Blog Posts

Our 4 Favorite Downtown Denver Wedding Venues

3/26/2024

Parlur Denver

Are you tying the knot in the Mile-High City? These four downtown Denver wedding venues are unbeatable for style, service, and proximity to the top attractions. As Colorado wedding planners, we’ve been honored to work at Denver’s hottest venues and locales throughout the Front Range. Keep reading to discover our favorites and find your perfect fit!

Top Downtown Denver Wedding Venues

The Oxford Hotel

The historic Oxford Hotel is a downtown Denver landmark. It has welcomed guests since 1891 to its convenient location within walking distance of Union Station, 16th Street Mall, and Larimer Square! The hotel’s classical décor, housed in a quaint brick building, and unparalleled service whisk you away into the past. It’s the perfect venue for a timeless wedding infused with old-world charm.

The hotel has hosted weddings for over a century and has an in-house team of coordinators ready to bring your dream wedding to life. You can choose from three in-house venues, the Grand Ballroom, Oxford Theater, and Sage Room, ready to host everything from a majestic ballroom affair to an intimate soirée. Moreover, you can host your wedding guests at the hotel in its luxurious rooms and suites, ensuring a simple, stress-free planning experience.

Parlur Denver

Located in Denver’s famed 16th Street Mall, Parlur blends elegance and comfort to form the ultimate private event space. With hardwood floors and crystalline chandeliers hanging from wood-beamed ceilings, Parlur is warm and sophisticated but with plenty of flexibility to make it your own. Whether you host an upscale affair or a down-to-earth party, it’s the perfect place to gather with loved ones.

Parlur boasts over 7,000 square feet of space and can accommodate up to 750(!) reception guests. So, if you’ve always dreamed of an over-the-top wedding celebrating with everyone you know, this is your perfect venue! However, Parlur also has a unique, intimate atmosphere intended to evoke the feeling of gathering at home. It’s equally suitable for hosting a micro-wedding, engagement party, or rehearsal dinner.

Ironworks

For an industrial-chic downtown Denver wedding, look no further than Ironworks! This historic venue in the heart of Denver used to be a steel mill and is now a thriving private event space. With brick walls, an ornate staircase, and a one-of-a-kind embossed tin ceiling, it’s undeniably elegant with a dash of urban cool. Plus, there’s over 6,900 feet of space for hosting a wedding of any size.

Several distinct spaces comprise Ironworks, including a large banquet hall, mezzanine (perfect for photos!), VIP room, full bar, and kitchen. The floor plan is open to allow guests to flow easily from one space to another. In addition, the patio on the venue’s east side can accommodate up to 40 guests for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour overlooking downtown Denver!

Clock Tower

You’ll enjoy a birds-eye view of the Mile-High City at Clock Tower, an elegant, cosmopolitan wedding venue atop the historic Daniels & Fisher Tower. The tower’s top five floors comprise this unique venue connected by staircases. Two floors boast a wrap-around balcony, providing a 360° view of Denver and the Rocky Mountains! Appointed with modern décor throughout, it’s a venue that truly celebrates the city.

Clock Tower is the perfect venue for an intimate wedding. It can accommodate up to 50 guests for a ceremony and up to 75 for a reception. Moreover, it’s ideal for busy couples who don’t want to spend significant time planning their wedding. The venue owners have embraced a “turnkey” approach, so your venue rental also includes tables, chairs, black linens, floral décor, and candles.

Plan Your Downtown Denver Wedding

If one of these downtown Denver wedding venues speaks to you, Sapphire Celebrations would love to assist you with planning your event! Submit an inquiry with your wedding details, and we’ll schedule a complimentary discovery call to assess if we’re a good fit. Are you planning a Denver destination wedding? Make the most of your and your guests’ experience with our guide to the city’s top attractions.

Vendors:

Mallory Munson
Epic Imagery
Studio Lemus
J. La Plante Photo

Should You Do a First Look on Your Wedding Day?

3/12/2024

There are benefits and drawbacks to doing a first look on your wedding day. While the trend has grown increasingly popular, it isn’t for everyone. It’s best to discuss your options with each other, your wedding planner, and your photographer before deciding whether or not to do one. However, we advise having those conversations sooner rather than later. That’s because doing a first look (or not doing one) will significantly impact your wedding day timeline! Today, we’re discussing why you may or may not want to do a first look so you can make the best decision for your unique situation.

What is a First Look?

A “first look” is an opportunity for you and your partner to see each other in your wedding attire, decompress, and even read private vows before your wedding ceremony. One partner usually sneaks up behind the other and taps them on the shoulder so the photographer can capture their reaction!

As Colorado wedding planners, we believe in the many benefits of a first look. We frequently recommend one to our clients! Still, it’s a highly personal choice. Some couples prefer to adhere to tradition, not want to detract from the moment they see each other at their ceremony. If that’s you, talk to your photographer about alternative options. They can still capture a private, meaningful moment between you and your partner, such as a first touch or love letter exchange.

Should You Do a First Look?

If you’re still trying to decide whether or not to do a first look, it’s helpful to consider the benefits and drawbacks. Let’s explore how doing a first look (or not doing one) affects different facets of your wedding day.

