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UPDATE 11/25/23: It was over three years ago when I first wrote this article in response to COVID shutdowns. Back in April of 2020, we had 60 couples booked for micro weddings, about half of whom had been planning Sapphire Point Overlook wedding. Throughout the summer of 2020, Sapphire Point maxed-out at 10 people total including vendors. Since many of our weddings were around 20 people (give or take), I scouted and found alternate sites in Summit County for couples to have outdoor ceremonies Fast-forward to today: the Dillon Ranger District (part of the Wind River US Forest Service), who manages Sapphire Point Overlook, has announced that they will be conducting intermittent construction in 2024/25. They do not know specific dates, and they have also closed the reservation system (as of 11/22/23). This naturally puts a spin on planning 2024/25 weddings at Sapphire Point. There have been no clear plans announced as to what dates will be possible for weddings and when/how booking the overlook will become available. The National Forest Service does have a website in which they will be announcing future plans. But for now, if you have your heart set on a Sapphire Point Overlook wedding, here are several different ways in which you can approach it. I'd be happy to work with you in designing logistics for a Summit County wedding (considering Plan A and Plan B) with my intimate wedding package.
⬇️ Summit County Micro-Wedding Spots that are NOT Sapphire Point ⬇️
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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. 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.  © Photo by Kathryn Kim Their story: Christina is a Colorado native and lived in Colorado her whole life. Shaun is from Kentucky and lived there his whole life until venturing to attend Colorado School of Mines in 2012. "We met in 2013 and have been together ever since. We got engaged in September 2017 when Shaun proposed while we were watching my favorite show, Friends. We are both hard workers and put a lot of time and energy into our careers. We love spending time in the mountains and hanging out with our 2-year- old English Bulldog, Q.” Wedding details: Who wouldn't love spending time with Q? And of course he had to make appearances at their wedding (we love fur-baby ring bears or flower girls)! Christinas style was graceful, airy and lighthearted. The couple and #30 of their guests stayed in Breckenridge, ventured to the overlook at Lake Dillon for the small ceremony site, and then celebrated at the outdoors patio of a distillery, complete with scrumptious food and cake. Planner/Package: Wendee Vezzetti | Photography: Andrea Flanagan  Stephanie + Kolen | Intimate microwedding in Colorado | Small wedding venue with mountain views8/9/2019 Their story: “We met in a class in college at the University of Nebraska. Our first date was at the local bowling alley 3 years ago! We started to plan your typical formal wedding and shortly realized that it did not fit us at all. We are super laid back and want our wedding to have that same feeling. Colorado works out very nicely for us, as Kolten’s family is from Nebraska and mine is from Kansas, so it is still within driving distance for both of them. We want our wedding to be easy and simple, so we can enjoy the day." Wedding details: With Stephanie's expression cutting the cake at the restaurant, I think easy, simple and enjoyable was accomplished! They traveled with #12 of the their guests to Summit County Colorado, staying at a condo in Dillon. After their ceremony overlooking the shores of Lake Dillon, the small party celebrated at a restaurant in Frisco. I can't tell though if Stephanie was more excited about cutting the cake, or the actual cake itself (Chocolate Buttercream was under that white icing - yum!) Planner/Package: Wendee Vezzetti | © Photos: Kathryn Kim Photography  Their StoryKevin and Jennifer met online and were instantly attracted during their first date of Mexican food and go-carting. After meeting, Kevin called his brother and told him "I think I just fell in love with a redhead." At first, Kevin planned to propose on top of a mountain in Zion National Park but once he got the ring, he was too excited to wait. After a workout, he told her he had a present for her and couldn't wait to give it to her, so eagerly in their living room, he proposed and just as eagerly, Jennifer said “yes!”. He later ended up "re-proposing" on the top of the mountain a couple of weeks later.  The Planning ProcessJennifer and Kevin knew they wanted a small wedding because they wanted to celebrate their love intimately with family and close friends. Their goal was to keep the focus on them as a couple and the joining of two people into one, rather than a large event. Before finding Custom Weddings of Colorado, Jennifer and Kevin struggled to find microwedding packages that weren't cookie cutter and corporate. After finding our team, they were able to sit back and relax as Wendee’s organizational skills and experience enabled the couple’s vision to come true. Planning during the COVID-19 pandemic was the only hiccup in the planning process as things were constantly changing as to what was allowed. Our team kept in constant contact to keep the couple’s mind at ease and knowing it would all work out.
