A SPECIAL PLACE FOR THAT PERFECT CEREMONY

by Pam North

Gaming has come to the Central City/Black Hawk area, and now the first
wedding chapel has arrived as well.  Unlike the tawdry, assembly-line
type operations common to Las Vegas and other big-time gambling areas,
this newly-formed local enterprise offers a class act, supplying the
perfect backdrop for a cherished occasion.

Colleen Toth, an Ohio native, moved here last summer, subsequently
purchasing an elegant Victorian residence high on a hill in Central
City.  She desired a business of her own, considering an antique shop
as a possibility.  Her friend, Gail Maxwell, had another suggestion,
however; she had always dreamed of having a wedding chapel.  The
pairing of Maxwell's idea with Toth's beautiful home resulted in their
embarking on a new partnership called Bands of Gold.

Steeped in gold mining and frontier history, Central City lends an
atmosphere that is like stepping back in time.  Toth's home reflects
that same ambience.  The historic structure was built by the Hazard
Powder Company, circa 1862, to serve as a powder magazine supplying
gunpowder for the mining activities in the area.  A stone-walled area
in the basement later functioned as a speakeasy during Prohibition
days, and beer and whiskey were brewed there for private use.  The
original bar remains, hidden under several coats of paint (beckoning
for Toth to use her refinishing skills to restore it to its original
natural wood).  The old speakeasy room later became a site for
after-opera parties, and celebrities from the movie "Duchess and the
Dirt Water Fox" reportedly gathered there for drinks during the
filming of the movie.  The owners of the building, after its original
powder magazine use, added residential space in 1897, and put their
own personal touches on the home.  The evolving decor through the
years now reflects a romantic grandeur that is a perfect setting for
small weddings, vow renewals, theme ceremonies, or anniversary
observances.  Misty murals adorn the walls, depicting Janus (the Roman
god for beginnings), Venus (the goddess of love), and Bacchus (the god
of wine and festivity).  The ceiling, beautifully painted in
complementary soft tones and trimmed with carved moldings, is
highlighted with an ornate Victorian chandelier.  A stylish fireplace,
topped with a large beveled mirror and flanked with period floor
lamps, graces one corner of the spacious reception room, and on the
other side a polished wood staircase curves gracefully down from the
upper floor.  Immediately outside, in the front yard, a surveyor's
monument can be touched by couples for luck; the pin is "the point of
true beginning," the origin for direction that provides the basis for
measuring off property lines.

Toth loves history, viewing it as something precious to be preserved.
Traditions of the past are incorporated nicely into the ceremonies
conducted in her home.  Couples enjoy donning the costumes of
yesteryear; men cheerfully adopt the hats,boots, vests and pocket
watches of frontier male fashion, and women love the femininity of
long skirts and feathery bonnets.  Toth and Maxwell have sources where
couples can rent Victorian costumes for a picturesque ceremony that
can even have an element of fun.  At a recent event, a gun was
bedecked with flowers for a tongue-in-cheek "shotgun wedding" symbol.

While the focus of Bands of Gold is on very small gatherings (15 to 20
persons), Toth also has access to alternate outside sites for larger
gatherings.  Rental is by the hour, and couples can either provide
their own minister, or one can be retained by Toth for the ceremony.
Fees begin at $100 for a simple signing ceremony, and range upwards,
depending on the personalization and services desired.  Optional
small-scale refreshments also can be provided in the price package.
Toth and Maxwell have one goal in mind: to make the occasion as
beautifully personal and memorable as possible for those involved.

The residence housing Bands of Gold is located at 250 Casey Avenue.
"The Casey" was a main street in Central City from the mid-1800s to
1910, and was a popular meeting place for couples to stroll,
hand-in-hand, attired in their best clothes.  The historic street
still retains its narrowness, with only enough width to permit the
passage of one car at a time in either direction.  The house itself
has panoramic views of Central City and Chase Gulch from its hilltop
location.

The proximity of hotel accomodations, gaming casinos, restaurants and
other activities in the immediate area helps to round out the choices
of how to celebrate the occasion after leaving Bands of Gold, and Toth
and Maxwell are happy to provide suggestions to personalize whatever
happy occasion is being commemorated.

For more information, call (303) 582-3566, or toll-free (866) 582-3566.