On Television...
Aired on December 24, 2007
Annual Holiday Celebration Show
Wedding Planning Day on 9News
Aired May 27, 2007
Segments Include:
"So Your Engaged... Now What"
"Wedding Budget Planning"
"Themed Weddings"
"Choosing the Perfect Wedding Cake"
"Selecting Your Wedding Dress"
"What's Hot in Colors and Wedding Parties"
"Choosing the Perfect Flowers"
Watch Now
In The News...
12-24-2007
Eaton
couple give Iraq veteran a proper wedding
Bill Jackson,
(Bio)
bjackson@greeleytribune.com
December 24, 2007
Eaton resident Lorie Cooper has seen
a lot of people in love in her 25 years of wedding
planning.
But she has never seen the undying
love and commitment that she sees between Travis Vandela
of Wyoming and his wife-to-be, Tiffany Black.
About a year ago, Vandela lost both
his legs and suffered other serious injuries while
serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq. It was just a month
before he and Black were to be married.
Since then, the wedding has been on
hold.
It was on hold, that is, until a
television talk show host teamed up with Lorie and Kevin
Cooper and dozens of other northern Colorado businesses.
They'll all be part of a special "Montel
Williams Show," which will be aired today on Fox
television.
Williams, who is a graduate of the
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., contacted the Coopers
to see if he could help the young couple with their
wedding plans as part of his tribute to the military
Christmas show.
Lorie is the general manager of the
La Quinta Inn and Suites and the Fountains of Loveland
and Event Center; Kevin is a pastor who operates Merry
Me in Colorado out of the couple's Eaton home.
Lorie said that within 24 hours of
their initial contact with the talk-show host, they had
assembled a group of wedding professionals in the
northern Colorado area who have donated their services
and products to provide the couple with a wedding valued
in excess of $25,000.
The wedding is scheduled for May 24,
as that's the date Vandela has set to be able to stand
on his prosthetic legs. He wanted to be able to see his
bride come down the aisle and dance with her at their
reception.
Last week, the Coopers, along with
the intended couple, were flown to New York to tape the
Williams show.
"It was so amazing," Lorie said. She
said Tiffany thought she was there just for the salute
to the military show and was not aware of the wedding
plans.
She said the couple's original plans
were to be married in a VFW with a cake because of the
medical expenses.
But now it will be at the Fountains
of Loveland, thanks to the Coopers and more than 25
other businesses from the region who are supplying the
wedding and reception, full catering, wedding
photography, cinematography services, flowers, formal
wear, a wedding cake, invitations, rental items, a horse
and carriage, entertainment, bridal party jewelry, a
chocolate fountain, ice carving and a host of other
specialty items.
She said Vandela and Black are
spending Christmas in Cheyenne, then he will return to a
hospital in San Antonio, Texas, for more treatment. In
addition to losing both legs in the attack on the Hummer
he was in, the Army sergeant suffered a broken pelvis,
broken arm, fractured vertebrae in his neck and had to
be revived three times by medical personnel.
"This man has a definite purpose for
his life that he was able to survive and conquer what
would have been the demise for millions of others,"
Lorie said.
ON AIR
"The Montel Williams Show" will air
it's special Christmas Salute to the Military show at 1
p.m. today on Fox 31.
____________________________________
11-10-2007
Business
already streaming into The Fountains
Construction still is in
progress at the hotel/events complex, with LaQuinta
opening in Dec.
By David Young
The Reporter-Herald
There are no walls, carpet, lights or furniture inside
the LaQuinta Inn and Suites at The Fountains of
Loveland, the city’s newest events center.
The actual events center is nothing more than a pile
of dirt with a foundation around it — right now.
And the 2-acre pond is just a vision in the minds of
its owners, Hamid and Janice Eslan.
However, the Fountains of Loveland, 1450 Cascade
Ave., already has 14 events booked, because people see
the Eslans making their vision a reality.
In the chilly November air, Hamid excitedly walks
through his 10 acres that will be home to a LaQuinta Inn
and Suites, events center, restaurant, pond, fountains,
a solid white marble gazebo, two parking lots and plenty
of open space.
Hamid paints a vivid picture with his arms of where a
pile of dirt will soon be a ballroom capable of seating
340 guests.
To the west, a three-story 70-room shell of the hotel
stands, expected to be completed before the end of the
year.
Wearing a bright orange construction helmet, Hamid
enters what will become the lobby of the hotel, which is
alive with construction.
“We have two bridal suites with a bar, Jacuzzi and
two chandeliers,” Hamid said.
Lorie Cooper, general manager of the Fountains of
Loveland and La Quinta Inn and Suites, says the Eslans
spared no expense when building the hotel.
From the large flat-screen LCD televisions to an
18-foot-tall fireplace in the lobby, the new hotel
caters to a different kind of clientele from the average
business or vacation traveler.
“We are completely different,” said Cooper, referring
to the center’s purpose. “Our objective is to be almost
a country club.”
And while Eslan Park won’t have “members” per se, the
experience offered is both exclusive and all-inclusive.
It is exclusive in the sense that the events center,
restaurant and hotel bring a combined amenity that
currently does not exist in Loveland.
Cooper said as of now 70 percent of the center’s
business is weddings, with the other 30 percent being
proms, class reunions and meetings.
“Most of the interest (in the center) has been from
within Loveland, and it has been really overwhelming,”
Cooper said. “With this new spot, people can keep their
business in Loveland.”
If all goes according to plan and the center opens on
time, the first event that the Fountains will host is
the Berthoud High School prom on April 26.
