Flower Girl to Wedding Planner: Heidi's Story

My name is Heidi, and I work at the Ken Caryl Vista location in Littleton, Colorado. Every day feels like a celebration here, and every wedding is truly an incredible experience. This venue and everyone I work with makes Ken Caryl Vista my second home!

I'm originally from Iowa City, Iowa, a charming college town. Anyone who knows you will tell you how much I love Iowa! Four years ago, my fiancé, Nate, and I decided to move to Colorado after accepting the job with Wedgewood Weddings. We still stay close to Iowa at heart, though, especially because of our love of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Whether it's cheering for them on game day here in Denver or enjoying good Iowa corn (courtesy of us constantly asking for our parents to ship it to us), we keep a little piece of home with us. Looking back, I am so glad we took the leap of faith to move here because we have fallen in love with our life here in Colorado. It feels like home, and Wedgewood Weddings is a big part of making me feel welcome.

When I first joined Wedgewood Weddings, I accepted the position as a coordinator. It was a great starting point, but I only stayed in that position briefly. I quickly jumped into the role of Catering Manager, and let me tell you, it's been a whirlwind of joy and excitement ever since. This started a new adventure of an exciting and fulfilling career path with Wedgewood Weddings!

One piece of advice I wish I'd known from day one: wear comfortable shoes! Wedding days are full of walking and being on your feet; I typically get between 15,000 and 20,000 steps. Also, always remember to have fun! While weddings can often seem stressful, I'm just organizing a celebration and party of love at the heart of it. Yes, it's the couple's most significant day of their life, but my job is to make it as joyful and enjoyable as possible. So, I have learned to embrace the excitement, keep the mood light, and remember that we're all here to have an amazing time together and celebrate love!

Building genuine connections with my couples is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. I adore seeing couples' dreams come to life and being a part of their special day. One memorable moment for me was coordinating the wedding of Alexys and John on March 19th, two years ago. From the moment Alexys walked into my office, I knew we were destined to be friends. Her energy was infectious, and by the end of our first meeting, I felt like we had known each other forever. Fast forward to today, and Alexys is not only an incredible friend but also attending my own wedding in 2026!

I also have stayed in touch with so many of my couples. I truly feel that on their wedding day, I'm just one of their best friends helping their dreams come to life. I love getting to know all of their bridal parties, families, and guests to make sure they feel comfortable. The connections I build with additional vendors are just as special. For example, Mackenzi Knight was the photographer at the very first wedding I ever coordinated solo at Wedgewood Weddings, and she's now one of my close friends who takes yearly photos of my fiancé, Nate, and me!

Looking back, I can honestly say that working in the wedding industry was always my dream. I attended the University of Iowa for Communication Studies and Event Management, but my younger self fueled my wedding obsession. As a child, I was the little girl who just wanted to be everyone's flower girl. I would beg everyone I knew to let me be a part of their big day. And it worked; I was a flower girl an impressive 13 times!

Those experiences sparked my passion and set me on the path to becoming a wedding planner. Now, I'm living that dream every day, helping countless couples say, "I do," and sharing in the joy of those heartwarming moments, like father/daughter dances (these get me every single time)! It's a role that feels like it was made just for me, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

So, here's to more weddings, love, and incredible memories in the beautiful rolling foothills of Littleton, Colorado!

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POST CONTRIBUTOR: HEIDI MENTZ

KEN CARYL VISTA BY WEDGEWOOD WEDDINGS