Wedding Week Check List

Break in your shoes - The last thing you want on your wedding day is blisters and sore feet.  Wear your wedding shoes around the house with a pair of socks on. Scuff the bottoms on concrete or loose rocks so they aren't slippery.

Clean your engagement ring - You can clean your ring at home or take it to a professional to have it polished before the wedding.  Your new wedding band will be full of sparkle and you don't want your engagement ring to be dull when photographed next to it.

Pack for your wedding night - Don't forget a change of clothes and shoes to wear to brunch the next morning.

Pack for your honeymoon - You don't want to be doing this at the last minute.  If you can't find the time to pack before the wedding, make a list during the week so that you don't forget anything important like your passport or medications.

Misc tasks - Schedule the pet sitter and house sitter, leave your honeymoon itinerary with a relative or friend, confirm travel arrangements, hold your mail, write final checks and make gratuity envelopes for your wedding vendors.

Marriage License - If you haven't picked it up yet, now is the time.  You can find out how to get your Colorado Marriage License here.

Relax - Take time to pamper yourself with a massage, mani and pedi. Also, take a minute to breathe and enjoy the week!

 

Debbie Orwat

Denver Wedding Planner

Commitment Ceremonies in Colorado

Commitment ceremonies are very special to me and I’ve been lucky enough to coordinate (as well as be a guest) at quite a few of them. One of the first ceremonies I planned was for a LGBT couple out of Austin, Texas. The service was one of the most emotional and tear-filled ceremonies I have been to – I actually had to start passing out tissues right in the middle of the ceremony!

Commitment ceremonies are not recognized by the federal government, and there may be no legal benefits to being joined in this way. These ceremonies are purely to celebrate the love, devotion and togetherness of a couple.

The structure of a commitment ceremony is very similar to the traditional marriage ceremony. Each couple brings their own special touches that are unique to their relationship, but commitment ceremonies have the same important components such as the greeting from your officiant, the vows (usually written together with the officiant) and the exchange of rings. The pronouncement of marriage will be slightly different from the traditional ceremony. The traditional, "I now pronounce you man and wife" is commonly replaced with something along the lines of "I now pronounce this couple united as one".

After the ceremony, couples can register their commitment at the International Commitment Ceremonies Registrar, www.unionoflove.com. This organization collects and stores searchable records of ceremonies that have been performed all over the world. At this point there are over 4,500 people who’ve registered.

If you are planning a commitment ceremony in Colorado and need assistance with anything from finding the best invitations, to the tastiest caterer, to the perfect officiant, we would be delighted to help.

Gabriella Cavalli

Committment Ceremony Planner

Real Wedding in Breckenridge Colorado

 

We can't say enough kind words to describe Amy and Doug. They are amazing individuals and so perfect together. They have the biggest hearts and we truly miss having them as clients. Amy and Doug loved all things vintage and also wanted a hint of cowboy country incorporated into their wedding. We started working with both of them in January to make their vision come to life.

They got married on June 27th at Elk Ridge Ranch in Breckenridge, Colorado. The stunning outdoor ceremony was followed by a casual cocktail hour at Elk Ridge Ranch. Amy and Doug departed in a vintage truck with their beloved dogs riding in the back. Guests were shuttled to Salt Creek Saloon in Breckenridge for a gourmet dinner and rockin' reception. Our favorite bluegrass band, Kort McCumber kept guests entertained all evening. Plum Sage provided beautiful flowers in vintage glass jars that Amy has been collecting for years. Intricate Icings created the perfect cake for Amy and Doug.

We LOVE these photos provided by the super talented Rachael Grace. You can see more pictures on Rachael's Blog. You can also see the fabulous engagement photos she posted here.

Debbie worked with Amy and Doug to plan their wedding then Gabby and Shelby from Save the Date Events took over and perfectly coordinated the many details and logistics of the wedding weekend.

Debbie and Gabby, Colorado Wedding Planners

StudioWed in Colorado!

After many months of planning, I am beyond excited to announce that I will be bringing StudioWed to Colorado.

StudioWed Denver will bring together some of Colorado's best wedding vendors under one roof in a centrally located, stylish planning studio. Brides will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of hand selected vendors and meet them at StudioWed. Brides could meet a photographer over coffee in the morning and enjoy a glass of wine as they chat with a floral designer in the afternoon. For vendors, it is the perfect opportunity to have an incredible studio space to meet clients and be part of the StudioWed team with the best vendors in Colorado.