Timeline

Choosing whether or not to do a first look will primarily affect your wedding day timeline. If you’re doing a first look, you must be ready earlier in the day so there’s time for photos before your ceremony. For some night owls, that might be a dealbreaker, depending on the time of your ceremony. However, note that doing a first look also makes it possible to get all your portraits out of the way before your ceremony. If you’re interested in *actually* attending your cocktail hour instead of missing the whole thing while you’re off taking photos, you may want to opt for a first look.

Tip: If you prefer sticking to tradition and skipping a first look, we recommend taking as many portraits before your ceremony as possible. For example, you can take your separate wedding party photos before your ceremony. That way, you can budget less time for portrait-taking during cocktail hour.

Private Time Together

Another benefit of doing a first look is the opportunity for a private moment together. Let’s face it: wedding days can get busy! It may surprise you that most couples reflect on their wedding day and wish they had spent more time together. Amid greeting your guests, posing for photos, and observing all the fun traditions, it’s easy to get swept away. Doing a first look refocuses you on the WHY of your wedding day (your love for each other!) and provides an opportunity for alone time before all the craziness ensues. You can even use that time to read private vows or love letters to each other.

Pre-Wedding Jitters

If you’re nervous about walking down the aisle, posing for portraits, and any other aspect of your wedding day, it can be helpful to do a first look. You’ll have the opportunity to release your stress privately and receive encouragement from your partner. After spending a moment alone with them, you may find your nerves are gone! However, it may be best to skip a first look if having a photographer present for that moment would only enhance your nerves. Remember, there’s no right or wrong choice here: only what’s best for you!

Photography

Doing a first look affects your photography timeline, as previously mentioned, but did you know it also affects the overall look and feel of your photos? Note that if you do a first look followed by portraits, the lighting may not be optimal because the sunlight will be at its harshest around midday. However, by not doing a first look, you’ll miss the opportunity to capture meaningful photos of the two of you seeing each other for the first time. You can always take portraits before AND after your ceremony if it’s important to you to catch that perfect golden hour lighting.

Choosing to do or not to do a first look is highly personal. At Sapphire Celebrations, we’re partial to first looks because of the benefit to your wedding timeline and the opportunity to enjoy a moment alone with your partner. However, we completely understand that the drawbacks of a first look, such as waking up early to get ready and sub-optimal portrait lighting, are a dealbreaker for some. No matter which option you’re leaning toward, discuss it with your wedding planner and photographer first.

Are you still looking for your Colorado wedding photographer? Prepare for your next discovery call with these seven questions to help you find your perfect fit. Hoping for more help? Reach out to us! We're always happy to guide our couples through the wedding planning process.

Vendors:

Mikkelle Carlson Photography

Elegant Fall Destination Wedding at The Broadmoor

2/27/2024

Fall destination wedding at The BroadmoorPicture

Jillian and Mitchell met on a dating app and met in person several weeks later on their first date at Jillian’s apartment. Right before Mitchell was due to arrive, Jillian’s bathtub faucet exploded! Mitchell walked in to find her surrounded by tools and immediately knew she was unlike any girl he had met. They spent the rest of the date chatting and playing Bananagrams while waiting for maintenance to arrive. A few months later, Mitchell asked Jillian to be his girlfriend in the most romantic way: on the beach at sunset!

The couple soon fell head over heels for each other, flying to meet each other’s families in Colorado and Texas over the winter holidays. At the end of the following year, Mitchell popped the question in Los Angeles at the scenic Griffith Observatory Overlook. After Jillian said yes, the happy pair celebrated the next day with a trip to Disneyland. We adore their love story! It was our pleasure to plan their dream destination wedding at The Broadmoor.

Wedding Dress Shopping at Kleinfeld

Before their big day, the couple flew to New York City to shop for Jillian’s wedding dress at the famed Kleinfeld Bridal salon, as seen on Say Yes to the Dress! Jillian had her fairytale moment with a Dupioni silk ballgown. The romantic off-the-shoulder style featured a beaded sweetheart neckline and lace brocade bodice on top of a flowing skirt, perfect for an elegant Broadmoor wedding. Meanwhile, Mitchell selected a stunning pair of bridal shoes for Jillian. He chose the Hammond Feather Pump, a fun and flirty sandal with a sky-high heel and feathered strap from Something Bleu.

Classic Destination Wedding at The Broadmoor

Jillian grew up in Colorado and always knew she wanted to say “I do” at the iconic Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs when the day came. However, she and Mitchell lived in California throughout their engagement, making Colorado wedding planning more difficult. Enter Sapphire Celebrations! Our team was happy to help the couple plan and design their celebration and build a vendor team of Colorado’s most skilled wedding professionals.

Jillian wanted a classic and elegant wedding design that would enhance the beauty of The Broadmoor and First Christian Church, the couple’s ceremony venue. We accomplished the look she wanted with a simple and timeless blush-and-white color palette with navy blue accents. Statice Floral designed the floral arrangements, including Jillian’s bouquet of roses and silver dollar eucalyptus. Meanwhile, the bride managed the design and printing process for the couple’s custom navy blue-and-white wedding invitations with Perfect Press.

We loved getting to know this sweet couple and helping them plan their destination wedding at The Broadmoor! As preferred planners with this legendary Colorado Springs venue, we have extensive experience designing weddings there. Inquire today to book Sapphire Celebrations for your 2024 or 2025 wedding at The Broadmoor! Plus, don’t miss Kelsey and Mark’s day for more classic wedding inspiration at this stunning venue.