J & B Elopement at the Salt Flats

J & B Elopement at the Salt Flats

Let me start by saying Josh and Baylie are my best friends. Upon them getting engaged in NYC during a short business trip, they asked me to help them plan their wedding. Yay! Me and Baylie immediately went to work and went a little Pinterest crazy. We had her whole wedding planned for about 100 people in an industrial style venue. As the day grew closer Baylie, her bff Bailey, and I met up at Postino to discuss wedding details over wine and bruschetta. (Denver readers: if you haven't been to Postino yet go now...like now.) We sat down at our table and Baylie dropped the bomb of news. Her and Josh no longer wanted to have a big, over the top, and over priced wedding and wanted to elope! We were surprised, but obviously wanted them to be happy more than anything else! As soon as we knew J + B wanted to elope, we contacted Morgan, their photographer, to discuss possible locations for their elopement. Morgan suggested the Salt Flats in Utah and we immediately fell in love! (How could we not, wait 'til you see these pictures!) The couple flew into Salt Lake the morning of September 9th with her bouquet from Project Floral as her carry on. The two of them got ready together in their hotel room and the crew drove the two hour drive to this picture perfect location. Upon arrival, and freaking out about the fact that they were driving and standing on top of pure salt, J + B walked off into the distance and exchanged their personal vows they had written to each other. Just the two of them, exactly the way they wanted. I cannot thank Morgan of Lady Ilg Photography enough for capturing this special day. The newlyweds capped of their wedding day by getting matching tattoos with the coordinates of where they got married. Ugh cute! See all the beyond stunning photos from this perfect day! 

Location: Bonneville Salt Flats

Photo: Lady Ilg

Dress: ChicWish

Floral: Project Floral

Planning: Promise Event Planners 

Hair and Makeup: Signature Brides and Design

10 Things I Always Do On Wedding Day

Welcome to the Life of a Wedding Planner

Coffee & Food: Because this is how every good day should start. But really, your eating and drinking schedule is so unpredictable on wedding day. So I attempt to get it as much food, water, and coffee as possible. I make sure to pack my bag with enough quick snacks and water to get me through the night. Protein Bars and apples are life. 

Organize My Life: This is the part of the morning where I make sure all of the things that need to get done that day, actually get done. I organize all of my emails, attempt to scratch a few things off my to do list, do all my social media posting, make my personal schedule for the day, and read through the timeline (like a million times). 

Pack My Bags: I always have a few different bags on me on wedding day. My purse, a tote with a change of clothes, our bridal emergency kit, and my computer bag. I usually wear leggings and a t shirt for set up, because who really wants to do heavy lifting in a black dress.

Check In With The Bride On Arrival: First things first, I go check on my bride. She has been waiting all morning to see a comforting smiley face. Spending the morning with your girls is obviously amazing but when my team arrives, my brides breathe a sigh of relief that everything will be well taken care of.

Never Leave a Clipboard Unattended: Not only because it is like my bible on wedding day, but I will more than likely forget where I left it and that is actually the worst.

Make Sure The Bride and Groom Are Constantly Catered To: This is their day to feel like a VIP, so I do everything I can to make them feel that way. Do you need anything? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? My couple will never have an empty glass on their day and I make sure of it. 

Feed All of My Vendors: The day is obviously crazy. When you are working to make your client happy you sometimes forget to take care of yourself. I always have the photographer eat while the couple eats. This is because no one really wants photos of them in the act of eating. Then I make sure all of the other vendors get a chance to eat. I am happy to make a plate. Me and my girls my not sit down for dinner, but we will steal bites when we can! Happy tummies means happy people. Have I talked about food to much in this blog? 

Say Your Pleases and Thank You's: Sometimes it is my job to be direct (sometimes bossy and snappy. I'm Sorry), so I cant emphasize enough how far a please and thank you can go.

Send Your Bride a Final Text: It is very likely that your bride just left in her get away car floating on a cloud of marital bliss. So the last thing she is doing is thinking about you or where all the gifts, cards, and decor might be. But she will most likely wake up in the morning with a few lingering questions. I always shoot my brides a text to explain to them where everything is and tie up any lose ends. I expect for my brides to read this text the following morning to put their mind at ease.

