Brianna Culberson, Author at Conference & Event Services

Scenery Insights of DU’s Arboretum

There is no denying that the University of Denver (DU) campus is beautiful with its green spaces, abundant flowers, and impressive buildings but did you know that DU is a certified arboretum? Below are some special places you should checkout next time you wander around campus!

Right outside Evans Memorial Chapel, a gorgeous venue for weddings, you will find a Weeping Fruitless Mulberry whose native range is China. They bloom in the spring and prefer full sun so are perfect for Denver’s beautiful weather.

Around the perimeter of Carnegie Green, you will find a Common Hackberry which produces small berries that ripen in fall attracting birds and other animals, a Colorado Spruce which is the state tree of Colorado, an Eastern Cottonwood which is the largest Cottonwood in DU’s collection, and a Hot Wings Tatarian Maple which is known for its brilliant red sumaras.

In Harper Humanities Garden, which is often used for outdoor summer weddings, you can find a Thornless Common Honeylocust which turns yellow or yellow green in fall, and a Pioneer Elm which can grow to roughly 50 feet high and 50 feet wide.

Near Daniels College of Business, on the Grad Green, a Green Ash tree can be found. The Green Ash is native to the U.S. and Canada. Green Ash have a fast growth rate as they can grow more than 2 feet a year. Their leaves turn a vibrant yellow in the fall.

We are so lucky to be apart of DU and to help coordinate events around campus so everyone can enjoy its beauty. Planning an event? Check out our website to look through the stunning venues we offer!

Intimate Gatherings and Small Guest Lists

Due to COVID-19, more people are having small and intimate wedding gatherings to abide by policies and guidelines. To prioritize the health and safety of families, couples are making the difficult decision to decrease their guest lists. Smaller weddings allow for a more intimate setting and atmosphere. As COVID guidelines relax, it will be interesting to see if this trend sticks or if there is a wave of large weddings.

Backyard Venues

Outdoor weddings have become more popular due to COVID-19 as it provides a safer environment and allows more space to social distance. Additionally, as guest lists have become smaller, intimate settings such as a backyard are being utilized.

Assigned Seating

While assigned seating is often used for specific family members during the ceremony, more people are using it for all their guests due to COVID-19. Seating groups by pods has also become popular as guests want to know who they are sitting with prior to the event.

Individualized Eating

Formal dinner services, and individualized food displays including mini wedding cakes, have become popular as a safety precaution for COVID-19. While buffet catering used to be the usual choice, couples are choosing individualized options to limit the sharing of utensils and uncovered food. This is made easier when you have smaller guest lists and assigned seating as mentioned earlier.

Live Streaming

As COVID-19 greatly affected people’s ability to travel, live streaming your ceremony has become an alternative option. For those who can’t travel or visit, live streaming is a great idea. While it may seem unconventional, as long as there are no technical issues live streaming allows for more friends and family to be involved and is a great way to record those special moments.

These are just a few trends that have risen since COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines. It will be interesting to see how many of them remain over the next few years, and which ones disappear. All these trends can be difficult to keep up with so why not utilize us for your wedding planning. Our Conference and Event Services Team can help you navigate the difficulty of planning a wedding and ensure your special day is perfect. Check us out on Instagram at going_tothechapel for beautiful pictures and inspiration!

Begin planning as soon as you can. Events take a lot of preparation so start early and give yourself plenty of time. We recommend starting the planning process three months before your event.

To stay prepared and clear-headed it is best to have a timeline for your event with appropriate deadlines. While not everything may go to plan, having a timeline will help you adapt to any sudden changes and allow you to visualize what needs to be done leading up to your event.

Planning an event is not easy and therefore not a one-person job. Don’t try to plan an important event all alone. Form or find a skilled team who can help you with the process.

Don’t forget to take pictures throughout the entire event planning process. While they are great for marketing your event and creating buzz, they are also great memories to have once the event finishes. Whether your event is a wedding or an educational conference, you will want to remember this experience.

Don’t forget to have fun at your event! You worked hard to plan and prepare, now it is time to enjoy it. You deserve it. Stay calm and try not to stress. The hard work is over so interact with your guests and have a good time.

These are just a few key tips to help you plan your event but do some more research. You can find lots of advice and tips online. If you’re looking for an event venue, take a look at our website! The University of Denver has venues for every occasion and with the help of our Conference and Event Services team, your event will be a huge success.