Danielle & Salim's Stress-Free Sunrise Amphitheater Wedding

6/25/2023

Let’s be honest: planning a massive wedding with hundreds of guests can easily turn into a part-time job! The seating charts alone are enough to make you want to elope. Danielle and Salim totally agreed. Instead of losing sleep over napkin rings and plus-ones, they chose a smarter route. They opted for a simple, gorgeous, and deeply personal Colorado micro-wedding. With just 17 of their closest family members and friends, they pulled off an unforgettable Sunrise Amphitheater wedding in Boulder, Colorado. It had all the magic of a traditional wedding, zero of the typical stress, and plenty of spectacular mountain views. Here is a look at exactly how they did it.

Their Story: “We both work from home and are currently in school. My cousin introduced us about 3 years ago and we love to travel. We got engaged April 2022 in San Diego, California. We don't want the stress of planning of big wedding so decided to have something small and intimate.”

When it came time to plan the big day, they knew exactly what they didn't want. They wanted absolutely no part in the stress of planning a massive, chaotic event. Instead, they envisioned an intimate celebration focused on what actually matters: marrying your best friend and eating great cake.

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Planning Process: Keeping it Simple. Danielle and Salim reached out to us just four months before their June 2023 wedding date. Four months might sound like a wildly short timeline for a traditional wedding, but for a micro-wedding? It is plenty of time. We kicked things off with our customized Ceremony Site Report. This is our favorite way to match couples with affordable, scenic outdoor venues that fit their exact vibe and budget. Danielle and Salim gave us a very clear list of priorities for their big day.
They wanted a venue that checked the following boxes:

Stunning mountain views
Nearby lodging for guests
A dog-friendly environment
Incredible photography opportunities
Built-in seating for guests
An onsite coordinator to herd the cats (aka manage the timeline)

We looked at their list and knew exactly what to recommend. A Sunrise Amphitheater wedding was the absolute perfect fit.

The Venue: Why Choose a Sunrise Amphitheater Wedding?

If you want a location that does the heavy lifting for your wedding decor, Sunrise Amphitheater is it. Located on Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, this venue offers sweeping, panoramic views of the city and the surrounding plains.

It is constructed entirely out of natural stone, which means it blends perfectly into the rustic Colorado landscape. The built-in stone benches naturally solved the couple's seating requirement, saving them the hassle and cost of renting chairs.

Plus, it is incredibly accessible. Flying into Denver International Airport and driving up to Boulder is a breeze for out-of-town guests. You get the rugged, remote mountain feel without making your grandparents hike three miles up a dirt trail.

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The Micro-Wedding Day Timeline

Danielle and Salim’s June wedding day was the perfect mix of private moments and shared celebrations. Having a micro-wedding allowed them to actually spend time with their 17 guests, rather than just briefly waving at them across a crowded ballroom.

Getting Ready and the First Look. The day started with a relaxed morning of getting ready. Rachel with Wise Artistry handled the bridal preparations, making sure Danielle looked absolutely flawless. Instead of waiting for the aisle, the couple chose to do a private "First Look" at Chautauqua Park. This gave them a quiet, emotional moment completely to themselves. Afterward, they headed up to the incredibly scenic Lost Gulch Overlook for some jaw-dropping couples portraits with photographer Andrea Flanagan.

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The Ceremony. As the 17 guests arrived at the amphitheater, Salim waited at the stone altar with the officiant, who was a close family member. Danielle made her grand entrance escorted by her father. She walked down the aisle to a beautiful piano cover of "Can’t Help Falling in Love" by Francesco Parrino. After exchanging their vows and sealing the deal with a kiss, the newlyweds celebrated their exit to an upbeat piano rendition of "Here Comes the Sun." The music literally echoed softly through the surrounding Flatirons.

The Reception: Fine Dining Under the Colorado Sky

After wrapping up group photos at the amphitheater, the wedding party took a short trip over to the Flagstaff House Restaurant. This iconic Boulder restaurant is known for its incredible food and unmatched mountain views.

They kicked off the celebrations on the outdoor patio with a ceremonial cake cutting. The rest of the evening was spent in the Vintner's Room enjoying a seated dinner. Family members gave touching, hilarious speeches that brought both tears and laughter to the table. It was the perfect way to wrap up a four-hour wedding package. No rigid schedules, no forced dancing—just great food, great company, and a lot of love.

The end of photography and coordination that day did not signify the end of memories; instead, it marked the beautiful beginning of Danielle and Salim's journey together—captured in time, surrounded by closest friends and family, and nestled in the embrace of the majestic Flatirons. [Informational details: this was a four-hour package, 19 people, with an overall budget of $12,000 - reach out to Wendee to book yours today.]

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The Details: Florals, Cake, and Budget Breakdown

You do not need to spend a fortune to have a beautiful wedding. Danielle and Salim kept things elegant, minimal, and budget-friendly.

Minimalist Florals. The floral arrangements, designed by Stefanie Hofmeister, leaned into a simple, sophisticated style. Instead of bright, flashy colors, they stuck to a serene palette of crisp whites and lush greens. The groom’s boutonniere perfectly matched the bride’s bouquet and the floral garnishes on the cake.

The Cake. La Patisserie Francaise delivered a stunning two-tiered cake with a modern horizontal texture. The top tier featured white cake with lightly sweetened whipped cream. The bottom tier was a decadent mix of white cake, raspberry preserves, and white chocolate mousse.

Budget and Vendor Breakdown. Transparency is our favorite policy. Here is exactly what Danielle and Salim's 19-person Sunrise Amphitheater wedding looked like on paper:

Overall Budget: $12,000
Package Type: Four-hour All-Inclusive Small Wedding Package
Included Vendors: Andrea Flanagan (Photography), Stefanie Hofmeister (Florals), La Patisserie Francaise (Cake), Onsite Coordination are INCLUDED in the package.
Outside Expenses: Hair & makeup (Wise Artistry), venue rental (Sunrise Amphitheater), dinner (Flagstaff House), lodging (Hyatt Place Boulder), attire, and travel.

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Ready to plan your own micro-wedding?

Danielle and Salim proved that you can have a breathtaking, memorable wedding without the massive price tag or the planning headaches. If their Sunrise Amphitheater wedding sounds like your kind of vibe, we are here to help. Reach out today, and let's start finding the perfect scenic mountain venue for your intimate Colorado celebration. We promise to keep it fun, simple, and completely focused on you.

More photos from their Boulder, Colorado micro-wedding:

Small Wedding Packages

If you are interested in a scenic, all inclusive micro-wedding package in central Colorado, 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. 🎉

All-inclusive Small Wedding Package: www.CustomWeddingsoColorado.com, inclusive of planning, florals, cake, photography and onsite coordination. Contact Wendee to get started.
Package inclusions: Photographer: Andrea Flanagan Photography | Florals: Stefanie Hofmeister | Baker: La Patisserie Francaise | Officiant: BYO Officiant
Items to budget outside of the package: Hair & Makeup: Rachel with Wise Artistry | Venue: Sunrsie Amphitheater in Boulder, Colorado | Dinner: Flagstaff House Restaurant, Vinter's Room | Lodging: Hyatt Place in Boulder, Colorado | Couples also need to budget for travel expenses, attire, rings and marriage license.