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.
Showing posts with label Wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding. Show all posts
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Every Venue has it's own style and grace.

Every venue has its own style and grace, just like every bride is not the same. When choosing the location for your special day, you need to consider what kind of wedding you are looking at hosting and, more importantly, what kind of bride are you.
Today, couples have so many choices to make when planning their wedding, but the first decision to make is where do you want to have your wedding?
Before you get in your car and start driving around, we would recommend you do a little homework beforehand. With the Internet, you can almost have a your site chosen before leaving the house -- or at least have your options down to three or four.
Here are a few ideas that are important when deciding to book your venue:
1. Be sure not to set a date before viewing several venues. This will take so much stress out of your decision, and you will not have to just settle for a venue because they are the only place with your date available.
2. Ask yourself: What kind of couple are you and what are your needs? Are you hands on? Do you want a wedding that is all-inclusive, formal, outdoors, destination, church or themed? Brides nowadays are very lucky to have the choice.
3. Set a budget. Ask your parents if they plan on helping with the cost and have them specify the amount. That way, if you spend all of the money they plan on giving you on your wedding dress, you know you will have to cover the rest of the costs involved.
4. View several venues before deciding on one. We always recommend that you set an appointment with a venue. This way, the venue will be able to give you undivided attention. Our venue does give showings to drop-ins, but sometimes we have to cut those unscheduled tours short because of other appointments. Always be on time for you appointment.
5. When viewing a venue, take into consideration who will be your go-to person during your year of planning. We have heard many brides say they never know whom they will be talking to during the planning process, often due to employee turnover. This can be very stressful, and many times the wedding day does not go as planned. At the Ellis Ranch, we are family-run. We pride ourselves with more than 47 years of business success and one-on-one customer service.
6. Take into consideration if you have family and friends who will be traveling to your wedding. Does the venue have relationships with area hotels and transportation?
7. You will need many different vendors to help make your day special. A venue comes into contact with more vendors then any other person you will work with during your planning process, so truly listen to their advice. Every venue wants to make your day the best it can. Without happy brides, we will not stay in business very long.
These are seven important considerations to think about before booking your venue. There are many others, as well, which a good venue planner can help you with in order to create your dream wedding.
Labels:
Brides,
Colorado,
Northern Colorado,
Venues,
Wedding
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Why Get Married in Loveland

Why Get Married in Loveland?
Known affectionately as "The Sweetheart City,"
Loveland, Colorado offers many treats to the wedding couple.
In this day and age when you can hop on a plane and be married anywhere in the world, why would you choose Loveland Colorado? Maybe it’s because you love the idea that your marriage license will read, “'The Sweetheart City' Loveland Colorado”.
Maybe it’s all the friendly people you met when you vacationed here as a child. Perhaps you have seen our gorgeous lake in the middle of town with the majestic Rockies as a backdrop, or you know that a honeymoon in the inspiring Rocky Mountains is only a short drive away (that's why we're known as "The Gateway to the Rockies".
If you love bronze sculptures, then you already know that Loveland is world-renowned for our art and hosts the largest outdoor sculpture show in the world. We have adorned many of our parks and businesses with beautiful works of art, it's hard to go anywhere in town without seeing it. Loveland has 13½ miles of paved trails including a delightful section that follows the Big Thompson River as it winds its way through town. Between our 27 public parks, dozens of lakes secluded or populated with picnic areas, and romantic venues, Loveland offers many scenic locations for places to get married as well as a host of photographic opportunities.
Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a small town with the amenities of a bigger city. We are only 50 miles north of the hustle and bustle of Denver and just minutes from Fort Collins or Greeley. The Loveland Wedding Professionals have the experience needed to provide you with the stress free and enjoyable day you deserve.
Why choose Loveland for your wedding? The country! We have a dude ranch for all you cowboys at heart. (It was also the place where “The Bachelor” contestant, Noelle Drake, took Matt Grant to meet her parents.) Camping and hiking, boating and fishing are only moments away. Where else can you combine the romance of a wedding with the practicality of an adventurous honeymoon?
The city! Tour one of our bronze foundries or visit the many art galleries in town. Shopping for ladies and gents alike is waiting for you in historic downtown Loveland, the outlets, and the lifestyle malls. If golfing is on your agenda Loveland has three great courses including Marianna Butte, designated a 4½ star course by Golf Digest magazine. Do you love music? The city of Loveland sponsors a series of free concerts throughout the summer as well as a Cherry Pie Festival. The local chamber of commerce organizes a Corn Roast Festival every August.
Special Valentines Opportunities! If all that isn’t enough to get you thinking about Loveland for your wedding try this: Every year we hand stamp and mail over 200,000 valentines with the Loveland “Sweetheart City” postmark. Send out your wedding invitations before Valentines Day, and it can include our Valentine Cachet printed on the envelope. Then have a heart hung around town with your names and wedding date. And don't forget our annual Valentine Balloon Rally - get married at 150 feet!
Bikers! We can't forget the annual Thunder in the Rockies motorcycle event. Do the two of you share a passion for riding? Get married at the Rally or anywhere in town - our Loveland Wedding Professionals have the experience you need to make it fun, casual, and still the wedding of your dreams.
Where else can you find an entire city with that much love and romance in their hearts, waiting to share it with you?
This post can also be found on the My Loveland Wedding web site.
http://www.mylovelandwedding.com
Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park
Labels:
Colorado Wedding,
Loveland,
Northern Colorado,
Wedding
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The thing about contracts: They’re contracts.