There will be more details to come as we design our studio which is scheduled to open later this year. We will start interviewing vendors in August. If you have any questions or would like to be added to our email list, please email debbie@studiowed.net. You can see more details at http://www.studiowed.net/. You can also follow StudioWed Denver StudioWed Asheville and StudioWed Atlanta on twitter.

Debbie Orwat

Save the Date Events

Real Wedding Hudson Gardens in Littleton Colorado

We had such a great time helping Jen, Dan and Jen's mom plan their wedding.  We started working with them last fall to create a romantic garden wedding at Hudson Gardens. Jen loves flowers so we incorporated as many as we could into her wedding day.  It was a beautiful afternoon ceremony followed by cocktail hour with a stunning crudite display.  Guests enjoyed a sit down dinner in the garden canopy tent with fun dance music provided by Jeff from DJ on Demand.  The incredible florals were provided by Bella Fiori Events.  Catering was done by The Food Guy.  The beautiful cake was created by Kelley Kakes.

A HUGE thank you to the fabulous photographer, Jenni Maroney.  She was so fun to work with and had the pictures posted in record time.  Our clients (and us!) were incredibly pleased with her and her wonderful photos.

Debbie Orwat
Denver Wedding Planner

New Website Is Up!

Our new website and logo are up!  Check it out at Save the Date Events!

Real Wedding Vail Colorado

What a great couple Jennifer and Tim are! Their wedding in Vail Colorado was gorgeous, despite the rain. In fact, the rain made it all the more memorable! The ring bearer was their adorable yellow lab named Baxter. The evening was a blast! Their guests danced the night away, and had a wonderful time.

The wedding was at the lovely Vail Racquet Club, and the wonderful wedding flowers were created by Amore Fiori. Jennifer and Tim had an incredible wedding cake, thanks to Intricate Icings.

I loved working with Jennifer and her family through the planning process. They are so warm and caring. We wish you the absolute best in your lives together!

Gabriella Cavalli, Vail Wedding Planner

Save the Date Events

Claire Pettibone Bridal Fashion Show in Denver

Gabby and I attended the Claire Pettibone bridal fashion show in Denver last week. If you haven't seen her dresses, you must check out her website. She is an amazing designer of couture wedding gowns and lingerie. The event was sponsored by The Little White Dress Shop in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Photos are courtesy of the wonderfully talented Cheryl Ungar.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner

Save the Date Events

Colorado Marriage License Price Increase

Starting on July 1, 2009, the cost of a marriage license in Colorado increases to $30. The current price is $10. Need to know how to get a license? Read our blog post here about it.

Vote for our blog!

Do you like reading our blog?  Vote for us on the Wedding Channel's top wedding blogs contest!  You can vote here.

Fun Wedding Statistics

Every year an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S

Today's median age for first-time brides is 27 years. For grooms, it's 29 years old.

The median age for remarriage is 34 for brides and 37 for grooms

Each weekend an average of 44,230 weddings take place

23 million bridesmaids and groomsmen attend brides and grooms each year

The average number of wedding guests is 165

88 percent of Americans marry at least once in their lifetime

The average amount spent on a wedding gift is in the $70-$100 range

The average amount spent on wedding bands for the couple is $1,575

The average amount spent on a bridal gown is $1,075

David's Bridal accounts for 20% of all bridal-gown sales

Unique Cake Stands

We LOVE the unique custom cake stands from Raise the Cake. These are a great alternative to standard glass or metal cake stands and are a good way to add style and height to your wedding cake.

Real Wedding Boulder Colorado - Chelsea and Mike

{Custom Unity Candles}

{Stunning cake with an entire table of chocolate covered strawberries}

{Classy and fun wedding programs}

{Super sweet candy buffet}

It was so touching to enjoy my first wedding of the season with such a special couple. Chelsea and Mike were incredibly sweet and their friends and family were wonderful as well. Despite a few rain showers, the day went smoothly and beautifully. The ceremony was lovely and I *think* I saw a tear in the groom's eye when the bride walked down the aisle!!

After a wonderful dinner presented in synchronized service by Boulder Country Club, the guests enjoyed dancing (and competitive table-cheering!!) This group was so enthusiastic and all-around happy that it made for such a wonderful time! I am so thankful to have been a part of their special day.

Thank you to Bella Fiori Events for the fabulous flowers and to Simplicity Cakes for a stunning cake.

