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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
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| Q: Why is this called Elope2Colorado? A: Our first weddings were a Valentines Day special at our inn, designed for just the wedding couple with no guests. Right away, there were requests to add guests, and we have grown ever since. We now welcome weddings with up to 75 guests. However, we still call our wedding package for just a bride and groom “Elope2Colorado” because we think it's sweet! If you would like to have guests at your wedding, please go to www.pikespeakwedding.com. Q: How much does the wedding package cost? A: With a two-night booking, our price is $1695 plus tax for the complete package. Q: What is in the package? A: After you've booked at least a two nights' stay at Blue Skies Inn, the wedding package includes two full breakfasts delivered as room service, a pretty wedding cake, lush flowers for bride and groom, 96 wedding photographs plus negatives and CD, and the officiant who will perform your marriage. Q: What are the extra costs? A: There are no extra costs unless you want to order an extra wedding cake tier to take home for your first anniversary, other cake flavors, or additional flowers. Q: Can I purchase just a part of your wedding package? A: We think that we have designed the Perfect Wedding for a couple who want a private moment to celebrate their new lives together. Because we are proud of our creation, we do not take anything out of the package. We think that every bride should have wedding flowers, cake and photos. Because we are a B&B, the two night stay is the basis of the package. Q: Where do we get a wedding license? A: You may get a wedding license from any county clerk's office in the State of Colorado. They will ask for $10 cash, a photo ID, social security number, and information about other marriages and State of dissolution. Please visit the El Paso County website for more information. Their hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, except holidays as listed on their website. There is no waiting period in the State of Colorado. Q: Can we be married on a Wednesday? A: At Blue Skies Inn, we hold weddings every day of the week. Q: Do we have to bring our own wedding cake? A: A cake is included in our package. If you wish to order a top tier to take home for your first wedding anniversary celebration, the additional cost is $30. Vanilla and chocolate cake with regular or buttercream icing are the standard flavors. Cheesecake and other flavors and filling may be chosen at an upgrade in price of $25 per tier. Each tier may have two flavors in it. All tiers will be identical in flavors. If the flavors are not important to you, we usually order one layer each of vanilla and chocolate with buttercream icing. We will decorate your wedding cake with flowers that match the bridal bouquet at no charge. Q: How many guests may we invite? A: The Elope2Colorado wedding package is designed for just the bride and groom, and does not provide for wedding guests. If you wish to have a wedding with guests, please see our Pikes Peak Wedding package at www.pikespeakwedding.com. Q: Who will marry us? A: Your officiant is included in our wedding package. After you have booked, we will send you to a special website page where our officiants' profiles are posted. You may choose the one who best suits your belief structure. Q: May we bring our own minister? A: Yes, you may arrange to bring your favorite pastor if you wish. However, there is no reduction in the cost of our package. Q: May we write our own vows? A: Yes, we encourage you to make your ceremony as personalized as you wish. Other couples have written poetry, composed vows, or played a musical instrument. Q: How long is the wedding? A: We call our weddings "Short and Sweet." Much of the fluff that makes our couples originally decide against a BIG WEDDING is gone. Usual wedding features are a greeting, a wedding address, vows and ring exchange. That may range from 10 - 20 minutes. Q: How long is the reception? A: Our receptions last about half an hour and include signing your wedding license, a sparkling cider toast, and cutting and serving of your wedding cake. Photos may last up to thirty minutes. Start to finish, the length of your celebration might be as long as an hour and a half. Q: Where is the wedding held? A: Blue Skies Inn does not have an "event center." Here, you may choose to wed by the fanciful wedding tent in our lovely Secret Garden that is lush with flowers, by the cascading waterfall or at the edge of the garden which is overhung with trees. Weddings may be held in our Midnight Woods suite in case of inclement weather. Your wedding will feel intimate and close to Nature, with a deer wandering by or the song of hummingbirds overhead. Q: Tell me about the 96 photos. A: As the bride walks into the garden, we start a roll of 36 color exposures. Those are usually finished by the first kiss at the end of the ceremony. The photographer loads another roll of 24 exposures to photograph the couple signing the wedding license, the toast, cutting of the wedding cake, and then portraits. Some of the photos taken of the couple are by the 1873 Briarhurst carriage house, some with Pikes Peak in the background, and the rest down by our shady streamside with a lovely arching greenstone bridge. After that, the black and white photos are taken. You will be given double prints of all of your photos to share with family and friends. In addition, you are given your negatives and a CD so that you may have enlargements made wherever you wish. Q: What if we want all color photos? A: Our photographer is happy to use whatever kind of film that you wish. You may also choose your poses if you want something special. Bring a list of the poses that you want, and we will photograph them for you. A recent couple jumped onto a big rock in the stream for a dramatic photo. Q: What if I want more photos? A: For more than 96 photos, each additional exposure is $3, which includes the negatives and CD. Q: Will you post our photo on your website? A: Absolutely! Within