Contracts are written for a purpose and truly do work best for everyone involved. However, contracts must be one of the hardest and most emotional subjects for venues concerning weddings or any business, for that matter.
When a couple gets engaged, they are so excited and in love that they sometimes think with their hearts. They are entering into a lifelong agreement with each other -- as well as shorter-term agreements with the various vendors that help them celebrate their love.
Just like a commitment of lifelong love, signing contracts with a venue should not be taken lightly. Remember when signing a contact with anyone that it means you have agreed with their policies and are legally bound to that agreement.
Contracts are written so everyone involved with an event has an understanding of what to expect.
Occasionally, couples think nothing of signing a contract and calling a few weeks later wanting out. After a contract is signed, that date goes off the calendar for any future bride. Following a cancellation, it is often too late for another couple to book with us; they have moved on either to another date or to another venue.
Couples and their parents might not understand that a vendor actually loses money every time there is a cancellation. We are not making money if we have an open date.
Before signing a contract with anyone, we recommend all parties read the entire contract word for word. If you don’t understand a paragraph, ask the vendor to explain. We have always made a point to explain our cancellation policy and to make sure everyone involved understands.
Think of it like this: You can’t buy a car and a month later say, “I don’t want this car anymore, so I want my money back.” Don’t taint your beautiful wedding day with ugly actions.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
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.

Labels:
Carriage,
Ellis Ranch,
Receptions,
Wedding
Sunday, November 14, 2010
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......

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......
Labels:
Brides,
decoration,
Ellis Ranch,
Ranch,
Receptions,
Wedding
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
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.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
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!!!
Friday, May 7, 2010
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
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Safety for the Over Indulgent Guest

Whether you can have a cash bar or an open bar will really be determined by which venue you choose. Not all venues allow you to have a cash bar or an open bar. You really need to check with each venue to see what their liquor policies are.
Since we are a venue that allows you bring in your own alcohol, I am a supporter of non-cash bars. Unless of course it is a fundraiser and in that situation cash bars are allowed with the proper permits.
Having an open bar at a wedding is very important. You have invited special people in your life to take time out of their day to spend helping you celebrate one of your most special days. Most guests will spend money on buying you a gift, possibly taking a day off work and I find it hard, when I host an event, to make my guest pay for their drinks.
There are a few mistakes brides and grooms make when having an open bar. Remember this is a celebration not a high school kegger. Speak with your bartender or who ever is in charge of the bar before your wedding. Most bartenders that have hosted bars at weddings can recommend what you should have on hand. Remember the drinks are free to the guests so they will drink what ever you give them in choices. You don’t, and I wouldn’t, set up a full bar. At the most I would offer a couple choices of beer and couple options of wine. I would try and avoid offering hard liquor because that is where a beautiful day can end with bad memories.
You should talk with your bartender about how to handle the over indulgent guests ahead of time. You should always have a contact person that the bartender can advise and consult with should a problem arise. Remember the bartender and venue always reserve the right to stop serving or ask a guest to leave.
If at all possible, within your budget, plan on reserving a shuttle, limo or a bus to help those who drink too much to get home safely. Taxis are great and every venue will be more then happy to call one. A venue would rather see numerous cars left in their parking lot the next morning then hear about an accident later on the news.
There is liability for all who decide to drink alcoholic beverages. Something to remember is that most venues hold the bride, groom, and parents responsible for any damage done to the venue. So we should always just offer enough alcohol so everyone can enjoy the celebration with out letting them over indulge.
If you are a guest of the bride and groom and you are reading this please remember you are a guest of someone special in your life and you don’t want to ruin his or her celebration.
With a little planning and taking the recommendation of your bartender, you can plan an inexpensive and enjoyable evening for everyone.
Labels:
alcohol,
Bar,
Brides,
Couples party,
Grooms,
receiptions,
Venues,
Wedding
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
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
Labels:
Brides,
Ellis Ranch,
Grooms,
Photographers,
Receptions,
Sweetheart City,
Venues,
Wedding,
wedding facilities,
weddings
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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
Sunday, March 28, 2010
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
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Monday, February 15, 2010
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.
Labels:
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Friday, February 5, 2010
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.
Labels:
Brides,
Chamber of Commerce,
Colorado,
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Grooms,
Loveland,
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Wedding
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