Planning a wedding is stressful enough without the added challenges of venue construction, limited booking windows, and fierce competition—especially at the popular Sapphire Point Overlook.  While we absolutely love Sapphire Point, we understand the frustrations that come with its high demand, online-only booking system, and frequent updates due to construction. With over 15 years of experience coordinating weddings there, Wendee has seen it all and knows how to navigate these hurdles. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about planning your Sapphire Point or Summit County wedding, take a deep breath—you’re in great hands.

To help you stay on track, we’ve curated the best Sapphire Point Overlook alternatives, along with the latest updates, breathtaking Summit County wedding venues, and expert tips to make your day stress-free.
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For even more resources, including planning tools and templates, download our our guide to Small Weddings in Summit County, featuring sites, lodging & restaurants.  

Step-by-step Guide to Getting a Colorado Marriage License:  its fairly easy if you break it down into this process: 

• Preparation: you can apply for the license as far out as 30 days in advance of securing it.  Most courthouses take online applications and appointments.  You'll need to make sure you have documents like valid IDs, divorce decrees (if applicable), and the $30 fee.
• Application Process: most clerk & recorders offices accept both in-person and online applications, including scheduling appointments and completing forms.
• Timeline: Once you get the license form the courthouse, it is valid for use anywhere in Colorado within 35 days.  In other words, get married the same day or within 35 days and make sure the signed license is to the issuing courthouse within that time.  The courthouse will then record it, and then send it to your home address. 

So, you’re planning a wedding. Congratulations! But instead of a massive ballroom and a guest list that rivals a small town's population, you’re dreaming of something cozier. A small, intimate wedding with just your favorite people, less stress, and more meaning. We get it. Big weddings can feel overwhelming, expensive, and frankly, not very you.

Planning a small wedding, or a micro-wedding, is a fantastic way to focus on what truly matters: celebrating your love with the people who mean the most. But even simple weddings require some planning. Where do you even start?
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Don't worry, we've got your back. With over 20 years in the industry and nearly 1,000 small weddings under our belt, Wendee has perfected the process. This small wedding checklist will walk you through the essential steps to create a beautiful, stress-free day that’s all about you.

Should you have a bouquet for an elopement?  In my opinion, ABSOLUTELY!  Your bouquet is often the only decoration piece at your small microwedding.  It also pulls together your style, makes your photos "pop", and can add symbolism to your special day, especially if there are family members that cannot be present or have passed-on.   

But, elopement florals and decorations don't have to be elaborate.  We've simplified ways to add florals without going over-the-top and spending elaborate amounts of money.  I recommend starting with the basics and then if your budget and logistics allow, add decoration elements.  This article will give you ideas and guidance when planning elopement flowers.  

First, consider your vision and style.  When consulting, I teach couples to decide your style and vision very EARLY on, and stick with that decision so that everything flows together.  We use descriptive words like "organic" or "whimsical" or "romantic" or "vintage" or "country".  Whatever your style, stick with it throughout your planning.  If you haven't decided on a style yet, contact me for a fun & free introductory course. 

1. ​Write down your style.  Click here for a list of ideas. 
2. Write down your colors.  Tip: look at photos of the location & time of year in which you'll be getting married.  Notice how the environment changes and pick colors that will complement.  For example: though we love whites and blush, in the outdoors they tend to look bland and there is no "pop" in photos. 
3. Consider your attire.  Are you wearing a white, ivory, champagne, red, pink, blue, vintage, contemporary? 
4. Seasonal & local.  Work with a florist who uses locally sourced seasonal florals that will also be resilient in the outdoors.  

If you're dreaming of an enchanted winter wedding with snow-capped mountains, then you've come to the right place. Imagine gliding through a winter wonderland on a horse-drawn sleigh, surrounded by your closest family and friends, exchanging vows in the middle of a snowy field or a pine forrest that only a sleigh ride can offer. Sounds magical, doesn't it? Well, buckle up and get ready to plan the most charming and intimate celebration of your life – a horse drawn sleigh ride wedding in the Rocky Mountains!  We'll guide you through everything you need to know to turn your winter wedding dreams into a reality, with a touch of fun and playfulness. So, let's grab our mittens, hop on the sleigh, and dive right into the snowy adventure of planning your perfect sleigh ride wedding! ❄️🎩💍

There have been whispers of this among wedding planning professionals for a while, but the secret is officially out: wedding content creators are officially on the scene and they are here to stay! This service has become a practical and delightful twist to the modern-day wedding ceremony, and micro-weddings are no exception. Regardless of how you’ve planned your big day, a professional wedding content creator can be an amazing addition to your media team. Before you jump in feet first though, here’s the full scoop on what a wedding content creator offers, why you’d need to hire one for your big day, what to budget, and everything in between!

