Ellis Ranch Wedding Park

Needing a little dose of summer? This video will deliver a wonderful view of how our ranch will look during the summer months. Photography Cody Van Pelt has so kindly put together this beautiful video of the Event Center & Wedding Park and the Carriage House.

For all the couples that toured our ranch this past winter you had to take a leep of faith that the wedding park will once again bloom into beautiful full trees and lush green grass. This video is for you. Thank you for booking with us.



The photographer of this video Photography Cody Van Pelt is one of the Ellis Ranch's Preferred Vendors. Each year we choose eight photographers we feel honored to recommend to our brides and Cody is diffidently one of our top photographers. Still needing a photographer for you wedding? Cody is your man.

For a complete list of Ellis Ranch Preferred Vendors please click on this link - Preferred Vendors

Beauty at it's best.

This is the time of year in the wedding business one could say we are also in the March Madness of Weddings playoffs. Brides are playing the game venue VS venue in search of finding the perfect venue to host their most memorable day.

We do book weddings year round but from January thru March seems to be tournament time for brides.

This time of year brings up many problems for venues when trying to show brides how beautiful their venue truly can be. When showing our wedding park this time of year you have to deal with sub zero temps, brown grass, no flowers and barren trees. We once had a groom ask if we planned on removing those dead trees before summer. Evidently he was not from Colorado.

I could go on and on and describe how beautiful our weddings are but think these photos will show you the beauty our past brides saw in their eyes.

Come on in and take tour of our beautiful ranch.

Marriage Licenses in the "Sweetheart City"

Marriage Licenses in the Sweetheart City
Where to Get Your License
Larimer County Clerk's Office
205 E. 6th St, 1st Floor
Loveland, CO 80537
970-679-4526 ~ M-F 8-5

Marriage licenses in Colorado are available at various locations. The $30.00 fee MUST BE PAID IN CASH, and is valid for 30 days. Both parties need to be be present and must sign at the time of filing for a marriage license, and must present valid ID and proof of age.

If either party is divorced, the county will require the date and place of the divorce. The divorce MUST BE FINAL. Widows or widowers need to supply the date and place of death of their former spouse.

The legal age without parental consent is 18 for both persons. For marriages of age 16-17, consent of BOTH parents or parent having legal custody (or guardian or judicial approval) is required.

Blood tests are not required in the state of Colorado.

The license must be used within 30 days of the date of issue, and used only in the State of Colorado. License must be recorded within 60 days of marriage date or a fine will be imposed when recorded. The statute DOES NOT allow a friend or relative to solemnize the marriage unless they are either a judge or clergy.

It is best to obtain a copy of your marriage license (or your marriage license application,) to carry with you as proof of marriage for changing your name on your State ID, Driver's License, vehicle registration, insurance documents, and Social Security card. It is best to get your driver's license updated first, as many offices will require documentation and a state ID with your new name before processing a change request.


Thanks My Loveland Wedding and Events for making this information available.

Horse Ranch to Wedding Ranch

Photo by; Dana Milner

The Ellis Ranch has had many different faces over the years. It has evolved from a “hobby ranch” in 1963, to a thriving horse facility for the next 25 years, to a highly sought-after tourist spot for 13 years. Today, it’s one of Colorado’s favorite places to get married.

Laurence and Loy Ellis purchased the ranch in 1963, after Mr. Ellis had a heart attack and needed to find a new hobby. It’s no wonder Larry had a heart attack; he and Loy owned and managed Ellis Mobile Home and Sales, with lots from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Colfax in Denver. For years, the family enjoyed riding their horses on the ranch and on trails. Terry, their son, began showing horses. From the beginning -- the first year they purchased the ranch -- the Ellises started hosting weddings and events. The Ellises let several friends use the ranch for weddings and hosted many horse shows and gymkhanas.

