Venues and Brides

Ellis Ranch has Royalty

2011-04-29T07:16:00.013-06:00

London may have their Royalty but so does the Ellis Ranch Wedding Park. All our brides are Princesses at the Ellis Ranch.

Ellis Ranch Couples Party

2011-04-13T12:54:00.016-06:00

Couples Party - Come join in on the fun.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Arrive any time between
6:00 pm / 9:00 pm * FREE

FOOD – BEER – WINE – MUSIC - FRIENDS - FUN

We work with a great group of wedding vendors and they are helping us honor you, with an exciting and fun evening. Great time to visit with other couples, share ideas, meet the Ellis Ranch staff, Ellis Ranch preferred vendors, sample great food and view their products or services which help you make your wedding beautiful and memorable.

This is not going to be another typical bridal show but a party! There will be a gift for every bride and drawings for some great prizes.

Please join us May 17th with that special person. Bring your Mom and Dad, Bridesmaids along too. Great time to party and find that perfect vendor for your special day.

RSVP: eranch@verinet.com or call 970-593-9570

Ellis Ranch Wedding Park

2011-04-09T19:30:00.008-06:00

Needing a little dose of summer? This video will deliver a wonderful view of how our ranch will look during the summer months. Photography Cody Van Pelt has so kindly put together this beautiful video of the Event Center & Wedding Park and the Carriage House.

For all the couples that toured our ranch this past winter you had to take a leep of faith that the wedding park will once again bloom into beautiful full trees and lush green grass. This video is for you. Thank you for booking with us.

The photographer of this video Photography Cody Van Pelt is one of the Ellis Ranch's Preferred Vendors. Each year we choose eight photographers we feel honored to recommend to our brides and Cody is diffidently one of our top photographers. Still needing a photographer for you wedding? Cody is your man.

For a complete list of Ellis Ranch Preferred Vendors please click on this link - Preferred Vendors

Craig Campbell CD Available April 5, 2011

2011-04-04T19:52:00.000-06:00

Hope you don't mind if I do a little self promoting for my son-in-law Craig Campbell. His debut album will be on the shelves tomorrow April 5, 2011. If you love Country Music you will love this CD. "Family Man" currently on the billboards charts at #14 and rising each week.

Here are a couple of the photos from last nights ACM Awards Red Carpet in Los Vegas. Craig Campbell and Mindy Ellis Campbell.

Beauty at it's best.

2011-03-27T05:44:00.000-06:00

This is the time of year in the wedding business one could say we are also in the March Madness of Weddings playoffs. Brides are playing the game venue VS venue in search of finding the perfect venue to host their most memorable day.

We do book weddings year round but from January thru March seems to be tournament time for brides.

This time of year brings up many problems for venues when trying to show brides how beautiful their venue truly can be. When showing our wedding park this time of year you have to deal with sub zero temps, brown grass, no flowers and barren trees. We once had a groom ask if we planned on removing those dead trees before summer. Evidently he was not from Colorado.

I could go on and on and describe how beautiful our weddings are but think these photos will show you the beauty our past brides saw in their eyes.

Come on in and take tour of our beautiful ranch.

Brides and Venues Choices

2011-03-18T20:05:00.004-06:00

Brides have so many choices nowadays when planning their wedding. They have to choose everything, from the perfect wedding location to what to do if the weather turns bad. I can’t even begin to list all of the decisions a bride will make from the time she is engaged to that special someone to the day of matrimony.

The same goes for wedding locations. We have to make choices daily and yearly to help brides take personal tours of the facility, and to keep the gardens beautiful year-round. One of the hardest decisions I feel we have to make is which magazines and websites to advertise with.

Without the proper advertising and marketing that will drive brides and grooms to our venue, none of the other decisions will exist.

We could use a little help from all brides, mothers of brides or friends helping plan the wedding. Where do you find yourself spending most of your planning time? Looking at magazines or websites? And which ones? If you have a moment, we sure could use some help in making decisions about where to invest our time to be most helpful and accessible to you. Please feel free to comment and tell us which resources you use. Knowing this will help with our marketing, and also help you secure the type of venue that you are looking for.

To thank you for sharing your opinion, we will send you a beautiful custom-made string of pearls. After commenting, please e-mail us your address, so we know where to send the pearls. E-mail info@ellisrancheventcenter.com, with the subject line “Pearls.”

Photos and links to the magazines listed are only examples. If you have another web site or magazine please state those sites too in your comments.

Wedding Sites and Services
Perfect Wedding Guide
The Knot
Bridal Guide

People Places and Things to Love About Loveland, Colorado

2011-02-27T05:22:00.007-07:00

Time is running out to order your personal book about Loveland. For only $20 you will get a life time of memories to give your Mom for Mothers Day. We ordered three and can't wait to have them on our coffee table.