Gabriella Cavalli, Boulder Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

Colorado Real Wedding - Keri and Kyle

Keri and Kyle had a fantastic wedding last Saturday in Denver. We have worked with them for over a year to plan the perfect wedding day. Their wedding ceremony was a traditional Catholic ceremony at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Denver. The outdoor cocktail hour and Italian style reception followed at the Tuscany Ballroom on the University of Denver campus. We have never seen such a huge dessert table! Thousands of homemade Italian cookies, a whimsical cake from Kelley Kakes and cupcakes from Lovely Confections adorned the 14' long display. Design by Ann created stunning bouquets and centerpieces with orchids and hydrangeas. We lit the room with over a hundred candles to provide a romantic atmosphere for dinner and dancing. The green and purple whimsical flower theme was used throughout the stationery details, cake and favors.

Special thanks to the fabulous Karie Mclain Photography for capturing the day!

Debbie Orwat

Colorado Wedding Planner

10 Tips for a Happy Marriage

1. Never assume.
2. Compliment more than you criticize.
3. For each time you vent about your husband/wife, give three positive compliments.
4. Remember that it is OK to do things differently (there is more than one way to load the dishwasher or fold the laundry).
5. Always make time for the two of you.
6. Marry someone that you enjoy listening and talking to.
7. Remember that marriage is sometimes a bed of roses and sometimes there are thorns.
8. The best gift that you can give your children is to love their mother/father.
9. Be fair! Split the housework, spending money, etc evenly. This way you are never resentful of your partner's contributions (or lack of) or expenditures.
10. Never go to bed angry. (Unless it's 3a.m. and you're exhausted, angry, and not thinking straight.)

Hindu Wedding Pictures

Check out these fabulous photos from Julie Harris! We were honored to coordinate a stunning (and rainy) wedding for Manjari and Sameer over Memorial Day weekend. They are a fabulous couple and had quite the celebration.

You can see more of their pictures on Julie's blog.

Debbie Orwat, Denver Wedding Planner

Save the Date Events

Random Jobs of Wedding Planners

Aside from standard wedding planning tasks, time lines, budgets and other details we coordinate as Colorado wedding planners, here are some of the random tasks we have done in the past month to help our clients enjoy their wedding weekend:

• Called guests who were lost on their way to the rehearsal dinner and gave them complete directions. The bride and groom were able to enjoy the dinner instead of spending 20 minutes on the phone.
• Created custom wedding favors for our June 6th clients. We couldn't find exactly what they wanted so we created them ourselves.
• Run wedding day interference between the bride and her mom. Emotions can run high, especially on the wedding day. We were able to diffuse the situation so that mom and bride could enjoy the day.
• During a last minute rain storm, we handed out dozens of white umbrellas so that guests could stay outside for the ceremony.
• Ordered and stored custom made floral vases, guest books and wedding programs for destination wedding clients. When you have a wedding in a destination location, it is helpful to have a "drop zone" for shipping and holding wedding items until the wedding weekend. This is a complimentary service we provide for our destination brides and grooms.
• Assisted the rehearsal dinner site with changing all barware to more appropriate glassware. This is a small detail but we knew the bride and groom would not be happy with the original plasticware. The site changed to all glassware before the bride and groom arrived.
• At the last minute, a venue decided we couldn't hang candles from the ceiling even though they previously approved it. Thanks to Twitter, we knew the one florist in this mountain town who graciously sold us all of her LED battery tea light candles. We were able to get these to the florist in time to have hanging glass vases with candles. The bride never noticed the difference.

These are just a few of the many unusual tasks we have done in the past few weeks to ensure our clients have a perfect Colorado wedding weekend.

Debbie Orwat
Wedding Planner in Colorado
Save the Date Events

Save the Date Events Press

We were featured on IN Weddings yesterday!

You can read the interview here.

Colorado Destination Wedding at Devil's Thumb Ranch

We are so excited to post about Iris and Jeff's wedding last Saturday at Devil's Thumb Ranch. We started working with Iris and Jeff last fall. They live in Texas and wanted a destination wedding in Colorado. Devil's Thumb Ranch was the perfect venue to give their guests a true Colorado experience and allow them to pamper their friends and family at a fabulous Colorado mountain resort. We decided early on to have a cherry blossom theme wedding then opted to add a bit of lavender into the style since Iris loves the smell of fresh lavender. We carried out the design through custom designed stationery, a fabulous cake and their seating cards. Our original plan for an outdoor ceremony was foiled due to rain so we created a stunning intimate ceremony space inside. Guests tossed fresh lavender as the bride and groom recessed down the aisle. It was the best smelling ceremony site! Guests dined on gourmet food stations including fabulous seafood, prime rib, assorted salads, and a custom martini bar. DJ Erik kept the dance floor packed all night with the latest dance music. The fabulous flowers and hanging candles were created by the very talented Alicia Schwede and her team at Bella Fiori Events. And special thanks to Michelle and Zack from Revert Photo for taking amazing photos and sending them to me in record time.