In 1964, the Ellises bought their first race horse. For several years, other trainers worked with the horse, and the Ellises raced their horse across Colorado and Wyoming. This was the first time my family and I came into contact with Ellises. You see, my father, Harlan Norman, become their jockey, and Terry and I met for the first time in Cheyenne at the races. Terry was 16 years old. And I was only 10. I don’t remember it, but we have the photos.

Many horses were bought and sold throughout the Ellis Ranch years. Dr. Carlton -- the doctor who invented the artificial heart -- bought his first horse from the Ellises. (A curious coincidence, since a heart attack is what brought Larry Ellis to the ranch to begin with.) We have also sold horses to Denver Bronco football players and numerous other high-profile people. If you were looking for a good horse, the Ellis Ranch was the place to go. If Terry and his dad didn’t have the perfect horse for you, they would find one for you. They earned a reputation for being very honest horse-traders.

In 1972, Terry, at the age of 23, decided to take the family’s race horses (as well as other horses) to the race track. For the next two years, Terry trained the horses at the ranch, and when the racing season came, he took to the road. During those two years, Terry received the honor of being named the leading trainer at many tracks.

It was during this time that Terry and I met each other -- again -- in Grand Junction. My father had retired from being a jockey and was training, himself, out of Imperial, Nebraska. I was raised in Nebraska and on horse race tracks. I was what one would call an “exercise girl.” I worked the horses in the morning for their workouts, and then on race day, I was a “pony girl,” who took the jockey and horse to the gate.

The summer of 1974, just before Terry and I were married, his father called us at the track and told Terry that he would need to either come home full time and run the ranch or he planned on selling it. Terry gave that options only a few seconds of thought and told his father we would be home to stay after the summer season of racing.

With the ranch full of show horses, we had to change our direction of action toward showing horses for the public. We decided that all the race horses would still be trained at the ranch, but when they were ready to go the track, we had to find another trainer. For the next several years, we showed horses all over the United States and Canada. Terry was honored with training and showing numerous U.S. and Canadian national champions. With receiving those honors, and with several of the horses being top pedigree stallions, it was time to change our operation from showing horses on the road to opening up a year-round training stable and a “stallion station” at home.

Our love for race horses grew, so we opened up a race-training stable. Here, we got the horses ready for the track. We also now were standing four horses at stud. At this time, we would have as many as 25 horses in training and standing four stallions. Our stallions would service more than 300 mares nationwide through artificial insemination. During the breeding season, it was not uncommon to have more than 200 horses on the ranch at one time. This was before people found a way to freeze the semen and ship it to the mare owners to be inseminated at their own farms. We were raising and selling quality horses all over the world. We even shipped horses overseas.

During the next 10 years or so, we saw Centennial Race Track in Littleton go down and several other horse tracks start up and then go down across the state. While watching this, knowing that many people in the racing industry were leaving the state, we knew that we needed to make some changes. The biggest issue we saw with the race tracks was that they were competing with the entertainment dollar. Horse-racing had to compete with the mountains, tourism, skiing and all the professional athletic teams coming into the state. Those industries seemed to get the most attention by the press. You can’t wake up and not hear a skiing report or what one of the sports teams is doing. Colorado actually still has Arapahoe Park, just east of Aurora. But do you ever hear about racing results? No.

At this time, around 1987, we had one of many family discussions on how we could change with the times. We felt the biggest issue for us was tourism, so the old saying is, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Well, we did -- big time. With Terry always having the dream of raising elk and buffalo, we decided to fence in 260 acres with high-wire fencing and bought some elk and bison. The fence took Terry and another guy one year to put up. We have a lot of rock out west.

In 1988, we turned the ranch into a thriving day guest ranch, entertaining thousands of guests yearly. The ranch offered horseback rides and chuck wagon dinners to view the elk and bison. We hosted numerous weddings, company parties, worked with Front Range Community College and Colorado State University interns. We also hosted an annual Pumpkin Patch and Old Fashioned Christmas event. During the 13 years in the tourist business, we were chosen to be on Colorado Get Away. During this time, the ranch was still boarding more than 50 horses for the public.