Wedding Day from the Bride’s Point of View “The day started off wonderfully with hair and makeup in our resort suite. I got ready in one area of the suite while Kevin got ready in another. We were slightly concerned about the weather since rain was in the forecast, but it seemed to hold off. Our onsite coordinator arrived along with the photographer and we started taking pictures while I was getting ready. Once I was ready, Kevin and I were ready for our first look. I was so happy I decided to do that as it gave us a very special moment to ourselves before anyone else saw us. After that, we headed up to and overlook and began the ceremony. About 10 minutes into the ceremony, there was a VERY large gust of wind and it felt like the sky was going to fall at any minute with rain. But low and behold, it didn't (whew!). We had the most beautiful ceremony (complete with a bald eagle flying in the background) and we continued to take the most beautiful pictures. We then arrived at the Breckenridge Golfcourse and had the best ceremony with the best food and drink I could ask for. Our guests had so much fun as we pretty much had the place to ourselves. All I can say is WOW! The cake was phenomenal, the flowers were breathtakingly beautiful, the photographer was super sweet, and our officiant was a very close family member, so that was an honor for us. We had an incredible team of people on our special day! I am so grateful for how wonderful everything turned out and couldn't have done it without Wendee and her team!” When asked what they would do differently, the couple said, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing, honestly. Our day was perfect!”
The MarriageJennifer and Kevin stress that during the big day, don’t sweat the little things. Focus on the reason for the wedding, your love and your marriage, and let Wendee’s and her team take care of the rest. The secret to a successful marriage? To be patient, to think before you speak, and to put yourself in your spouses’ shoes. Include little things to show your love in your day to day life and have fun with your best friend. Always, always, tell your spouse how much you love them. Planner: Wendee Vezzetti | Photographer: Kathryn Kim Photography Their story: “Our daughters were all in gymnastics and two of them were in the same gymnastics class together. That is where we met and instantly fell in love. I was house hunting and an offer I made on a house was accepted. I eventually told him about it and he knew exactly where the house was, because he owned a house right up the street (which I had no idea). So we became neighbors and best friends. Everything has always been fate between us. Things happen and work out in ways people would never expect." Wedding details: Working with Janine + Brendan was so easy - they wanted to keep it simple and involve their children. So, part of the wedding was to include a family unity sand ceremony, and of course they had to have their special entrance & song. Her sage, pale pink, peach and blue florals were perfect for an early July celebration. The couple and their immediate family stayed at a vacation home in Keystone, Colorado which came complete with a teepee and fire pit in the backyard. After their ceremony, they celebrated with a taco bar back at the vacation house.  Photographer: Andrea Flanagan | Wedding Package: Custom Weddings of Colorado
Their story: "Jason and I were setup by mutual friend. We were both older and had never married, but hoped to find that special person to build a family together. For us, it happened fast! After six months of dating, we found out I was pregnant. We now have a beautiful two-year-old. We love our little family: our motto - "three together!". Wedding details: Jen and Jason contacted us three months prior to the wedding (yes, we can plan a wedding in as little as 5 days, or 5 months)! Breckenridge has always held a special place for them, having visited on family trips. Their priority was a simple, intimate outdoor setting with a scenic background. Family-focused and small: 6 adults, three kids. 
Their story: “John and I actually met online. It was not ideal at first, but now looking back, it was easily the best decision that I ever made :) We both thought we would have a traditional wedding, but looked into possibly doing a destination wedding. I did not expect for it to take off as fast as it did. We chose Colorado, because we both are so in love with nature. We knew that the mountain view was right up our alley!" Wedding details: Melissa and John took our base Intimate Wedding Package and the added several nice upgrades..... which, can we all agree their 3-year old daughter as part of the ceremony was the absolute CUTEST?!!! Whenever we have couples that want to incorporate their children into the wedding, we recommend they exchange vows with kids and give them a little token - piece of jewelry, nice keychain.... any other ideas? A couple of their other upgrades were chairs, floral ceremony arrangements, centerpieces at their dinner, and extending photography hours into the dancing and departures.  Thank you Andrea Flanagan Photography! Photographer: Andrea Flanagan Photography
Their story: "Zack and I both attended Texas A&M and clicked from the beginning. We want a small, destination wedding in Colorado because we want our wedding to be a memorable experience with our families. Zack has been vacationing in Colorado with his family all his life and has always dreamed of getting married there. Colorado is significant to us as a couple as well because we enjoy driving there for vacation with our dogs." Wedding details: Did, they say dogs? It's no wonder why we clicked with Ann + Zach. Though we can incorporate our fur babies in the ceremonies, their pooches stayed home on their own vacation. Pretty colors of plum, cranberry, fuchsia and wine added richness to their wedding style. The cake: too gorgeous to eat, but with flavors of ganache (the top tier that Ann so considerately cut into) and mocha buttercream.... who can resist! 
