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By Carrie Stadtmueller, Content Conductor Ok, now that you have said “Yes” - what’s the next step? Of course, everyone really wants to fast forward to all of the fun stuff – cake tastings, Pinterest surfing for reception decor, finding the perfect dress - but the best and smartest next step should be setting and sticking to your wedding budget. We know. This next step can be a real B. Whether you’re working with $100 or $100,000 (wow, wouldn’t that be a dream??), the general guidelines are the same. First Things First – Think about what kind of wedding you want This might be the easiest part of the whole process. Perhaps you’ve been dreaming about your wedding day since you were a little girl. But, if not - it’s time to get to work. Now is the time to have those conversations with your partner and see if you are both on the same page when it comes to the kind of wedding that you both want. There are so many different kinds of weddings out there - do you both want the same kind of wedding? Perhaps your dream wedding is traditional, but theirs is a destination elopement. Or would you prefer low key and relaxed instead of their formal and high class? This is where you need to start. Planning a wedding can put a lot of stress on a relationship. Make sure you are both on the same page before moving forward. This may mean making some compromises.  Figure Out Who Will Be Contributing Once you have decided what kind of wedding you will be planning, now decide how you plan to pay for it. Will you and your partner be covering most of the cost? Or will your families be helping? Whatever the case, finding out who might be contributing to your wedding is a good first step when you’re calculating your overall budget. It’s most helpful if you can get a handle on a nice “round” number or perhaps what aspect of the event the party will be covering. For example - will the groom’s family be paying for the rehearsal dinner as is tradition? Or perhaps you have a devoted Aunt who really wants to help cover the retainer for the photographer as part of her wedding gift. These conversations can be awkward, but they will be helpful in the long run as you make large financial decisions. Crunch, Crunch, Crunch the Numbers - Including Your Number of Guests Now is where the the math comes in and where you need to get serious about figuring out how much you have to actually spend. Figure out how much you can realistically and comfortably spend. This is also the time where you will want to start making your guest list. The number of guests you intend to invite will ultimately have an effect on your budget’s bottom line. Looking at your wedding as a “per-person” expenditure will help with this process. Take this number and begin negotiations By now, you and your partner will be pros at compromising and negotiating - especially if you had differing opinions on what your “dream wedding” looked like. Use those skills to negotiate what items to prioritize when it comes to staying within your budget. Make it an exercise - each of you can pick two things that are at the top of your wedding priority list. Budget for those items. Everything else is extra until the budget is maxxed out.  Savvy Brides Do Their Research There are a lot of hidden costs when it comes to weddings. Savvy brides do their research and find ways to save money. Even smarter brides realize that hiring a wedding planner can ultimately help you save money in the long run. (see this link on why you should hire a wedding planner). Wedding planners provide so much business to vendors, they are often able to negotiate discounts for their clients. They are also well versed at helping couples set budgets and are masters at sticking to them. At the end of the day….. One thing to remember - at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you will be married to the love of your life. It won’t matter if you have steak and shrimp or the most expensive dress. What matters is that you will be together. Don’t start out your new life together drawing in debt. You can still plan a beautiful and memorable wedding on a much smaller and affordable scale. There are ways to plan a champagne wedding on a beer budget - you just have to get creative. You focus on the feeling of the event, instead of the price tag. Here are some practical tips as you start planning:
Again, remember - its who you’re marrying and the memories you make together that are important, not the wedding and the money you spend.  Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken  We had the pleasure of planning the early September wedding for long-time My Big Day friends Eriq Sanders and Ashley Schwindt. It was a joy to witness their beautiful wedding ceremony on top of the Elizabeth Hotel!  Classic Elegance with a Colorful Twist Eriq and Ashley chose The Elizabeth Hotel as the backdrop for their wedding because of its classic and elegant style. Ashley had dreamed of having their first look photos on the grand staircase, and her dream did not disappoint -- it was a bucket-list shot, for sure!  The Rooftop Terrace was a perfect mix of classic elegance that Eriq and Ashley spiced up with a mix of colors that fit their bright personalities. Their color palette of oranges and deep purples blended nicely above the beginning changing fall colors in the Old Town trees below.