Our children even had their own businesses on the ranch: Shawn, as a professional farrier, and Mindy gave hundreds of riding lessons. Our children were so important to our business in the daily operations. They both helped with whatever needed done. Shawn was such a good wagon-master, shoeing all the teams and horses, and Mindy was our entertainment as a singer. Both were guides on our trail rides.

In 2001, Terry and I had a good talk with each other; we were working 13 to 14 hours per day, seven days a week. Even with the business being very successful, we knew it was time for another change. Our son had started his own successful horseshoe business, and it was getting harder and harder for him to help us out. Mindy, our daughter, had gone to Nashville to study the music industry, and after graduating from Belmont University, she wanted to pursue her dreams. That left us without our entertainment. Our kids have always been a big part of life and business. We have to give them much of the credit of our success. We couldn’t have done it without them.

Concerning the elk and bison, the state was fighting the elk industry. They basically wanted us out of the state (you really don’t want to get me started on that issue). Bison were doing great. We had great meat production, along with the tourists, who loved them. But we knew it was going to be an uphill battle getting the public to overcome the idea we were eating Buffy the CU mascot, and we didn’t have enough land to take the part of the business to another level. One evening, we decided that it was time to let go. So we didn’t take another booking and honored the bookings we already had. September of 2001, we had one of the largest private sales in Colorado, selling all of our horses, elk, bison and almost 90 percent of our equipment. We had more than 1,000 people attend our sale.

January of 2004, our son Shawn got seriously hurt shoeing a horse and had to have back surgery. Knowing he had to change careers, we asked him if he wanted to go back to school and what his plans were. His statement was, “I would like to turn the indoor arena in to an event center, where we can host weddings and corporate events again.” We were still boarding horses for the public, but the tourist business was done -- or so we thought!

The summer of 2004, we gave notice to all the horse boarders that they needed to find another stables for their horses. Eight months later, we hosted our first wedding. We are now on our sixth year and host approximately 130 weddings/events in our horse barn. We just opened our second wedding/event venue, “The Carriage House.”

When we were focusing on tourism, we actually did more corporate events then weddings. This time around, the weddings rule. We are host several community fundraisers each year, which are fun and rewarding. Still, one of biggest draws is our horse and carriage, which brings in the brides. We will never be without horses in some form.

Over the years, we also have been instrumental in developing two therapeutic horse-riding programs, and Alternative to Violence. Today all three are running very successfully.

In 2008, we were honored with receiving the honor of being named “Business of the Year.” We have been called Northern Colorado’s leading wedding and event facility, providing our guests with a unique, fun and memorable event. We have heard many guests and clients refer to us as the Wedding Ranch and now use that in our marketing.

In 2013, Ellis Ranch we will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. What an honor!

Photos compliments of Dana Milner Photography.

Arriving to the alter with elegance and uniqueness.

A horse-drawn carriage brings magic to a wedding. You could say I’m a little biased since I have been blessed to have raised horses my entire life, but I can’t imagine them not a part of every bride’s ceremony.

Let’s start with the history of the carriage to truly understand the its significance and how it relates to weddings. While researching, I found a great site, Trevi Carriages (www.trevicarriages.com), which explained the history so beautifully that I wanted to share it with you.

(History as given by Trevi Carriages)
Weddings are extraordinarily beautiful and magical celebrations, which involve a lot of traditions and customs. Traditionally, wedding coaches taking bride to the altar were harnessed with three horses, because horses bring luck and the sound of hooves clanging promises a happy and prosperous life to the married couple.

By ordering the wedding carriage, you'll indulge yourself in beauty and nobility, luxury and comfort. The wedding carriage will emphasize the elegance and uniqueness.