A group of Loveland, Colorado residents and business people who want to share all there is to love about Loveland. The project will focus on one positive person, place or thing each day for 365 days that help make Loveland Colorado, America's Sweetheart City.All Loveland residents are encouraged to send their ideas, photos or stories which they want to be considered for inclusion in the final book.

Mission:To promote Loveland, Colorado, and showcase the stories of the people, places and things that make it a great place to live or visit. All net proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the purchaser's choice at time of purchase.

Products: The 365 day project will culminate in the publishing of a book titled "Loveland 365, the people, places and things that make us America's Sweetheart City." The book is currently estimated to be available by Mother's Day 2011. The book is being ONLY pre-sold until April 1, 2011 at www.Loveland365.com. It is not expected to be available for retail purchase.

Description: "Loveland 365, the people, places and things that make us America's Sweetheart City," is a 365 day project that began January 1st 2010 and recently ended on December 31st 2010. All topics in the book, all writers, all volunteers, all photographers, the printer, and participating organizations are from Loveland. All photographt taken is from 2010. All net proceeds from the sale of the book will be distributed to each purchaser's favorite charity or non profit at the time the book is produced. At the time of purchase, the purchaser chooses which participating charity they want the net proceeds from their book to benefit. The net proceeds from the sales of the books will be determined by the number of books which are sold. With 3,500 books sold, the net proceeds from each book will be $20 per book. If less books are sold, the net proceeds for each book will be less. (read less)
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/Loveland365

Weddings with Pizazz

2011-02-09T04:23:00.009-07:00

Weddings with Pizazz

We host more than 100 weddings per year, and we get so excited when we hear one of our brides talking about a themed wedding.

Weddings entail such a mixed group of family and friends of all ages and personalities. When one of our brides chooses a themed wedding, you know that when the guests arrive, they all get into a totally different mood.

The options are endless: beach/tropical, Western, vintage, music-themed, Mardi Gras, Vegas, Irish. Themes are so much fun to plan.

Our son and his fianceé wanted to go to the beach to get married, but with the cost involved in getting all of their family and friends to a fun, exotic location, they decided to host a beach party for their wedding instead.

They are having a blast together searching for decorations and tasting food that will be different from the normal wedding meal.

Having a theme does not take away from your sacred vows. It only enhances the experience, by allowing you to incorporate more of your individual preferences and style. Weddings, after all, should be a great experience and memories made for a lifetime.

Here is a great site to look at for themed wedding ideas. WeddingThemesIdeas.Net

Also check out Electric Frog for great themed idea: There is a wishlist www.eclecticfrog.com

Bride's Choice Awards

2011-01-29T05:21:00.008-07:00

Bride’s Choice Awards

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, has announced the winners of WeddingWire Brides’s Choice Awards for 2011. We are happy to announce that several of the Ellis Ranch’s Preferred Vendors are among the prestigious group of vendors.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds.

Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park has been honored with this prestigious award. We are also happy to let you know some of the vendors we work with daily are among this fine group of wedding vendors.

• Pastor Manon Weber - Happy Feet Weddings
• Nicole Habel – Image Gallery Photography
• Sarah Lee Welch – Sarah Lee Welch Photography
• Cody VanPelt – Photography by VanPelt
• Shawn Ellis – Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park

These wedding vendors are among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

2011-01-25T11:56:00.015-07:00

We think it is important that you get to know the Ellis Ranch team members who help make your wedding day the most memorable day possible.

The Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park is a family-run business and has been since 1963. We have been very blessed that we have a family who loves to work -- and play -- together.

First, meet Shawn and Kim Ellis. They are the most visible part of our team. Shawn and Kim are Ellis Ranch’s in-house planners. They will be your go-to people during the planning year prior to your wedding. They are available to help make your year and date so without a hitch. They encourage all brides to call and ask them questions on any subject that may arise during the planning. A bride who only calls the week prior to her wedding date makes Shawn and Kim very nervous. Shawn and Kim truly can solve so many problems just by getting a phone call. The day of your wedding, Shawn and Kim also will be around to help make your day run smoothly.

Ellis Ranch is a facility-rental only, giving you the opportunity to plan and manage your wedding day and select the different vendors that best meet your needs. That means our duties are focused, so at any given time during a wedding, someone from our team will always be available to help make your day run smoother.

Being a family-run business, any of us can jump in and do any job that needs done. We don’t have typical employee roles. No “That isn’t my job” or “That’s not my department.” Our family, as a team, is here to make you day stress-free.

Behind the scenes, we have Grandma Norman, who we have to give credit to for all the flowers around the grounds.

Roxie Ellis is our business manager, handling all marketing and bookkeeping. Social media with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogging are Roxie’s specialty.

