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Colorado Intimate Weddings & Elopements

Alternate Ceremony sites to Sapphire Point Overlook

5/24/2020

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Loveland Pass Lake

This is a high-alpine lake easily accessible off Loveland Pass Highway. These photos are in late May, so unless you want snow and possible muddy spots, I recommend ceremonies here mid-to-late June through September.  If we have a warm fall, October would be great too!  There is about a 200-yard lane from the main highway to a parking area where there are also picnic benches.  No hike is needed, but bring your comfy shoes to explore the area for various photo opportunities.  This is a “rogue” ceremony location, meaning that there is no official site - just pic a pretty area, stand around and exchange vows.  Though there may be others enjoying the lake, it is a much less crowded spot than the top of the pass which is just about 1/2 mile up from the turn-off to Loveland Lake.  There are actually three pond accessible via a very short hike, so again - bring those comfy shoes to explore.  Also, with our package, we do send a fur with the photographer in case the high-alpine air gets a little chilly. 

Tenderfoot-Oro Grande Trail

This is an easily accessibly trail from the town of Dillon that overlooks Lake Dillon (and the town).  It is a wide trail, and if you are up for hiking about 5 to 10 minutes, there is an flat open are in which you can stand around for a “rogue” ceremony (it is the blue-colored “u” on the AllTrails map).  The pros are the it is close to town with some of the views that Sapphire Point is known.   If you are lodging near Keystone or Dillon, the is very close.  Plus, there are some restaurants very closely for celebrating:  Pug Ryan in Dillon, The Dillon Dam Brewery, and Sauce on the Blue are a few.  Its also got a tree-lined hike with pines and also an aspen grove, which would be gorgeous for fall photos! The cons are that it is heavily trafficked (but that flat area helps to pull-off from the trail) and parking can be full.  Though, if you have a later afternoon or early evening ceremony, most folks will be heading off the trail.  

Officer’s Gulch, Frisco 

Officer’s Gulch is very easily accessible and located between Frisco and Copper Mountain right off Interstate-70, with plenty of parking.  It is popular for fishing and we saw one paddle boarder on the lake (though it was only May!).  The 1.1 mile trail around the lake is easy, though you can have a ceremony near the beginning and on the shores if your group doesn’t want to do the hike.  The views are pictures and the water is clear!  If you have a ceremony with guests near the entrance, schedule some time with the photographer post ceremony for a little stroll 1/2 way around the lake (prep for a few muddy areas, but those can be circumvented.  It only took us 5 to 10 minutes to get to our lunch spot where we shot the video.   The pros are the accessibility and the scenery.  The cons are other users of the space (though they all kept to themselves) and noise from the I-70 traffic.  If you decide to do a wedding there in the peak of the summer, bring bug spray! 

Rounds Park, Breckenridge

Rounds Park is a locals secret!  It is an unmarked spot near the Breckenridge Golf Course.  There is a little bit of parking, so we encourage carpooling.  Though it is a public spot, other users of the area are friendly and polite - and, if they see a white dress will likely offer congratulations and keep their distance.  There are a couple of flat lawn-like areas for a ceremony, and a dock that goes out onto a pond (though, its a little rickety so I wouldn’t put too many people on it).  There are views, yet because it is in a neighborhood, you’ll see some luxury homes in the background.  If you were planning wedding at Sapphire Point, this is a GREAT “Plan B” option as it is located between Breckenridge and Sapphire Point.  You can still keep most all your plans and logistics the same.  

Colorado Elopement Location

Blue Lakes Trail, Breckenridge

Blue Lakes Trial is an area south of Breckenridge, on the way up Hosier Pass.  After turning off the highway, you’ll drive about 2 miles on a gravel road.  A regular vehicle can make it, though it can get slightly bumpy.  There are two parking areas.  Once you arrive, there are 360-degree views of mountains at the base of Blue Lakes.  Waterfalls are in the lower area, though in May were not accessible due to some snow pack.  In a month, Blue Lakes will be stunning.  And though you can get to it now, I would recommend a fur as the air can get chilly (during any time of year)!   From the parking area, there is a slight 2-minute downhill walk to the lake shores.  Alternately, you can walk on the upper level service road (closed to the public) for a ceremony.  I recommend adding 1-hour to your overall wedding day logistics to allow for ample drive time to/from the site.  Bring comfortable walking shoes to maneuver rocky shores/trail.  You can always switch them out during the ceremeony!   

Other locations I scoped out, but didn’t like

Hosier Pass:  we drove a little bit passed the Blue Lakes road up to Hosier Pass.  It was snow packed and we were tired from a day of scouting.  So, we are reserving this for another day.  I’m still open to it, but for now and in May, I don’t recommend it.  Next month, I’ll head up there are hike the small look trail.  So, this site may be good for the hiking couple who wants to DIY their own ceremony with a photographer.  We can alway bring a cake to the trailhead to serve up some yummies and celebrate!