Ellis Ranch hosts about 100 to 130 weddings per year, and 95 percent of those brides choose to have the carriage bring them to the altar to say the sacred vows.

When we run into guests who have attended one of the weddings held at our ranch, we ask them what they remembered the most. They all typically say that the carriage and the horses that brought the bride over the hill to the gazebo had to be the most breathtaking thing they had ever seen, and they will always remember it. So maybe I’m not that biased, after all.

We coordinate carriages for many weddings, and yet I still get tears in my eyes when I see the carriage -- every time.

Decorating Ideas with Cherished Events

At the Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park we like working and recommending highly qualified vendors to our brides and if you are looking at having some decorating done please check out Cherished Events.






Cherished Events “ Your One Stop Shop” . Planning a
successful event requires experience, time, quality products,
creativity and people. Cherished Events is proud to offer a
wide selection of high quality rentals and unsurpassed
customer service. For more than 8 years we have built our
reputation as one of the best rental companies with the best
creative team in Northern Colorado.
At Cherished Events we believe every event is an extension
of your dream and our creative reputation. We understand
the need for affordable pricing without losing quality service
or quality products. Our goal is to match your budget and
maintain your dream with innovative creative event design.

~Free One-Hour consultation

~Special Décor & Rental packages designed
around your budget

~Coverage area includes most Colorado and
Southern Wyoming areas
Scheduling your Free Consultation
Whether your event is small or large you can be assured Cherished
Events will treat your event as special as it is to you. We strive to
provide you an event that is stress free and all around enjoyable.
So call us first when planning an outdoor or indoor event, barbecue,
graduation party, anniversary, wedding or reception, grand opening,
holiday party, or corporate function. Our experienced team is here
to help. Call 970-590-4088
Come Visit Our Showroom for

~Artistic Wedding Structures

~Table Decor & Floral

~Lighting Effects & Fabric Draping

~Creative Ceiling Treatments

~Linens & Speciality Fabrics

~Event basics: Tables, Chairs,
Dinnerware, Glassware, Catering
equipment

~Decoration Services & more......

Hiring a cater VS self-catering.

Hiring a Cater VS Self - Catering. Which is the best choice?

Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park is a facility rental only, facility rental only means that we allow self - catering. There are pros and cons on self - catering.

Sometimes self - catering saves you money and then sometimes it can cost you more money and more head ache than it is really worth. By the time you rent all the equipment needed, all the left over food, stress and clean up, you may wish later that you had just hired a professional caterer. You also have to consider the liability involved with self-catering.

We have seen Mothers sweating in their beautiful gown, crying minutes before the wedding trying to get everything ready for the reception instead of being in the dressing room with their daughter and having a good time.

Most caterers can customize menus and generally design a fit to meet budget and style. They take the stress out of your day. This is a time to celebrate not work. If you still feel self-catering is the way you want to go for your wedding you should always do a walk thru with the facility prior to your wedding date. They can show you where and how many plug-ins they have for roasters, where you can do the food preparations, clean up requirements, where and how you need to set up the food line. Every venue has rules and regulations to follow. If organized properly and kept simple self catering can work for the right family.

Recommended caters in the Loveland, Co area:

http://www.albertpitbbq.com/
http://www.b-b-q-bobs.com/
http://www.rmrcolorado.com
http://www.dorothyscatering.com
http://www.sweetheartcitysmokers.com
http://www.michaelsplumcatering.com
http://www.carterscreativecatering.com

Officiants Stressing Brides Out

By no means the following post has anything to do with officiant in my photo. The Ellis Ranch has three Preferred Officiants we recommend to our brides and we have never had the following problem with any of them. The problem comes when the couples hire an officiant not from our preferred officiant list.

We host approximately 130 weddings per year so we have seen just about every kind of wedding officiate out there. Some are ordained ministers, Rabbi, signed up on the Internet, friend, and family member. On the most part they have all done a great job and the bride and groom were happily married at the end of the day.