Terry Ellis is our groundskeeper and in charge of keeping all equipment up and running. He is also the person who harnesses and keeps the horses beautiful for your carriage ride to the altar.

Mike Lowell is our only non-family member, but our family truly feels he is part of our family. Mike has worked with us for more than 10 years. You will see Mike all over the ranch. The day of your wedding, he will be helping you set up your bar. Many days, he drives the horse-drawn carriage.

We are all so excited to meet you. Come on out and take personal tour and meet the family.

Marriage Licenses in the "Sweetheart City"

2011-01-21T17:43:00.011-07:00

Marriage Licenses in the Sweetheart City
Where to Get Your License
Larimer County Clerk's Office
205 E. 6th St, 1st Floor
Loveland, CO 80537
970-679-4526 ~ M-F 8-5

Marriage licenses in Colorado are available at various locations. The $30.00 fee MUST BE PAID IN CASH, and is valid for 30 days. Both parties need to be be present and must sign at the time of filing for a marriage license, and must present valid ID and proof of age.

If either party is divorced, the county will require the date and place of the divorce. The divorce MUST BE FINAL. Widows or widowers need to supply the date and place of death of their former spouse.

The legal age without parental consent is 18 for both persons. For marriages of age 16-17, consent of BOTH parents or parent having legal custody (or guardian or judicial approval) is required.

Blood tests are not required in the state of Colorado.

The license must be used within 30 days of the date of issue, and used only in the State of Colorado. License must be recorded within 60 days of marriage date or a fine will be imposed when recorded.Â The statute DOES NOT allow a friend or relative to solemnize the marriage unless they are either a judge or clergy.

It is best to obtain a copy of your marriage license (or your marriage license application,) to carry with you as proof of marriage for changing your name on your State ID, Driver's License, vehicle registration, insurance documents, and Social Security card. It is best to get your driver's license updated first, as many offices will require documentation and a state ID with your new name before processing a change request.

Thanks My Loveland Wedding and Events for making this information available.

Every Venue has it's own style and grace.

2011-01-12T16:43:00.006-07:00

Every venue has its own style and grace, just like every bride is not the same. When choosing the location for your special day, you need to consider what kind of wedding you are looking at hosting and, more importantly, what kind of bride are you.

Today, couples have so many choices to make when planning their wedding, but the first decision to make is where do you want to have your wedding?

Before you get in your car and start driving around, we would recommend you do a little homework beforehand. With the Internet, you can almost have a your site chosen before leaving the house -- or at least have your options down to three or four.

Here are a few ideas that are important when deciding to book your venue:

1. Be sure not to set a date before viewing several venues. This will take so much stress out of your decision, and you will not have to just settle for a venue because they are the only place with your date available.

2. Ask yourself: What kind of couple are you and what are your needs? Are you hands on? Do you want a wedding that is all-inclusive, formal, outdoors, destination, church or themed? Brides nowadays are very lucky to have the choice.

3. Set a budget. Ask your parents if they plan on helping with the cost and have them specify the amount. That way, if you spend all of the money they plan on giving you on your wedding dress, you know you will have to cover the rest of the costs involved.

4. View several venues before deciding on one. We always recommend that you set an appointment with a venue. This way, the venue will be able to give you undivided attention. Our venue does give showings to drop-ins, but sometimes we have to cut those unscheduled tours short because of other appointments. Always be on time for you appointment.

5. When viewing a venue, take into consideration who will be your go-to person during your year of planning. We have heard many brides say they never know whom they will be talking to during the planning process, often due to employee turnover. This can be very stressful, and many times the wedding day does not go as planned. At the Ellis Ranch, we are family-run. We pride ourselves with more than 47 years of business success and one-on-one customer service.

6. Take into consideration if you have family and friends who will be traveling to your wedding. Does the venue have relationships with area hotels and transportation?

7. You will need many different vendors to help make your day special. A venue comes into contact with more vendors then any other person you will work with during your planning process, so truly listen to their advice. Every venue wants to make your day the best it can. Without happy brides, we will not stay in business very long.

These are seven important considerations to think about before booking your venue. There are many others, as well, which a good venue planner can help you with in order to create your dream wedding.

April and May Specials

2011-01-11T09:20:00.004-07:00

April and May Specials

Still looking for the perfect venue? The Ellis Ranch Event Center and Wedding Park is offering a $500 discount on any new wedding booked on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays during the months of April and May 2011 at the Carriage House and $500 discount for May 2011 at the Event Center.

With our already reasonable pricing this is a huge deal. When you are ready to schedule you private showing please give Shawn a call at: 970-593-9570

Don’t fret there is still plenty time to get all detail planning done. Remember when planning and having problems just pick up the phone and give Shawn and Kim a call they can solve almost any problem with a phone call.

