To DIY, or Not to DIY - That is the Question!

There are many brides who like to get in the crafty mood and include DIY (do it yourself) projects for their wedding. April 1st is DIY day, and whether you're the type of bride who wants to craft everything, the type who won't craft anything or the bride who falls somewhere in the middle - we have some wedding DIY ideas for you. Here are some popular items you can make yourself for your wedding:

Invitations

Invitations can be a fun way to add a customized touch to your wedding style and can even be a fairly easy DIY. Whether you are into scrapbooking, digital art, or just want to do something no one else has done, Pinterest has TONS of ideas for the crafty bride. As with all DIY projects, they can be a bit time consuming, so you'll want to allow plenty of time to accomplish the task, especially when you're splattering paint on each of your 250 invitations ...

Wedding Favors

With Pinterest being the go-to planning guide for brides nowadays, the DIY movement has really hit the ground running, especially with wedding favors. From coasters made out of disks of wood with your initials burned into them, cute little jars of hot chocolate mix, seed packets with your wedding details printed on them or even packages of mints decorated with cute details and a tag that says "Mint to be." The ideas are endless when you want to create adorable wedding favors on your own.

Decorations

While many decorations are a DIY effort, you can create something as elaborate or as simple as you want. We've seen many brides come in and deck the house in beautiful flowers, fun props, sentimental photos and more. The decorations for your ceremony and reception are a great place to get your hands dirty in the DIY world.

Boutonnieres

Have you ever seen those cute boutonnieres that some grooms and groomsmen wear? The ones with flowers made from book pages, or cute lego men attached for the groom with a unique hobby. Especially if you only stick with doing the guys boutonnieres, you can get DIY crafty without committing to every single corsage for every important guest at your wedding.

Thank You Cards

After the wedding has been hosted, the guests leave, and you arrive home from your honeymoon - it will be time to send out the thank you cards. Now that all of the wedding planning has been completed, you may be feeling a little lost - invest your time in DIY thank you cards! Scrapbook pictures of your wedding to the front, learn to do calligraphy and pen a sweet sentiment on the front, and enjoy this last step of your wedding.

Your Colorado Springs Wedding!

Are you ready to dive into all of the fun wedding and details - but you still don't have a venue? Let the team at the Historic Pinecrest help you out. Our wedding venue in Colorado Springs is absolutely breathtaking - and ideal for all of your DIY projects. We are quietly nestled among the Colorado mountains, and our venue is a sweet combination of rustic, romantic, and incredible. Visit our website to learn more about our wedding chapel in Colorado Springs - and don't forget to schedule your venue tour!

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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If You're Going To the Chapel ...

If you're planning on going to the chapel to get married - we know just the place! Our breathtaking wedding chapel in Colorado Springs is the best place to get married in Colorado Springs. From close intimate ceremonies to larger affairs our wedding venue is ideal for your wedding. It's nestled quietly against the foothills in a beautiful Colorado setting. Whether you're looking for a rustic venue or a nostalgic place - our chapel is perfect. Here are a few things you should know about our beautiful chapel:

The Pinecrest Wedding Chapel

Nestled against the foothills in a beautiful Colorado setting, the Chapel at Pinecrest is the quintessential location for a romantic, mountain wedding. Capture your most precious moments in the intimacy of our chapel. Bride’s and groom’s dressing rooms, foyer with guest book table, fabulous sound system and numerous décor choices are just part of what make Pinecrest’s Chapel so inviting. Take in the warm, rustic surroundings as you join your lives together in the company of those you cherish most.

Photo Credit: Alison

The Historic Pinecrest Wedding Packages

We can accommodate groups of 50 to a maximum of 225 guests with our diverse selection of packages. All of our packages include unlimited phone, email and texting support, access to communicating directly with the owners, and private tours of our facilities that can be scheduled throughout the week.