The one thing that stresses a bride and the facility is when you get an officiates that books too many wedding in one day and too close together.

Example the other day we had a wedding that was running a little late and by late I mean maybe 10 minutes, the officiate came up to us and said this wedding needs to get going right on time because he needed to leave for another wedding. We had guest still arriving and our bride wanted to give them a chance to get seated first.

Girls when hiring an officiate make sure you ask your officiate how many weddings will they be performing that day. If they can’t give you at least one hour for your ceremony I would not hire them plan and simple. Weddings are so stressful for you and having your officiate ad to that is not an option in my book.

Late? No Shows?

What happened with arriving on time or calling? I was taught when you have an appointment to always show up on time. In fact showing up 5 minutes early is even better! If you are going to be late be sure and call that person or place as soon as you know you are running late. Remember your schedule is not the only one affected when you are a few minutes behind and it’s considerate to be conscious of that when you are scheduling your day. It seems here lately that engaged couples, guests attending a wedding and/or family members, feel that this considerate behavior is not something that they have to abide too and that drives me crazy. The wedding day is the bride and grooms very own special day but respect and basic courtesy should never be thrown out the window!!! No matter what is going on in your life. If you schedule an appointment for a showing or for a final walk through please show up and show up on time!! As a venue all we ask is if you are running late please call. Also be understanding if the venue needs to reschedule because of other couples arriving for their appointment on time. Remember you are not the only wedding going on this year!!! Never ever make an appointment and just not show up. Please show respect to the venue and call and just let them know your plans have changed and you will no longer be coming.
Thank you for listening and you better get running now so you won’t be late!

Social Media and Venues & Brides

I was recently asked to present at a Cyber Chat thru our local Chamber of Commerce on using social media and what it has brought to your business. In giving this some thought I first thought of my brides and how social media impacts them on a daily basis. I am an avid believer in social media for numerous reasons.

The wedding business is a very complex industry, which touches not only the products, services a bride needs, but it also involves emotions. Social Media sites: Twitter, Facebook, U-tube, Skype, BridalTweet.com and many more sites offers brides and vendors a new way to connect. They give us all a chance to share our thoughts and ideas. Facebook is my personal favorite because I can really get to know my Fans and Friends. I’m sure you have all heard before people hire people they know. That is so true and by chatting on Facebook and the other social sites one really gets a feel of a persons needs and thoughts. In listening and reading what our brides’ post you get to know where they shop for wedding vendors and what their needs are. I always try and post helpful ideas, links, and suggestions for them to read. It is a way to find a product or service by what other brides’ post; after all they are the pros for this generation.

The one thing to remember is you can’t build a relationship over night it has to nourish thru knowledge and how helpful you can be. I would recommend you jumping into the wonderful world of Social Networking. I have grown as person, businesswomen and friend because of Social Media.

Respect for the Bride and Groom

What happened to the wonderful weddings when guest came to the weddings to honor the Bride and Groom?

We host over 120 wedding per year and with that many weddings we have seen everything you can think of.

Respectfull Guest

. RSVP when asked.
. Arrive to the wedding early enough to be seated before the bride walks down the aisle.
. If you haven’t given a gift bring a gift for the couple, it doesn’t have to break the bank but something to show a nice gesture.
. Dress appropriately.
. Plan on spending time at the reception long enough for the meal and all formal dances and cake cutting.
. Guest stay in the building where the bride and groom are.
. Find a baby sitter for the evening or if you bring your children watch them and make them behave.
. Don’t arrive drunk.
. Know directions to the venue prior to leaving your house.
. If it is non-alcohol weddings don’t bring your own alcohol, respect their choices.
. Decorate the couple’s car respectfully.

Un-Respectful things we have happen during a wedding.