Ellis Ranch Event Center and Wedding Park

2333 Ellis Ranch Lane

Loveland, Colorado 80538

970-593-9570 ellisrancheventcenter@gmail.com

Free String of Swarovski Crystal Pearls

2011-01-02T13:18:00.003-07:00

Free string of Swarovski Crystal Pearls when you schedule a showing at the Ellis Ranch Event Center Wedding Parks. Schedule your show during the Rocky Mountain Bridal Show. Receive the beautiful pearls during your personal showing.
Sunday, Jan. 09, 2011, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Colorado Convention Center - Korbel Ballroom
700 14th St.
Denver, CO 80202

Horse Ranch to Wedding Ranch

2010-12-28T10:24:00.013-07:00

Photo by; Dana Milner

The Ellis Ranch has had many different faces over the years. It has evolved from a “hobby ranch” in 1963, to a thriving horse facility for the next 25 years, to a highly sought-after tourist spot for 13 years. Today, it’s one of Colorado’s favorite places to get married.

Laurence and Loy Ellis purchased the ranch in 1963, after Mr. Ellis had a heart attack and needed to find a new hobby. It’s no wonder Larry had a heart attack; he and Loy owned and managed Ellis Mobile Home and Sales, with lots from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Colfax in Denver. For years, the family enjoyed riding their horses on the ranch and on trails. Terry, their son, began showing horses. From the beginning -- the first year they purchased the ranch -- the Ellises started hosting weddings and events. The Ellises let several friends use the ranch for weddings and hosted many horse shows and gymkhanas.

In 1964, the Ellises bought their first race horse. For several years, other trainers worked with the horse, and the Ellises raced their horse across Colorado and Wyoming. This was the first time my family and I came into contact with Ellises. You see, my father, Harlan Norman, become their jockey, and Terry and I met for the first time in Cheyenne at the races. Terry was 16 years old. And I was only 10. I don’t remember it, but we have the photos.

Many horses were bought and sold throughout the Ellis Ranch years. Dr. Carlton -- the doctor who invented the artificial heart -- bought his first horse from the Ellises. (A curious coincidence, since a heart attack is what brought Larry Ellis to the ranch to begin with.) We have also sold horses to Denver Bronco football players and numerous other high-profile people. If you were looking for a good horse, the Ellis Ranch was the place to go. If Terry and his dad didn’t have the perfect horse for you, they would find one for you. They earned a reputation for being very honest horse-traders.

In 1972, Terry, at the age of 23, decided to take the family’s race horses (as well as other horses) to the race track. For the next two years, Terry trained the horses at the ranch, and when the racing season came, he took to the road. During those two years, Terry received the honor of being named the leading trainer at many tracks.

It was during this time that Terry and I met each other -- again -- in Grand Junction. My father had retired from being a jockey and was training, himself, out of Imperial, Nebraska. I was raised in Nebraska and on horse race tracks. I was what one would call an “exercise girl.” I worked the horses in the morning for their workouts, and then on race day, I was a “pony girl,” who took the jockey and horse to the gate.

The summer of 1974, just before Terry and I were married, his father called us at the track and told Terry that he would need to either come home full time and run the ranch or he planned on selling it. Terry gave that options only a few seconds of thought and told his father we would be home to stay after the summer season of racing.

With the ranch full of show horses, we had to change our direction of action toward showing horses for the public. We decided that all the race horses would still be trained at the ranch, but when they were ready to go the track, we had to find another trainer. For the next several years, we showed horses all over the United States and Canada. Terry was honored with training and showing numerous U.S. and Canadian national champions. With receiving those honors, and with several of the horses being top pedigree stallions, it was time to change our operation from showing horses on the road to opening up a year-round training stable and a “stallion station” at home.

Our love for race horses grew, so we opened up a race-training stable. Here, we got the horses ready for the track. We also now were standing four horses at stud. At this time, we would have as many as 25 horses in training and standing four stallions. Our stallions would service more than 300 mares nationwide through artificial insemination. During the breeding season, it was not uncommon to have more than 200 horses on the ranch at one time. This was before people found a way to freeze the semen and ship it to the mare owners to be inseminated at their own farms. We were raising and selling quality horses all over the world. We even shipped horses overseas.

During the next 10 years or so, we saw Centennial Race Track in Littleton go down and several other horse tracks start up and then go down across the state. While watching this, knowing that many people in the racing industry were leaving the state, we knew that we needed to make some changes. The biggest issue we saw with the race tracks was that they were competing with the entertainment dollar. Horse-racing had to compete with the mountains, tourism, skiing and all the professional athletic teams coming into the state. Those industries seemed to get the most attention by the press. You can’t wake up and not hear a skiing report or what one of the sports teams is doing. Colorado actually still has Arapahoe Park, just east of Aurora. But do you ever hear about racing results? No.