Chapel Inclusions:

• One hour rehearsal, usually scheduled from 12:30 - 1:30 pm, the day prior to your wedding
• All standing décor, floral arrangements, and candelabras
• Bridal dressing room at Chapel with three (3) makeup stations
• Groomsmen dressing room at Chapel with mirror, table, chairs and couches
• Elegant entrance table for guest sign-in book or picture matting
• Digital sound system with mixing board - along with wireless microphones and instrumental inputs

Photo Credit: Alison

Chapel Testimonials

Thank you for having us at your beautiful venue. It was the perfect place to have our wedding and our guests were very pleased. We appreciate your accommodating approach and wish you success. Everything was beautiful and stress-free; All we could have hoped.
~ Salma and Max


"Pinecrest was more than we could have ever hoped for and the Pinecrest family went above and beyond to make us feel like family too and to make our day perfect! I'm so glad we started a new chapter in our lives at an amazing venue surrounded by wonderful people like the two of you. May many blessings come your way as you continue to touch the lives of others."
~Carly Hennegan, Bride


"Thank you, both so much for being such a light in this process. You and your staff really dedicate your time and energy to creating a magical experience. Our day was incredible and we are incredibly grateful! What a fantastic way to start this new journey!"
~Kelly Hennegan, Groom


Thank you all for a wonderful and memorable weekend! Everything on the agenda was executed superbly. A beautiful service Maria! The photos were world class Jess and reception food and service five star Nikki! Carole and I and most importantly Christina and Paul were pleased beyond measure. Many thanks for making it all so enjoyable. Please pass along to your staff our grateful thanks and sincere appreciation. All the best,
~Ken, Father of the Groom

Photo Credit: Alison

The Best Wedding Venue in Colorado Springs

From your rehearsal dinner to your wedding reception - we've got you covered! At the Historic Pinecrest, we know how important your big day is, and we make it our goal to assist you in creating your dream wedding. Visit our website today to learn more about our wedding chapel, or give us a call today at 719-357-8613 to request a private tour!

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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Make Your Wedding Day Lucky!

You don't have to be Irish to look for luck - especially on your wedding day! There are so many fun and/or crazy traditions couples have incorporated into their wedding day to help bring them luck. They aren't all Irish traditions, but the Historic Pinecrest thinks that it's a pretty fun way to enjoy this "lucky" week!

Cambodia

Before the ceremony, the wedding party walks in a circle around the couple and the groom brandishes a sword as a symbol of his protection of his bride. During the ceremony, the couple kneels down while holding the sword in between their clasped hands (it's sheathed), and guests tie red strings around each of their wrists.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, tradition says that it's lucky for the bride and groom to cross the threshold of the church with their right foot first. It's a sign that the marriage will be blessed!

China

In China, it's lucky to light firecrackers after the ceremony. It supposedly chases away evil spirits.

Egypt

In Egyptian tradition, it's very good luck to let the women at the wedding pinch the bride. Maybe it started because she wasn't wearing green? *wink*

England

In English weddings of the past, they believed in carrying a horseshoe with ribbons tied on it during your ceremony. Then you would hang it above your doorway afterward - but make sure the ends are pointing up, otherwise the luck could fall out! How very fitting this tradition is for St. Patricks Day!

Germany

In Germany they celebrate Polerabend, or, the "eve of making racket" by breaking porcelain dishes the night before the wedding. This is thought to bring good luck. Afterward, they bride and groom generally work together to clean everything up to symbolize how they'll work together from here on out.

Greece

In Greece, brides can tuck a wrapped lump of sugar inside their glove or into their gown to help ensure a sweet life. A bride can also walk down the aisle with a gold coin in her shoe to bring prosperity, and the groom can put a piece of iron in his pocket to ward off evil spirits.

Holland

Newlyweds may plant lilies of the valley around their new home to symbolize "the return of happiness." Then the couple can celebrate and renew their love with each blooming season *romantic sigh*.

India

Brides have an artist paint henna on their hand and feet in very intricate designs. This is thought to bring joy, beauty, and spiritual awakening. Also, the darker the color of the ink, the stronger the marriage is thought to be.

Ireland

There are many fun Irish wedding traditions, but a sweet one is handfasting. This Celtic tradition says that the bride and groom's hands are tied together to symbolize the joining of a husband and wife. This is also where the phrase "tying the knot" came from!

