Category Archives: Wedding Planning Tips

Destination Wedding Planner: Tips for including your dog in your big day

Posted by on January 3rd, 2018

Picture of a bride and her dog

Your wedding day, it’s one of the most special days of your life.  Of course you want to be surrounded  by ALL of your loved ones!  As a wedding planner in the Colorado Rocky Mountains my favorite trend over the past few years is couples involving their four legged friends in their wedding.  Including your furry friend in your big day will absolutely make the day more memorable, but it also requires some thought.  Here are a few things to consider:

  1. Make sure that your venue allows dogs  Some venues have strict no pets policies.
  2. Designate a dog handler for the day  Assign one person to be responsible for your fur baby for the time he or she is at the wedding.  This frees up the bride and groom and also lets Fido be included in the big day.
  3. Take a trip to the Groomers Make sure your dog looks and smells delicious for the wedding.
  4. Don’t forget the Photos  Make sure you hire a dog friendly photographer and include your pup in your shot list.
  5. Practice, practice, practice  Spend some time training your dog–whether it is walking down the aisle or wearing a bow tie.
  6. Have an exit plan  If your dog can’t sit through the ceremony or things don’t go as expected.

Thank you Lindsey Boluyt for the fun photo!

 

 

 

Posted in Just Because, Tips from a wedding planner, Wedding Day Preparation, Wedding Planning Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Colorado Wedding Planner: Rustic Wedding Checklist from The King Ranch Saddle Shop

Posted by on June 1st, 2017

With our summer wedding season fast approaching, we thought it
would be great to sit down with the folks at The King Ranch
Saddle Shop to find out exactly what you need for
an amazing Rustic Wedding! Be sure to check out King Ranch’s
collection of beautiful cowboy boots to fulfill your wedding day needs.

Breckenridge Wedding Planner

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Posted in Bridal Beauty Tips, Destination Weddings, Events, Fall Weddings, Just Because, Keystone Ranch, Keystone Weddings, Spring Weddings, Summer Weddings, Things we love, Vail weddings, Wedding Planning Tips, Winter Weddings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Breckenridge Wedding Planner, Is Married!

Posted by on July 11th, 2014

Everyone says how much fun it is to get married. I guess I just didn’t know how much fun it could be. Never in my wildest dreams did I know it could go so well and I could have this much of a great time! I think Johnna, my business partner, is tired of hearing me say it but it’s true. 🙂 I guess it’s due to always being on the other side of planning. As wedding planners, we are hired to make the day run smooth. In making the day run smoothly, we can encounter obstacles and we have to think on our feet about how to fix them without the bride knowing. On my wedding day, I became the clueless bride. It was fabulous. The reason I could become a clueless bride? We hired a wedding planner!! 🙂

Someone once said to Johnna and I while we were working a wedding that your wedding day shouldn’t be the best day of your life. I agree and disagree with this statement. I think you should have many ‘best days of your life’. One of them definitely being your wedding day. That day was one of the best days of my life, so far. Everywhere we looked, there was someone we knew and loved very much. The feeling was spectacular!

To all of you future couples:

1. Enjoy every moment. Soak up every second. Do not spend any time being stressed. Which brings me to my second recommendation.

2. Hire a wedding planner 😉 … Maybe this should be rule #1

3. Do not sweat the small stuff. Once the day is over, you cannot get it back so do not spend the time stressing about things you cannot control.

4. If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, consider the fact that your veil might be flying in the wind. I didn’t have a veil but I see it all the time so I thought I would mention it. 🙂

5. Do a first look. I will address the reasons why in a future post…stay tuned.

6. Make a ‘shot list’ for your photographer. This communicates exactly what you expect of them which makes it so much better for everyone.

7. Eat and stay hydrated. This seems like a no brainier but trust me, it can slip your mind.

8. When people offer help, take it. Even when there is nothing to be done. If Aunt Jane is asking you what she can do, make up something. Yes Aunt Jane, I would love a latte. This way she is feeling helpful and you get a little caffeine boost. Win win!

9. Make it your own. I had my sister stand up with me and husband had his two brothers. Yes it was lopsided, but it was us.

10. Have the ‘best day of your life’!!! 🙂

 

Posted in Destination Weddings, Just Because, Spring Weddings, Tips from a wedding planner, Wedding Planning Tips | Tagged , , , ,

Colorado Wedding Planner: How much? Planning for alcohol at your wedding

Posted by 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 🙂

picture of chart

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:

Picture of a chart

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!

 

 

 

Posted in Spring Weddings, Summer Weddings, Wedding Day Preparation, Wedding Planning Tips, Winter Weddings | Tagged , ,

Breckenridge Wedding Planner: Top wedding don’ts

Posted by on May 5th, 2014

picture of wedding at Timber Ridge

Timber Ridge

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.

 

 

 

Posted in Tips from a wedding planner, Wedding Planning Tips