At this time, around 1987, we had one of many family discussions on how we could change with the times. We felt the biggest issue for us was tourism, so the old saying is, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Well, we did -- big time. With Terry always having the dream of raising elk and buffalo, we decided to fence in 260 acres with high-wire fencing and bought some elk and bison. The fence took Terry and another guy one year to put up. We have a lot of rock out west.

In 1988, we turned the ranch into a thriving day guest ranch, entertaining thousands of guests yearly. The ranch offered horseback rides and chuck wagon dinners to view the elk and bison. We hosted numerous weddings, company parties, worked with Front Range Community College and Colorado State University interns. We also hosted an annual Pumpkin Patch and Old Fashioned Christmas event. During the 13 years in the tourist business, we were chosen to be on Colorado Get Away. During this time, the ranch was still boarding more than 50 horses for the public.

Our children even had their own businesses on the ranch: Shawn, as a professional farrier, and Mindy gave hundreds of riding lessons. Our children were so important to our business in the daily operations. They both helped with whatever needed done. Shawn was such a good wagon-master, shoeing all the teams and horses, and Mindy was our entertainment as a singer. Both were guides on our trail rides.

In 2001, Terry and I had a good talk with each other; we were working 13 to 14 hours per day, seven days a week. Even with the business being very successful, we knew it was time for another change. Our son had started his own successful horseshoe business, and it was getting harder and harder for him to help us out. Mindy, our daughter, had gone to Nashville to study the music industry, and after graduating from Belmont University, she wanted to pursue her dreams. That left us without our entertainment. Our kids have always been a big part of life and business. We have to give them much of the credit of our success. We couldn’t have done it without them.

Concerning the elk and bison, the state was fighting the elk industry. They basically wanted us out of the state (you really don’t want to get me started on that issue). Bison were doing great. We had great meat production, along with the tourists, who loved them. But we knew it was going to be an uphill battle getting the public to overcome the idea we were eating Buffy the CU mascot, and we didn’t have enough land to take the part of the business to another level. One evening, we decided that it was time to let go. So we didn’t take another booking and honored the bookings we already had. September of 2001, we had one of the largest private sales in Colorado, selling all of our horses, elk, bison and almost 90 percent of our equipment. We had more than 1,000 people attend our sale.

January of 2004, our son Shawn got seriously hurt shoeing a horse and had to have back surgery. Knowing he had to change careers, we asked him if he wanted to go back to school and what his plans were. His statement was, “I would like to turn the indoor arena in to an event center, where we can host weddings and corporate events again.” We were still boarding horses for the public, but the tourist business was done -- or so we thought!

The summer of 2004, we gave notice to all the horse boarders that they needed to find another stables for their horses. Eight months later, we hosted our first wedding. We are now on our sixth year and host approximately 130 weddings/events in our horse barn. We just opened our second wedding/event venue, “The Carriage House.”

When we were focusing on tourism, we actually did more corporate events then weddings. This time around, the weddings rule. We are host several community fundraisers each year, which are fun and rewarding. Still, one of biggest draws is our horse and carriage, which brings in the brides. We will never be without horses in some form.

Over the years, we also have been instrumental in developing two therapeutic horse-riding programs, and Alternative to Violence. Today all three are running very successfully.

In 2008, we were honored with receiving the honor of being named “Business of the Year.” We have been called Northern Colorado’s leading wedding and event facility, providing our guests with a unique, fun and memorable event. We have heard many guests and clients refer to us as the Wedding Ranch and now use that in our marketing.

In 2013, Ellis Ranch we will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. What an honor!

Photos compliments of Dana Milner Photography.

Value in Preferred Vendors

2010-12-28T06:32:00.018-07:00

Cherished Events
Main Street Catering

Our Preferred Vendor Folder – The Value to Brides

Each year we organize and print a Preferred Vendors Packet that we hand out to each bride that comes for her personal tour at our Wedding Ranch and to brides at Bridal Shows we attend.
Our Preferred Vendor Packet is meant to help guide brides with the many choices they will have to make in the up coming months prior to their special day. When a bride chooses one of our preferred vendors, they will know that they will have a stress free day. All vendors have done a walk-thru and understand the Ellis Ranch rules and regulations. These are vendors who have worked at Ellis Ranch many times.

We could have over 20 vendors in each category but what value would that be?
That would be the yellow pages of vendors, but not necessarily quality vendors.
The Ellis Ranch handpicked each of the vendors in the Packet. Vendors are chosen because they have shown the Ellis Ranch they:

a Top notch in their area of expertise.
b Love what they offer.
c Don’t make the bride worry by showing up late or running out of food.
d Have reasonable pricing.
e Show respect for the Bride and Groom.
f Have an understanding that we are putting our reputation online when recommending them.