. Arrive drunk
. Bring their children and just turn them loose with no supervision.
. Get extremely drunk during the wedding.
. Do property damage; the bride is grooms are responsible for paying for any damage.
. Dress in appropriately.
. Stand out side the building and smoke all evening.
. Tailgating and the bride and groom are in the building dancing.
. Guest who do not respect parking signs.
. Brings guest that where not invited.
. If there is livestock at the venue do not get in the pens.
. Offer alcoholic drinks to minors.
. Decorate the couple’s vehicle to the point there is damage.

I truly could go on and on but after all this is a blog not a book.

Mother Nature Rears Her Ugly Head

Being a venue that host weddings, it is our responsibility to pull off the most beautiful wedding come rain or shine.
Rain and not much shine has been plaguing us a lot this summer. Don’t get me wrong we love the rain. With a wedding park you need lots of grass and flowers that need watering and Mother Nature has been giving us a helping hand.
Wedding days are stressful in it’s self but when you add the tricks of Mother Nature you are sometimes presented with challenges.
Let me describe one of our typical bad weather days. First thing in the morning the phones start ringing (if not several days prior to the wedding) from brides wanting to know what we can do about the rain in the forecast. We claim to be the best at what we do, but telling a bride we can make the weather a perfect 80 degrees and sunshine and no wind is impossible.
We first tell the bride to go about her day as if the weather was a perfect 80 degrees and full of sunshine. After all today is her special day and it is not her responsibility to worry about things, it is ours, and we will do our best to make it just the way she wants it.
We are very fortune enough to have a facility that can host indoor or outdoor ceremonies and that alone makes the stress meter go down.
As the day goes by the gazebo and chairs are all decorated and the reception hall is beautiful just waiting for the guests to arrive. Once the guests begin to arrive we have them take a seat in the reception hall and keep them posted on the weather and when the bride will be arriving in the carriage.
98% of our brides book with us because they want our horse drawn carriage, so most weddings are reserved to be held out doors. Every bride wants the day to be perfect and you can still have that beautiful perfect day on a rainy day we just might have to turn to plan B, which may mean moving the ceremony inside, but that is not a bad thing because our inside facility is just as beautiful!!! It is just important to know that the option is available for the bride….. the wedding will go on no matter what and will be just as comfortable and memorable for her and all her guests. Discuss what your options are head of time with the venue
This summer has been our most challenging due to rain and wind but we have been very fortunate and have not had to move one single wedding inside. We just took our time and watched the weather and had our guests take a seat in the reception hall and most of the time those silly clouds moved on and we are able to move all the guests outside and proceed with a beautiful outdoor wedding!!!

Nashville Floods

This blog isn't about weddings, vendors or fun times. I was in Nashville during all the terrible flooding. I am fine along with my daughter and her family. We were lucky we had no damage to her home or our motorhome. Please take a few minutes and watch this video of the flood. I am so sadden by all the destruction and lives lost. When saying your prayers please keep the residences of Nashville and the surrounding town in your prayers. Twenty beautiful people lost their lives and uncountable livestock. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFjaQoOdJvI

Vendor of the Week

Imagine your anniversary, showing your wedding album to your children, remembering the fun, the beauty and the emotion of this once in a lifetime event. At Kimball Nelson Photography, we recognize that quality photography has the ability to transport you back to your wedding day. We take the utmost care to portray your day in a manner that will show the laughter, the love and the emotion with images that you will cherish forever

FUN

We shoot weddings because we like to have fun and weddings are fun, happy occasions. We love to work with people and we love to capture the fun of the day. We like to think you have fun with us as well!

STYLE

Our style is artsy photojournalism. What does that mean? It means we will be there to document your day in an unobtrusive, photojournalistic manner. We work from different angles, with creative lighting, to capture your day in an artsy way. We work with you to get group portraits that are fun and natural. And, we spend the necessary time with you, the bride and groom, to ensure a fantastic portrait, one that you will pass down through generations.

