Ellis Ranch Couples Party

Couples Party - Come join in on the fun.



Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Arrive any time between
6:00 pm / 9:00 pm * FREE


FOOD – BEER – WINE – MUSIC - FRIENDS - FUN


We work with a great group of wedding vendors and they are helping us honor you, with an exciting and fun evening. Great time to visit with other couples, share ideas, meet the Ellis Ranch staff, Ellis Ranch preferred vendors, sample great food and view their products or services which help you make your wedding beautiful and memorable.

This is not going to be another typical bridal show but a party! There will be a gift for every bride and drawings for some great prizes.

Please join us May 17th with that special person. Bring your Mom and Dad, Bridesmaids along too. Great time to party and find that perfect vendor for your special day.

RSVP: eranch@verinet.com or call 970-593-9570

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

People Places and Things to Love About Loveland, Colorado

Time is running out to order your personal book about Loveland. For only $20 you will get a life time of memories to give your Mom for Mothers Day. We ordered three and can't wait to have them on our coffee table.

A group of Loveland, Colorado residents and business people who want to share all there is to love about Loveland. The project will focus on one positive person, place or thing each day for 365 days that help make Loveland Colorado, America's Sweetheart City.All Loveland residents are encouraged to send their ideas, photos or stories which they want to be considered for inclusion in the final book.

Mission:To promote Loveland, Colorado, and showcase the stories of the people, places and things that make it a great place to live or visit. All net proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the purchaser's choice at time of purchase.

Products: The 365 day project will culminate in the publishing of a book titled "Loveland 365, the people, places and things that make us America's Sweetheart City." The book is currently estimated to be available by Mother's Day 2011. The book is being ONLY pre-sold until April 1, 2011 at www.Loveland365.com. It is not expected to be available for retail purchase.

Description: "Loveland 365, the people, places and things that make us America's Sweetheart City," is a 365 day project that began January 1st 2010 and recently ended on December 31st 2010. All topics in the book, all writers, all volunteers, all photographers, the printer, and participating organizations are from Loveland. All photographt taken is from 2010. All net proceeds from the sale of the book will be distributed to each purchaser's favorite charity or non profit at the time the book is produced. At the time of purchase, the purchaser chooses which participating charity they want the net proceeds from their book to benefit. The net proceeds from the sales of the books will be determined by the number of books which are sold. With 3,500 books sold, the net proceeds from each book will be $20 per book. If less books are sold, the net proceeds for each book will be less. (read less)
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/Loveland365

Weddings with Pizazz

Weddings with Pizazz

We host more than 100 weddings per year, and we get so excited when we hear one of our brides talking about a themed wedding.

Weddings entail such a mixed group of family and friends of all ages and personalities. When one of our brides chooses a themed wedding, you know that when the guests arrive, they all get into a totally different mood.

The options are endless: beach/tropical, Western, vintage, music-themed, Mardi Gras, Vegas, Irish. Themes are so much fun to plan.

Our son and his fianceé wanted to go to the beach to get married, but with the cost involved in getting all of their family and friends to a fun, exotic location, they decided to host a beach party for their wedding instead.

They are having a blast together searching for decorations and tasting food that will be different from the normal wedding meal.

Having a theme does not take away from your sacred vows. It only enhances the experience, by allowing you to incorporate more of your individual preferences and style. Weddings, after all, should be a great experience and memories made for a lifetime.


Here is a great site to look at for themed wedding ideas. WeddingThemesIdeas.Net

Also check out Electric Frog for great themed idea: There is a wishlist www.eclecticfrog.com

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.

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!

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

Destination Choices for Brides "Sweetheart City" Loveland, Colorado

As women, we have thought about our wedding day from the time we were little girls. Now the time has come to choose the perfect wedding location.

In my opinion the perfect location to share your sacred vows would be the romantic town of Loveland, Colorado, the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. A small sweetheart city romantically nestled in the heart of the foothills.

I couldn’t have said this any better than a quote I read from the website of The Loveland Wedding Professionals; “Looking for a wedding destination that has the services you need to help you create the wedding day you have always envisioned? Have you dreamed of a mountain wedding? A wedding ceremony by the water or in a park? A reception in a beautiful garden or an elegant ballroom? http://www.lovelandweddingprofessionals.com

So when considering sharing those scared vows I would recommend the "Sweetheart City"

Making a statement with Jewelry Accessories

When one thinks of accessories you generally think of buying jewelry and I’m sure that is what you thought this topic was about. When I think of accessories I think of diamonds, pearls and gems to help bring out the pizzazz to your decorations.

Every bride wants her wedding decorations unique and memorable to you and your guest. If your wedding dress has pearls or diamonds sewn on the gown I would follow thru with attaching some in all the corsages, add some to your bouquet, cake, favors, and centerpieces. Please take note of the beautiful pearls being used in this brides centerpieces.

It is the little details that make your wedding stand out in our guest minds.








Headpiece photo was taken by the very talented Sarah Lee Welch Photography http://www.sarahleewelchphotography.com

The beautiful centerpiece was sent to me from FLEXX Prouductions http://www.flexxproductions.com