The only fee the Ellis Ranch receives from each vendor is a fee to help with the print work of this packet.

The next time you visit a venue with a preferred vendor packet, take the venues advice and hire one their Preferred Vendors from their packet. If the venue has an unlimited number of vendors on their website or venue folder, you will have to do more research to find a quality and reliable vendor.

Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Parks

Why Get Married in Loveland

2010-12-25T19:29:00.009-07:00

Why Get Married in Loveland?

Known affectionately as "The Sweetheart City,"
Loveland, Colorado offers many treats to the wedding couple.

In this day and age when you can hop on a plane and be married anywhere in the world, why would you choose Loveland Colorado? Maybe it’s because you love the idea that your marriage license will read, “'The Sweetheart City' Loveland Colorado”.

Maybe it’s all the friendly people you met when you vacationed here as a child. Perhaps you have seen our gorgeous lake in the middle of town with the majestic Rockies as a backdrop, or you know that a honeymoon in the inspiring Rocky Mountains is only a short drive away (that's why we're known as "The Gateway to the Rockies".

If you love bronze sculptures, then you already know that Loveland is world-renowned for our art and hosts the largest outdoor sculpture show in the world. We have adorned many of our parks and businesses with beautiful works of art, it's hard to go anywhere in town without seeing it. Loveland has 13½ miles of paved trails including a delightful section that follows the Big Thompson River as it winds its way through town. Between our 27 public parks, dozens of lakes secluded or populated with picnic areas, and romantic venues, Loveland offers many scenic locations for places to get married as well as a host of photographic opportunities.

Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a small town with the amenities of a bigger city. We are only 50 miles north of the hustle and bustle of Denver and just minutes from Fort Collins or Greeley. The Loveland Wedding Professionals have the experience needed to provide you with the stress free and enjoyable day you deserve.

Why choose Loveland for your wedding? The country! We have a dude ranch for all you cowboys at heart. (It was also the place where “The Bachelor” contestant, Noelle Drake, took Matt Grant to meet her parents.) Camping and hiking, boating and fishing are only moments away. Where else can you combine the romance of a wedding with the practicality of an adventurous honeymoon?

The city! Tour one of our bronze foundries or visit the many art galleries in town. Shopping for ladies and gents alike is waiting for you in historic downtown Loveland, the outlets, and the lifestyle malls. If golfing is on your agenda Loveland has three great courses including Marianna Butte, designated a 4½ star course by Golf Digest magazine. Do you love music? The city of Loveland sponsors a series of free concerts throughout the summer as well as a Cherry Pie Festival. The local chamber of commerce organizes a Corn Roast Festival every August.

Special Valentines Opportunities! If all that isn’t enough to get you thinking about Loveland for your wedding try this: Every year we hand stamp and mail over 200,000 valentines with the Loveland “Sweetheart City” postmark. Send out your wedding invitations before Valentines Day, and it can include our Valentine Cachet printed on the envelope. Then have a heart hung around town with your names and wedding date. And don't forget our annual Valentine Balloon Rally - get married at 150 feet!

Bikers! We can't forget the annual Thunder in the Rockies motorcycle event. Do the two of you share a passion for riding? Get married at the Rally or anywhere in town - our Loveland Wedding Professionals have the experience you need to make it fun, casual, and still the wedding of your dreams.

Where else can you find an entire city with that much love and romance in their hearts, waiting to share it with you?

This post can also be found on the My Loveland Wedding web site.

http://www.mylovelandwedding.com
Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park

The thing about contracts: They’re contracts.

2010-12-09T18:55:00.008-07:00

Contracts are written for a purpose and truly do work best for everyone involved. However, contracts must be one of the hardest and most emotional subjects for venues concerning weddings or any business, for that matter.

When a couple gets engaged, they are so excited and in love that they sometimes think with their hearts. They are entering into a lifelong agreement with each other -- as well as shorter-term agreements with the various vendors that help them celebrate their love.

Just like a commitment of lifelong love, signing contracts with a venue should not be taken lightly. Remember when signing a contact with anyone that it means you have agreed with their policies and are legally bound to that agreement.

Contracts are written so everyone involved with an event has an understanding of what to expect.

Occasionally, couples think nothing of signing a contract and calling a few weeks later wanting out. After a contract is signed, that date goes off the calendar for any future bride. Following a cancellation, it is often too late for another couple to book with us; they have moved on either to another date or to another venue.

Couples and their parents might not understand that a vendor actually loses money every time there is a cancellation. We are not making money if we have an open date.

Before signing a contract with anyone, we recommend all parties read the entire contract word for word. If you don’t understand a paragraph, ask the vendor to explain. We have always made a point to explain our cancellation policy and to make sure everyone involved understands.