Korea

Traditional Korean ceremonies incorporated wooden ducks as a symbol of peace, fidelity, and the future blessing of having many "ducklings". The designs are typically based off of the Mandarin Duck, which commonly found a mate for life.

Poland

It's considered good luck for a Polish bride to cry at her wedding, if she does, it can symbolize that she won't cry throughout her married life.

Romania

When the groom comes to get his bride and bring her to the church, he comes with several friends. When the young men arrive at the bride's house, they bring pine trees that are left at the gates for luck. Then the guests make a round dance with the groom and bride and after that, they would sit the bride in a chair and break a loaf of sweet bread above her head.

Getting Married in Colorado Springs

Whether you choose to incorporate these fun wedding traditions to make your day "lucky" or you have some of your own - we hope your day is everything you have ever hoped. If you're getting married in Colorado Springs, we would love to help you host your big day! Our beautiful wedding chapel in Colorado is a breathtaking venue, and perfect for your wedding style. Visit our website to learn more, and have a very lucky St. Patricks Day!

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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5 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Cake

Choosing your wedding cake can be a fun - and tasty process! From the type of cake you want to the style, colors, and textures of the decorating, there are many aspects to choose. While modern weddings can incorporate different desserts instead of cake, a wedding cake is still a very popular way to approach the dessert at your wedding. Here at the Historic Pinecrest, we have seen many different flavors and styles being served up in our Colorado Springs event center, so we wanted to give you a few ideas to help make the choosing process easier.

Finalize Your Guest List

This may not seem like the first step in getting your wedding cake, but the bakery will want to know exactly how many guests they will need to serve when they create your masterpiece. Once you've narrowed down your guest list, you can get prices from local bakeries and see how much they charge for a cake.

Taste Away!

After you've chosen your baker, you'll want to start thinking about flavors that you like. Talk to your bakery and see if they have recommendations based on your location or the season of your wedding. If you are having a summer wedding, you may want to choose fruity and fresh flavors, versus a fall wedding where you may want rich and spicy indulgences. After you've narrowed down a few flavors, as your bakery if you can taste them, and don't forget to bring a friend! Whether you're bringing your groom, mother, or maid of honor, let someone else's tastebuds help you make the final decision.

Think About Colors and Styles

Your bakery may have a book of cakes that they can make, or they may be willing to take photos from your Pinterest account to guide them in your style. Think about the colors that you'll be using in your wedding, as well as flowers, decor, and style. All of these can be incorporated into the design of your wedding cake to make it look fabulous.

Remember Your Location

While it may not seem important, where you have your wedding can also impact the type of cake you choose. If you'll be getting married outside on a warm day, certain frostings are prone to melting. Your bakery can suggest and let you try frostings that can handle a warm day and hot sun without turning into a disaster. You can also use your location as inspiration. Whether you want to decorate with wildflowers from the area or use a flavor that is common to the area, you can use this for inspiration.

Don't Forget Alternatives

If you aren't the type of bride who goes with the same old, same old, there are some fun options for you as well! From using homemade pies to having an ice cream buffet, or even a s'mores bar - many couples are opting for desserts that match their personality and tastes. You can still do a cake cutting ceremony, too! Just ask your bakery for a small "topper" sized cake to be decorated and you can cut that at your reception.

Your Colorado Springs Wedding

This tasty aspect of your wedding can be fun to plan, and especially delicious! As you're making plans for your wedding in Colorado Springs, we would love to assist you in the planning process. Our breathtaking wedding chapel in Colorado would be a beautiful place for you to celebrate your day. Visit our website to learn more about our wedding packages or give us a call at 719-357-8613 to schedule your private tour.

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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Floral Designs For Your Big Day

February 28th is Floral Design Day - and no one knows how important floral designs are than your favorite wedding venue in Colorado Springs. From bridal bouquets to large sprays - the terminology can be vast, and with thousands of flower varieties - it can be helpful to have some knowledge going into it. At the Historic Pinecrest, we want to help you plan every detail of your big day, so we have a few tips to help you with the floral designs in your wedding.

Wedding Flowers You'll Need

There are many places you'll want to incorporate floral arrangements, from your wedding ceremony to the tables at your reception, and even boutonnieres and bouquets. Here are a few floral arrangements you won't want to forget as you start planning.