Many of our small wedding couples still want an intimate dinner celebration - that’s an important part of the overall experience! And though there are tons of different things you can do to make it unique, like speeches, food trucks, creating a DIY photo booth, hand crafted favors, the most common question we get asked:  what is more cost effective?  Going to a restaurant or having a private chef cook a dinner at our vacation house?  The answer is a little more complicated than the simple “option A”.  Here are factors to compare when making the choice whether to dine in a private room or open up the house.  

Your four-legged furry friend is a cherished part of your family. It’s not even a question that you and your partner want to include them in your small intimate wedding ceremony. It wouldn’t feel whole or complete without your trusted pup by your side during one of the biggest days of your life. Besides, the pictures are adorable! But where do you begin sorting through the logistics that come with including pets in a small wedding ceremony? Where would you even start to make sure your pet has a role to play on your special day?  Here are some tips and ideas to make your big day a success for both you and your furry friend

If you've been following us for a while and checking out our galleries, you'll quickly observe that we have many couples who choose host their small intimate wedding ceremony a Sapphire Point in Summit County, Colorado.  Though it boast some of the most amazing mountain views, overlooks Lake Dillon, and is easily accessible (no hike required!), there are lots of little nuances to consider with planning your wedding at Sapphire Point.  Read this article fully so that you know how to approach planning a microwedding at this amazing overlook.  ​

5/7/24 UPDATE!  The booking became available on Recreation.gov - it is much like it has been in the past with a few changes: 

• Seating is no longer allowed.  NOTE - many public lands will make exceptions for an elder guest.  Let us know if you have any special ADA needs
• Maximum group size is now 30 (it was 35).  County yourselves and vendors in this numer.
• No amplification (i.e. amp or sound system).  We still bring a small Bluetooth speaker for tasteful and light background music so as to not create a disturbance.
• They request you book a shuttle.  This one is hard to manage as many couples do not have the budget for a shuttle, and there are not many serice providers in the county.  Our advice is to carpool, plan a few extra minutes for a regular parking spot to open.  Do not park on the street as the Sheriff does issue tickets.  Parking spots do become available quite quickly. 
• NOTES: if any of these new reglations are deal-breakers, please connect with me (Wendee) as there are many other amazing sites not only in Summit County, but other areas as well like Estes Park, Grand Lake, Vail, etc.

9/26/23 UPDATE!  On their booking page, there is an alert that the two overlooks will be under construction in September of 2024 and service may be intermittently interrupted in 2024 and 2025.  If this makes you nervous, there are many other great small wedding sites across Colorado, and we can help you find one that fits will with your group size, vision, priorities, budget and needs.   

11/25/23 UPDATE!  The Dillon Ranger District (who manages Sapphire Point Overlook) is changing their reservations system.  Formerly, couples could reserve it on www.Recreation.gov at exactly 6 months out from the wedding date.  That is no longer possible. They have not determined a new reservation system and will be posting updates on this website as it becomes available.  Here is a press release about the closures in and improvements.  If you plan to have a ceremony at Sapphrie Point Overlook in 2024/25, we suggest arrangement a "Plan B" at any of the nearby alternate wedding sites; Custom Weddings of Colorado can help you plan a strategy and logistics.  Additional, we updated an article about alternate sites in Summit County for your Plan B. 

When you start planning your wedding, so many questions start cropping up. How many hours you will need a photographer for is one of them. The number of wedding photography hours you book mostly depends on how big your wedding is and how much of the day you want to capture.  Micro-weddings are a little different from  your average.  First, we'll give you some guidelines to help you decide.  Then, we'll put our angle on how we approach is with small intimate weddings.  

1.5 to 2 Hours:  
If you are one of the many couples who will be eloping this year, you won’t need to book a photographer for longer than 2 hours. With this being said, if you would prefer to capture more than just the ceremony and a few portraits, you may want to book an extra hour or two.  

• Our approach:  We offer a 1.5 to 2.5 hour service (or more) for elopements of 8 guests or fewer.  With a 1.5 hour service, we are only able to meet the couple at the ceremony site which includes pinning florals, the ceremony, some group photos after, some cheers/celebrations, and couple photos around the area.  With a 2 or 2.5 hour service, you can add-on some getting-ready and first look photos at your nearby place of lodging.  

