When to Book Your Colorado Wedding Vendors, and Some of My Favorites

One of the most challenging parts of planning a wedding or elopement in Colorado is curating the vendor team that will bring the vision of your wedding to life. There’s a lot of decisions to be made, and with how many vendor options there are out there it can feel almost impossible to choose between them. Luckily, as an elopement and wedding photographer in Colorado, I’ve had the honor of working with a ton of immensely talented vendors over the years. Knowing these struggles exist, and getting to work with some of the best vendors in the state, I’ve decided to put this guide together to help in your planning process. Let’s take a look at some of the must have vendors for your wedding or elopement, and when to book them!

What to Look for in a Wedding Vendor

Before we fully dive into my list of favorite vendors though, what exactly should you be looking for in a wedding vendor? There are four main things to consider here which are:

• Recommendations
• Reviews
• Your Vision
• Availability

Has the vendor been recommended to you, either by friends or other vendors such as your planner, venue, or photographer? What are their reviews like, and how are past clients talking about their work? Does the information you’ve gotten from recommendations, their reviews, and their website fall in line with the vision you have for your wedding day? Finally, if all else is looking well and good, are they available for your date?

Answering these questions is a surefire way to ensure that the vendor team for your elopement or wedding in Colorado is set to provide the best possible experience for your day! To help with one of the above criteria, let’s finally get into my personal vendor recommendations. All of these vendors are people I’ve personally worked with and loved doing so. They provide an amazing client experience and as such I strongly suggest you look into them!  

Venues

There are a LOT of wedding and elopement venues throughout Colorado that I just adore, and they’re one of the first vendors you’ll want to book for your day! I’m not going to spend too much time on them here though, as I’ve actually already put up a few guides on them! Check out my favorite elopement locations in Colorado here, and for couples looking for intimate wedding venues check out this guide. It’s important to note that you’ll want to book your venue as early as possible in order to have an official wedding date you can give when booking your other vendors. There are some wedding vendors you can book prior to your venue though, such as a…

Wedding Planner

When to Book and Why They’re Great

Like I said, this is one of the most common wedding vendors that couples will book prior to their wedding venue when planning their wedding in Colorado. There’s a good reason for this too, as a wedding planner can be a TON of help when choosing the other vendors for your day! As lucky as I’ve been to get to know and work with other wedding vendors, knowing which vendors to recommend to a couple based on the vision they have for their day is quite literally part of a planner’s job, and they’re VERY good at it! If you want to make your planning process as stress free as possible I cannot recommend a wedding planner enough.

Some of My Favorite Wedding Planners in Colorado

Kaitlin Shea Weddings & Events

Based in Denver, and serving the greater part of Colorado, Kaitlin Shea Weddings & Events is one of my all time favorite wedding planners, and a must include wedding vendor on this list! Kaitlin and her incredible team of colleagues provide their couples with a planning experience that is consistently above and beyond their expectations. No idea is too quirky and no wedding day is too out there, if you have a specific vision for your wedding day let Kaitlin and her team guide you in making it a reality!

A Touch of Bliss

Another one of my favorite wedding planning teams also happens to be based in Denver! A Touch of Bliss is a phenomenal team of wedding experts that are adept in handling any and all aspects of your wedding day. The owner, Adrienne Coffey, has crafted a team of passionate and knowledgeable individuals, each eager to help their couples achieve their wedding and elopement dreams. Whether you want a full wedding planner, day of coordination, or just a little planning assistance, A Touch of Bliss is a Colorado wedding vendor that you’ll definitely want to keep on your radar! 

Rōz Events

The third and final planner on my list is none other than the fabulous Rōz Events! Rōz Events is also based out of Denver, Colorado, and was founded by the incredibly talented Miranda Grubb, a wedding creative that every couple is over the moon to have on their wedding vendor team. Miranda offers an all around phenomenal experience, from wedding planning, to coordination, and everything in between. She has a passionate dedication for bringing her couples’ vision to life in a way that feels luxurious, top of the line, personal, and intentional!