After almost daily contact for the past eight months, we miss Iris and Jeff already! We truly wish you the best of luck. Thank you for being such incredible clients and friends.

We can't say enough good things about the fabulous vendors from this wedding: Intricate Icings Cake Design, Bella Fiori Event Florist, Revert Imaging Photography, A Great Time DJs , Nobility Strings and Forever More Custom Stationery.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

Wedding Recap

We have been so busy the past few weekends at Save the Date Events. We coordinated a fabulous Hindu wedding ceremony and reception for Manjari and Sameer over Memorial Day Weekend. This past weekend, we planned and coordinated a stunning Colorado destination wedding at Devil's Thumb Ranch for Iris and Jeff. We can't wait to share all the details and photos. We didn't have a chance to take our own photos but we promise to post professional pictures from the photographers as soon as we have them!

We were just featured on the blog of Bella Fiori Events. Alicia and her team are fantastic floral designers based in the Denver area. Check out the blog post here!

Don't want to miss a post from us? You can subscribe to our blog in a reader. Are you on Twitter? You can follow Debbie here and follow Gabby here.

Debbie Orwat, Denver Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

Mountain Weddings - Do's and Dont's

Need tips for your Colorado mountain wedding? You can find them here!

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

How to Handle Drunk Wedding Guests

Here are 5 tips on how to deal with a drunk wedding guest:

1. You always can’t control how your guests act, but you can control how you react to the situation. Keep your composure and have a sense of humor.

2. Ask your planner or venue coordinator to move the guest away from the celebration and other guests.

3. Take the inebriated guest’s car keys.

4. Have someone sober get the guest a cab to go home or back to a hotel. As a planner, I have done this a few times before the bride and groom had to worry about it.

5. Secretly ask the bartender to stop adding alcohol to his or her drinks.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner

Save the Date Events

Colorado Wedding Venues

Last week, we spent a very productive day touring Colorado wedding venues with the Association of Bridal Consultants. Our tour included Pelican Lakes Golf Course shown in the first picture above. It's a little piece of island atmosphere in the middle of Colorado. We toured and held our monthly meeting at the stunning new Estes Park venue, Della Terra. We also toured the Stanley Hotel and Lost Antler Ranch in Estes Park.

During our meeting, we competed in a table design competition with stunning flowers provided by Amore Fiori and linens provided by Linens Unlimited. Linda from Linens Unlimited also gave us a preview of current chair cover trends shown in the above photos.

At Save the Date Events, we have been active members of the Association of Bridal Consultants for almost four years. The monthly venue tours and meetings allow us to stay on top of trends, see the latest wedding venues and network with some of the best industry professionals in Colorado.

Special thanks to fantastic photographer Hardy Klahold for the photos. You can see more photos of our day on his blog.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

First Birthday Party Planner

I'll use any excuse to throw a great party including a fabulous first birthday party for my daughter in March. Our theme was "Winter ONEderland" which I carried out through every detail including Frost Bite Punch, snowflake decorated cupcakes, favors with snowflake notepads and hot cocoa mix to-go. For food, we had a chili and mac-n-cheese bar for guests to make their own comfort food creation. We had a great time, especially our little sweet pea. Thanks to the talented KB Photography for taking professional photos at our party.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Party Planner

Save the Date Events

What Wedding Planners Want From Vendors

As wedding planners, we have many requests from vendors who would like us to refer them. The unique thing about wedding planners is that our reputation not only depends on our work but also relies on the work of our vendors. At Save the Date Events, this is what we look for in the vendors we refer:

Outstanding Reputation - You have been in business for at least a two years with a lot of experience, great references and fantastic reviews.

Talent - You have to be great at what you do. Occasionally vendors have fantastic business and marketing sense but not the talent to produce a high-end product. Or vice-versa.