PROFESSIONAL

We understand the trust that you put in us to capture this important part of your family heritage and we would be honored to have that responsibility. With a decade's worth of satisfied couples, we have the experience necessary to make your wedding photography perfect.



Kimball Nelson Photography
Natural Moments - Genuine Images
970-472-1661
5408 N. Hwy 1
Fort Collins, CO 80524
www.kimballnelson.com

Arriving To The Alter In Style

Do's and Don'ts for Brides

I was going to write my own post on Do's and Don'ts for Brides but came across this great list posted by WeddingSolutions.com via WeddingSpace.com and thought I would forward on to you.

Your wedding will last only a few hours but will likely take several months to plan. That is why it is so important to enjoy the complete wedding planning process. This is a time to get excited, to fall even more deeply in love with each other, to learn more about each other and how to give and take. If you can handle your wedding planning with your fiancé and parents, you can handle anything! Here is a list of do's and don'ts when planning your special day. If you follow these suggestions, your wedding planning and your wedding day will be much more enjoyable!


DO'S
• Hire a professional wedding consujavascript:void(0)ltant.

• Maintain a sense of humor.

•Maintain open communication with your fiancé and with both sets of parents, especially if they are financing the wedding.

• Be receptive to your parents' ideas, especially if they are financing the wedding.

• Be flexible and keep your overall budget in mind.

• Maintain a regular routine of exercise and eat a well-balanced diet.

• Buy the Indispensable Groom's Guide, published by Wedding Solutions Publishing, and give it to your fiancé.

• Buy the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards, published by Wedding Solutions Publishing, and give a card to each member of your wedding party.

• Register for gifts; consider a price range that your guests can afford.

• Break-in your shoes well before your wedding day.

• Practice with makeup and various hairstyles for your wedding day.

• Check recent references for all of your service providers.

• Get everything in writing with your service providers.

• Assign your guests to tables and group them together by age, interests, acquaintances, etc.

• Consider drawing-up a prenuptial agreement and a will.

• Send thank-you notes as soon as you receive gifts.

• Give a rose to each of your mothers as you walk down the aisle during the recessional.

• Try to spend some time with each of your guests and personally thank them for coming to your wedding.

• Encourage the bride's parents to introduce their family and friends to the family and friends of the groom's family, and vice-versa.

• Toast both sets of parents at the rehearsal dinner and/or at the reception. Thank them for everything they have done for you and for giving you a beautiful wedding.

• Eat well at the reception, especially if you will be drinking alcohol.

• Keep a smile on your face; there will be many photographs taken of both of you.

• Expect things to go wrong on your wedding day. Most likely something will go wrong, and no one will notice it but yourself. Relax and don't let it bother you.

• Preserve the top tier of your wedding cake for your first year anniversary.

• Send a special gift to both sets of parents, such as a small album containing the best photographs of the wedding. Personalize this gift by having it engraved with your names and the date of your wedding.

DON'TS

• Don't get involved in other activities; you will be very busy planning your wedding.

• Don't make any major decisions without discussing it openly with your fiancé.

• Don't be controlling. Be open to other people's ideas.

• Don't overspend your budget; this can be extremely stressful.

• Don't wait until the last minute to hire your service providers. The good ones get booked months in advance.

• Don't try to make everyone happy; it is impossible and will only make your wedding planning more difficult.

• Don't try to impress your friends.

• Don't invite old boyfriends or girlfriends to your wedding, unless both you and your fiancé are friendly with them; you don't want to make anybody uncomfortable.

• Don't try to do "everything." Delegate responsibilities to your fiancé, your parents, and to members of your wedding party.

• Don't rely on friends or family to photograph or videotape your wedding. Hire professionals!

• Don't assume that members of your wedding party know what to do. Give them direction with your Wedding Party Timeline and the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards, available at most major bookstores.

• Don't assume your service providers know what to do. Give each of them a copy of your detailed Service Provider Timeline.