Personal Flowers

• Bride's bouquet
• Bride's floral crown or hair flowers
• Bridesmaids' bouquets
• Tossing bouquet (for the bouquet toss at the reception)
• Flower girl's bouquet (or basket of petals, floral crown, or pomander)
• Groom's boutonniere
• Groomsmens' boutonnieres
• Ring bearer's boutonniere
• Mother of the bride's corsage or nosegay
• Mother of the groom's corsage or nosegay
• Father of the bride's boutonniere
• Father of the groom's boutonniere
• Grandmothers' corsages
• Grandfathers' boutonnieres
• Officiant's boutonniere
• Ushers' boutonnieres

Ceremony Flowers

• Entryway or welcome table arrangements
• Altar/chuppah arrangements
• Pew or chair arrangements
• Candles
• Aisle decorations
• Tossing petals for guests

Reception Flowers

• Cocktail table arrangements
• Bar arrangements
• Escort-card table arrangements
• Centerpieces
• Bride's and groom's chair decorations
• Buffet-table/food-station arrangements
• Lounge area arrangements
• Flowers for wedding cake
• Cake table arrangements
• Powder room decorations
• Getaway car arrangements

Floral Trends for 2017

Dahlias

These flowers are always in high demand, but we expect to see them take over weddings in late summer and fall. No matter what color you choose, they will be the trending flower for bouquets, table arrangments, and more.

Old-Fashioned Flowers

While many florists in the past steered away from common varieties like zinnias, carnations, or mums - many heirloom varieties will be extremely popular this year. As brides are getting in touch with their vintage side, these old-fashioned favorites will be blooming in many ceremonies.

Muted Tones

Subdued tones are going to be in high demand this year, as colors like dusty rose, milky coffee, champagne, buttercream, and apricot are more involved in the wedding palette. How many of our brides will be using these colors on their big day?

Red Wine
While this *could* give you an excuse to include more wine at your wedding, we're actually talking about the color. These deep red tones are hitting the wedding runway, as well as other bold jewel tones.

Your Colorado Springs Wedding

Mountain weddings are filled with romance and beautiful views - and while we feature many floral accents outdoors through the natural beautify, adding florals indoors is still important.  As you make plans for your wedding, take some time today to think about your floral designs and what you would like to accomplish during your big day. If you have any questions about how your decorations and florals arrangements will look in our Colorado Springs venue, we would love to invite you to our Bridal Open House. You can walk through our venue, try out some of your decorations, and meet some of our amazing vendors! Call our venue at 719-357-8613 to learn when the next event is.

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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The Cut of Class: The Difference Between Diamond Cuts

The moment that many women wait for is to see the sparkling ring on their finger after being asked one of the biggest questions in their life. There's something romantic, pure, and timeless about diamond engagement rings, and no matter what shape or size - they become prized possessions after they are given. At The Historic Pinecrest, we have seen many, many engagement rings - and every single one is as unique as the woman wearing it. If you will be helping your fiance pick our your ring, we want to tell you a little bit about the shapes of diamonds - and help you make the selection easier!

The Round Diamond

The round, brilliant cut is one of the most popular diamond shapes of all. In fact, about 75% of all diamonds sold are round. The round shape provides the proper reflection of light, which maximizes the potential brightness.

The Princess Cut

The princess cut is a "fancy" cut, and one of the most popular fancy cut and especially popular for engagement rings. Like the round cut, the princess cut is a good choice because of the flexibility in working with many styles of rings.

The Emerald Cut

The emerald cut has unique step cuts that lead up to the large open table on the top. Instead of the sparkle that you see in a brilliant-cut, the emerald cut produces a hall of mirrors effect with the interplay of light and dark planes.

The Asscher Cut

This cut was first produced in 1902 by the Asscher Brothers of Holland. It is a forerunner to the emerald cut and is quite similar. It's different in that it's a square shape with larger step facets, a higher crown, and a smaller table.

The Marquise Cut

The marquise cut is football-shaped, and a modified brilliant-cut. The marquise diamond is long and narrow, and can also create the illusion of greater size. Carat for carat, this diamond has one of the largest surface areas.

