Engagement season is upon us and if you are one of the lucky ones, you are probably eager to start planning your wedding! Before you pick a date and a venue here are some things to consider about the upcoming 2021 wedding season. If you are shooting for 2021 for your wedding, the unfortunate reality is that you are probably still looking at needing to follow local guidelines due to COVID-19. Here is what you need to consider as you start making your plans:

Decide What’s Important to You

Every bride dreams of her perfect wedding! But what stands out to you as the most important, non-negotiable items? If your dream is to have 150+ people at your wedding that have traveled from far and wide to be with you, perhaps setting a date for 2022 is more realistic. Otherwise, if the most important thing is to get married and start your life as husband and wife with those closest to you as your witness, then being with only your closest friends and family members will be enough for you, and there are many ways to make it work for a 2021 wedding! There may still be restrictions in place next year, including the number of people that can gather in one place, mask requirements, and social distancing protocols. We pulled off a summer full of weddings with these restrictions in place; all went well with everyone healthy and happy!  And who knows, things could look a lot better than they do now and we could get back to celebrating with no restrictions placed on us!  If this year has taught us all one thing it is that we are not in control!

Choose a Destination within Driving Distance

If it’s important that grandma and grandpa are at your wedding, then don’t make it so far away that they have to fly! Choose a destination that is within driving distance for the majority of your guests. Bella Vista Estate is an ideal destination wedding location for anyone along the Colorado Front Range, Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, or Fort Collins. Our estate is just a few hours away! Once you arrive your group will have the entire estate to yourselves. Don’t worry about bumping into other tourists, sharing amenities, etc. Relax and enjoy your private home away from home. Another idea is to encourage guests to be tested for COVID-19 before coming to your wedding and/or following two week quarantine guidelines before traveling.

Are you a Foodie?

Couples may lament the inability to provide buffet catering at their wedding. Table-served meals are likely to still be required at weddings in 2021. This prohibits the same people from touching service ware and standing over the same food served to all. This can be a positive thing if you choose to work with a private chef or high-end catering service. They can prepare an incredible plated meal for all of your guests. This also has a cost implication that must be considered. Bella Vista Estate works with several incredible local caterers that can accommodate your needs. 

Discuss Cancellation Policies with Your Vendors

While shopping for vendors, take a close look at their Force Majeure and cancellation policies. Unfortunately, many weddings were cancelled or postponed this year because of COVID-19. Bella Vista recently added a Force Majeure clause to our contract. It allows guests to reschedule for available dates within one calendar year from original reservation dates should a true Force Majeure situation arise. Current rental rates at the time of reschedule would apply. If a guest cancels completely, any payments with the exception of the non-refundable reservation payment would be returned. A true Force Majeure for COVID would be quarantine restrictions similar to the “stay at home” order that was in effect March through May 2020. Discuss with your catering company, musicians, florists, and event planners what their cancellation policy consists of before making commitments.

Prime 2021 Weekends Still Available

We are pleased to announce that several prime weekends next August and September are still available here at Bella Vista Estate!  Book now to ensure that you get the Colorado fall wedding weekend of your dreams! Contact us to discuss rates and availability.