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Colorado Rooftop Wedding

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Colorado Rooftop Wedding

Aubrey + Leif

Denver, Colorado
- 07/03/2016
Total wedding budget $9,000
blue shoes
white and soft green bouquet
bride getting ready
bride getting ready
groom getting ready
groom getting ready
blue bridesmaid dresses
first look
outdoor wedding
wedding processional
rooftop wedding ceremony
rooftop wedding ceremony
rooftop wedding ceremony
rooftop wedding ceremony
first kiss
wedding recessional
rooftop wedding
invitation suite
rooftop wedding reception
rooftop wedding reception
rooftop wedding reception
rooftop wedding reception
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
blue and white wedding decor
DIY wedding bar
ring shots
rooftop wedding decor
first dance
sparkler get away

What was your budget?

We spent about $9,000 on our wedding:

  • Dress: $300 (I purchased a pre-loved dress)
  • Catering: $2500
  • Ice Cream Sandwiches: $150
  • Calligraphy: $50
  • Invites: $250
  • Venue: $1500
  • Flowers: $500
  • Music: $1500
  • Rentals: $800
  • The rest of our budget was spent on photography and miscellaneous expenses.

How many guests did you have?

We had 104 guests.

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

My husband’s children were part of the ceremony and we tried to add items that would include their participation and honor our beginning as a new family unit.  My husband’s 5-year-old declared that he wanted to be a “Knight” after getting edged out of the ring bearer spot by his older brother, so we had a Knight, complete with costume and sword at our wedding. We also had a seed planting ceremony using a butterfly tree because the kids collected monarch eggs and hatched them every summer/fall with their father. Our rings were carried in a hollowed-out geode because Leif’s 10 yr old son liked to collect them.  

Did you do any DIY projects or create any handmade items for your weddings?

We had a personalized “Coat of Arms” banner created by my dear friend for our Little Knight to carry down the aisle. We also used a friend of a friend to create our floral decor and table decorations, which saved us $1000’s in floral design. They turned out beautifully.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

Through the help of my wedding planner, Laura Pearson, at L Elizabeth Events, we were able to save a significant amount on our wedding site.  She helped us locate a nontraditional, rooftop venue that was about 2/3’s less than the going venue. That was significant savings for us right there! Also, we went with a food truck vs. a traditional caterer which was more within our budget. It is definitely less formal and the timing can be a bit tricky if you have a large number of guests but overall, people really loved the food and the relaxed vibe.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Don’t compromise on the things that are most important to you but know that not everything has to be as expensive as it seems.  If you think outside the box and are willing to choose some non-traditional routes, not only will you have a more personalized wedding, you’ll be able to breathe easy when it’s all said and done knowing you won’t be paying off your wedding like a second student loan!

What was your biggest splurge?

We really tried hard to stay within our budget—it was more like the spending leaks that starting to spring up as we got closer, where we were in the mindset of, “Well, we’ve already spent THIS much, what’s another $50 here or $75 there” Well, those little “splurges” can rack up easily so, plan your budget, know where you’re willing to spend more, and stick to the rest as closely as possible!

What was your favorite detail?

My french blue shoes under my fabulous wedding dress!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

The sun setting behind the mountains and the sparkle of the city skyline from our rooftop vantage point and being surrounded by the most important people in our life and embarking upon the biggest and grandest adventure yet of our lives!

VENDORS

Photography: Doug Treiber Photography • Venue: Battery 621 • Flowers + Calligraphy: Annalisa Ryle (no website) • Event Styling and Wedding Planner: L Elizabeth Events • Stationery: Lexisworks • Catering: East Coast Joe’s Food Truck • Bakery: Peteybird Ice Cream Sandwiches • Rentals: Butler Rents • DJ + Lighting: Skyline Productions • Transportation: Uber • Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist: Glamour Bar • Bartender: Elaborate Bartender • Bridesmaids Dresses: Etsy • Wedding Gown Designer: La Sposa • Veil and Jewelry: Etsy • Shoes: Nina via Nordstrom • Groom and Groomsmen Attire: J Ferrar via JC Penney • Ties: The Tie Bar • Men’s Shoes: Sperry