Rachael + Brett: exchange vows with a small Colorado wedding package in the mountains

Their Story:  Like so many of our couples, Rachael and Brett met through and online dating app. On the evening of their first date, Brett told Rachael they were going to get married in the mountains. The following night, Brett met Rachael’s entire family at her mom’s retirement party. I guess you could say they both “just knew”, and have been inseparable ever since!  The following Thanksgiving, they adopted their precious Ruby, who then encouraged them to buy a house. Now here they are, five years later, getting married in the mountains of Colorado!”  September of 2022. 

Planning Details:   We started working with Rachael and Bret about nine months in advance of their small wedding when they reached out to us through our ceremony site report services, which is a written consultation with detailed information about site options that will work with couple’s vision, budget, needs and priorities.  For their Colorado small wedding, they identified their top priorities as having picturesque scenic mountain backdrops, great photography, and an easy-going seamless flow to the day.  Check, check and check - we got it covered and see their photos below ⬇️ 🎉  Of course, I’m biased, but I think our small wedding packages in the mountains are picturesque (honestly, we specialize in finding small wedding sites with a view)!  And, with our small intimate wedding package, you get an onsite coordinator who not only assists with pickup & deliveries of cake and flowers, but she also brings a Bluetooth speaker to play ceremony music and is with you throughout the service working behind-the-scenes for the couple, their wedding party and guests to ensure the day flows smoothly. 

Small Wedding Packages

Wedding Details:  Rachael and Brett decided on Sapphire Point Overlook for their small micro-wedding.  But, if you know anything about that site, it is challenging to book (read more about it here).  So when the day came, they got beat-out.  But, no worries as we establish a back-up “Plan B” nearby site so that couples can keep their original destination and logistics (timing/sequencing, dinner, lodging, etc.).  We also recommend that couples book a minimum 3.5 hour package to allow for more post-wedding couple-only photos so that the photographer can either take them to Sapphire Point area or another scenic spot around Summit County.  For Rachael and Brett, we ended up taking them over to the shores of Lake Dillon.  
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It was also important for Rachel and Bret to have a set of sneak peak pictures for their large reception back home around two-weeks post wedding.  That is totally doable with most photographers.  TIP: be sure to communicate this in advance of booking their services and then also make sure it is documented on your planning logistics (reach out to Wendee if you need help).  We also recommend that you give yourself some time in between your destination small wedding and your larger reception back home so that you can recover from travel.  Two weeks is enough time, but a month is much better.  
If you are interested in a scenic, all inclusive micro-wedding package in Breckenridge, reach out to Wendee.  She can get you started with a customized ceremony site report, which is a written consultation of various natural and private spots that are customized to your needs, budget, vision, and priorities.  This is a great way to get started planning a Colorado small wedding.   🎉

Small Wedding Package

Tips and Ideas: To kickstart planning their small intimate wedding, Rachael and Brett knew they wanted a couple bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower-girls and a ring bearer.  Even with having 16 guests, this is still doable and adds personal touches to your tiny wedding.  Since dusty blue was the color of the dresses, it was easy and elegant to have a mostly white and cream bouquet with accents of blue and creative greenery.  As standard, we bring matching florals to adorn the cake so that everything goes together well.  

Since the entire group was staying at Mountain Thunder Lodge in Breckenridge and then celebrating after the wedding in the town of Frisco, they decided to add-on 2 small shuttle vans which kept everyone together.  That way, having a few celebratory drinks after the ceremony and during dinner was not an issue.  Once we finished cheers and photos at the ceremony site, we stopped by Lake Dillon for a few more photos with only the couple before heading over to the restaurant to cut-the-cake which we do before dinner service (no worries - its actually served after dinner to your guests).  An average time allotment for this type of micro-wedding package is about 3.5 to 4.0 hours, depending on the timing to/from the ceremony venue and restaurant.  We typically do not stay for dinner, but are certainly available if couples want to add-on photography hours.  

If you are wondering the typical wedding day timing & sequencing for a small micro-wedding package, here it is in nutshell: 

• Hair & makeup appointments:  many stylists will come to your lodging, but you can also go to their salon.  
• Getting ready.  We suggest that all bridesmaids and moms, basically anyone who is helping the couple, are all dressed and ready to go by the time the photographer arrives.  The bride/s are the only ones NOT dressed, but have your room cleaned, set-out your accessories and hang your dress. 
• First look.  Of course this is optional, but it adds for some special moments between the couple and a variety of backdrops for photos.  MORE IDEAS FOR FIRST-LOOKS.   
• Ceremony.  We specialize in planning and coordinating small weddings and elopements and find ceremony sites that are often on public lands, which means you won’t find them advertised in glossy wedding venue magazines. 
• Post-wedding photos and signing of the marriage license.  Group and couple photos really don’t take that long if you have an organized shot list.  We recommend a maximum of 12 groupings, but often take more than that as we take special requests onsite. 
• Cutting of the cake:  at the couples arrival to the restaurant, have a little cheers and cake cutting before being seated for dinner.  Of course, the cake would be serviced to guests as dessert after the meal, this cutting is just for the couple to feed each other their first sweet bite of married life. 
• Seated for dinner and end of photography & coordination.  Not a lot of couples want us to stay throughout the dinner, but if you want more photos of festivities, just let us know and we can add-on additional hours to your small wedding package.  

If you are interested in a beautiful, all inclusive micro-wedding package in Colorado, or need any consulting with logistics, reach out to Wendee.  She can get you started with a customized ceremony site report, which is a written consultation, of various natural and private spots that are very affordable and also accommodate your needs, vision, and priorities.  This is a great way to get started planning a Colorado micro-wedding.   🎉 

Small Wedding Packages

Small Wedding Packages

• Intimate Wedding Package:  www.CustomWeddingsoColorado.com, inclusive of planning, florals, cake, photography and onsite coordination.  Contact Wendee to get started. 
• Package inclusions:  Photographer:  Kathryn Kim Photography |  Florals:  Stefanie Hofmeister  |  Baker: La Patisserie Francaise  |  Officiant: Rev. Chris Mohr | Seating:  Custom Weddings of Colorado
• Items to budget outside of the package:  Hair & Makeup: Breckenridge Hair Company  |  Dinner:  Vinny’s in Frisco  |   Lodging: Mountain Thunder Lodge  |  Transportation:  Jakes Mountain Shuttle   |   Couples also need to budget for travel expenses, attire, rings and marriage license. 

Get Started: Contact Wendee

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