several days of your wedding, we will have posted a photo of you on our website as our most recently wed couple. If you click on the photo, there will be 20 or more additional photos displayed as a pop-up, a perfect way to have your distant friends and relatives see you on your wedding day, If you wish to have your photos remain on our website for a long time, please leave us a comment in the room book when you check out. Q: May we videotape the ceremony? A: We have a favorite professional who will create a DVD of your wedding. Eugene uses two professional cameras, one on a tripod and one on his shoulder, to tape your wedding. A small microphone is hidden in the wedding arch in order to perfectly capture your vows. Eugene edits and creates a wonderful video for you for $395, a considerable discount for our couples! Q: What kind of bouquet is made for the bride? A: Our designer will make a bouquet that either rests on the bride's arm or one that she carries in front of her. It can be any size that she wishes. She may choose flower colors to match her wedding party's colors, or ask to be surprised with seasonal colors. A boutonniere for the groom is made to match a color in the bride's bouquet. The bride's bouquet can be made more elaborate at additional cost if she wishes. Q: What are the flower petals in the photos on the website? A: We scatter petals from a hundred roses in the bride's path, and she may choose the color. In winter, it is especially dramatic to scatter them on the snow for photos. Q: What should we wear? A: Some choose favorite blue jeans and cowboy boots, others choose traditional bridal attire. Grooms may rent formal wear within blocks of the County Clerk's office. Q: May we choose what room we want at the inn? A: You may choose any suite at our bed and breakfast that pleases you. Two nights at Blue Skies Inn are included in the package. Q: What if we want to stay longer for a honeymoon? A: Extra days may be booked at a discount of 10%. There is much to do and see in the Pikes Peak area. Even if you stay for a week, you will need more time to see it all. See our attractions page for more information.. Q: Do the bride and groom stay in the same room the night before the wedding? A: The night before the wedding as well as the night of the wedding are scheduled in one of our suites. Many suites have an extra bed in the sitting room if you would like to sleep separately until the wedding. We have also had couples who decided to have the bride use the suite the night before the ceremony while the groom stayed elsewhere. Since our weddings are mid-day and our check-in time is not until late afternoon, it does not work to have a wedding here unless you check in the day before the wedding. That way, all of your wedding clothes are right here where you want them, and you can even go to our nearby hair salon that morning. Q: Do the bride and groom have to dress in the same place before the wedding? A: We invite the groom to use another one of our suites at the inn (if available) to dress. Sometimes the groom dresses in the suite first, then waits in the garden while the bride gets dressed. When possible, we will give the groom a key for another suite several hours before the wedding so that the bride may dress in privacy in order to surprise the groom in her wedding gown. Q: What if the bride needs help with a zipper? A: Staff is always available to help the bride at the last minute, whatever her need may be. Q: What about music? A: You are welcome to hire musicians if you wish, and we will help find them for you. We have a lovely CD selection of wedding music that you may borrow. We bring that collection to your suite the night before the wedding, and you may choose a selection to start the wedding and one to play just after you are pronounced newly married. You may bring your own favorite CD's to enjoy during your reception. Q: What happens during the reception? A: First, the bride and groom sign the marriage certificate. We pour a sparkling cider toast for all, then the cake is cut and served. We take photographs through all of this, then take photos of just the newlyweds by our carriage house, some with Pikes Peak in the background, and some by our stream and lovely arching bridge. If you have other ideas for photos, we are happy to oblige. Q: May we bring alcohol? A: We do not have a liquor permit or license. Since your event is a private party, we will give you permission to bring champagne for the two of you to enjoy. Q: What about a wedding dinner? A: A wedding dinner is not available at our inn, but after you book with us, we are happy to make recommendations for restaurants nearby at a wide range of prices. Q: If we have children, may they be in the wedding? A: The Elope2Colorado wedding package is limited to just the bride and groom. See our Pikes Peak Wedding package if you wish to have your children participate in your ceremony. Q: What is that white lace hankie that we see in many of the photographs? A: As a keepsake gift to remember your day, the innkeepers at Blue Skies Inn have a linen hankie embroidered with your names and date of your wedding, as well as our wish for your future, "Blue Skies." The hankie is tucked into the back of the bridal bouquet which also has a small ladybug on a flower for good luck. Q: What if the bride needs someone to do her hair? A: Abby at Blades Salon is right across the street from us, and she will create a lovely wedding hairstyle for the bride. Q: Will our photograph stay online for a long time? A: A photo of couples who leave us a note is posted on our comments page for others to enjoy. Q: What do we have to do to book a wedding? A: Call us to book your minimum stay and your wedding date. Half of your total is due upon booking, the other half is due 60 days before the ceremony. See our booking page for exact details. Q: I have more questions. What should I do? A: Call Blue Skies Inn at 800 398-7949 to speak to Sally at any time. |
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402 Manitou Avenue Manitou Springs, CO 80829 (800) 398-7949 (719) 685-3899
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