We hope everybody enjoyed the first segment of our guide to the perfect Boulder venues! Not only are we lucky enough to have some gorgeous venues right here in Boulder, but Denver also offers some seriously fantastic spots to consider for any special occasion. Here is our list of some stylish and beautiful venues in Denver to host a holiday party, engagement party, rehearsal dinner or any special occasion! Don’t forget its never too late to book us for any holiday soiree or special event!
“Euclid Hall Bar and Kitchen is located in the heart of Denver’s historic Larimer Square. Located right around the corner from Rioja in Euclid Hall, an 1883 building that once housed the venerable Soapy Smith’s bar, this American tavern focuses on high quality and innovative pub food from around the world including housemade sausages, po’ boys, poutine and schnitzels. An extensive beer selection and creative cocktails drive the beverage program.” Euclid Hall would be a fabulous venue for any holiday party or private event! Check out their menu here!
Colt & Gray offers a wide range of private dining options for groups from 2 to 220. Any and all of Colt & Gray’s beautiful spaces are available for private dining and “buy outs”. The main dining room seats up to 36 guests, the second dining room also seats up to 36 guests, and the bar area seats up to 30 guests. In addition, their cocktail bar, Ste. Elite seats up to 48 guests and our spacious private dining space can seat up to 80 guests. Private lunch and dinner events are available in all of these spaces. Colt & Gray offers an amazing dining experience and would be the ideal venue for a unique a holiday soiree. See their menu here!
Tamayo, located in downtown Denver would be a festive and fun venue for any holiday party, rehearsal dinner or engagement party. “Tamayo offers authentic and fresh mexican cuisine. Hand crafted margaritas and a selection of over 100 tequilas pair beautifully with the flavorful dishes. Savor Tamayo’s acclaimed cuisine on the outdoor terrace with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains, or in the main and private dining rooms, where handmade Mexican artwork completes Tamayo’s dining experience.” Check out some of Tamayo’s mouthwatering dishes here!
“Ocean Prime Denver features five stunning private dining spaces: The Board Room accommodates up to 14 guests and The Club Room accommodates up to 16 guests; Our glass enclosed Table 50 accommodates up to 8 guests; Prime Room 1 accommodates up to 24 guests and Prime Room 2 accommodates up to 22 guests. Both rooms may be combined to accommodate a larger party of up to 48 guests.” Ocean Prime offers some of the most delectable steaks and seafood that Colorado has to offer and would please any guest at a holiday gathering. Check out their menu here!
“By focusing on fresh ingredients and tried and true regional recipes, Pizza Republica has become an Italian staple in Denver. Authentic wood-fired Neopolitain Pizzas, housemade mozzarella, friendly service and a sprawling wine list featuring over 100 hand-selected Italian wines are just a few of the reasons Pizza Republica has been called, “the perfect spot for a romantic date out or to socialize with your friends” Pizzeria Republica offers a few private dining issues including a fire-lit patio that can accommodate up to 140 guests seated. The private dining room can accommodate up to 36 guests or the entire restaurant can be rented for groups up to 300. Check out their delicious cuisine here!
“The Kitchen Denver is a community bistro open seven days a week. Located on 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver in the historic Sugar Building. The Kitchen is known for its fresh ingredients and community atmosphere. Options for private dining include the Wine Room which seats 65 people or 75 people cocktail style or The Chef’s Room seats 25 people or 30 people cocktail style. The bar area can accommodate up to 40 people and a full buyout can fit 150 guests seated or 300 cocktail-style.” Check out their tasty food here!
In a cultural moment where the rules of wedding etiquette tend to be in flux, it can be confusing to keep up and stay confident with what is expected. Following every single “rule” written by our friend Emily Post will definitely produce some tension, so let us take the reins on the research so you can get informed on all wedding etiquette & expectations. First up – pre wedding preparations. Stay tuned next week for part two, we’ll be discussing guest and hosting etiquette the day of the event.
Happy planning!
Xx, Calluna
Budget:
Talk About It. Though some families may stick to the tradition, modern weddings are not necessarily to be paid for by the brides parents. With many couples now contributing or covering the bill, its not completely expected that the brides family bears total financial responsibility. Don’t go into planning assuming certain people will be contributing.
