Planned Elopements in Colorado

There's a lot to be said for eloping, especially if it's "planned". One of the many services I offer is "Planned Elopements"(c). What is a "Planned Elopement"? This is where you call or email me with your date, what you want and I take it from there.

Perhaps you'd like to start your day with a massage in the spa, I can help book this. While you are doing this, your groom would like to have a fly fishing lesson or go golfing, I can arrange this as well.

I can assist with , photographer, videographer and anything else you'd like to include.

If you'd like your make up and hair done, I will recommend a professional makeup/hair artist to come to you so you'll look your stunning best for your wedding.

Jenn and Jim came to Colorado from Birmingham, AL. They specifically wanted a sunset wedding with mountains in the background.

Credit

Flowers - Encore Style (Kirsten Rodriguez), http://www.encorestyleinc.com/ for the beautiful bouquet and boutonniere of red roses;

Photography by Ken Miller http://www.kenmillerphotography.com/
Town car furnished by A Advantage Limousine http://www.limoucinedenver.com/

You can find out more from my website www.WeddingsbyTanya.com or email me at Tanya@WeddingsbyTanya.com or tporterweddsetc@hotmail.com.

Happy Planning!

Even though you've chosen to get married, with just the two of you (or a couple of friends) this is your wedding day and it should be special and full of good memories.

Planned Elopements(c)

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to assist a beautiful couple, from Florida, realize their dream of a wedding in the Rocky Mountain National Park. (They did a "planned elopement".)

The site the chose was Lily Lake, just south of Estes Park. This little lake is surrounded by the grandure of the Rocky Mountains. The Lake is clear with fish jumping and ducks swimming. (Did you know that ducks, geese and swans mate for life?) This has to be a good omen! I was the officiant.

Many couple who come to visit Colorado fall in love with the State and want to return to get married. Whether you want a full destination wedding with several days of interacting with guests, spas, and other wonderful outdoor activities, to a very romantic site for just the two of you, I can help.

If you are considering a mountain wedding, there are some things you might need to know. The wedding season is generally early June through mid October. The "high" season for the ski areas is generally Thanksgiving through the middle of March. (This is when the costs will be the greatest and less apt to receive discounts.) From April through May is generally known as the "mud season". You also need to keep the altitude in mind if considering older guests. Even those who want to elope, and are coming from sea level, need to allow time to get used to the thinner air.

Whether you want to do an eleborate, 150 guest, destinationa wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Bachelor Gultch, or a romantic elopement for just the two of you, I can assist.

Colorado offers everything from historic hotels in Denver, Mountain tops, to casinos for those who want to have fun without the hassel of Las Vegas.

Consider a "planned elopement". This is where I assit you with everything from officiating the ceremony to arranging for a photographer, helping with hotel arrangements etc. All this takes is a call to me to set up the date and time, idea of where you'd like to have the ceremony, then I send you a selection of vows to choose from or you may write your own. (I am happy to travel to anywhere you care to get married. For those brides planning destination weddings outside of Colorado, I'm happy to travel there as well.)

For more information call me at 303-779-0395 or email me at tanya@weddingsbytanya.com. Also, don't forget to checkout my information at www.weddingsbytanya.com

Until next time....

Engagements

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Tis the season of love!
Many couples will take advantage of the theme of the day to express their love and get engaged.

Take time to enjoy being engaged. Don't feel like you have to rush to the phone and start asking people to be part of your wedding party. Think this through first! Let the joy and fantastic feeling of being engaged sink in. Hopefully your parents will throw an Engagement Party. If they don't or don't live close enough, through one yourselves. Let your friends and family share in your joy.

One of the first things a bride-to-be should do is locate and hire a good wedding coordinator. Start your planning process out with little stress and the knowledge that you and your plans are in good hands.

When you do get ready to start planning, take a look at www.weddingsbytanya.com. I'm more than happy to work with you no matter where you are! 303-779-0395

Be sure to check out the WEDDING PLANNING GUIDE, A Bride's Workbook...one of the most complete and easy to use guides on the market.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY and HAPPY ENGAGEMENT!

Class being offered to help brides get started

Every quarter I offer a one night course through Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO for brides who need help in getting started. This is a 2.5 hr. class where you can ask questions and get answers. The class is Feb.13,2008 from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. This is a great class for the bride and her groom or mother to attend as it will give you a running start on your planning.

To register call 303-797-5722, ask for course PERS 1026W01 How to Plan your Wedding.

To hire a coordinator or not to--that is the question.

Why hire a wedding designer/coordinator?

You’ve started planning your wedding and the first thing you run into is the wedding coordinator at the venue you’ve chosen. Why then do you need to hire a wedding coordinator if one is already in the package?

What is the difference between a hotel wedding coordinator, a church wedding coordinator, a site wedding coordinator and a wedding coordinator?

A site coordinator is just that…they are there for the venue, whether it’s the church or hotel. They are there on behalf of the site to make sure the site is treated with respect and that the rules of the venue are followed. What they don’t do is sew on missing buttons, remove stains, supply black socks if a groomsman forgets his.