Shower: I will be so real the amount of sweat that is produced on a wedding day is way more than I would like to admit. At the end of a long day my forehead, upper lip, and arm pits, are just...NO. So I come in to my house and immediately hop in the shower and wash off the day. Then I sleep. Like forever. Don't speak to me until like noon after wedding day if you want to live. 

---

Hey Brides! You don't want to be tackling your wedding day alone! Hire Promise Event Planners to handle the details and give you a stress free wedding day. Lets grab some wine and talk about the best day of your life! 

---

The Best Wedding Registries

Today were talking registries...

This is a very special time in your newly wedded life that you get showered in gifts. Your guests will be coming in from all over and will want to bring something to show their love. Whenever the two of you are registering for gifts, you and your future husband will need to sit down and decide how you wish to receive them. Some people want gifts for their home, some want experience based gifts, and others will be all about the Benjamins baby. Whatever you and your guy decide here are some of our all time favorite wedding registries. 

Crate & Barrel & Anthropologie: Crate and Barrel is such a staple in the wedding industry and for a good reason! These stores provide the most well made and stunning home items you can find. I can honestly say I love a long stroll through the stunning show rooms in the mall. For the clean and modern couple, Crate & Barrel is for you. For a couple that wants to stay true to their boho style Anthropologie is for you! 

My Registry: This registry is amazing! Using the My Registry app you can add gifts from almost any store in the world at any time by simply scanning the items bar code. No need to specify to registry to just one store when you can register for it all! Yay! 

Simple Registries: This registry's special feature is that it allows your guests to split a high cost item. Your guests can purchase both tangible and non tangible items. After your wedding any of the items can be turned into cash if you decide you would rather have that. Because we all know that sometimes cash is just...better. This registry is perfect for younger couples, who's friends may not have all the funds to buy you that amazing standing mixer.

Honey Fund: This is a honeymoon based registry. I wish we all could afford to take a lavish honeymoon following the wedding but paying for the wedding itself might make that dream feel impossible. If travel and experience are what make you and your beau the most happy, have your friends and family help with the tab. This registry lets your gifts come in the form or a couples massage on the beach, a lavish dinner date, or a helicopter tour. 

---

Are you engaged and looking to be married in 2018? We still have a few spots available for 2018 brides! We do completely free consults (& we'll pay for your wine). Contact us to schedule a girls night to talk weddings! 

---

Crystal & Jonathan's Manor House Wedding

Crystal & Jonathan's Manor House Wedding

Littleton, CO

Jonathan proposed to Crystal on New Years Eve in the middle of Time Square with an Emerald engagement ring. With the whole thing caught on film with a secret photo shoot. You can say that he has a flair for the extravagant and we ran with that! After meeting this New York couple with big personality we could not wait to get started. The couple was married at The Manor House on May 29, 2017. This special day began the night before with an all girl sleepover at The Manor House's on site guesthouse. The ladies woke up and got ready in their robes gifted by the bride. In the mean time, the guys got ready in The Man Cave in the basement of The Manor House. As guests arrived, they were seated on the backyard terrance for the ceremony and were greeted by the sounds of Mary Keener's Harp. There was an asymmetrically decorated arch that perfectly framed the city of Denver in the distance and the aisle was lined with floral garland. The couple opted not to do a first look and saw each other for the very first time as Crystal walked down the long winding aisle to Jonathan. It was an emotional entrance as she was escorted by her father in her beautiful cathedral style veil. The couple was married by Crystals mentor in a religious ceremony. Both Jonathan and Crystal wrote their own vows to each other that were fun and yet heartfelt. After the couple said I do guests threw flower petals in celebration. Cocktail hour was on the front porch of the house where they enjoyed cocktail, appetizers, and jazz music by three of the members of The Diamond Empire Band. The bridal party snuck into the field for photos where they used colored smoke bombs to create some dramatic and amazing photos. The ball room was decorated with varying heights of lush centerpieces and candles created by Newberry Brothers. The wooden beans on the ceiling were draped in a greenery garland and twinkle lights. The theme of the wedding was to be a lush garden and when the team was done it was exactly that. The whole bridal party was introduced into the reception and the newlyweds went straight into their first dance which started as a slow song and ended with them breaking into a dance to "I Like to Cha Cha". The guests enjoyed a dinner of Roasted Duck Breast with Apricot Chutney and Maple Sriracha Salmon provided by the onsite catering staff. The night went on with toasts and the cutting of the stunning Chocolate Dulce De Leche Cake provided by Azucar Bakery. We just cant get over this hand crafted sugar flower. Because of Jonathan's love for cigars the couple flew in a cigar roller all the way from Miami to hand roll cigars for the night. Each cigar had a gold label around it with the couples family crest and their wedding date. It was such a nice personal touch and the cigars were a big hit with this fun group. The couple ended the night with their big send off as they rolled away in a vintage Rolls Royce. 

