Guest blogger Caitlin Hamilton Summie shares a very special perspective on The Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver. Caitlin lives in Colorado with her husband and two children. She works with Unbridled Books to promote new and emerging voices in fiction, work of which she is especially proud.
Spotlight on Bookstores is a weekly series at She is Too Fond of Books, featuring essays by you, the reader! To submit a Spotlight post, contact dawn@sheIsTooFondOfBooks.com
I had my wedding reception at the Tattered Cover Bookstore, up on the beautiful third floor of the LoDo branch, which is located downtown in a renovated warehouse district. The interior of the store is old wood and at that time there was dark green carpeting on the floor and, of course, there were floor to ceiling bookshelves. The third floor was open—and vast. More room than we needed. From the windows, one could take in views of Denver. It was magical.
We didn’t plan on having our reception in the bookstore. Like many couples, though, event planning began with location consideration. We were married at our church, which is also in the heart of Denver’s downtown, and we needed to find a place nearby, especially for some of the less physically able. With family and friends arriving from all over the country and from as far away as England, and in this altitude, we wanted things to be easy. After a few calls, we had another issue. The museum and athletic club were quite costly. So was the historic Brown Palace. My husband and I had waited a long time to find each other. We were a little older than some (okay, most) of our friends when they were married. We knew that we didn’t want to shoot our budget (i.e., future) by wracking up a big debt, even though family was helping. How to find an affordable place that was also close by??
And then I heard about Tattered. Of course, it helps that I work in books. My friend, Charles, told me. He is the very cool events person at the Tattered Cover, and he let me know that the store was planning on using its third floor in LoDo to host special events. So I called.
It was a little odd, I think, for my husband’s family to read on the invitations that the reception would be at a bookstore. But bless their hearts, not one of them said a word. My family and friends, bibliophiles all or people who just know I adore books, never blinked. And they all gamely walked to the store, or rode the free shuttle, or scooted in to the last parking places near the store.
And everybody was charmed. It was different, there was plenty of space, the building is old, and people from out of town got a real taste of the city. Book fans browsed the shelves. We never bothered the staff or customers. I’m not certain, unless you saw my husband and I squeak through the main doors, or heard the faint sound of jazz, that anyone would have ever known we were all there.
I wore my Mom’s dress and the Swedish crown that was part of her veil, and with my new husband, who looked incredibly dapper in his tux, we celebrated with dear family and friends, surrounded by walls and walls of books. There were titles that I had represented on the shelves. And it felt like home.
The Tattered Cover always does feel like home, always will. I love the books. And I love that often enough I find a friend working on the days I go. I love the coffee shops and the oversized chairs and the feeling I get at LoDo or Colfax—that an afternoon is never enough time to browse.
Now, though, the LoDo store in particular will always hold my heart because that is where I celebrated that I had found its missing half.
Wow – a wedding reception in a bookstore? That is like a dream reception (mine was in a barn – which was cool too – even though there were no books!).
Wow!! What an amazing place to hold a wedding receiption! I’m so jealous! I was out in Denver in early January for work and had hoped to make a trip to the Tattered Cover, but just didn’t have enough time.
What a wonderful guest post. And I absolutely adore the idea of a bookstore wedding reception. Thanks Caitlin for sharing your story and photo!!
Thanks for sharing Caitlin. You’ve raised the bar for book-oriented nuptials. One more reason to visit Tattered Cover.
Caitlin, sounds like a great reception. My son moved to Denver a souple of years ago, and whenever I visit, I stop at one of the Tattered Cover stores for recommendations of local authors. I really like the Colfax Ave. store, which was built inside a historic theater.
Oh my gosh! I would love to go to a wedding reception in a bookstore. I’ve been to one in a bowling alley, but that’s another story altogether.
My boss is from Denver, and I’ve heard such good things from her about the Tattered Cover. That’s incredibly cool that they’ve opened their doors to special events. I wonder if my favorite library would be up for something similar — I haunt the place, and my boyfriend works there.
Hi Caitlin! What a wonderful place for a wedding reception! Too celebrate surrounded by books would be my idea of heaven. I just love the name of the bookstore—Tattered Cover.
Great post!
What a wonderful idea for book lovers. Maybe this will start a new trend. This makes me want to visit the Tattered Cover even more.
Oh that is so sweet!!!
Wow! What a cool story! I would have loved to do something like that … though I suspect my husband wouldn’t be too thrilled … we have a “mixed marriage” — I am a reader and he is not. I’m always working on trying to change that though!
Caitlin,
That would have been a first for me, having shot weddings for 8 years; never in a bookstore. I will be at the University of Denver Feb 19th, hosted by Sigma Tau Delta, speaking on Thematic Metafiction and the Narrative Voice. Feel free to drop by; it’s open and free. I will try and check out Tattered Cover while I am there. Thanks. Ara 13 , author of Drawers & Booths , Fiction .
What a great idea. I never would have thought to do that. I remember that third floor too. It was closed when I visited last summer but wow.. I’m jealous!
That is so cool! That would have to be a dream location for me…..I am so jealous!
How amazing — brilliant idea! I bet your guests had a wonderful time, too. I think that’s one of the most original wedding locations I’ve ever heard of!
Best,
Sarah
That it so incredibly cool! And such a sweet story ;o). Thank you for sharing it, Caitlin. If I ever get to Denver, I’ll be sure to visit Tattered Cover. Sounds like a great place…
First of All, I love this Spotlight on Bookstores series. What a great idea Dawn! Did you see that you are featured in todays Shelf Awareness about this?!! Congrats!
That is such a creative idea to host a wedding reception in a bookstore. It makes the experience so much more personal and a perfect spot considering Caitlin’s work and love of books.
Congrats on the feature in Shelf Awareness!
[...] of She Is Too Fond Of Books has a great guest post from Caitlin Hamilton Summie of Unbridled Books. Caitlin shares her love [...]
That is the best idea I have ever heard. How fun. You look so happy.
Congratulations.!
Wisteria
What a beautiful and creative reception, so perfect for you!
I didn’t know the Tattered Cover would do events. It’s a great store though!
Hey, my hubby wanted to have our wedding reception at Fenway Park! LOL
What a neat story! I like weddings with unique touches. Thanks for sharing, Caitlin!
amazing….a wedding reception in a bookstore!
What a great post! Congrats, Dawn, on the mention in Shelf Awareness! (I missed that, will have to look it up in the archives!)
What fun! I am going to have to visit the store on my trip to Denver next month!
That is great! What a wonderful place to celebrate love! I wouldn’t be surprised if more bookstores start doing this now that yours was a success. I’ve already seen some unusual wedding venues … so bookstores could very well be the next craze.
I found this article because I wanna get married at a bookstore. I just wanted to know I’m not soooo crazy nobody else had done it before. Congrats!
I LOVE this idea! It is so us too! Thanks for sharing!