There are so many little details when it comes to wedding planning that by the end of it you may be making choices just to make the problem go away. But keep in mind that these little details really do make all the difference when everything comes together on the big day.  You'll be so ahppy the you made mindful choices that really represent you and your loved one. One of those little (major) details is the guest book.  The guest book is a key detail because everyone who attends the wedding will see it & (hopefully) sign it. Here are a few tips to picking out the perfect guest book.
1. Representation: This day is all about you and your loved one becoming ONE unit.  So what is something that the two of you love to do? Do you love to travel together? Use a globe. Do you love to ski together? Use a set of skis. Do you love to drink wine together? Collect corks and have people sign them. There are so many possibilities, but keep in mind that it is best when it is about you.
2. Aesthetic: You can choose something based of the theme of your wedding.  Is your wedding more black-tie? Stick to a classic alternative of a beautiful bound book that will shimmer in the night. Think about the rest of your decor and see how your guest book can compliment it.
3. Keepsake: Your guest book is a keepsake that you and your partner now get to keep forever til death do you part. Want to hear a great tip? Pick something you like! Pick something you treasure and want to keep displayed around your home, not just a memento that you are going to put in a box and forget about. A framed picture for people to sign is a great decor piece that you can add to any part of your home.
4. Find inspiration: Still struggling to find "the one" for your wedding.  Turn to others for inspiration.  Ask your friends and family members what they used when they got married, or take a peek at the guest book of any weddings you may attend in the near future. Inspiration may strike at any moment! And then there is always the internet which is packed with some of the most creative ideas known to man.  So grab a cup of Joe and surf the web a bit looking at wedding blogs, Pinterest, and wedding inspiration pages. 

1. The most important thing to consider is how comfortable your dog will feel. It may mean a lot to you to have them there, but consider your dog's personality.  If they adapt well to new places and don't mind large crowds of people then they will be just fine.  But if your dog has a lot of anxiety and will be frightened, it may be best to think of just doing family pictures some other time. 
2. What role will your dog have? Will they just be a guest of honor or are the going to walk down the aisle carrying the rings? If you are giving your dog a starring role make sure your pet is well-behaved because it can turn into a wild goose-chase very quickly! They may also get spooked depending on the venue location (i.e if your in the mountains and there is other wildlife) or with the large group of people watching them trot away. 
3. Talk to your venue. Depending on where you are, some venues will not allow pets of any kind (or possibly only allow service dogs).  Talk to the managers and see what the rules & regulations are.
​4. Designate a handler. Before, during and after there ceremony have a family member or close friend be in charge of your furry companion.  You and your loved one will be whisked from here to there and back again so adding a dog to that plate will be too much. This way you know your pup is safe, happy, and not getting into any trouble.
5. Have a ride home for your dog. Some venues will allow dogs for the ceremony but they will not be allowed in the reception hall.  So make arrangements in advanced for someone to take your dog home or for someone to pick them up. 
6. Talk to your photographer beforehand! You definitely want to get some awesome shots of your dog on the big day so make sure they are aware to set a little time aside for a little dog friendly photoshoot! (And maybe bring a bag of treats to help them look the camera as well). 

A challenging aspect of planning a wedding is planning around the weather.  Unfortunately, the weather is something we have zero control of so instead of stressing, be prepared. You never know what type of weather may fall on your wedding day (especially here in Colorado where is can snow in June). Here are some tips to stay on top of it and be prepared in the event that a rain storm invites itself to your big day.

 1. If you live somewhere where it rains a lot consider having your ceremony and reception indoors. This way you avoid the problem all together! Put a little extra into decorating the venue and you'll have a gorgeous backdrop for your vows.
2. Talk to the venue beforehand. See what preparations they have, what their plan B is generally if there is unexpected weather. Ask what couples have done in the at that venue when it rained. Did they try to wait it out? Did they move it inside? Did they do their cocktail hour first and then have their ceremony? 
3. Talk to your photographer a few weeks beforehand and a have a backup plan for photos. If you were planning on having a outdoor photo shoot for bridal portraits, have a secondary location indoors. Or maybe you and the photographer brave the weather with beautiful umbrellas to get some unique shots. Take advantage of how gorgeous it may get outside even with the bad weather.
4. Speaking of umbrellas, it may be good to have a few on hand just in case. At least for you and the wedding party. Talk to the venue beforehand and see if they have any back ups for the big day. 
5. Pack an extra pair of shoes (and socks) just in case. It can't hurt to throw a pair of rain boots in your emergency kit if the forecast is calling for rain.  Could definitely make for some cute puddle-splashing photos.
6. Emergency make-up kit! It is probably a good idea to have one of these anyway, but to have a small kit of remover, mascara, and some foundation can help fix any little mistake.  Plus the groomsmen can always carry it around for you since they are blessed with pockets in everything they do.
7. Most importantly - STAY POSITIVE - This is the day you've been dreaming of and you should never let something like the weather get in the way of ruining your day! Embrace it! Love it! After all, rain on your wedding day is good luck! 

