Receptions Are Not The Wild Kingom

Children's Play Area at the Ellis Ranch Wedding Park


This is a very touchy subject for couples and will spark so many emotions. In my writing this blog remember I am thinking strictly from a venue’s point of view.

We have heard of wedding facilities that do not allow any children to attend the wedding or reception. This is very sad when a venue feels they have to implement this regulation but I do totally understand and respect their decision. This is a time for two families and friends to join as one. The Ellis Ranch has always been a child friendly facility and always will be but would like all couples, family members and guests to keep a few thoughts in mind when deciding to or not to have children attend.

First and foremost parents need to be responsible for their children. Remember the venue is not their babysitter. For some reason parents think when attending a wedding or reception that the facility is the Wild Kingdom, especially after a few drinks.

Parents need to keep in mind SAFETY for their child. Many venues have ponds, rivers, stairs and livestock. We have seen very small children standing on the edge of a river and not parent in site.

The Bride has paid a damage deposit to the venue and will be charged any damage to the facility or property. We have seen unattended children, throwing rocks at the cars in the parking lot, stuffing objects down the toilets, running their fingers thru the wedding cake even before it has been cut. I truly could go on and on.

Even the best of best parents seem to forget about their children. We recommend that when going to a wedding or reception that you should make this a date night so you can enjoy your evening. Believe me your kids will love you for it.

If you do decide to take your children with you please remember you are the parent and drink wisely, and keep you children by your side.

So Many Bridal Shows - What Do I Do?

Brides from the Northern Colorado region must be going out of their minds. I know of 20 bridal shows you can attend from January thru May 2010 and that doesn’t even count the individual venues that host their own in house show.

This can be a blessing or a nightmare depending on how you look at the whole process. I would first take time before I go to any bridal show and write down what do I want and expect to get out of attending anyone show.
When most brides go to a show they eat lots of food, pick up lots of printed material, try to visit with the vendor that catches their eye. After the day is over you feel bloated and your head is spinning from over load of information.

I recommend attending several shows but dividing up each show into what I want to accomplish. The very first thing you must do is finding your venue you want to host your wedding, tour several before attending any bridal show. If you haven’t reserved one before the bridal show I would concentrate on visiting with all the venues at the show first. After you have decided where you want your dream wedding to be held you can now go forward with the planning of the details.

Go to a show with only a couple of goals in mind. Let’s say we are going to visit shortly and I mean shortly with photographers and cake vendors. Be ready for them to give you just a brief answers to your questions. The vendors at show have 100’s of brides wanting their attention. Have your calendar ready to set a future appointment with your top three vendors you like that day. Your appointment can be in person or just a phone conversation. Plan your next show and find your DJ and florist. We are blessed with so many shows to help us make so many decisions.

If you will do this process you won’t have that feel of being over whelmed by whole planning process, slice your cake and choose one vendor at a time. Planning your wedding is supposed to be fun and an over whelming process.
<

Here is a list of up coming shows; http://colorado.perfectweddingguide.com/events/bridal-shows

Let's get to know each other.

It has taken me a long time to decide to start a blog and I owe it all to my friend and mentor Lori Gama with Gama Web Studios for the encouragement and support. Please check her out when you have a moment. She is the Social Media queen. http://www.dagamawebstudio.com I would also like to thank my web master; Jeanne Downing with Jeanne Designs http://www.jeannedesigns.net for answering my constant questions.

I have never claimed to be a writer but I am passionate about Weddings. Within my blog on Venues and Brides my goal is to help Brides make great choices for their wedding day. For example what questions should a new bride be asking when touring a venue and hopefully give her a better perspective of why venues do what they do. Bringing venues and brides together so each has a better understanding on what to expect from each other. If you have any questions please email me and I will do my best to help. With that in mind I want to first give you a little information about myself.

I am 54 years old and married to the most wonderful man alive, Terry Ellis. We have been married now for 35 years and we live in Loveland, Colorado. “Sweetheart Town" My husband and I have two beautiful grown children Shawn and Mindy, one Granddaughter Preslee and two more on the way and two fabulous other children; son-in-law Craig and a daughter-in-law Kim.


Along with my family we run the Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park. We took an existing horse arena that was 20,000 square foot and turned it into one of Colorado’s premier wedding facilities. http://www.ellisrancheventcenter.com We have been running the wedding business now going on six years and over 500 weddings under our belt. Our son, Shawn Ellis is the manager of the facility and is every bride’s go to person through out their planning.

God has blessed us: In 2008 our local Chamber of Commerce awarded us with Business of the Year. Our son Shawn was honored with being chosen as one of the 40 under 40 in the business community. This year Event Solutions named us in the top 10 Finalist for the Event Site of the Year and Wedding.com the Brides Choice Award.

I am a person that believes in positioning myself around positive people and making a list of things to do daily. I am a firm believer that you have to build relationships within your community and passing it forward in your daily life.

Hope you will enjoy reading my blogs and if you have a subject you would like for me to blog about please email me your ideas to info@ellisrancheventcenter.com My first blog will be coming shortly. Thank you for sharing your valuable time and I will look forward in building a great relationship with you.