Montgomery Reservoir:  this came recommended by a Colorado photographer (not one of ours).   Though it looks fantastic on the map, I thought that having a ceremony here would be really difficult.  There isn’t really great spots for parking (just off the side of the road).  And, the road around the lake can get slim.  The water level was pretty low, so the shores were kind-of ugly (again we went in May).  There were plenty of people fishing in the area, and camping at the base below the dam.  The only spot that I could see for a ceremony would be along side the road on top of the rock - that is, without hiking down to the lake which would have been a trek!  
Comments

What are my wedding options with Covid19?

5/10/2020

 
Covid 19 elopement
I hope you are hunkering down and doing well despite COVID-19. It’s hard to believe this is all happening and my concerns and thoughts go out to every one of you. I get the question from every single one of our couples on what is happening in Colorado, what do to, and when things will be back to normal.  I know all of you are thinking about travel, your loved ones and their health, how this impacts you financially,  your dreams and you just wanting to start married life - all of those are valid!

Let me provide you with some information - legally, its the only thing I can do.  
 I cannot tell you to cancel, postpone or reschedule - those decisions are up to you.  *Unless* a venue had cancelled or a government order has been put into place - I can then provide more concrete guidance.    

First, you can check the state Department of Public Health and Environment’s website:  www.Covid19.Colorado.gov.   Additionally, many counties have their own Stay/Safer at home orders and it can vary county-by-county.  So, check the county’s website where your event will be held, when accommodations and restaurants are expected to be open.

Then, consider all your options.  Here they are: 


Postpone:  there is a lot of strategy involved with postponing.  First, we have to make sure the site, vendors, and restaurant are all available on your desired date.  We are very willing to work with you, though there are pieces to put together.  Be flexible with your dates and consider a Sunday-Thursday as many couples are postponing to August and September.  
  • We are waiving rescheduling fees for 2020 weddings if you are able to reschedule sometime in 2020.  
  • We are also waiving rescheduling fees for 2021 dates of Sunday-Thursday; 2021 Friday and Saturday (peak dates) will incur a 20% rescheduling fee. 
  • Some couples are doing a Justice-of-the-Peace wedding on their original wedding date, and moving back the wedding celebration to one-year-later

Scale back your guest list and go TINY:  Currently, many “Safer at Home” orders allow social gatherings of 10 people or less.  Yes, this means to count yourselves and count a photographer and officiant in that 10.  By keeping your date, you can salvage what you have paid for.   We are even working with couples to have a ceremony on their original wedding date whose venue has cancelled, finding alternative scenic “rogue” ceremony sites.
  • We are also placing “markers” on the ground were family groups can witness from a greater distance (for example, 20 paces).  If you choose that option, we do ask for following of social distancing ordinances at the time of the wedding.
  • We are also setting up the cake (safely with masks/gloves, sanitizing) at the ceremony site even if restaurants are not open.  Yes - you’ll have to cut and serve your own cake!

Cancelling.  Yes - sadly this is an option too.  I’ve taken a hard look at my time planning weddings, the expenses incurred with retaining vendors, and if or how lenient we can be with our contract.  The thing we have to consider in businesses is longevity and sustainability.  Given that all of us (me, photographers, officiants, baker, florist) are independent business owners and not a large Target or Netflix of this world, we are not recession-proof.  Our retainer fee as stated in the contract is non-refundable.  I know this is not the outcome that you were hoping.  As you all can imagine, it's simply not something I can risk as it would cause us to go under.  We have added flexibility in the contract: 
  • Outside of 21-days in advance: if couples have contractually passed the 100% full package price/payment date identified on the contract and would like to cancel, we will only hold them to the retainer fee (not 100% of the package price).  
  • At or within 21-days in advance of the wedding, we would hold to the 100% full package price as there is a great expense involved with ordering goods and services.

​Force Majeure or “Act of God” clauses:  this clause does not automatically entitle a refund.  It means that it is an excuse or delay performance of a contract ​without penalty.  It does not automatically “rescind” a contract (i.e. put the parties back to square one as if it never happened).  If expenses are incurred (which there is when you sign the agreement), if items are ordered that cannot be refunded (securing vendors, rentals), and if a lot of planning has been done for the couple (which I do 85% within the first month of booking), then payment is due.  What is does mean is that no further payments can be requested; or if a “pay in full” is active, the payments can be delayed.  Force Majeur is a way of making sure that the client or we don’t have to do anything else because of the bizarre events of which neither party is at fault.  
​
I am working on a Covid19 addendum to make sure everyone is clear about what steps to take and how to stay healthy.  You can download it below.  

I hate having to write this article.  If there are other options or ideas that you have, please let us know.  We are willing, able, and want to serve on your wedding day - even if the original date changes!  Please write me and let me know where your thoughts are and what you would like to explore.

​ Kindly ~ Wendee  



covid19_addendum.pdf
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    By Wendee Vezzetti

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  • Home
  • About
    • BLOG
    • HOW IT WORKS
  • Packages
    • Intimate Wedding Package
    • Just the Basics Package
    • Marry Now. Party Later.
    • ONLINE COURSE
  • FAQs
  • Get Started
  • Gallery
  • GRATITUDE
  • Course
  • Contact