dancing couple with snow, cedarhouse photography

In countries like in France, winter weddings are quite trendy but, in the US, winter is not the first season that comes up to mind when planning a Wedding. But a wedding in Colorado’s snowy season can be beautiful, fun and unique. 

Ice lanterns, cedarhouse photography

 Just imagine a room decorated for winter and/or the Holidays. Picture table décor of delicate stemware sparkling with candlelight surrounded by glistening snowflakes and crystals. After the ceremony, imagine a ride in horse drawn sleigh. After a perfect day and night of celebration, family and friends gather around a warm fireplace to recap with a nightcap. 

Wedding dresses with long sleeves and beautiful laces or fur are created just for this. To stay warm, the bride has many choices from capes and long white coats to luxurious fur, man made or natural.

Let it snow, let it snow! Taking pictures with a backdrop of snow and majestic mountains can be fun as well as picturesque. Are you up for a snowball exchange with your significant other? With a little luck, a typical crystal clear blue Colorado winter sky might smile upon this day to warm you and make the snow sparkle creating a magical landscape for your photos.

 If the sun doesn’t cooperate, one can keep warm between shots with a portable gas heater. Or, simply move inside and take your photos posed in front of an open hearth or picture window. Just be sure your photographer is experienced in this environment, familiar with the area and is prepared to adjust.

Winter Wedding in the Heart of the Rockies, cedarhouse photography

 Before the rehearsal, or the day after the Wedding, the Bride and Groom can meet with family and friends for some skiing, snowshoeing or just to build a snowman and snowwomen for yet another great photo opportunity

 Are there any downsides to a Winter Wedding? Traveling can be more difficult. Be sure your invited guests are aware of possible delays in airports and on the road. Have the most important guests arrive 2 days before the Wedding so they have plenty of time.  On the positive side, you may be able to take advantage of lower rates from venues and vendors or upgrade your event for the same or less! 

Color trends for the winter are white, silver or hammered silver and violet. Or try Crystal, white, silver and vanilla.
Less is more for winter Weddings.

Wedding dress and boots, cedarhouse photography

Winter Wedding Ideas

Cedarhouse photography

 Your can stay within your budget with alternative meat cuts. For example, serve pot roast instead of Filet Mignon. Lobster can be replaced by Paella served in a large pan; your chef can customize these servings of rice with chicken, shrimp, sausage or fish to please the palate of each guest.

A baguette with dipping olive oil and/or butter is always an appreciated starter and is filling as well. Desserts can be simple or totally replaced by the Wedding Cake or Wedding Cup Cakes. We too often see people unable to sample the coveted Wedding Cake because they already filled themselves with dessert. There are many options to consider. Keep in mind, the dinner plates do not have a dollar sign on them, your guests will not know what it cost and really couldn’t care. What truly matters is that the meal is served in a timely fashion, the food is presented attractively, your guests enjoy the food and they don’t leave hungry.

One more tip, ask caterers to consider local options and give them the chance to be creative. I know some of my favorite caterers love to create menus and love to present their creations in a pleasant way. Caterers are professionals but if you allow them to be able to enjoy what they do, your chances to have an outstanding meal at a reasonable price increase dramatically.

 Not very far from those exclusive resort towns on the “I 70 Corridor” is Central Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley. This picturesque alpine valley is less known, less marketed and less expensive than those resorts off I-70, but it is no less picturesque and arguably a more unique location to stage a wedding. With Buena Vista to the north, near the intersection of Highways 24 and 285, and Salida some 25 miles to the South, near the intersection of Highways 50 and 285, the region accurately calls itself “The Heart of The Rockies”. This is not only a perfect wedding destination but “The Heart of The Rockies” is a perfect location for your guests to begin a Colorado vacation. In fact, without leaving

Mt. Antero

the valley, they can enjoy world-class mountain biking, white water rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking and camping as well as less rigorous pursuits like golf, shopping, and gallery hopping. The valley also has seeveral hot spring spas to boot.

The western side of the valley is lined with the longest continuous group of “Fourteeners” (14,000 Foot Mountains) in all of the Rockies. Anticipate spectacular sunsets! To the east, another group of smaller mountains helps make for some great sunrises, for you early risers. In between, the protected Arkansas River Valley enjoys one of the mildest climates in the state, earning it the nickname “Banana Belt”. Recently, several new venues have popped up to meet the needs of a growing number of brides and grooms who have discovered the area.

In Nathrop, the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort and Hotel is surrounded by “Fourteeners” and faces the impressive “Chalk Cliffs”. The resort recently glassed in their “Pavilion” creating a weatherproof wedding and event venue with views in all directions and seating for up to 300.

Salida SteamPlant Event Center on the River banks

 In downtown Salida, the Historical Steam Plant Theater, on the banks of the Arkansas River, has completely renovated a, previously neglected, attached building (Formerly known as the pigeon room, for the obvious reason.) to create a ballroom extraordinaire with seating for up to 200.

Salida touts having one of the state’s largest numbers of historical buildings and the Steam Plant’s new Ballroom fits right in. Salida also has a plethora of galleries, independent shops and dining establishments. Throughout the valley you will find B&B’s and resorts with facilities well up to the task of hosting your nuptials and reception while providing vistas well up to the task of taking your breath away. One such place is the “Liars Lodge”, (Just change the name for the day to “The Lovers Lodge”.) a nicely appointed fishing lodge overlooking the river for receptions of 60 or less.

