Monthly Archives: May 2014
Breckenridge Wedding Planner: Stacey & Scott
Posted by elizabeth waldmann on May 22nd, 2014
Stacey and Scott approached us to coordinate their wedding towards the end of the summer. Their original wedding venue was unfortunately destroyed the Colorado floods. We were more than happy to help in anyway we could to make their dream wedding come true. It was a chilly October day but that didn’t stop you from seeing the love and warmth they had for each other. Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge, Colorado became the perfect wedding venue for Stacey and Scott to begin their happily ever after. Thank you Alison of Alison White Photography for these awesome photos. Click here to check out her amazing work!
Colorado Wedding Planner: How much? Planning for alcohol at your wedding
Posted by johnna-patton on May 15th, 2014
So, you’re having a wedding! And you want to serve alcohol. Finally a fun part of wedding planning! Also, confusing, and potentially expensive. Questions about alcohol (what kinds? how much? where do I buy it?) are some of the questions I get asked the most by my clients, because if you’ve never thrown a party for a hundred or more people, all of a sudden providing them with libations can feel overwhelming.
Whether you’re just budgeting or actually purchasing it on your own, the tough part is deciding what to serve and how much of it. Fortunately, the numbers that will help you plan already exists. And I tried to make them pretty 🙂
On average, your of-age guests who partake in the activity of drinking alcohol will drink one alcoholic beverage per hour of your reception (or event) for a reception taking place on a weekend evening. Keep in mind that this is on average.
You typically know your guests well enough to know whether or not that statistic will ring true for them. For example, when my husband and I got married we had about 1/4 of the guests who didn’t drink, 1/4 who we knew would drink under that average, and about half that we knew would blow that average out of the water…as in double or triple that…so we made adjustments in our numbers to account for that.
Here’s how the servings of different alcoholic beverages break down, in prettier form:
I would suggest talking to your bartender and asking him or her to use a jigger (alcohol measuring cup) to get the most bang for your buck on alcohol.
What kinds of alcohol should you offer? Let me say first that you do not have to serve a full bar, it is perfectly acceptable to offer just beer and wine or beer, wine, and a signature drink. At it’s most basic, a full bar is two beers (one light, one darker), red wine, white wine, champagne, vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila, rum, and basic mixers.
As for where to shop, in Colorado I generally recommend Applejack Liquors, Costco, or Argonaut Liquors. That said, local wine stores are fantastic, and while they may not keep large quantities on hand, are probably going to be totally happy to special order a few cases for you. You’ll also probably get more personalized service, which may make up for the discounts you might otherwise get from the mass-quantity sellers. Also, always ask if you can return any unopened bottles.
I hope this helps you solve all of your wedding day drinky dilemmas!
Breckenridge Wedding Planner, Plans Her Wedding! : Decor Optimization
Posted by elizabeth waldmann on May 8th, 2014
During the wedding season last summer, I took the opportunity to save some decorations that normally would have gone in the trash. I know this may sound bizarre but I thought it was a great chance to give second life to a normally single used decoration. When Wes and I began our wedding planning journey, I knew I wanted to include these items. Whether it was burlap runners or wooden pedestals, I was very happy to be reusing these items!
Another way we kept from having decorations that are single use is by saving our San Pellegrino and Espolon bottles. Two of my favorite liquids! Mineral water and tequila! These bottles normally would end up in our recycling. Instead, I removed the labels, tied a piece of jute around the neck and filled the bottle with a flower. After the wedding, the bottles will simply be placed in the recycling. Stay tuned for the beautiful result!
Breckenridge Wedding Planner: Top wedding don’ts
Posted by johnna-patton on May 5th, 2014
Of course you want to have a fabulous big day, so you must plan accordingly to avoid any potential pitfalls along the way. Take a look at these all-too-common “please don’ts.” P.s. they’re all avoidable 🙂
Don’t be Superbride: You’re smart, you’re focused, you’re energetic, but you’re still one woman. Call in your trusty sidekicks before you’re really scrambling. Here’s a little secret: People want to help. So do yourself a huge favor and accept their kind offers.
Don’t have a cash bar: Forcing guests to reach into their sequined clutches every time they want to enjoy a celebratory champagne or a refreshing gin and tonic is just plain rude. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have a top-shelf bar; in fact, there are plenty of other ways to serve and save. You could offer wine and beer only or create a signature cocktail. You might have an open bar during the cocktail hour only and serve wine at dinner. Ask your caterer to suggest lower-cost options.
Don’t include registry info on Invites: Registering is a good thing for everyone. When gift buyers are steered to the things you actually want and need, it saves them time—and saves you from having to contend with a pile of cut-crystal candy bowls. Registry info, however, does not belong on your wedding invitation. Why? Giving wedding gifts is never mandatory, though the vast majority of attendees will naturally want to do just that. Best way to get the message across is by word of mouth on the part of your mother or your bridesmaids or on bridal-shower invites.
Don’t be bossy with your bridesmaids: In the most traditional sense, your bridesmaids, in particular your maid of honor, are there to stand up for you as you take your vows, to act as witnesses to this solemn event. Somewhere along the line, bridesmaids have become, well, more like maids, and to an extent there’s nothing wrong with that. These are your sisters, cousins, best friends, future in-laws, and there’s something sort of sweet about the way they gather around you, wearing finery you picked out, helping you pin up your bustle, holding your flowers. But some brides ask (or worse, demand) far more: They expect their bridesmaids to shell out for needlessly expensive outfits, to run endless errands, to wear their hair just so, to attend (and buy gifts for) countless all-for-you parties. Don’t let this happen. Be sensitive to how you’d feel if the tables were turned. Gifts to the maids are always welcome, of course, but a little kindness and care go a lot further than any pashmina shawl or monogrammed trinket.
Don’t go DIY crazy: You know that clever bride who sewed her own dress and designed and made her own invitations? Or the one who baked her own three-tiered cake? Everyone’s in awe of the girls who can do these things, and I say good for them—if they did it because they really, really wanted to, and if they managed not to get stressed out. The point of these projects is to use your craft/sewing/baking/designing skills to save money and to put a one-of-a-kind stamp on some aspect of the wedding. But if you are really not the hands-on type, don’t drive yourself crazy hot-gluing tulle and folding fiddly favors until 3 a.m. Do only what you can, and beg, borrow or buy the rest.
Don’t let parents steamroll your invite list: Back in the days when parents footed the bill and brides were barely out of high school, the guest list was more Mom and Dad’s idea of a good party than the couple’s. Times have changed, but that doesn’t stop some pushy parents from insisting on having the whole book club, golf club or garden club at the wedding. Brush up on your negotiating skills and start early. Once you have a budget in mind, you can rough out the number of guests it’s feasible to invite. Then ask both sets of parents for invite lists, in order of preference, so you can cut from the bottom if necessary. Stay in charge!
Don’t forget your fiancé: It may not seem like something you’d do, but plenty of women surprise themselves. We’ve got our heads stuck in a glossary of floral terms (stephanotis? anemone?) when all our men know is that there will be flowers at the wedding. We’re neglecting our regular TV and pizza night in favor of dress fittings. Hey, listen up: You’re not just having a wedding, you’re getting married—to that guy over there, sitting on the couch, munching a cold slice of pizza. Put aside the bridal to-do lists and go give him a hug, would you? This is not just party-planning time, it’s major life transition time. So talk to each other. Talk about your life together. Talk about what color you want to paint the bedroom, what you want to name the puppy you’ll adopt—whatever. Anything but flowers and crab-cake appetizers, please.