Wedding Florists

When to Book and Why They’re Great

Florists are an integral piece of the puzzle when it comes to crafting both elopements and weddings alike. They’re a wedding vendor that has a ton of pull in the way your celebration in Colorado both looks and feels. Whether you opt for simple, more subtle floral décor, or go all out in your decorating, these florals drastically affect the look of your day in the best way possible!

I generally recommend booking a florist for your wedding or elopement around 6 to 8 months in advance, though like all of the vendors we’ll talk about today, the earlier you book the better!

Some of My Favorite Florists in Colorado

Rowdy Poppy

Our first florist we’ll take a look at is the endlessly talented Kim Zimmerman of Rowdy Poppy! Based in Denver, Colorado, Rowdy Poppy is a micro-farm who balances sustainability with stunning and unique florals. She’s the perfect wedding vendor for anyone looking to minimize the environmental impact of their celebration in Colorado without sacrificing anything in terms of beauty. Kim describes her work as avant-garde, and you can rest assured when booking her that your florals will be raved about by your guests and anyone looking through your wedding album.

Project Floral

Another florist in Denver, Colorado that is always a go-to for me when recommending wedding vendors to my couples is of course the wonderful Project Floral! With over 10 years of experience, and an incredible collaborative process to their work, Project Floral is another premiere florist in the Denver area. The owner Tristin, along with her immeasurably talented team, locally source their flowers to provide couples with gorgeous, luxurious floral designs for their day, all the while paying respect to and protecting mother earth.

Blue Vessel Florista

West of Denver, in the mountains of Leadville, Colorado, we’ll find our next wedding vendor, Blue Vessel Florista! Blue Vessel Florista is guided by their lead florist, Destinee Yudnich, who is able to create some immensely beautiful floral pieces. Whether couples are after huge, show-stopping floral designs, or simple touches to add a dash of color to their wedding day, Blue Vessel Florista can do it all in a way that is always jaw dropping.

Growing Wild

Heading south of Leadville along Highway 24 you’ll come across the lovely town of Buena Vista, Colorado, which is home to an equally lovely wedding vendor. Growing Wild is a flower shop lead by Madison Guy, and with the help of her incredible team, she is able to create intentional florals that precisely match the vision of her couples. Growing Wild has a passion for bringing every couples’ vision to life, both in terms of the florals themselves and with their customizable packages!

Boulder Blooms

To the northwest of Denver is the city of Boulder, which is home to the aptly named florist, Boulder Blooms. With over 20 years of experience under their belt, Boulder Blooms provides their couples with an experience that can only be achieved through years of practice, learning, and constant effort to create the best floral designs possible. These years of effort have paid off in full, as Boulder Blooms gives couples an astounding experience they can only dream of when booking vendors for their Colorado wedding.

Bramble and Bloom

In the town of Crested Butte is where we’ll find the next florist on my list, the amazing Bramble and Bloom. This floral shop specializes in creating custom floral designs meant to precisely match their couples vision no matter how whimsical it may be! I am obsessed with Bramble and Bloom’s designs as they are always breathtaking, hence why they’re a must consider vendor for your wedding or elopement in Colorado.

Carolyn’s Flowers

Next is Carolyn’s Flowers, which is found in the ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado. Carolyn Riley’s business has been operating and providing couples with stunning floral arrangements for over a decade at this point. They’re showing no signs of slowing down either, as it seems with every wedding Carolyn and her team somehow manage to execute their couples vision more perfectly. I don’t even know how that’s possible, all I know is that if you’re looking for a florist that can make any dream a reality, and one who takes your venue into consideration when crafting your florals, then Carolyn’s Flowers has to be on your radar!

Bridal Veil Floral

The final florist on my list of wedding vendors is found in Telluride, Colorado, and that of course is the magical Bridal Veil Floral. Emily Ballou opened Bridal Veil Floral back in 2014 and has since developed her craft to become one of the most talented and inspiring florists in Colorado. Her florals are locally sourced through farms in Telluride, and the strikingly gorgeous, distinct style to her work is part of what keeps me recommending her to my couples. That and the fact that she is just an all around pleasure to work with, and truly takes her couples’ desires into consideration when crafting their arrangements.

