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In July of last year, Phebe Condon, the talented mother-of-the-bride, turned event planner extraordinaire, orchestrated a truly unforgettable celebration at the Steel Horse for her daughter, Nicci, and son-in-law, Dylan. The event was a resounding success, prompting me to seek out Phebe's invaluable insights and tips to share with you all.
Check out Phebe's overview of activities and insights from her firsthand experience below!
Day One (Friday) - Arrival and Setup Day (plus a pizza party!)
The evening welcome gathering with the pizza oven food truck was a smashing success! Not only did it set the perfect tone for guest arrivals on the first night, but it also provided me with the chance to personally welcome and engage with all our guests.
Day Two (Saturday) - Wedding Day
Allow the couple to enjoy their daytime together, whether it's creating flower vases and headbands (like the bride and bridal party did), or handling meat cooking and food preparations (like the groom and groomsmen did.)
Make sure guests have ample time to stroll to the ceremony area - it's a bit of a walk and takes some time.
We offered champagne to guests upon their arrival, but should've poured each glass separately to prevent the glasses from being blown off tables!
Set up a cocktail hour for post-ceremony photos and dinner arrangements, enlisting guest volunteers to assist. Timing is crucial, so create a detailed schedule to ensure everything runs smoothly. While the band played from 6:30-9:30, consider starting the festivities earlier to accommodate travelers or be prepared for early departures as the sun sets.
Day Three (Sunday) - Activity Day
Plan engaging group activities (choose 2) and set up a sign-up in advance for seamless coordination. Consider options like floating the Arkansas River, exploring the nearby town of Salida, or taking a leisurely hike. Prioritize activities close by to minimize travel time. This will allow you to focus on enjoying quality time together rather than lengthy journeys. Other ideas include reserving visits to the Sand Dunes, or Mount Princeton Hot Springs. Do allocate a specific return time to the Steel Horse, though, to ensure everyone is back for a relaxed evening of dinner, games, and music - a perfect way to bid farewell to an unforgettable weekend.
Day Four (Monday) - Departure Day
Instead of hosting a farewell breakfast, take the time to bid goodbye to those still on the property and assist with the clean-up and packing-up process.
Here are some more helpful tips from Phebe:
Meal Planning
Effective meal planning and meticulous budgeting are essential. I must admit, I excelled in this aspect. I am more than willing to share my daily food schedule if anyone is interested. Opting for self-catering significantly cut costs. I made sure to do all possible prep work in advance and created a comprehensive menu. Remember to bring essential items like knives, bowls, serving dishes, and chafing pans to maintain food warmth. While some supplies may be on hand, it's best not to assume everything you need will be readily available.
Be Prepared & Delegate Tasks
Understand the tasks at hand and embrace the assistance offered by guests, delegating minor responsibilities to maintain control of your schedule and organize your plans effectively. My daily schedule proved invaluable in navigating these tasks.
Entertainment
🌸 Creating our own flower arrangements was a delightful experience. The ease of transporting fresh blooms made it a perfect daytime activity. Each arrangement and flower crown turned out beautifully. To ensure seamless transitions between events, establish a specific timeframe for cleanup and setup for the next gathering..
🎵 Music is an essential element for setting the perfect ambiance at any celebration. Live music, in particular, elevates the ceremony and is definitely worth the investment. The lively bluegrass tunes from Hunkerdown on Saturday added a fun and energetic vibe to the event. Our talented family friend, Deb, serenaded us with beautiful melodies on her guitar in the barn on Sunday. Uncle Rich's bagpipe performance added a unique touch, blending the traditions of a Scotland Wedding with the vibrant celebration in Colorado. To keep the music flowing throughout our stay, we made use of Bluetooth technology and had multiple playlists ready to go. Using a Bluetooth speaker as a makeshift microphone during the ceremony was a clever solution that ensured everyone could hear clearly. Music truly brought joy and harmony to our memorable weekend celebration!
Stop Worrying!
Finally – stop worrying so much about everybody and everything! Be okay with letting go. Enjoy the location, people, and celebration. Stop, take a deep breath and have fun! (Which is what I finally did, and I'm so glad I did.)
It was the perfect set up and venue that we were looking for. Time goes by so fast, especially when celebrating such wonderful moments in life. It is so hard to believe it is all over, but so thankful we had the multiple days together to enjoy the venue and the company as well as an amazing celebration!