Friends and family were treated to a beautiful ceremony that included deeply personal touches like a live musical rendition of “Two Men in Love” performed by friends, favorite movie quotes, and personal vows. It was intimate, beautiful, and Eriq and Ashley all the way!  Block One - Old Town Fun After the ceremony, guests made their way to the reception that was held at Block One Events, north of Old Town. While guests enjoyed a refreshing cocktail hour, Eriq and Ashley and their wedding party made their way throughout Old Town Square on a Bar Crawl to a couple of their favorite Old Town spots. They enjoyed shots and drinks at Lucky Joes and Old Elk Distillery.  Eriq and Ashley had originally planned for their reception to be held at the Agave Room above the Rio, but unfortunately, a fire in the facility made that impossible. Fortunately, The Rio was still able to cater their reception at Block One. Guests were treated to Rio tacos and nachos for dinner! Guests spent the evening dancing, drinking, and celebrating! Eriq’s son, Kobe, kept the fun and music going all night long as the event DJ.  We were thrilled that Eriq and Ashley asked us to be a part of their Big Day! It was an honor that they trusted us to help them navigate all of the uncertainty that came with planning a wedding during the time of covid and with all of the last-minute changes that the fire at the Rio threw at them. They met every challenge with grace and patience. Congratulations, Eriq and Ashley! Venue: The Elizabeth Hotel, Block One Events Photographer: PhoCo Florist: CC’s Flower Truck Officiant: Matt Workman, Friend  With 15 years in the business, the My Big Day team has seen a lot of wedding venues. Over the years, we’ve developed rewarding working relationships with some of our favorite venues that brides and grooms rave about year after year. Don’t plan your Colorado wedding without checking out these venues:  YMCA of Estes Park The YMCA of Estes Park in the picturesque Rocky Mountains is inclusive and affordable. Lodging and catering are available on-site, along with outdoor activities so you can choose to make a whole weekend out of your visit. Various locations on the property accommodate anywhere from 15-450 guests. Get married indoors or in the mountain air. The YMCA schedules weddings throughout the week. More information, including the wedding pricing guide, is available here. Contact the Special Events Coordinator at 970-586-3341 ext.1024 or weddingsepc@ymcarockies.org.  Silverthorne Pavilion Weddings at the Silverthorne Pavilion include an outdoor ceremony space and industrial indoor reception space. This venue offers alcohol services, use of the grounds, setup of tables and chairs, access to a centerpiece materials closet, use of sound systems, bride and groom suites, and an on-site attendant. Kitchen use, A/V equipment and tech support, and fireplace use are available for a fee. Silverthorne is located near several Rocky Mountain attractions, making it ideal for destination weddings. For more details, email alydon@Silverthorne.org or call 970-262-7391. 2021 rates, fees, and floor plans are available online.  Lone Tree Creek Event Center The Lone Tree Creek Event Center is a DIY venue with a beautiful, rustic backdrop. Get married in the grassy fields surrounding the venue and follow up with a reception inside the modern barn. To get a quote, reserve a date, or for any other questions, call 970-405-7057. Della Terra Mountain Chateau Della Terra is Mountain Luxury at its finest. Located in Estes Park, nestled up alongside Rocky Mountain National Park, guests can enjoy a true chateau, fresh mountain air, and the occaisional woodland guest during a ceremony. You can reach one of their planning experts at 970-586-2501 or weddings@dellaterramountainchateau.com  To get started planning your wedding with My Big Day at one of these venues, contact us here or call 970-613-1455. Follow us on Facebook for wedding planning tips and to see our most recent work. If you’ve been bingeing on wedding movies in preparation for your big day, titles like “The Wedding Planner,” “Bridesmaids,” and “Bride Wars” probably come to mind. We’ll admit, some of us enjoy a girls’ night in with these guilty pleasure films – but they’re not totally accurate in depicting the event planning world. Here are a few things the movies get wrong about what event planning REALLY looks like: The over-the-top weddings Movie weddings tend to be extravagant and exaggerated, which can set unrealistic expectations for brides-to-be. Many of the weddings shown in these rom-coms would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to recreate – some over a million dollars.  