.
Big love. Bold visuals. Smart execution.
Products + Techniques
Directional and experiential event signage
Pop-out signage elements
Custom stickers
Large-scale banners
Credits
Client
Designer
Kaitlyn Cox
Event Design
Event Planner
Venue
Photographer
Florist
Ready to Elevate Your Outdoor Event?
Whether you’re planning a brand activation, community celebration, or one-of-a-kind wedding, we create bold, weather-ready signage that transforms your space—beautifully, strategically, and without overbuilding.