My “Best of 2016” Colorado Wedding Ceremony Vendors

My 2016 top wedding vendors are in! Once again I have chosen my favorite vendors from last season in three different categories - wedding photographer, wedding planner, and wedding venue. These people were an inspiration to me and a joy to get to know and work with. My vendor choices are JoAnn Moore of Mountains and Meadows Weddings and Events (Colorado and California Wedding Planner), Preston Utley Photography (Colorado Wedding Photographer), and The River Bend (Lyons, Colorado Wedding Ceremony Venue). Congratulations!

Mountains and Meadows Weddings and Events

Award Winning Event Specialist serving Colorado, California and beyond

What I Loved: Wouldn’t it be fun if your best friend was also your expert wedding planner? How about if your wedding planner turned into one of your best friends? JoAnn was so easy to work with. She is very efficient, but for her it wasn’t just about getting things done. JoAnn is also genuine and personable and I could tell that she loves her job. She was great at taking the lead and communicating with me while also being flexible and accommodating for us in every way.

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Preston Utley

Colorado Wedding Photographer

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What I Loved: Preston Utley captures moments that are so lovely that they seem like they must have been carefully staged, but I’ve seen him in action and it’s all genuine, in the moment, breathtaking reality. These amazing photos are enough to win Preston a top place in my vendors this year but he’s also just a great guy and fun to be around. He and his team move around the event so quietly that you don't notice they are there, but they also seem to be everywhere at once, capturing each and every unique moment.

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The River Bend

Colorado Wedding Venue

What I Loved: The River Bend is a charming wedding venue in an idyllic setting that highlights the extraordinary beauty of Colorado’s great outdoors, and yet it's only a 30 minute drive from Boulder. This beautiful property is private and quiet, graced with mature trees and an expansive tidy lawn. The best part is the dramatic redstone cliffs and St. Vrain River that run behind the ceremony site. The staff was wonderful and helpful and they seem to offer just about everything one would need for a beautiful country wedding.

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Flute and Guitar Wedding Ceremony Music at the River Bend in Lyons, Colorado

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

In late June, our flute and guitar duo played for a wedding ceremony at the River Bend in Lyons, Colorado. The setting at the River Bend was perfect for this outdoorsy adventure loving couple. It was idyllic with mature trees, a lush lawn, and a river curving in front of high rock walls. The guests enjoyed drinks, socializing, and playing corn-hole by the river before the wedding. Our flute and guitar duo played a mix of classical, popular and jazz tunes for the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, and then we played another hour for the dinner reception.

From the bride: "Christen Stephens was a wonderful addition to our wedding - very professional, timely, and easy to communicate with to figure out details for the wedding. Music was beautiful and just what we were looking for. Highly recommended."

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Sample Prelude Music: Invention No. 10 (Bach), Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison), Autumn Leaves, Everything I Do (I Do it For You), Annie's Song, The Days of Wine and Roses, Berceuse, Op. 16 (Faure), Arioso (Bach)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Canon in D ~ Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girl
The Ludlows ~ Bride's Processional
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 ~ Recessional

Sample Cocktail Hour and Dinner Music:
Cheek to Cheek, All My Loving, Fly Me to the Moon, Entr'acte (Bizet), Try to Remember, Tango (Albeniz), Gavotte (Handel), To Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Giuliani Sonatas (selections), When I Fall in Love, Misty, Pastorale (Vivaldi), Unforgettable

Wedding Ceremony Vendors:
Venue - River Bend
Wedding Coordinator - Purple Summer Events
Photographer - Nine Photography
Ceremony and Reception Music - Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens -  Flute and Guitar Duo

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens

Colorado Wedding Ceremony Music by Christen Stephens