Hair and Makeup

When to Book and Why They’re Great

Whether you like to keep your style on the simpler side, or you prefer a more profound approach to your hair and makeup, having a stylist you can trust for your wedding day is something I almost always recommend. Unless you typically do your own hair and makeup, and you want to do so for your wedding or elopement, I can’t overstate how much of a game changer it is to have a talented Colorado hair and makeup artist on your vendor team. 

Much like your florist, you’re going to want to book your hair and makeup artist(s) around 6 months in advance, if not earlier. This gives you plenty of time to work with them and do a trial run or two of the look you’re going for!

Some of My Favorite Hair and Makeup Artists in Colorado

Makeup by Taylor Olson

The first stylist on my list is the fabulous Makeup by Taylor Olson! Taylor and her team are based in Denver, and specialize in makeup styles that accentuate your natural beauty. Her lead up process to your wedding day is wonderfully thorough, ensuring that when your wedding day arrives you absolutely love the look of your makeup! If you’re looking to have separate vendors for your hair and makeup, Taylor is a MUST consider for your wedding day in Colorado.

Moxie Loft

Based out of Telluride, Colorado, Moxie Loft is the first hair stylist on my list, and they are always a wonderful addition to any wedding vendor team! Kylie and her team of stylists have created an incredible reputation over the years through their amazing work, endless integrity, and a client first approach that makes the experience a joy from start to finish. 

A Vow to Artistry

Started in 2017, A Vow to Artistry is a team of traveling hair and makeup artists led by the incredibly talented and passionate Ashley Easton. Ashley and her team thrive with adventurous elopements and wedding experiences. She and her team are able to travel all throughout Colorado, and even across state lines, meaning that no matter where your wedding or elopement is they’re able to be an integral part of your vendor team!

Glammed Up Designs

The next hair and makeup artist on my list, Glammed Up Designs, is owned and operated by the wonderful Mary Rodriguez. Mary and her team are absolute masters of their craft. They provide their clients with an unparalleled experience of beauty, glamor, and an attention to detail that consistently leaves their clients and wedding guests in awe. Based in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, Mary and her team serve the greater Denver area, and are always a joy to have as part of a wedding vendor team!

Wild Brides Backcountry

Another phenomenal option for couples looking to experience the wonder of Colorado on their wedding day, Wild Brides Backcountry are traveling hair and makeup artists that live for the adventure. As the name suggests, Wild Brides Backcountry aims to provide an amazing hair and makeup experience no matter how out there or extreme the celebration happens to be! Crystal and her team are up for anything, and no matter where you plan to have your wedding or elopement in Colorado, you can rest assured that if they’re on your vendor team you’ll look as stunning as the landscapes you find yourself in!

Kim J Beauty

The final hair and makeup artist on my list is none other than Kim J Beauty, a Denver area stylist whose philosophy for her work is a breath of fresh air. Kim and her team fully believe that their work is meant to naturally accentuate the features and beauty of their brides. “I want to make you feel beautiful and become the most naturally romantic version of yourself.” This approach to hair and makeup leaves Kim’s clients looking effortlessly gorgeous throughout their wedding day, in a way that feels totally natural to them.

Personal Chefs

When to Book and Why They’re Great

One of the coolest and most intimate experiences you can have on your elopement day is through booking a personal chef to craft the meal(s) you’ll enjoy as you celebrate your love. It provides such a unique and personal touch to your wedding day that you’re sure to adore. Whether it’s just the two of you, or you plan on having guests attend your elopement/intimate wedding, hiring a personal chef gives the celebration a romantic touch that is just impossible to beat. 

At the bare minimum you’ll want to book a personal chef for your vendor team about 6 to 8 months in advance of your elopement or intimate wedding in Colorado. I do recommend booking one earlier though if you plan to go this route, especially if you have a more popular wedding date. Ideally, as soon as you have a location and your date locked in, start reaching out to book your personal chef to ensure they’re a part of your team!