Dress changes between the ceremony and reception are quite common for the larger weddings, but is it even a "thing" for a small intimate micro-wedding?  If you are considering what to do for your attire so that it is appropriate for elopements, something that you would feel comfortable in, or you simply just need some inspiration, look no future!   We will explore the wedding dress changes and how they can bring added excitement and versatility to your special day.  Whether you're dreaming of a chic cocktail dress or a more traditional gown, get ready to discover the endless possibilities for dress changes that will make your micro-wedding even more memorable.

You've come to the decision to ditch the stress and overwhelm of planning a big "typical" wedding and are diving into planning a small micro-wedding.  Or maybe that's what you've always been planning because honestly, you really don't want to spend the money on an elaborate event to entertain others and would rather just center the marriage around the two of you and your closest family and friends.  So, you start to search for small unique wedding venue and quickly find that the search results lead you right back to those typical banquet-hall type of wedding venues built for the big wedding. 

If you've read my story, I get it!  In 2007, after 10 years in the wedding industry, I was planning my own small 25-person wedding and found that there weren't advertised venues. I had to do my own digging and research which was NOT easy.  But, it lead me to an amazing adventure where in 2011, I decided to *only* plan small weddings of 35 guest or fewer, helping those that have similar challenges.  Think: elopement, just with a few guests witnessing.  Small weddings are different, and so are the venues.  Here are 10 types of micro-wedding venues that you won't often see in glossy magazines or on the first .... or even third page of web search results.  

Thinking about writing your own wedding vows? It’s always so romantic when couples do this because they are sharing a piece of their hearts with each other and their guests. It can feel like a huge undertaking, so we’re sharing some of our favorites tips with you!

What to include

• ​Share personal anecdotes.  Was there a moment when you knew your partner was the one? Let them know in your vows. Keep in mind that any guests in attendance might not be familiar with the story, so consider that when you write it out. You want everyone to be able to follow along.
• Why and how you fell in love.  There is no such thing as too sweet or cheesy at weddings! This is your chance to tell your partner why they are the only one for you and why you want to spend forever with them.
• Quotes.  Try adding quote from your favorite movie, song or book. It should be something you both enjoy or make sense for you as a couple. From there, you can expand on why its important to you.

​Although tipping is not mandatory, it is an expression of gratitude toward the vendor, especially since weddings by nature require extra attention to details and consideration.  Additionally, since many vendors operate small businesses, tips offer instant feedback while many times providing needed income. 

An alternative to tipping is a rave, detailed 5-star review, if the vendor has earned.  Positive reviews are like GOLD in the wedding industry. You put your trust in us, and please let others know about your journey, story and experiences with wedding planning.  The most common sites are Google, TheKnot.com and WeddingWire.com.  Of course, there are areas in which the vendor can improve, please share that directly with the vendor in a kind, constructive manner and avoid blasting it out into the world.  

As a newly engaged couple and with all the information available on the internet, you are probably not lacking for ideas to make your wedding unique and special. Take one look at Pinterest alone and it is easy to get lost in the endless surplus of ideas to incorporate into your wedding. Having options isn’t so much the problem as sorting through all of the advice. There are some great ideas out there, but what is going to be the perfect fit for you and your partner?  Where does a bride even begin to start? 

​You could be in any stage of the wedding planning process. Perhaps your partner got down on one knee last week, maybe you’ve had a ring on your finger for a while now, or maybe you’ve been planning but are now changing your direction due to unforeseen circumstances or a change of heart. Depending on what your situation might be, it’s brought you to one place: the micro-wedding. Maybe you have heard of micro-weddings before, but are still on the fence about whether it’s the right decision for you. When deciding if a micro-wedding is the right fit for your big day, here are a few things to consider.

As you plan your small wedding, it’s likely that finding the perfect photographer is one of the first things on your list. Whether you’re hiring for first look photos and the reception, or only the ceremony, photography is an integral part of every wedding because it gives you beautiful memories to frame and look back on.
Often an afterthought, though, is videography. It’s similar to photography, but boasts many differences which are worth thinking over before deciding whether or not to splurge on a videographer. 

I hear you: your wedding is small, intimate, and anything but extravagant. You may be thinking that a videographer in addition to a photographer is overkill. However, you may find that hiring a videographer to capture a beautiful wedding video is the perfect way to complement the photos you’ll receive following the ceremony, helping you remember your special day for years to come.

​I’ve compiled a list of the top benefits of wedding videography to help you decide whether or not it’s right for your wedding.​​