A wedding coordinator is someone you’ve worked with during the entire planning process and have come to trust. We know what you want, what your dream is and strive to make it happen.

Is hiring a wedding designer/coordinator worth the money? To be honest, I’m always hearing brides say that they wished they would have done it then maybe things would have run smoother, or they would have enjoyed their day.

A wedding designer/coordinator doesn’t have to be certified. Anyone can decide they want to plan weddings and set up shop. What being certified means is that the coordinator cared enough to get further training and the certificate shows they did. There are many organizations that offer certificates, including the one I’ve founded Trained Wedding Professionals, which offers the course “The Art of Wedding Coordination”. It never hurts to ask if the person you are considering has taken a course.

A wedding designer/coordinator will also work closely with your vendors so you don’t have to worry about them doing their job. It takes a team to have a successful wedding/event and a good coordinator knows how to make this happen.

Is it money well spent? This is something you need to decide for yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for references then call them. Past clients will give you the most honest feedback you can get. Make your decision based on the experience of the coordinator as well as how they make you feel. Do they listen to you or do they try to tell you what they think you need? Do they make you feel at ease? If so, you’ve probably found the right person to entrust your wedding day to.

Need more information? Call 303-779-0395, e-mail tporterweddsetc@hotmail.com or go to www.weddingsbytanya.com. We’re happy to take calls and appointments after hours and week-ends to fit your schedule.

Newly Engaged? Getting Started

'Tis the season for engagements. CONGRATULATIONS to those of you who have just made the committment.

Some questions you may be asking....

What to do first?
Locate and book your ceremony and reception sites - your wedding date may be 18 months away, but if possible get your deposit down on your chosen location. Details can be taken care of later.

Next start by booking a good wedding coordinator. A good coordinator will not take over, they will assist you with bring your vision to fruition. Well worth the money, but do ask for and DO CHECK references.

Start looking for vendors - Your coordinator will have a list of qualified and verified vendors they should be able to recommend. If you aren't utilizing a coordinator at this stage, then ask friends and past brides for recommendations. Again, check references. Meet with each vendors (try to keep your list to 3 vendors per category to keep it manageable). If you get a "warm fuzzy feeling" then you know you've found the right one. It's very important that you feel comfortable with each vendor as they are handling one of the most important days of your life!

Be prepared to put 50% deposit down with most vendors. Keep in mind this is probably a non-refundable deposit.

Once you have the above mentioned things in place, you are ready to start with the details.

For a complete guide to planning your wedding, check out my book, WEDDING PLANNING GUIDE, A Bride's Workbook. It's available through my website www.weddingsbytanya.com.

HAPPY PLANNING! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Must Have for the Newly Engaged

'Tis the season for engagements! My WEDDING PLANNING GUIDE, A Bride's Workbook, makes a wonderful engagement gift or Christmas present. It's been touted as being the easiest guide on the market to use. It's in 3-ring binder form, full of great information and plenty of room for adding your own info and notes. Be prepared when going to meet with prospective vendors. Have the questions to ask at your finger tips.

For more information or to order, go to www.weddingsbytanya.com or call 303-779-0395. We accept cash and checks. For a bigger savings, combine the guide with the DVD - The Art of Wedding Coordination.

Attendant selection tip

Dec. 3, 2007
'Tis the season for engagements! Newely engaged ladies tend to rush to the phone, call all their best friends and ask everyone to be in the wedding party. Before you do this consider the following:
1) Can she afford to be an attendant
Can she afford the dress, travel and lodging?
2) Do all the girls get along?
3) Are any of the girls "prima-donnas"? (This can cause a lot of problems for you.)
4) You don't have to have an equal number on each side.
5) Yes, you can have a man on the bride's side and a woman on the groom's.

Happy planning! You'll find more tips like these on my website http://www.weddingsbytanya.com/.

Planning your wedding

It's the time of year when many couples get engaged and don't know how or where to begin. The planning of a wedding can be extremely intemidating to anyone, especially if you've never planned this large a function.

That's where a wedding coordinator/designer can be a life saver. Not only do we have access to the best vendors and venues, but we take the burden off you and your family so you can enjoy the party.

To help with wedding planning, I'm offering the same DVD to brides that I use when I teach my course The Art of Wedding Coordination. It is 4 1/2 hrs. of information that will help prepare you for vendor interviews, selecting stationary for the wedding; what to expect at the rehearsal etc. It works very nicely with the WEDDING PLANNING GUIDE, A Bride's Workbook, both of which can be ordered through my website www.weddingsbytanya.com.

For the secondtime or more mature bride, who has everything they need to set up a household, consider a Surprise Wedding. Turn the tables on your guests! They'll have a great time and you won't have to wonder where to store that third toaster!

For more information check out my website or email me at tporterweddsetc@hotmail.com.

I do only a limited number of weddings a year to give my clients the very best in personal service and never more than one a year. I'm happy to take your calls and appointments afterhours and evenings to fit your schedule. Have questions? Give me a call!