Our Big Day Details



Hotel gift baskets included Boulder chips, bottled water, wine openers, fireball candy and a map of Denver.



August 1st, 2008 was the hottest day of the year and the best day of my life. It was the day we said 'I Do' at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Denver. After an intimate ceremony by the rocks and waterfall at Club Level, we headed across Seventeenth Street to the Ballroom for dinner and dancing. Here are a few of the special details that made it a day we'd always remember. Hope you enjoy! All our photos are by our fabulous wedding photographer Deb DesMarteau.

 

All of the single Bridesmaids signed the bottom of my shoes for good luck and it's said the last name to wear off is next to marry. I've also heard the first to wear off is first to marry. I didn't throw my bouquet so this was a fun alternative!



Our guestbook table included a framed invitation from Hallmark and a lighted candle in memory of everyone that was with us in spirit. The table below held pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding day with their anniversary engraved at the bottom of the frame.



Our custom aisle runner was made by a special friend and painted by my sister who was also one of my Maids of Honor. I had two!



The Fire Department Posted Colors at the beginning of our Ceremony.

 

Our adorable nephews served as Ring Bearers.

A good friend composed and performed an original song just for our ceremony, "Our Song".




Framed engagement photos at the Reception for all of our guests to sign. They hang on the wall in our living room as a daily reminder of wonderful friends and well wishes for years to come.



Tall centerpieces were alternated with lower ones of red roses from Art of the Flower.








Delicious cake from Mulberries Cake Shop and a custom cake topper from Toppers with Glitz.

 



You know it's a good party when everyone's dancing and the ties come off!



And you dance so hard, you fall asleep!

Jason and four of the firefighter Groomsmen changed into their bunker gear for a few fun photos!

Group shot on the antique fire engine. It was parked out front during the ceremony to let guests know they were in the right place!



Time for happily ever after!

 









Pretty in Pink

After plenty of planning (I drew and re-drew diagrams), A LOT of help from my SIL, Jessica, and one minor melt down (mine not the babe's)....Kylie's first birthday was declared a success!!! My inspiration started as "shabby chic" and took on its own identity from there - with lots of pink of course.





Year in Review Pics - Left.  Cupcake Plate for Everyone to Sign from 1st Wishes- Center. Framed Invite from Tiny Prints - Right.



Family Recipe Spiced Tea Party Favors. Inspiration from Bakerella.

Pink Beads from Hobby Lobby. I originally made Tissue Pom Poms to go here but they were too big so they're now hanging in Kylie's room. Next time, I think I'm going to try these - very cute rose balls.

Ruffled Party Streamers! Instructions from the awesome website How Does She Do It. Or buy them already made at my SIL's etsy shop !!!

Our "Grown Up Kids Menu" with spicy mac and cheese, grilled cheese with apple and bacon, hummus and veggies, mini sliders, almond crusted chicken fingers and tomato soup shooters with grilled cheese.

Catering by the FABULOUS The Fat Grape.

Another very affordable project from How Does She Do It (sorry I can't remember the exact link).

Hot Glue Gun + Wood Sticks + Scrapbook Letters = Easy Peasy Cupcake Toppers (Inexpensive Too!)

Kylie's "Smash Cake"!

Chocolate with Health bar, Strawberry and Vanilla cupcakes. Thank you Jessica Luyben!!!

Cake officially "smashed". She loved it!!!!

A Wedding Shower

A "Pots and Panties" wedding shower where the guests were asked to bring a cute pantie for the pot. Decorations and gifts revolved around the theme and a good time was had by all! A big thank you to Bry Stewart for being the hostess with the mostess and all are photos courtesy of Deb DesMarteau Photography.



Bright and Simple Decor



Thoughtful Favors



Coordinated Cupcakes

The Aftermath!


Other fun shower themes and ideas:

• Stock the Bar (or Pantry): Each guest is asked to bring something to help as it says "stock the bar" i.e. wine glasses from the registry or a bottle of their favorite liquor. Recipes and kitchen items for the pantry theme.
• Around the Clock: Each guest is given a specific time on their invite and asked to coordinate the gift with their hour. Could do the same for months of the year or holidays.
• Lingerie: I like to give comfy sleep shorts and T's because I know the bride will at least be comfortable and have it on longer!
• Honeymoon Help: Based on where the couple are honeymooning (or for a destination wedding) and gifts that can be used while on vacay. Luau anyone? I've always wanted to plan a party with a steel drum band!
• Couples Shower: Co-ed can be fun! Think BBQ or "Patio Party" with items for their house, yard or patio. You could host it at that special place the couple first met or something they like to do together...golf, garden, you name it.
• Gift Card Extravaganza: Perfect for special date nights, making their new house a home and everyday errands during the first year of marriage.
• "Honey Do's": They'll soon enough hear "honey do this...." and "honey do that..." so ask each guest to come up with a cute "honey do" for the bride or groom that goes with their gift. Home improvement or gadgets, a great basket with all the "forgotten necessities" for around the house like cleaning products, Ziploc bags, paper towels, laundry items or helpful items for the car are just a few ideas. A thoughtful gift is knowing they need it before they do!
• Display Shower: All the guests are asked to bring their gifts unwrapped to put on "display". Perfect for the shy bride and being able to enjoy the entire party eating, drinking and visiting.
• The Newlywed Game: Everyone fills out answers to cute and unknown facts about the bride and groom - including the bride! Have the hostess quiz the groom prior to and see how many he and his "Future Mrs." agree on - offer a prize for the most right. P.S. It's not always the bride with the most correct :-)
• Ask everyone to bring a fun photo of the bride or couple, a special memory or piece of advice to share. Fill a photo album or scrapbook as a keepsake for the happy couple.

The possibilities are endless and half the fun is in the planning! Please post any of your ideas to add to the list!



Welcome to the Wonderful World of Blogging

A good friend recently started a blog called Leaps of Faith and has inspired me to do the same. (She's my first follower on here too - woo hoo!) As a stay at home mom to an adorable 15 month old with a wonderful husband, lately I've been craving more....I love to be busy but desire something more "for me" in addition to play dates, the grocery store and laundry. (On the Jersey Shore they'd call that "PGL"). I am so thankful for my beautiful family and a husband that works hard so that I can stay home. However, want to push myself to be a better, calmer and more balanced mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend.

My background in events started at an Internship with the Children's Hospital Foundation where I was trained by a couple of fabulous ladies. After graduation from University of Colorado I worked full-time (i.e. 19 days in a row and 7AM to 2AM on occasion) as an Event Coordinator at Belmar Center in Lakewood, Colorado (with a couple more wonderful gals). It was here I fell in love with the fast-paced, organized chaos of the event world. Funny enough as a firefighter-paramedic my husband says he puts organization to chaos too!

When a friend's boyfriend's sister (did you follow that?) asked me to be her "day of wedding coordinator" I was thrilled! Even more so as the word of mouth referrals came in and I had the opportunity to work with amazing brides at gorgeous venues like the Denver Country Club, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club and hotels such as the Brown Palace, Hyatt, JW Marriott and Oxford.

This blog is dedicated to being a resource for you and an outlet for me. I hope you'll visit often for one of a kind party ideas, tips, tricks, pictures and more. I'll share my heart and thoughts with you and hope you'll consider sharing your big day with me...as your coordinator and friend!