Their story: "We have been together for 8 years. We met when I was 17 and have been through a year of long distance and college together. We got engaged in Estes Park, CO last August and we love the mountains so we wanted to continue the theme and do a mountain wedding!" Wedding details: Michelle and Trevor traveled from Illinois with 24 of their closest family and friends to marry the Friday before Labor Day weekend. So, her style incorporated a summer-to-fall unstructured transition of deep floral colors: cabernet and navy with droopy greens. They had a wedding party of eight - four on each side, so the bouquets also doubled as centerpieces at their reception-style celebration on the outdoor patio of the Breckenridge Distillery.
Their story: "When we started planning our wedding, I wanted to elope and he wanted a huge party with like 400 people, so this intimate wedding with just our immediate family is the perfect match. We are having a reception back home, so we really are getting the best of both worlds. He loves the mountains and I love lakes so this site really "spoke" to us. We took one of our first big trips to Colorado right after moving-in together, so it holds a special place in our hearts for many reasons and we're excited to "make it official" there." Wedding details: Brianne and Eric traveled from Minnesota with 30 of their closest family and friends. Orange is the groom's favorite color, and hers is purple to match her rockin' shoes! They like clean simplicity. So, we incorporated a more structured bouquet with some white elements, that included dahlias, ranunculus and calla lilies.  The Details
Their story: "We have known each other since middle school, but started our relationship over the past several years. We want a small wedding because we've both been married before and don't want a typical wedding with all the hoopla that goes along with a big wedding. We think Colorado is a beautiful place to get married!" Wedding details: it was very important for our couple to include their combined three kids in the wedding. So, they were involved in all the "first look" activities walking the bride down the aisle, and a special ceremony in which they made commitments together as a family. The bride wore a pale pink dress and wanted florals of pale pinks and ivories with accents of deeper pinks, possibly some plums and greens - we think it turned out romantically sweet! Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Andrea Flanagan Photography Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise Their story: "After meeting online, our first date was at a park to introduce our three dogs. The rest is history! We love the Colorado lifestyle and all the outdoor recreation it affords and feel very fortunate to now call this beautiful state home." From day one, Ashley and Michael were on the same page about wanting an intimate mountaintop ceremony with those closest to them in attendance. We are happy to have found this gorgeous couple to help pull it all together for them! Wedding details: they rented at a large vacation home near Keystone, Colorado, overlooking Lake Dillon and hired a private chef to cook a celebration dinner for their small party of 12 guests. Her bouquet details: a rustic, voluptuous, garden style bouquet in pink, coral, peach, cream hues with accents of blue created with a mix of locally grown garden roses and other seasonal blooms and mixed foliage. Stems finished in rustic “burlap & lace” style. Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Andrea Flanagan Photography Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise Their story: "We met at a Thomas Rhett concert in Lincoln, Nebraska while in college at UNL. Kris went up and asked me to dance and the rest was history. We love our cheesy love story! We decided on a small mountain wedding because we both love the outdoors, being in the mountains and enjoy spending time with close family and friends - they get to know each other and spend time together in a more intimate setting. We plan on having an at-home reception in Nebraska two weeks after our ceremony where we will celebrate with 300 of our family members and friends!" Wedding details: they stayed at a large condo in Keystone, Colorado and decided to have drop-off catering at the condo. This is a fun option for an intimate post-wedding celebration, especially since you can BYO wine! Michelle's color palate of whites with pops of wine, deep pink and lighter pinks, blush, greenery and pops of coral looks amazing with a summer backdrop. With our intimate wedding package, your florals and cake design/flavors are customized to your own unique style. Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Andrea Flanagan Photography Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise Their story: "We met in February of 2013 online - the funny thing is that we could have met in person because Josh was working with the General Contractor working on the remodel of my office at the time - haha! We joke that no matter what, we were supposed to meet! We decided on a small mountain wedding because we wanted something intimate in a pretty setting where we could involve our kids and parents and get away from the City. We love the outdoors and spending time in the mountains, so this seemed right." Wedding details: An intimate and pretty wedding that incorporated their kids (standing up with them during the ceremony + a unity sand ceremony) is exactly what they got. With summertime weddings, fun florals were abound: a summer mix of pinks and purples with accents of ivory, dots of orange & yellow, pretty greens is what Ali requested. Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Andrea Flanagan Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise Their story: "We have known each other since elementary school, but we have been together since 10th grade (since we were 15, almost 12 years!). We are both CO natives, and have always wanted a small wedding, especially since we are paying for everything ourselves. We thought a small, mountain wedding would be perfect! It is very important that we have our very closest family and friends there to celebrate with us." Wedding details: We love hearing stories of couples who have dated a long time and have decided to tie the knot! One of the things that makes this package so great is that you get to have a wedding, without the huge expense of a traditional large event (TheKnot.com reports the average cost is $33,931!). Emily wanted white florals with hints of blush and pink, greenery and succulents. The sweet part: her cake flavors were Couronne (chocolate cake, flavored with coffee liquor, one layer of mocha buttercream, one layer of chocolate buttercream), and Peach Melba (white cake, Grand Marnier flavor, sliced peaches and whipped cream on one layer, raspberry preserve on another layer Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Andrea Flanagan Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise Their story: "We met in Virginia and we are both in the Navy. We decided to elope to Colorado for the scenery and we love the outdoors. We’ve never been to Colorado, and wanted to elope somewhere memorable and have a great time." Just the two of them traveled to Colorado for a pure elopement (they didn't announce it to their families until after their wedding!). Wedding details: We get many clients that have never been to Colorado - we love sharing our beautiful state! After consulting with the bride, we found that Summit County would be a perfect destination for them with hiking, biking, restaurants, and shopping, and more! Victoria's style is shabby-chic with whites, pinks, deep blue accents and greenery. We added-on a floral hair comb to match her bohemian-style ivory-champagne spaghetti strap dress. They choose cake flavors after our own heart's desire: Chocolate ganache (chocolate cake, rum flavor, chocolate mousse encased in ganache) and Peach Melba (white cake, Grand Marnier flavor, sliced peaches and whipped cream on one layer, raspberry preserve on another layer) - ooo-la-la! Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Rebecca Marie Photography Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise Their story: "Adam and I were set up at a Halloween party in 2014 and hit it off right away. Since then, we've traveled the world and have visited places like France, Greece, Iceland and Thailand. Though, we are still your typical Colorado Native hikers and backpackers, which are the things that bonded us." Wedding details: When deciding where to get married, Brittany + Adam considered traveling out-of-state for a destination wedding or to get married in the Colorado mountains that they love. "Obviously the Colorado mountains won as they have such a big piece of our hearts!" We created a small intimate wedding package for them with a ceremony that included chairs for their guests. They lodged in a condo in River Run Village at Keystone resort and hosted a casual dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant We embellished her package just slightly with a bridesmaid bouquet, cake topper, a gluten-free cake. She added personal touches by having her uncle perform the ceremony and having a private first look with her groom. Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Rebecca Marie Photography Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise A surprise engagement AND wedding!Their story: This was one of the most unique weddings we have planned - a surprise engagement followed the next day by a surprise wedding. What?! Yes - the groom and both his/her families were all conspiring a destination surprise wedding trip to Colorado, but the bride did not know a thing about it!
Planning Tip: Though vacation homes are a very attractive option for your small micro-wedding, there are several factors to consider when booking on. We 1,000% recommend that you get approval in writing from the vacation home owner before putting down any kind of money; the the owner does not approve of the event, they can shut it down immediately and keep your money. Again, PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE and be legit when booking a vacation home. Planner: Wendee Vezzetti, Intimate Wedding Package
Photography: Rebecca Marie Photography Florist: Pink Posey Designs Baker: La Patisserie Francaise |
By Wendee VezzettiMother, student, planner, gardener, mountain biker, entrepreneur, librarian, hiker, snowboarder, reader, dork, chocoholic, trail runner and creative. 
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