Business Sense - No matter how good you are as a photographer, florist or cake designer, the vendors we refer respond to our clients (and us) in a timely manner, act professionally and will answer questions quickly and efficiently. Follow-up response time and good contracts are very important.

Personality - Brides and grooms choose their planner based on previous work, awards and presentation. However, the biggest factor is personality. We know that our kindness, professionalism, warmth and genuine personalities are big selling points. We like to work with vendors who have similar personalities because they typically fit our clients the best.

Pricing - We work with brides on a variety of budgets and use vendors in every budget category. We may meet with a new, up-and-coming photographer before we meet with a high budget photographer if that is what we need on our vendor list.

Your Opinion on Planners - We love vendors who promote wedding planners and coordinators. They see the value and benefits that an experienced planner provides for brides and grooms.

I could list many other tips for vendors but these are the big ones we look for when we refer vendors to our Colorado brides.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

Beautiful Colorado Mountain Wedding

What a stunning day for a wedding! Margaret and Stephen are two of the sweetest people we have had the priviledge of working with. We coordinated their beautiful brunch wedding on Sunday morning. Their outdoor mountain-top ceremony was accompanied by a string quartet followed by cocktail hour and mimosas on the flagstone patio. Guests were treated to a fabulous brunch provided by one of my favorite caterers, Occcasions by Sandy. An espresso bar, professional piano player and a fantastic cake by Das Meyer completed the very enjoyable morning for their guests.

We recently blogged here about brunch weddings. Who wouldn't want to be a guest at a fabulous brunch wedding?

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner

Save the Date Events

How to Have Both Parents Escort the Bride Down the Aisle

This is exactly what you DON'T want to happen. The bride is escorting both of her parents down the aisle instead of the parents escorting her. The dad and the mom both take the bride's arm in this photo.

Some brides choose to have both their mother and father escort her down the aisle which is perfectly acceptable. Considering the fact that many women are not accustomed to taking the arm of even one escort, having two can be challenging when you are trying to be elegant and hold your bouquet. The proper way to have both your mother and father escort you is this:

Take your father's arm like you normally would but have your mother walk beside you. She can either have her arm on your back or at her side. You will still hold your bouquet in your free hand.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

Wedding Planning Doesn't Have To Be DIY

This is one of the the most important days in your life. Take time early in the planning process to meet with a few wedding planners. Even if you think you will plan everything yourself, meet with a few to see what they can offer. If you decide not to hire one early on, at least you know a few you can hire later if you need help. If you decide to plan everything yourself, you can still hire an experienced Colorado wedding planner for wedding day coordination so that you can relax on your wedding day and enjoy the hard work you put into planning.

Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner

Save the Date Events

Wedding Day Make-Up Tips

Every Colorado bride wants to look beautiful, fresh and radiant on her wedding day. We suggest pampering yourself and getting a make-over by a professional for your big day. I have worked with many great professional make-up artists, but by far my favorite cosmetic brand is MAC cosmetics.

MAC was founded in 1984 by a fashion photographer and a hair stylist. Their experience in the fashion industry led them to recognize the need for more durable, versatile and creative cosmetics products. These products would need to be able to handle the demands of runway shows, theater productions and photo shoots. With these things in mind, they set about creating their line.

MAC has since produced many great lines of rich colors, sturdy foundations and long lasting lip colors. This is why I recommend it so highly to our brides. MAC make-up is designed to last all day, in the heat or humidity, through tears and sweat and many other wedding make-up emergencies.

I also strongly recommend false eyelashes. Although most ladies never wear these nowadays, the wedding day is the perfect time to put them to use. Your photographs will turn out splendidly and your eyes will be open, awake and lush. The lashes, when applied by a professional, will stay on throughout the day and into the evening.

You will always want to set up an appointment with your make-up artist ahead of time, in order to do a trial run of the color and style of your make-up. I would recommend doing this a few months before your Colorado wedding so you have time to revise your make-up plan if necessary.

Look into the MAC make-up line and let your beauty shine on your wedding day!

Gabriella Cavalli, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events

Postage Price Increase

On May 11th, the U.S. Postal Service will raise the rates for postage. Starting on May 11th, a first class stamp will be 44¢.

Make sure that your wedding invitations aren't returned to you with insufficient postage. If you plan to send your wedding invitations soon, make sure that you have affixed proper postage to both your outer envelope and your response card envelope.

You can continue to use the forever stamps that were purchased prior to May 11 at 42¢, even after the price change. You can learn more about the increase here.