Since the average amount couples budget for a wedding in the United States is $33,900, these weddings aren’t feasible for most couples to recreate. The good news is that we can help you create a magazine-worthy wedding even if your budget is less than a sixth of that national average. The drama Sure, we’ve seen some drama, but not every bride is a Bridezilla, not every mother-of-the-bride has a vendetta against the couple, and not every corporate client is difficult to work with. In fact, we love our clients, past and present. Events are often stressful for clients. After all, it’s your big day, and there’s a lot at stake. But that’s why you hired us! Our job is to relieve that stress and keep the drama to a minimum so you can soak up every memorable moment. Still - sometimes real life is even MORE unbelievable What if the picturesque trolley you hired to shuttle guests to their hotels after your scenic mountain wedding can’t make it out of the icy parking lot? Or, what if a water pipe bursts in the wall just before your ceremony on a -20 degree day? Yes, we have seen those things happen. Event planning requires equal parts perfectionism and flexibility. You don’t want your event planner to be a deer in headlights when something doesn’t go according to plan. That’s why you hire us!  We don’t get involved in clients’ personal lives As tempted as we may be if our client were Matthew McConaughey, you won’t catch us out drinking and dancing with a groom-to-be. We help our clients navigate personal circumstances from a logistical perspective, but we won’t be hanging around outside of meetings or gossiping with family members. We work as a team Certainly, there are solo event planners out there who make it work. But we find that event planning works best as a team. Remember that burst water pipe we mentioned? While some of our team was collecting gushing water in trash cans and throwing it outside, the rest of us were seamlessly conducting a wedding ceremony in the next room – on time, we might add. Meet our team of talented women here. We don’t use code words Okay, we could do this if we really wanted to, but we find it works just as well to communicate discreetly about what’s really going on. We always strive for transparency when it’s appropriate. And when we’re trying to mitigate your stress on the day of your big event, we’ll handle it as a team behind the scenes.  The perfect vision takes planning – and lots of logistics If events magically fell into place, we’d be out of a job. Having a vision is great, but what happens when your dream venue doesn’t allow you to work with the outside caterer you had your heart set on? Weddings and all other events require juggling lots of moving parts. If you have an event planner from the start, you won’t run into these issues. But even if you come to us further along in the process, don’t worry – we are great problem-solvers. We don’t trash talk past clients with our current clients (and we certainly don’t take bets on how long marriages will last) These things are unprofessional – not to mention just in bad taste. We wish all of our clients – couples, families, small businesses, and large corporations – the best, and we strive to give you the best. We won’t be broadcasting your pre-ceremony breakdown or the frustration you expressed during a high-stress time. All this said, there are some films that do get it right. If you want to know what event planning is like behind the scenes, check out “Fyre” (a cautionary tale of event planning gone wrong), “The First Monday in May,” or “The Ultimate Wedding Planner.” Need more convincing? Read about our top 10 reasons to hire a wedding planner. P.S. – these reasons also apply to work events, concerts, and anything else you can dream up! Hire My Big Day – for business, for community, for love, and for fun.  Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken  We’ve seen their fun family photos, and have heard a little bit about their Big Day plans. Now, we’re taking some time to really get to know our special 2021 MBD wedding couple - Eriq & Ashley. They have a fun and exciting love story, and we can’t wait to see it come full circle in September when they tie the knot on top of The Elizabeth Hotel in front of family and friends. We sent a series of questions to both Eriq & Ashley and here are some of their responses: How did you two meet? Eriq: Well we met on tinder. I was over tinder but decided to go back through my matches to see if I had missed anyone worthwhile, and there she was! She had orange hair in the pic, and orange is my fav color so I took it as a sign, lol. I hit her up, and we went on our 1st date at the now non-existent Enzios. We pretty much laughed the whole time, and hit it off pretty great, and agreed to more dates. I had to go to Tour de Fat the next day because- obviously - but she had her son Zep, so she couldn't make it. We snapchatted all day and it made her laugh, so that's cool. Ashley: We met on Tinder, and by the time that we set up a date I was almost finished with the tinder experience. We started our relationship on a last hope, lol. What was your first impression? Ashley: First impression was shock, because I actually finally liked the guy I was on a date with! I remember his amazing skin color and how nice his smile was. I could also carry a nice conversation with him, unlike my other Tinder dates.