A Quick Note: For larger weddings you’ll likely work with your venue’s in house catering, or their preferred catering vendors to provide the meal for your day. Some DO allow outside vendors though, so be aware of their requirements if you’re looking to book a personal chef, (and make sure the chef you have in mind serves large celebrations as well!) 

Some of My Favorite Personal Chefs in Colorado

Harvest to Home PCS

Serving Denver, Boulder, Longmont, and the surrounding areas, Harvest to Home Personal Chef Services is one of my favorites to see on any vendor list for a Colorado wedding or elopement! Sourcing their ingredients locally, Jenn and her amazing staff have been providing top notch, custom culinary experiences for couples for over 5 years at this point. The food is always phenomenal, and yet, Jenn is constantly looking for ways to make it even more delicious. This commitment to excellence, and their approach to serving their couples, make for an elopement or micro-wedding experience that is consistently divine!

Crested Butte’s Personal Chefs

Next on the list, Crested Butte’s Personal Chefs serve Crested Butte and the surrounding area with their extraordinary culinary offerings! The owner Dana has been in the food industry for well over two decades at this point, and through those years she and her team have dreamt up some of the most delicious meals I’ve had to date. Dana and her team are able to cater events between 2 to 200 people, meaning that no matter the size of your celebration in Colorado they’re able to be an essential piece of your vendor team! Sourcing their ingredients locally, and creating custom menus for every event, Crested Butte’s Personal Chefs are always out to create the best dining experience for your wedding day!

Terrene Gatherings

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Jess of Terrene Gatherings is a remarkably talented personal chef who specializes in the most intimate settings. Serving up to a maximum of 12 guests, Terrene Gatherings is the real deal when it comes to custom and personal meals. With timeline planning assistance built into her practices, Jess is able to create delicious meals ready for the exact moment you need them for your celebrations. She also provides florals and table décor for your festivities, so you can rely on her to provide an all around phenomenal experience when it comes to the meals and dining of your elopement or micro-wedding!

Colorado Luxe Picnics

One thing I adore about elopements in Colorado is the trend of couples booking vendors to provide a custom picnic experience rather than a personal chef. This is such a fun trend, and perfect for an adventurous elopement! Colorado Luxe Picnics is the first vendor we’ll take a look at that does this, and they do a phenomenal job at it. They provide their elopement couples with a picnic experience that feels strikingly luxurious, and with the large array of add-ons they offer, couples are able to make their picnic feel entirely unique to them. I adore this trend, and Colorado Luxe Picnics is always on my list of recommendations for couples looking to experience the joy of a picnic celebration on their elopement day. 

Aspen Picnic Company

Also on my list for elopement picnic recommendations is the fantastic Aspen Picnic Company. Created by Virginia Frischkorn, the Aspen Picnic Company provides couples with a picnic experience that is completely customizable. Every elopement is a one of a kind celebration, and Virginia aims to accentuate that celebration in a way that is authentic to each and every couple. The Aspen Picnic Company also provides couples with planning assistance, a variety of amenity choices, and more to ensure that every piece of the celebration falls exactly into its correct place!

Photography

When to Book and Why They’re Great

Ok, I may be a tad biased here, but I believe that a photographer is one of, if not the most important vendor you’ll book for your wedding or elopement in Colorado! We’re the ones who document all of your favorite moments from your day so that you can relive them for years and years to come. Additionally, I and many other photographers assist couples throughout the planning process, location scouting, timeline creation, and SO much more. We’re an essential part of the wedding and elopement experience.

I recommend booking your photographer at least a year in advance at the bare minimum. If you can do so sooner I strongly encourage it as our schedules fill out well in advance, especially for popular dates. I also love assisting my couples throughout the planning process, so having extra time to iron out ALL the details of your day allows us to ensure that your celebration is flawless from start to finish.

Colorado Wedding and Elopement Photographer Recommendations

Yours Truly!

You knew this was coming! I’d love nothing more than to document your elopement or micro wedding and be a part of your team of Colorado vendors. To get an idea of what it’s like to work with me, and what eloping in Colorado can look like, check out this article of mine. If you’re set on booking me to document your day be sure to send me an inquiry ASAP through my contact page and we can get your date reserved today!