Ask Tons of Questions. Before deciding on potential vendors, it is key that you ask a ton of questions about costs and extra fees. This open line of communication will help you keep a clear head and close eye on your budget. For example inquire about how much staff will be required on the day of, and what exactly they will be needed for.
The Invitations:
Who gets a plus one to this fancy fete? Traditional invitation etiquette suggests that a plus one is extended to a guest who is in a committed relationship; married, engaged or living together. If you couldn’t tell a theme in our blog, feel it out for what makes sense for your guest list. Our token of advice: find consistency in your method. With feelings on the line, it is best to create boundaries of what makes the most sense for you and your wedding.
Kids or no Kids? Having children invited to the wedding is entirely up to you, but make sure that it is made clear. If you decide to include children in the invite, you can write “and family” on the RSVP. However, it is also perfectly okay to invite just children from your close family but state clearly that you cannot invite everyones children for logistical purposes. If you do decide that you want children invited but don’t want your guests to have to be on chaperone duty, hire a nanny or babysitter to entertain the little ones at the event!
When to send? Save the dates have become increasingly more popular with the emergence of destination and long weekend weddings. Though they aren’t required, save the dates give your guests a chance to look forward to the special day as well as save some cash and make travel plans. We suggest sending them out at least 6 months in advance, and even earlier for destination weddings. When sending out your formal invitations, we suggest at least eight weeks before the wedding so that you can receive timely RSVP’s and keep the planning organized!
The Engagement Party:
When to throw the fabulous celebration? It is nice to host the engagement party soon after the engagement is announced so the news is still exciting and new. Want to make it even more exciting? Announce the engagement at the party itself!
Who hosts? Traditionally it is the brides parents that host the engagement party, however with wedding etiquette constantly evolving it is not rare to see friends of the couple hosting the party, or even the couple themselves choosing to throw their own gathering.
Who is invited? Usually anyone who is invited to the engagement party is also invited to the wedding. However, this doesn’t mean you have to invite everyone from the wedding to your engagement party. Many couples opt to keep the guest list to close friends and family. But, if you are having a rather small wedding and can’t accommodate everyone, the engagement party could be a great opportunity to include those who you can’t invite to the wedding.
Do you register beforehand? Though gifts aren’t traditionally expected, it is often the case that guests will show up with gifts in hand. For this reason it might be useful and helpful to your guests to have a registry to refer to!
Guest etiquette for engagement parties
Are gifts required for an engagement party? If there is no registry what are we supposed to give the couple? Don’t Overdo the Gift. We love the idea of giving something special for the couple to enjoy together. Don’t feel pressured to give something over the top or elaborate, but rather something that shows how much you care about the couple and their future life together.
Show your genuine style. We love the idea of giving a special set of champagne flutes for the couple to cheers with, or for a more foodie option, a tasteful basket of fine cheeses and meats for the couple to snack on during a pre-wedding picnic. We are especially in love with these baskets from Cured, a local Boulder, CO shop. If you really want to put the future newlyweds to the test, gift them with the Williams-Sonoma Newlywed cookbook and let them create amazing memories testing out new recipes.
The Bachelorette & Bachelor Party:
Bridal party etiquette for Bachelor & Bachelorette parties
Who pays? Traditionally the bridesmaids and groomsmen foot the bill for the bachelor or bachelorette festivities, including all of the costs for the bride and groom. You want them feel as special as possible so make it a point to save some extra cash to make the weekend the best it can be. That being said, you don’t want to break the bank and become resentful of the special weekend, so make sure to keep an open dialogue with the bride or groom about what is reasonable.
Listen Closely! The bachelor and bachelorette parties are supposed to be symbolic of the bride and grooms last single time out. That being said, not every bride or groom wants that wild weekend in Vegas (though there is nothing wrong with that!) Be the best bridesmaid or groomsmen you can be by listening to the needs of the guest of honor, even if its not exactly what you want. You want them feel comfortable and appreciative of all of your hard work.
Say Cheese! Make sure to document the weekend by snapping pics. You can even make a scrapbook or photo collage later on for the bride or groom to keep. However, make sure that you are social media cautious and double check with the guest of honor about what they want posted.
