We've decided to showcase one of our brides every month in a special "Be Our Guest" blog edition. Our first guest, Eli, has a wonderful love story. Enjoy!
SZP: Tell us your love story (how you met, got engaged, and why you chose the wedding date and venue you did).
Eli: Parker and I actually went to the same high school. I was a year older and we knew of each other but never hung out during high school. I went to college in Texas and we honestly never spoke after high school. A crazy turn of events lead me back home to Colorado and late one night in bed Parker's name came to mind. No idea why or how because we hadn't spoken in probably 7 years and we weren't even friends in high school. Anyway, when I moved back to Colorado I decided to send him a Facebook message, seriously out of no where, and the entire thing was a lie! I said that I thought I ran into him at Costco and how embarrassing it was that it wasn't actually him. I even went as far as to reintroduce myself in the message because I wasn't even sure if he'd remember me! We laugh about the FB message now because in all honesty I was just looking to reconnect with friends as I was reestablishing myself in Denver, heaven forbid I just be honest! Anyway, we hung out as friends for a while and then he FINALLY asked me out on a date... and the rest is all history!
Proposal... well I won't lie, it was pretty incredible! Before we started dating seriously Parker and I were bowling with friends and we bet on the final game. If I won, he owed me a helicopter ride and if he won... I don't even remember what he would win. I obviously won but to be totally honest I just never thought of it again and also thought it was incredibly unlikely that he'd ever pay up. Well, on December 22nd my company was closing down for a few days for Christmas my boss came over around noon and told me to go on home and enjoy the holiday (she was totally in on it). So excitedly I started packing up! Minutes later Parker called and said a friend of his dads who has helicopter called and invited his dad on an afternoon ride. Since his dad is a doctor and had patients to see, Parker said he scored us the ride. I totally ate it up and seriously never thought he was proposing. I was SO excited. I had never been on a helicopter and have this funny love for aircrafts and helicopters so I was on cloud 9. He flew us over the city and ended up landing us on this bluff overlooking the city. Parker and I got out and walked to the end just to enjoy. Again, I seriously never thought he was proposing! We got to the edge it was snowy and gorgeous and Parker got down on one knee! The best part was the pilot is a family friend and got pictures of the whole thing.
Venue. Well to say that Parker and I wanted a party is a tad of an understatement. With a bridal party that was 24 people, we each had 12 attendants, we needed a space that could fit everyone. I wanted to be married outside and wanted the ceremony and reception to be in the same location. That's a lot to ask for an invite list at about 350. But The Denver Art Museum had everything we wanted! It was absolutely perfect. We loved the space for the ceremony, it made it feel small and intimate and then the reception was a giant room for a dance party!
SZP: What was one of your favorite memories from your wedding day?
Eli: One of my favorite memories was the moment that my dad and I started walking down the isle and I turned to him and said "I'm getting married!" there's actually a picture of it and then when I looked up and saw Parker with the biggest smile on his face! It was such a sweet moment!
SZP: What about your wedding celebration would you do differently?
Eli: To be honest, and I've seriously thought about it, the only thing I would change is when I was walking down the aisle the musician was supposed to play the song acoustically and not sing but he ended up singing while I was walking down the isle. And to be honest I am really the only person that knew he wasn't supposed to sing. So really not a big deal. Everything else was just how I imagined it!
SZP: What was your favorite part of your wedding preparations? Conversely, the part you disliked the most?
Eli: I loved virtually every part. We hired an incredible day of wedding coordinate, CC Dick with Colorado Wedding Company, and she typically is a full service wedding planner but my mom and I so enjoyed meeting with vendors and casting a vision together. It was so fun.
My least favorite part... picking out the wording on the invitations! It took us forever and seemed so tedious but yet such a big deal!
SZP: What was your favorite part about working with Sweet Zion Paperie?
Eli: How simple and easy it was! Our programs were exactly what I envisioned! People typically don't say much about programs but we got rave reviews! I kept a number of copies and have given them to people who asked to do something similar and use SZP.
SZP: How has your relationship with your now husband/wife changed from when you were dating?
Eli: We just do everything together and have so much fun doing it! We didn't live together before we got married, you could call us traditionalists, so living together wasn't nearly the adjustment everyone prepared us for. We have enjoyed spending our free time together and not having to plan to go over to one of our houses etc.
SZP: It's the little things. Now that you're married, what is one little thing that you love about your spouse that you didn't notice before?
Eli: Oh gosh such a loaded question. One of the things I loved about Parker before we got married was how much he made me laugh. But being married it's ten fold. I am constantly laughing and he also challenges me to not take myself too seriously. We are so playful, it's the best!
SZP: How did you celebrate your 1 year anniversary?
Eli: We went to Europe!! It was so fun, we went to Prague for about a week and then to Munich for Oktoberfest!
SZP: What is next for you? (babies, moves, jobs, etc.)
Eli: Well, we actually just had a precious baby girl 2 months ago! Logan, she's the best. Right before we had her, we bought and house and pretty much flipped the entire thing. So for now, we are staying put and enjoying Logan and our house!
SZP: Speaking from experience - Do you have any advice to future brides & grooms for planning their wedding?
Eli: Don't forget that this day is about you and your spouse. It's so easy to get caught up in the details and the extravagance of the wedding but your marriage lasts forever. Spend time and energy thinking about what you want your ceremony to look like and be intentional with the ceremony. So often it becomes just another detail, and in some ways even I was this way, but keep in perspective while yes the party is fun but that lasts one night, your marriage lasts for a lifetime!