Think of it like this: You can’t buy a car and a month later say, “I don’t want this car anymore, so I want my money back.” Don’t taint your beautiful wedding day with ugly actions.

Where has all the e-mail gone?

2010-12-09T18:48:00.005-07:00

Have you ever e-mailed a venue and never received an e-mail back?

There could be several reasons why:
1. The venue’s e-mail server could be down.
2. Your e-mail could have gone to their spam folder.
3. You could have typed the wrong e-mail address.

I do understand that this does happen, and it happens often, especially with spam folders. I’m not sure if it is our e-mail settings, security programs or something else, but I know I need to check my spam folder at least every other day. It amazes me how many requests for prices I find there. If you happen to not get a response from a vendor within a 24-hour period, please send another e-mail or give them a call.

Leaving a voice message works the same way. Things happen with phone messages, too. The venue may not be able to understand the message, or you might have given the phone number too fast. Sometimes the vendor accidentally clicks delete.

There are businesses out there that don’t return calls or e-mail within a proper time frame, which I think is a 24-hour period. Try to contact one more time, and then move on. After all, who wants to do business with a company that doesn’t take care of business?

Arriving to the alter with elegance and uniqueness.

2010-11-25T14:48:00.018-07:00

A horse-drawn carriage brings magic to a wedding. You could say I’m a little biased since I have been blessed to have raised horses my entire life, but I can’t imagine them not a part of every bride’s ceremony.

Let’s start with the history of the carriage to truly understand the its significance and how it relates to weddings. While researching, I found a great site, Trevi Carriages (www.trevicarriages.com), which explained the history so beautifully that I wanted to share it with you.

(History as given by Trevi Carriages)
Weddings are extraordinarily beautiful and magical celebrations, which involve a lot of traditions and customs. Traditionally, wedding coaches taking bride to the altar were harnessed with three horses, because horses bring luck and the sound of hooves clanging promises a happy and prosperous life to the married couple.

By ordering the wedding carriage, you'll indulge yourself in beauty and nobility, luxury and comfort. The wedding carriage will emphasize the elegance and uniqueness.

Ellis Ranch hosts about 100 to 130 weddings per year, and 95 percent of those brides choose to have the carriage bring them to the altar to say the sacred vows.

When we run into guests who have attended one of the weddings held at our ranch, we ask them what they remembered the most. They all typically say that the carriage and the horses that brought the bride over the hill to the gazebo had to be the most breathtaking thing they had ever seen, and they will always remember it. So maybe I’m not that biased, after all.

We coordinate carriages for many weddings, and yet I still get tears in my eyes when I see the carriage -- every time.

Cost of Undoing and Redoing

2010-11-20T06:26:00.007-07:00

Cost of Undoing and Redoing

I was reading Adrienne Zoble's Marketing Newsletter and one of her comments inspired me to write this blog.

Planning a wedding can be very exciting and stressful. Making the right decisions with vendor selections can be very confusing. It’s often difficult to find the right photographer, caterer, venue, officiate, etc. at a reasonable price that won’t later make you regret your decision. There are no do-overs when it comes to a wedding!!!

I know with the way the economy is many brides are trying to save money by doing so much of the wedding themselves. In some cases that is ok, but on the most part after their wedding day has come and gone they look back and wish they could undo many of the decisions they made.

When planning your wedding take your time and search out professionals in each category of your planning such as; caters, photographers, venues, wedding planner, florist, ect. Don’t only rely on yourself with your wedding planning. The vendors are pros in their category and can and will pass along many ideas and savings. I would suggest to first start with a venue. Ask them for a list of preferred vendors they feel will help you make educated and wise decisions.

I have learned in owning a venue and owning my own business for many years that I can’t do everything by myself. When I have, I often find myself redoing, costing me more money and time then planned.

In some cases you can redo some things and the only thing it did was cost you money but concerning your wedding there truly is no undoing and redoing. Once the date comes and goes there is no redoing. So we can’t say it enough…. take your time and visit with many vendors and I’m sure you will make the right decision for your prefect romantic day.

List of Ellis Ranch Preferred Vendors.
http:///www.ellisrancheventcenter.com
http://www.azobleassoc.com
Check Adrienne's blog on marketing, it was my inspiration to write this blog.

Decorating Ideas with Cherished Events

2010-11-14T05:01:00.017-07:00

At the Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park we like working and recommending highly qualified vendors to our brides and if you are looking at having some decorating done please check out Cherished Events.

Cherished Events “ Your One Stop Shop” . Planning a
successful event requires experience, time, quality products,
creativity and people. Cherished Events is proud to offer a
wide selection of high quality rentals and unsurpassed
customer service. For more than 8 years we have built our
reputation as one of the best rental companies with the best
creative team in Northern Colorado.
At Cherished Events we believe every event is an extension
of your dream and our creative reputation. We understand
the need for affordable pricing without losing quality service
or quality products. Our goal is to match your budget and
maintain your dream with innovative creative event design.