There are plenty of details you can add in your wedding to really wow your guests. Your grand entrance or exit is just another opportunity to show off your style and make a few head turns along the way.  There are many different modes of transportation you can book, rent, borrow, design for your big day and here are just a few out of the box ideas for those looking to make an impression.

Holiday weddings can be such a blast! It is already a time for love, family and giving thanks so why not throw another reason to celebrate in to the mix.  If you love the holidays as much as we do then you've probably thought about having your wedding over a major holiday weekend. Be weary though, planning a wedding over a major holiday can be tricky so check out our tips of things to consider when thinking about choosing the date for your special day.

Choosing a holiday can maximize your time with your loved ones as people tend to take advantage of their vacation days around these times of year. But this could also mean that they have family traditions that they do not want to miss out on. You need to send out your invitations even earlier to give people an extended amount of time to make arrangements. Booking flights especially during the holidays can get expensive so giving them more of a notice can help them to make suitable arrangements.

If you have a lot of guests coming for a long holiday weekend, consider finding any festive parades, lightings, fireworks, or concerts that may be going on in the area.  This way your guests have a multitude of options to choose from and still get in the holiday spirit. 

Do your research! Often times vendors will increase their prices in order to be compensated for working on a holiday. Caterers will need to pay their employees holiday wages and the cost of flowers is notorious for increasing during the holidays.  Keep your budget in mind and make sure your love for the holidays does not overshadow your bank account. 

Music is one of the most important components when it comes to a wedding.  It says a lot about you as a couple and can really set the tone for the whole night.  It is used in every part of the wedding from the bride walking down the aisle all the way until the last song of the night.  So who do you trust with one of the most important tasks of the evening... A live band or a wedding DJ? How do you choose?! Check out all things we believe you should consider when choosing between the two.

There are three main points you should consider when choosing between a band or a DJ.
1. Wedding Venue- If you have already chosen your venue think about the spacing.  Is there enough room for a full live band to fit? Is your dance floor a little smaller that only a DJ booth would fit? Think about your floor plan and see which fits best.
2. Budget- Your budget is the most important thing to keep in mind when choosing between the two. Live bands are generally more expensive but if the music is on the top of your priority list then it might be great to splurge a little for a full live band. 
3. Theme/atmosphere- What kind of atmosphere do you want to create for your wedding and how are your music choices going to influence that? 

What having a live band at your wedding means:
Pros: Let's be real... Who doesn't love live music!? The excitement level is turned up to a 20 and guests are going to walk away talking about the band you had for months and months to come. They keep the party going because they join in on the party!
Cons: One of the biggest cons is the price tag.  Live bands tend to be more expensive because you are having upwards of 10 people traveling to be at your venue. Depending on the location you may need to put them up in a hotel room for a night as well. Also, a bands repertoire tends to be what they choose so if you are looking for specific songs at your wedding you may not have the option.

What having a DJ at your wedding means:
Pros: A Wedding DJ is generally less expensive and they aren't packing as much equipment as a band might. They also have access to every song in the whole world. So if you want to mix country music with swing music and then throw in some rock n roll then you can! The possibilities are endless. If you do your research, read reviews, and set up meetings you will be able to pick a DJ  with an awesome personality that will make sure your party goes all night.
Cons: It is a rare moment that people will talk about the DJ you had at your wedding for months afterwards. They tend to not be as memorable because of how common they are in the wedding scene.  You also run the risk of a lack luster Emcee who isn't willing to have fun themselves. They may just sit in the corner and press play when they need to.

Before I start, can I just point out that first look picture?! I mean, you truly can't ask for a more perfect moment and kudos to Ali Brannan for capturing the true emotion that day! 
What can I say about these two lovebirds? They are some of the most genuine people we have had the pleasure of working with and you could just feel the love radiate from them.  They had a beautiful ceremony in The Chapel at Beaver Creek where there wasn't a dry eye in the whole room. Stephanie, Jorge and their whole party then moved over to Piney River Ranch for their wonderful reception.  They spent some time taking advantage of the beautiful scenery that Vail has to offer.  The tall trees, the gorgeous mountains, and even took a trip in the lake on the Luv Boat. We loved their adventuous spirit and weren't afraid to take a little risk by skipping along all the rocks hand-in-hand. Congratulations Stephanie and Jorge, we loved being a part of your special day! Check out more photos from their big day HERE!

Nicole and Todd were wed at the beautiful Piney River Ranch in Vail, Colorado.  As you can see in some of their photos, Nicole and Todd are fearless.  They had so much fun when it came to taking their gorgeous bridal portraits by kicking of their shoes and playing around in the water. Thanks to Ali Brannan for pushing these two for some awesome shots. They had all of their family and friends surrounding them with love during the ceremony and the party went all night long at the reception! And can you believe how gorgeous those flowers are?! Bella Calla killed it with a light pastel palate that had everyone mesmerized.  We had so much fun on this wedding planning journey with such an adventurous couple and cannot wait to make our way up to Vail again for many more beautiful weddings! 
Check out the rest of Nicole and Todd's photos here in our portfolio!