Why do you love Ashley? Why do I love Ash....sheesh, how long do you want this to get?? I love Ash for who she is, what she's accomplished, and what she's capable of in the future. She's my person, my ultimate ride or die, and even though we can never ever ever play monopoly together, we make a really great team! Why do you love Eriq? I love Eriq because he is my other half. He will always have my back and will love me endlessly. He accepts me for who I am and loves me despite my flaws and weaknesses. What are your honeymoon plans? Eriq: Our honeymoon is kinda cliche. We plan on going to Greece or somewhere in the Mediterranean, and chill for about ten days or so. Ashley: Hopefully, if things go as planned, we will be spending our Honeymoon in Greece! But not before we celebrate Tour De Fat!! So excited to party the day after the wedding as well for one of the biggest events that Fort Collins hosts!  Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken You may have friends or family members – dubbed “COVID Couples’ – who have had to postpone or cancel their weddings because of the pandemic. For most couples, this is a difficult decision to make, and may bring up feelings of sadness, anger, or even loss. Here are some ways to support the special people in your life whose weddings have been affected by COVID – and some things to avoid. DO: 1. Send a surprise gift on their original wedding day. This is likely to be the most difficult day for the couple. Consider sending flowers, sweets, or a gift card for a takeout date night with a note saying you are thinking of them. If you’re on a budget, stick with a handwritten note dropped at their doorstep or surprise them with FaceTime or a phone call. Don’t forget about the groom!  2. Listen. Be a shoulder to cry on for your friends and family. Venting can be a therapeutic way to deal with negative emotions from having to postpone or cancel their wedding. Be open and understanding, but not dismissive or overly positive. 3. Contact vendors. A lot goes in to planning a wedding. If your couple has hired a wedding planner, they can help with reaching out to the vendors the couple has chosen. If not, consider the numerous contracts with the florist, photographer, caterer, cake decorator, venue, DJ, furniture rentals, day-of coordinator, and many more that may exist. Depending on the vendor and the wording of each contract, meetings with vendors may involve renegotiating the contract, maintaining it but postponing the date, or asking for a partial refund.  4. Give them resources. There are many couples in the same boat, and many community and support groups online. The Zola Facebook Community has almost 12,000 members in the throes of pandemic wedding planning. For more local advice, check out Colorado COVID-19 Wedding Support. 5. Deal with guests. Offer to help contact guests to notify them of changes to the event. This could involve a formal, mailed update, or an email or text if the wedding was scheduled for just a few weeks away. Be sure to introduce yourself to the couple’s family and friends if making calls or sending texts on their behalf. You can also help answer guests’ follow-up questions about reservations they had for the wedding or the timing of the rescheduled event (if there is one).  DON’T: 1. Give opinions or advice unless it is solicited by the couple. It is complicated and confusing trying to reschedule a large event with many moving parts, never mind with unwarranted opinions thrown into the mix. Give advice only if you are asked to by the couple. 2. Be overly positive or dismissive. Saying, “It’s going to be fine,” may not go over well. Things may not be okay for your friends or family members, and they don’t have to be. Try saying, “I’m sorry. I wish things were different,” or “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here for you.” 3. Expect to be able to fix it. As a friend or family member, the best you can do is listen and offer help or advice if it’s requested. Do not try to fix their feelings or the situation.  Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken So you think you’ve found the PB to your J….. The bee to your honey…. The love of your life…. and now you’re ready to take the next step? Before you do, you should really spend some time in personal reflection, and in conversation with your significant other, because in a life changing event such as getting engaged, even some small things can become significant. The team at My Big Day has pulled together a list of questions you should really consider asking your partner before you ask for their hand in marriage.  All of these questions are good to consider when you are thinking about taking the next step in your relationship. Open and honest discussions can help build a strong foundation that will weather anything life throws at the two of you.  "Dream Big, Live Big. For Life's Events!"