For more informat contact the region’s resident wedding planner and coordinator,  Katja Dietze of  “Magic Time Events” at 719 221 4017, info@magictimeevents.com , www.magictimeevents.com

 The Salida Chamber of Commerce at 719-539-2068
 The Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce at 719-539-2068

 I have observed dozens of brides, bride maids, mothers and even grand mothers walking about and dancing barefoot. Did they actually plan on doing this? Probably not or perhaps they accept it as the inevitable result of wearing attractive and fashionable but not practical shoes.

Dress Shoes are often chosen for their beauty and because they match a dress but seldom, for there fit and comfort. Too often, due to budget constraints, or because it doesn’t seem that important, investing in high quality footwear for one day is not an option to be considered.

Bridesmaids are too often asked to buy a particular shoe model that matches the bridal wardrobe but does not fit the many different foot shapes and sizes in the bridal party. It is almost cruel to expect five or even ten different women and girls to fit comfortably into one model of shoe. One option is to suggest a specific color but only a general style and give them the freedom to choose one that is comfortable for them. Then again, comfort is not always the reason a woman chooses a shoe.

Some in the Bridal Party may not be comfortable in heels. A bride should either consider the ability of being able to walk in heals when choosing her Bridesmaids or just accept it, if their bridesmaids do not want to walk up the aisle looking like a stork in a lettuce bed (old German saying). Remember not every woman will learn to walk elegantly in Stilettos.

Shoes can fit more comfortably if they are broken in before the wedding day but no one wants their shoes looking used when they walk up the aisle. Carefully wearing the shoes around the house for a few hours will help break them in and the blisters will be less likely. That done, even the best fitting heels can get uncomfortable after being on your feet all day and dancing the night away.

Generally speaking, you can count on the higher and thinner the heel and the narrower the straps are, the less comfortable your shoe will be. But there are high quality shoes available which can make you look sexy and beautiful without torturing your feet. Shop around and research.

Once the dance floor is open, even the best shoes can get uncomfortable. Going barefoot is not the safest thing to do on the dance floor nor is it the most attractive. We recently came across some lovely foldable ballet shoes  that are both comfortable and attractive. They are so nice, I recommend them as gifts for all the women in your bridal party. A practical gift they can use that very evening to liberate their feet and let them dance the night away!

Use our special Discount code ILOVECLOUDS during checkout and save 10 % on your purchase

Arkansas River Valley afternoon

There are certain times in the Summer  and Fall were  strong rain or thunderstorms are present almost every afternoon. Experienced Wedding vendors will warn you about this.  With precautions a Wedding can be saved and wonderful even with a great Rain.
Have a tent set up and properly secured for very strong gusts to protect  musicians, DJ equipment  and the Wedding guests. See if there is a barn nearby which could be cleared out in advance of the Wedding to have a shelter for the storm. Make sure heaters are available and functioning.  Evening and nights in Colorado can be very chilling even in the Summer.  Have some blankets or fleeces for your guests if you do not want them to leave with the first chill.

Plan only the Wedding ceremony outside and this right next to a warm, dry and cozy reception venue.  Always have a bad weather option for the ceremony.   Plastic or metal chairs are better to dry of then chairs with fabric. Have some towels ready for the worst case!

Generally  you will have better chances for sunshine in the morning. The weather in the mountains changes very often between noon and the early afternoon in the Summer. 

Good luck and if nothing helps you might be able to shoot great pictures with a rainbow.

Kiss a loving couple

As someone who organises Weddings for a living, I am experiencing a number of  last ” minute”   bookings. I know  it is possible to organize an event like a Wedding in a relative short period of time, that is, if the bride and the groom are flexible in what they want for their most important day regarding date, venue, and vendors.  Many Wedding  vendors (at least the good ones) will be booked for every Saturday during the season. A Sunday or Friday Wedding may be a smart alternative. 

Important for a Wedding on a short notice is COMMUNICATION.  Vendors are getting very busy, so please take initiative to call or email all the details for your event and follow up with those vendors to get all the answers and contracts.  This  is basically what the Wedding planner will do for you,  with his or her advantage beeing,  knowing the vendors well enough to know how and  when to reach them and which questions are important to have answered.  It might be well spent  money to use a coordinator to insure  your vendors will be lined up in time for the Wedding day, especially if you are very short on time.

Communication is also very  important with your family and invited guests. You will have to make sure to get all RSVP’s in time. If guests do not answer call them shortly after the due date, give them one or 2 days. Those who did not answer by then won’t answer later so call or get somebody to call for you!

tulips for Weddings

We are getting ready for the upcoming Spring weddings.  Thinking about all the organizational details I do not want to forget how much I love this time of the year and the first flowers like snowdrops, daffodils, tulips and  hyacinths, the colors of spring which are green, rose, yellow, dark blue and a full and beautiful red,  which I also find in asparagus, champagne and strawberries.  Table and venue decorations can be a dream and wedding guests will also appreciate the opportunity to wear fresh colors and thinner fabrics.  Wedding events can be perfectly color coordinated, stylish and seasonal.  But the most important for Spring Weddings and in every other Wedding season of the year  is that weddings are about  love and about the moment.