The Oval Diamond

Because the oval diamond is a modified brilliant-cut, this diamond shape possesses a fire and brilliance as other round cuts. However, the oval cut diamonds have the added advantage of the long shape, which can make it appear to be larger.

The Radiant Cut

This cut is the first rectangular cut to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern on the crown and the pavilion. This creates a vibrant and lively diamond! It's a modified square shape, which is a good bridge between a cushion and a princess cut.

The Pear Cut

The pear-shaped diamond is a combination of a round and marquise shape and it comes to a tapered point on one end.

The Heart Cut

This cut is a unique and unmistakable symbol of love. It's most popular in solitaire pendants, but it's also popular in rings as well. If you want the heart shape cut, you need your diamond to be at least .5 carats due to the complexity of the shape.

The Cushion Cut

If you combine a square cut with a round cut, you will find the cushion cut. It's square but has the rounded corners, similar to a pillow (that explains the name). This cut is a classic and has been around for almost 200 years. For the first century of its existence, it was the most popular diamond shape, and it's beginning to make it's way back again.

A Girl's Best Friend

While many may joke that diamonds are a girl's best friend -  we know that your real best friend is the person you are so excited to marry. At the Historic Pinecrest we love hearing all of your love stories, and watching you both take your next steps in life together. If you are recently engaged (or will be soon!) we would love to meet with you and show off our beautiful event center in Colorado Springs. Visit our website to learn more about our wedding chapel in Colorado Springs - and don't forget to call or text 719-357-8613 for your private tour!

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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Keeping Love Alive In the Midst of Wedding Planning

It comes at no surprise that wedding planning can quickly take over your life and consume your every waking thought (even your dreams, too!). While you may think stress is related to all of the planning, it is also a huge life change - which is why marriage is actually one of the top ten most stressful life events. At the Historic Pinecrest, we know how stressful planning your wedding can be, so we have a few ideas to help you keep the love alive even in the midst of planning your huge wedding in Colorado Springs.

Be Intentional

Just like you have to be intentional about planning your wedding, and getting tasks checked off your list - you have to be intentional about each other. Set aside a fixed time to spend time together. When you set these dates, be purposeful about keeping them, and don't ditch at the last minute. This can be one night a week, or an entire weekend depending on your schedules.

Don't Make Date Night Wedding Planning Night

Make this time an opportunity to NOT talk about wedding plans. You can even set your phones aside so there are no distractions. Plan something fun, like a board game, a movie night with snacks and cuddling, or a hiking trip. There are so many other times when you can discuss wedding details, take some time to focus on your relationship.

Try Something New

When you were first dating, did you try to come up with fun dates and do things you had never done before? Bring that same type of planning into your engagement season! Think of what your significant other loves to spend their time on and plan a surprise date around that activity. It can be a fun way to show them how much you love them and plan a fun date at the same time.

Plan the Honeymoon

Sure, you don't want to plan the wedding on your date nights - but planning the honeymoon is a whole different story! Get excited about this fun getaway with your future spouse, and take some time to plan every detail. If you're going on a road trip, start planning out the stops you'll be making. If you're going on a cruise, you can book your land adventures. If you're planning on cuddling up in a cabin for a snowy week of relaxation, think about the games and movies you want to bring. It can be a fun way to get excited and spend time together.

Small Ways to Show Your Love

Love doesn't have to be a huge fanfare, parade, or fireworks. Sometimes it's a sweet note written on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker or letting them watch their favorite TV show even when you think it's boring. Take time to show love in the small things, especially as you start to plan your new life together.

Planning Your Colorado Springs Wedding

Wedding planning can be tough, but it will all be worth it when you get to your wedding day and can spend forever with the love of your life. Take some time this week (and every week) to invest in your relationship. Don't forget, if you're one of the people who gets surprised with a ring this week - we want to be the first to congratulate you! Visit our website to learn more about our Colorado Springs wedding venue, and don't forget to schedule a showing and come see it in person.

A Beautiful Wedding Awaits...

106 Pinecrest Way

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

www.PinecrestEventCenter.com

Call or text for a private tour!

719-357-8613

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