• Don't schedule your bachelor party the night before the wedding. You don't want to have a hangover on your special day!

• Don't arrive late at the ceremony!

• Don't drink too much during the reception; you don't want to make a fool of yourself on your most special day!

• Don't flirt with members of the opposite sex.

• Don't allow your guests to drive drunk after the reception; you may be held responsible.

• Don't rub cake in the face of your spouse during the cake-cutting ceremony; your spouse might not appreciate it!

• Don't overeat; this may upset your stomach or make you sleepy.

• Don't leave your reception without saying good-bye to your family and friends.

• Don't drive if you have had too much to drink!

Dance The Night Away

Vendor of the Week

You can serve a delicous meaty meal to your guests without breaking your wedding budget! Albert Pit Barbecue smokes beef, pork and chicken meat over hickory wood, makes great side dishes and a homemade sauce served on the side and can set up a buffet for your guests for $8.99 to $14.99 per guest. The professionally dressed staff sets up a sharp, clean white clad buffet with silver servinig pieces to which you can add the details to match your wedding style of simple or more elegant. To help brides and grooms decide on a menu and to allow Albert Pit Barbecue to put together a proposal, Brides and Grooms that are considering barbecue for the reception or rehearsal dinner are invited to a free tasting at the Albert Pit Barbecue Catering Kitchen on April 28th, drop-in between 5:30 and 7:00. RSVP to korey@albertpitbbq.com.

Albert Pit Barbecue's Free Wedding Tasting for Brides and Grooms
3201 E Mulberry, Unit F, Fort Collins
Wednesday April 28th 5:30-7:00
RSVP by email to korey@albertpitbbq.com

Vendor of the Week

Imagine your anniversary, showing your wedding album to your children, remembering the fun, the beauty and the emotion of this once in a lifetime event. At Kimball Nelson Photography, we recognize that quality photography has the ability to transport you back to your wedding day. We take the utmost care to portray your day in a manner that will show the laughter, the love and the emotion with images that you will cherish forever.

FUN

We shoot weddings because we like to have fun and weddings are fun, happy occasions. We love to work with people and we love to capture the fun of the day. We like to think you have fun with us as well!

STYLE

Our style is artsy photojournalism. What does that mean? It means we will be there to document your day in an unobtrusive, photojournalistic manner. We work from different angles, with creative lighting, to capture your day in an artsy way. We work with you to get group portraits that are fun and natural. And, we spend the necessary time with you, the bride and groom, to ensure a fantastic portrait, one that you will pass down through generations.

PROFESSIONAL

We understand the trust that you put in us to capture this important part of your family heritage and we would be honored to have that responsibility. With a decade's worth of satisfied couples, we have the experience necessary to make your wedding photography perfect.

Kimball Nelson Photography
Natural Moments - Genuine Images
970-472-1661
5408 N. Hwy 1Fort Collins, CO 80524
www.kimballnelson.com

Cater VS Self Catering. Which is the best choice?

At our venue Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park we are a facility rental only. Which means to allow self- catering. There are pros and cons on self -catering.

Sometime self catering does save you some money and then I have seen families by the time they rent all the equipment needed, left over food, stress and clean up they wish they had just hired a cater, the liability of self-catering. We have seen Mothers sweating in their beautiful gown, crying minutes before the wedding trying to get everything ready for the reception instead of being in the dressing room with their daughter and having a good time.

We would always recommend a bride to hire a professional cater for their reception. Most caters can customize menus and generally can design a fit to meet your budget and style. They take the stress out of your day. You will be able to enjoy you daughter or son’s wedding. This is a time to celebrate.

If you still feel self-catering is the way you want to go for your wedding you should always do a walk thru with the facility prior to your wedding date. They can show you where and how many pug-ins they have for roasters, where you can do the food preparations, clean up requirements, where and how you need to set up the food line. Every venue has rules and regulations to follow. If organized properly and kept simple self catering can work.