Photographer: Danna Frost Photography

o   Website: http://www.dannafrostphotography.com/

o   Email: dannafrost@yahoo.com

Wedding Planner: Promise Event Planners

o   Website: www.promiseeventplanners.com

o   Email: payton@promiseeventplanners.com

Venue: The Manor House

o   Website: http://www.themanorhouse.com/

o   Email: info@themanorhouse.com

Flowers: Newberry Brothers

o   Website: https://newberrybrothers.com/

o   Email: info@newberrybros.com

Cake: Azucar Bakery

o   Website: https://azucarbakery.com/

o   Email: cakesbymarjorie@gmail.com

Catering: The Manor House

o   Website: http://www.themanorhouse.com/

o   Email: info@themanorhouse.com

Cinematography: Royal & August

o   Website: https://www.royalandaugust.com/

o   Email: chrisbramleyphoto@gmail.com

Cigar Roller: My Cigar Bar

o   Website: https://www.mycigarroller.com/

o   Email: fernando@mycigarroller.com

Car: DDG Classics

o   Website: https://www.ddgclassics.com/

o   Email: Dianne@ddgclassics.com

Band: The Diamond Empire Band

o   Website: https://www.diamondempireband.com/

o   Email: elijah@diamondempireband.com

Colorado Themed Welcome Bags

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME

One of the special extras we are seeing in weddings this season are welcome bags. These swag bags are adorable and can be personalized in tons of different way. These sweet gifts can either be in your guests rooms when they arrive or delivered at your rehearsal dinner or welcome party. Are you stumped as to what you should add to your Colorado themed wedding welcome bags? Here are a few of our absolute favorite items:

Colorado Beer: In Colorado we are very well known for our craft brews! Give your guests an authentic taste of Colorado by providing them with their first beverage. Some of my Colorado brewed favorites are Prost, Crooked Stave, and Denver Beer Company (They have a beer called Princess Yum Yum...Like come on).

Chapstick and Water: Because hydration is key here in Colorado. Keep your lips from getting chapped by having some chap stick on hand. I don't know about you but I am a chapstick addict and have about 5 going at any given time. Water, water, water...You HAVE to drink water my friends! Especially when your drinking alcohol at altitude. Provide your guests with cute water bottles or Boxed Water in their welcome bags. I know I sound like your high school health teacher but you need to drink one glass of water per alcoholic beverage. Thank me later!

Oxygen Cans: For all those out of town guests that may not be prepared to take on The Mile High City. These portable oxygen cans give you a boost of oxygen which can help with sport performance, hangovers, and can ease the affects of altitude sickness! Check out Boost Oxygen for more information.

Sunglasses: I don't know about you but I always forget my sunglasses. After trying to remember to pack the right things, not forget my phone or my keys, sunglasses are kind of a lost cause. Add some personalized sunnies to your welcome bags. They have some really cute options out there where you can write your names and wedding date on them. Who knows some of your guests may bust these out on the dance floor which would make for some really fun party pictures.

Door Hangers: We got this adorable idea from our Broadmoor Bride Morgan who made these for her wedding guests. On the back of the door hanger was an itinerary of events for the weekend and the front said "Quiet please we partied hard at Morgan and Luke's wedding". Too Cute! Take notes friends! 

A Snack: Chips, gummy bears, granola bars...I don't think anyone has ever been mad they had too many snacks. Include something sweet and something savory to make all your guests and their taste buds happy.

Hangover Cures: Because our brides really know how to party and so do their guests. Be a good friend and help them with their hangover blues the following morning. Include Advil, Pepto Bismol, Pedialyte and a non alcoholic beverage to help get your loved ones through it. I promise they will thank you.

---

Do you need help designing or stuffing your wedding welcome bags? This is something we offer as an add on to your package booking! See what other special extras we offer HERE.

---