~Free One-Hour consultation

~Special Décor & Rental packages designed
around your budget

~Coverage area includes most Colorado and
Southern Wyoming areas
Scheduling your Free Consultation
Whether your event is small or large you can be assured Cherished
Events will treat your event as special as it is to you. We strive to
provide you an event that is stress free and all around enjoyable.
So call us first when planning an outdoor or indoor event, barbecue,
graduation party, anniversary, wedding or reception, grand opening,
holiday party, or corporate function. Our experienced team is here
to help. Call 970-590-4088
Come Visit Our Showroom for

~Artistic Wedding Structures

~Table Decor & Floral

~Lighting Effects & Fabric Draping

~Creative Ceiling Treatments

~Linens & Speciality Fabrics

~Event basics: Tables, Chairs,
Dinnerware, Glassware, Catering
equipment

~Decoration Services & more......

Talk with your Venue

2010-10-30T05:14:00.019-06:00

Talk with your Venue

We have been hosting weddings for years now and it still surprises me when brides choose a facility and they do not use the resources the venue has to offer the bride.

Venues that host weddings or events come into contact with every vendor that a couple will need in planning the perfect day. I would think the venue would be the first place a bride would call

for recommendations and advise on hiring photographers, caters, videographers, florist, decorators, hair dressers, hotels, ect. The list is very long and sometimes over whelming for most brides.

Venues can save you time, money and help you have a stress free wedding. Most venues give you a list of vendors they recommend. Venues don’t take recommending lightly. When recommending a vendor and the vendor does not pull thru with perfect service it is a reflection on them.

Give your venue a call today; they are there to help!

Vendor of the Week

2010-10-22T05:20:00.010-06:00

Colorado Wedding Professionals

"In The Sweetheart City" Loveland, Colorado

Looking for a wedding destination that has the services you need to help you create the wedding day you have always envisioned? Have you dreamed of a mountain wedding? A wedding ceremony by the water or in a park? A reception in a beautiful garden or an elegant ballroom? This is it, the beautiful Sweetheart City of Loveland, Colorado!

The Loveland Wedding Professionals have a common goal:

To provide you with an elegant, stress-free, and fun wedding experience you will always remember.

On this site, you will find the services you need to create a fantastic wedding. Each member of the Loveland Wedding Professionals must meet high standards before being accepted into the organization. They each have a solid reputation and provide excellent customer service. It is also important to note that while these wedding professionals primarily serve the Loveland, Berthoud and Masonville, Colorado areas, many also travel to the nearby cities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Greeley, and Longmont, as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Look around this site to find hand-picked vendors sure to please. Our vendors cover all of the services you'll need, including wedding ceremony services such as ministers and romantic locations, reception services such as catering , disc jockeys, wedding invitations, jewelry, decorators, photographers, videographers, and more. We only accept the best to make sure your wedding day is one you’ll be happy to remember for a lifetime!

Most of our members have worked together for several years. They have developed the rapport to create seamless and fun events so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day.

P.S. Loveland is also a great place for a family vacation. Be sure to ask our members about the wonderful activities your family and friends can enjoy the week before or after your wedding.

http://www.lovelandweddingprofessionals.com
http://ellisrancheventcenter.com

Hiring a cater VS self-catering.

2010-10-19T15:07:00.005-06:00

Hiring a Cater VS Self - Catering. Which is the best choice?

Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park is a facility rental only, facility rental only means that we allow self - catering. There are pros and cons on self - catering.

Sometimes self - catering saves you money and then sometimes it can cost you more money and more head ache than it is really worth. By the time you rent all the equipment needed, all the left over food, stress and clean up, you may wish later that you had just hired a professional caterer. You also have to consider the liability involved with self-catering.

We have seen Mothers sweating in their beautiful gown, crying minutes before the wedding trying to get everything ready for the reception instead of being in the dressing room with their daughter and having a good time.

Most caterers can customize menus and generally design a fit to meet budget and style. They take the stress out of your day. This is a time to celebrate not work. If you still feel self-catering is the way you want to go for your wedding you should always do a walk thru with the facility prior to your wedding date. They can show you where and how many plug-ins they have for roasters, where you can do the food preparations, clean up requirements, where and how you need to set up the food line. Every venue has rules and regulations to follow. If organized properly and kept simple self catering can work for the right family.

Recommended caters in the Loveland, Co area:

http://www.albertpitbbq.com/
http://www.b-b-q-bobs.com/
http://www.rmrcolorado.com
http://www.dorothyscatering.com
http://www.sweetheartcitysmokers.com
http://www.michaelsplumcatering.com
http://www.carterscreativecatering.com