Why Hiring Local Vendors for Your Colorado Destination Wedding is a Must<br/><br/><br/>

Planning a destination wedding in the stunning state of Colorado is a dream come true, right? But let me tell you, choosing the right vendors can make or break your day.

As a local wedding planner with roots that run deep in Colorado, I'm here to advocate for local businesses. From the best hiking trails to the hidden gems for your ceremony, I've got you covered.

I was born in Colorado in 1995, making me the 6th generation born to the western slope since the late 1800’s! On a recent venue tour at Gold Mountain Ranch overlooking the small town of Ouray, I was able to point out to my couple different buildings by name… I graduated here, my daughter was born here, I started my business here. When I say I am “local” I mean local.

When you hire local vendors, you're not just getting their expertise; you're tapping into a wealth of insider knowledge. They know the nooks and crannies of this portion of Colorado and will know the best times to see nature at its peak.

I know this area. I know the local restaurants that allow welcome or rehearsal parties (and the owner’s kid’s names), what Ouray looks like in April if you’re wanting an outdoor wedding, and which hotels allow room blocks in our small towns, and which ones don’t. The benefit of hiring locally too, is if I don’t already know, I can literally walk in the door and talk to the owner and get their firsthand opinion on the matter. Your photographer can drive up the road to see if the county has opened it for the year and your chef can let you know what’s already in season! It's like having your own personal guide to Colorado!

If you want an outdoor, micro-wedding in the middle of the mountains and need a cool lake - Sam Murch, Julien Kibler or Sarah Hall may be the perfect photographer for you!
Need a Jeeping company that can get you to that off road ceremony site? Let’s call Switzerland of America Jeeps!
Looking for a private chef that can do dinner for 16 people? “Hi, Rolling Fork Food truck, what’s your availability for the 20th?”
In other words, if you're looking for a truly local wedding experience, hiring local vendors can give you a huge advantage!
If you want and outdoor wedding in late spring in Colorado, we can make that happen, and can help you find the *where*.

I recently had a couple send me an image of a spot they thought looked beautiful for their ceremony, and from a picture, I was able to narrow down the spot. For their guest count, the time of year and what they are hoping to have unfortunately meant that spot would not work for them, but we were able to figure that out well in advance as I was able to drive there!

Because I have lived on the Western Slope of Colorado my whole life, I know about what time of year certain areas can be accessed, if we even risk going past a “National Forest” Sign in early summer for a wedding, or if we are at an elevation that should be good!

If you hire a local photographer, together we can figure it out! This is not to say Denver, Dallas, Cali… photographers don’t do an amazing job, this simply means they don’t know the area. If you have found your dream location for a wedding, that in the middle of summer is surrounded by wildflowers and has a rushing waterfall but are looking to have an October wedding, that site may not even be accessible! The waterfall that’s roaring in July will most likely be nothing more than a trickle by mid-August. And the road to get to that location, eeek!!

We all want to work in the mountains of Colorado- they are gorgeous! But if you hire vendors who are unfamiliar with the road conditions, weather patterns, and accessibility you could very well be setting yourself up for a more stressful day than you bargained for!

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