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner. ~Event Planning, Coordination & Management~ My Big Day llc Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us Located in Loveland, CO As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken The My Big Day wedding business has been hit hard due to COVID-19. With all of the cancellations and changes, we wanted to highlight a couple who is a shining example of how to make lemonade out of the lemons they were handed. Zach and Samantha not only had their wedding cancel... their venue wouldn't offer a refund, they realistically cannot reschedule until next year, their family couldn't fly to them in Colorado to witness them say their vows to each other... but they had the right perspective. Love is what matters most.
No, their day is not what they had initially pictured, but it was "perfect!" They got married. They are in love. They have a great story to tell. And they can host a big celebration at a later date.
Today we raise our virtual glasses to Zach & Samantha! Congratulations on your marriage! -The My Big Day team
The Loveland Sweetheart Festival February 14-15, 2020 Spend Valentine’s Day at the free Loveland Sweetheart Festival Feb. 14-15, 2020. Bring the family or your sweetheart for free fun including a Special Effects Laser Light Show, LIVE entertainment, Palace of Sweets, Kids Street with games and activities, Tunnel of Love, interactive art projects, Sweetheart Classic 4-miler and Little Miss Valentine and Little Mr. Cupid contest. The festival is an extension of Loveland’s 74+ year history in the nation’s Sweetheart City. The festival features something for everyone – families, couples, beer, wine and chocolate lovers, running lovers, art lovers and forever loves. Open 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 and 2-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Lovelandsweetheartfestival.com  Loveland’s Valentine’s Day Group Wedding Friday, February 14, 4:30 p.m. in the Foundry Plaza Say “I Do” in the land of love at Loveland’s Valentine’s Day Group Wedding. The wedding features a romantic, candlelit ceremony with music and readings voted on by wedding couples, a customized ceremony, keepsake photos, a love lock for the new love lock sculpture, gift bags, signature wedding cupcakes, and a chance to win a huge gift basket. Fun Fact: All marriage licenses that get issued from Loveland have a special “Sweetheart City” designation. Valentinesdayinloveland.com.  Valentine Hotel Packages
The Townplace Suites by Marriott – Loveland’s first downtown hotel – has a “Leave the key to your heart in Loveland” hotel package for valentine weekend. In addition to a one night’s stay in a luxurious suite and complimentary breakfast buffet, guests will receive a bottle of Champagne, a sweet treat, discounted movie tickets, and a love lock to place on Loveland’s two love lock sculptures. Sylvan Dale Ranch Romantic Sweetheart Getaway packages include a one- or two-night bunk and breakfast package Feb. 14-16 in a cozy fireplace cabin at the ranch complete with a dinner for two, hearty ranch-style breakfasts and access to 3,000 acres of hiking trails, game courts, game room, and horseshoe pits. Trail rides will also be available by reservation weather depending. The proposal is a story you will tell for the rest of your life. "How did he do it?" "Where did you do it?" "Did you know it was coming?" "How did you react?" Where and how you propose or are proposed to can be as important as the Big Day itself. If you are struggling to find the right location or right time, listen to your gut, and check out a few ideas from us! Where you metMaybe you met at a bar, a friend's house, or at a political rally. Go back to the place where it all began and recreate the first time you met. 
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Small Business. Big Impact. Always Dreaming Bigger! We pride ourselves on giving you something to look forward to. We are a connected collective of creatives - owned an opperated by outstanding women. Want More?Never miss an event or opportunity. Sign up for our newsletter!
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My Big Day Company LLC 2006-2022 www.MyBigDayCompany.com
970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 EMAIL US
We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken
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