Diana Benkert, Berthoud High School English teacher
and prom sponsor, said she contacted the Eslans about
holding the event there after reading about The
Fountains at Loveland in the paper.
Seeing as the high school outgrew its current prom
facility in Lyons, Benkert said the appeal of a new
center attracted them.
“Primarily the idea is that it is a new facility,”
said Benkert, who was impressed by Cooper’s description
of a country club atmosphere.
And while the event centers offerings are unique, it
is inclusive in the fact that Hamid hopes to cultivate a
similar atmosphere at the center’s Aspen Leaf Grill,
possibly to be renamed the Blue Coyote, that he has at
his downtown restaurant the Black Steer.
The banquet hall and restaurant have two separate
kitchens, enabling the restaurant to remain open to the
public while an event is taking place in the adjacent
center.
On the east section of the property will sit a
waterfall with a 2-acre pond, Hamid said.
And two fountains and courtyards, named Tiffany and
Alexia after the Eslans’ daughters, will mark the
entrances.
The events center, scheduled to open in April 2008,
features five meeting rooms totaling 10,000 square feet.
“It is all the little details that make it upscale
and beautiful,” Cooper said.
____________________________________________________________________
Hire a Fairy
Godmother ...
A wedding planner
can be the key to a perfect day
By Ann Avery
Planning a wedding is one of those times when you
really want a fairy godmother. You need someone to make
your dreams come true and your worries go away. The good
news is that you really can hire a fairy
godmother—they're called wedding planners.
While there are some less desirable aspects of fairy
godmothers, like appearing unexpectedly and wearing
outrageous clothing, you get to choose a wedding planner
who suits your style. In fact, making the right choice
may be the most important step in planning your wedding.
Find the Perfect Match
Choosing that other "special someone"—your wedding
planner—is also about finding a perfect match.
Sure, references are important, but trust your people
sense when you're choosing a wedding planner.
Personality is key, according to Lorie Copper, Master
Consultant, Events, Etc. in Eaton. Everyone is unique,
and the "perfect" planner for your best friend may not
be the right one for you. Don't be embarrassed about
interviewing several planners, and don't make your
choice until you find someone you like and who
understands you.
"The wedding planner is the person you are trusting
to complete the circle and make your dream come true.
Your personalities have to mesh. It's a very emotional
time in addition to being aesthetic. So you need to make
sure that your planner's personality feels right to you,
because she needs to feel what you are feeling," said
Cooper.
Share Your Heart
Once you choose your wedding planner, what is the
most important thing to say (besides, "help!")? It's
easy, actually: share your heart, just as you would with
your fairy godmother.
"The first thing I want to know from a bride and
groom and their family is the vision: what are the
expectations; what's the fairy tale they want to
create?," said Cooper.
Communication is critical in the planning stages.
Tell your planner your hopes and also don't hide your
fears. Your wedding planner is there to solve your
problems, so don't be shy. If there is a family issue
that may crop up, let her know, so that she can help and
not be blindsided. Every good wedding planner knows how
to solve problems and also to keep secrets.
Other vital information includes your budget, the
number of guests, and the number of people you hope to
have in your wedding party. But don't let any of these
details change your dream. A good wedding planner who
understands your fantasy can bring it to life, no matter
what the size or the cost.
Hand Off the "Project"
In the planning stages, a wedding can start to feel
like one long checklist, starting with some of the first
big choices: the location, cake, and catering. The
wedding planner will make these choices as easy as
possible by doing the research and the communication
with the vendors. While this will keep things more
organized and help you stay within budget, the real
point of hiring professional planning is to allow you to
experience the joy of your wedding.
"I didn't have a wedding planner for my own wedding,
so I know from experience," said Karey Kaine,
independent wedding consultant in Fort Collins. "I was
the one making decisions, answering people's questions,
and making sure things were taken care of, and in the
end, I missed out on some of my day."
Your wedding day is not just an event and not just a
party. This special day is the first day of your
marriage. You should be free to enjoy it and create
memories with the people you love. This is another
reason it's so important to find a wedding planner you
are comfortable with, according to Kaine. Find someone
who listens to you, and give her all the knowledge she
needs to do the right things. Then hand the "project"
over to her, and enjoy yourself.
For Better and For Worse
While a wedding planner can help you find just the
right florist, photographer, and get all of the dozens
of other details together, the day of the wedding is
when you'll need her most.
"No matter how well planned things are, there are
inevitable complications and questions, and the wedding
planner is there to take care of them. A wedding planner
has so many contacts at her fingertips: she can order
more flowers to hide a table leg or find another DJ, or
whatever is needed. She can get on the phone and make
things happen and the bride can focus on the groom, her
family, and her guests," said Kaine.
A wedding is a highly emotional time, and sometimes
that also means that tensions can surface. A wedding
planner plays a very important role as a neutral party
to help easy any interpersonal strains.
"When you hear about wedding 'horror stories,' it's
so often a clash of personalities. A planner can be an
intermediary, and take the brunt, to resolve things,"
said Cooper.
Today there are many marriages that involve multiple
families and step relationships. A wedding planner can
help communicate about things that could be sensitive
such as seating arrangements and group photographs
without the bride or groom needing to be involved.
Make it Special
Ultimately, each wedding should be as individual as
the bride and groom, and a good wedding planner can help
you add the personal touches that will make the big day
it not only memorable but unique.
"I recommend that people personalize the entire
ceremony. Be sure to involve any children, and take the
time to have fun. One of the things I highly recommend
to every couple is to take the time to write their own
wedding vows. The ceremony is what you are saying that
will last forever," said Cooper.
Originally published January 7, 2006
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