Colorado is such a perfect location for destinations weddings couples planning on bringing their guests in from allover to celebrate. Whether you’re an adventurous couple or have an appreciation for big landscapes, there are many great venues. Below is a little guide that dives into some tips for mountain weddings in Colorado from a local.
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Tips for Preparing for your Colorado Wedding
Mountain Locations and Venues
Each mountain region of Colorado offers vastly different, weather, and scenery. While considering each region, for your mountain wedding in Colorado I would suggest thinking about accessibility for you and your guests, and vendors. I am a traveling wedding photographer and videographer who spends most of the year traveling and navigating different regions of Colorado and the country. As someone who services all of these Colorado regions, I can say confidently that your wedding plans will vary based on each of these.
Dive further into mountain wedding venues with lodging here.
San Juans – Telluride, Ouray, Silverton
The San Juans is a popular region in the summer months. This area offers one of the most sweeping mountain ranges with 360 degree views. It’s the ultimate adventure area, full of off-roading and backcountry activities. Due to it’s high altitude it’s common to see snow 8-10 months of the year in this area at the peaks.
This area is perfect for the couple wanting a more seclusion. There’s a mix of historical mining town feel, with modern luxury amenities. For this region, many of the vendors will travel in from other areas. Telluride is a popular festival and wedding destination.
Goronno Ranch
San Sophia Overlook
Top of the Pines
Summit County – Silverthorne, Breckenridge, Keystone
The Summit County area is known for it’s accessibility to many major Colorado ski resorts and is notably one of the easiest areas to access that puts you in the Colorado mountains. Around two hours from the airport, the Summit County area brings visitors year-round to the area.
With this area being easily accessible, there are many vendor options in addition to locations for your Colorado mountain weddings of any size.
Black Mountain Lodge
Ten Mile Station
Hotel Alpenrock
The Vail Valley – Vail, Eagle, Beaver Creek
With a European like feel, the Vail Valley is a charming area with access to some of Colorado’s most popular ski resorts. The Vail Valley is an iconic location, and offers mountaintop views, as well as in-town options to create a great experience for you and your guests. This is accessible from the Denver or Eagle-Vail airport.
View a Vail Valley wedding here.
Donovan Pavillion
Piney River Ranch
Holy Cross Event Deck
Beano’s Cabin
Aspen Valley – Aspen, Snowmass
The Aspen area has become known as a luxury mountain destination. The town has many modern amenities and a modern feel to it. It combines western culture with a luxe ski feel and pricing. The town of Aspen has an airport, making it easily accessible year-round. If you want more info on weddings in Aspen, view here.
Pine Creek Cookhouse
The Little Nell
Sundeck Aspen Mountains
The Rockies – Estes Park, Steamboat, Granby, Winter Park
For a family and friends focused weekend that feels outdoorsy, down to earth and connected with nature, I recommend the Rockies. Between 2-2.5hrs from the Denver airport, this region features a mixture of mountains, front range and easy to access locations.
Each location has a distinct mix of rustic feel and modern touches. If you like to hike, bike, ski, or are planning an adventure wedding, it’s a great area.
Black Canyon Inn
Flying Diamond Ranch
Granby Ranch
Lunch Rock
The Gunnison Valley – Gunnison, Crested Butte
What once was a quiet valley surrounded by plains and mountains, is now a popular destination for it’s wildflowers. This growing area has a small town feel but is bustling with travelers through the summer and fall. Regardless, this is still one of my favorite areas in Colorado.
Your guests will feel immersed in the walkable mountain town, surrounded by good views. You can fly into the Montrose airport (1-1.5hrs), or travel in from Denver for a longer scenic five-six hour trek.
Ten Peaks
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Collegiate Peaks – Buena Vista, Salida
If you are an avid hiker or outdoor enthusiast, the Collegiate Peaks is a great spot for a summer Colorado wedding. From rafting, to hiking, this area is known for its peaks and river. It’s growing area, is home to many hot springs so that you can relax and hang out on your wedding weekend.
This area is accessible within two and a half hours from the Denver airport and has a variety of camping, short term vacation rentals, and a few hotel options.
The Surf
Best Time of Year
Fall
Fall brings changing colors to the aspens, and often cooler temps. Fall is the most popular time of year to get married in Colorado with most weddings occurring in September/October. The fall can be an amazing time to get married. Early snows in the high country may happen as soon as mid October, while the front range area usually will be more moderate.
Spring
Spring is becoming a more popular time to get married in Colorado. In the mountains, snow may still be present, while down on the front range, weather begins to warm up. The days get longer, meaning more time for late day celebration and sunset photos.
Summer
Wildflowers begin to bloom and weather heats up in the afternoon. A great time of year for an outdoor wedding venue. Temps in the front range can be in the 90’s. Sunsets at 8pm or later, allowing for a full day of celebration. The summer months often will have a high UV index in the mountains – it’s recommended to wear sunscreen.
Winter
Winter is beautiful with snowy peaks. Temperature can very depending on area. Grasses are yellow and brown, but evergreen meadows are green with often blue sky days. If you’re getting married in the mountains it is advised that you stay in local to the area as roads can often be impacted with winter closures.
Tips for Preparing for your Colorado Wedding
Planning & Booking in Advance
For wedding dates in the summer and fall seasons, it’s recommended to start searching for and booking your vendors 8-12 months in advance. Hotels and stays will often fluctuate will year round tourism in the mountain towns. When planning for time of year, consider the activities and local weather within that region. Ski resorts and lift access will usually remain open June-August, and late November-April. If you are planning on activities as part of your wedding weekend, it would be advised that you book them in advance to take advantage of the best pricing.
Altitude
Plan on arriving 2-3 days before your wedding to allow time to acclimate for the altitude. Drink plenty of water and take your time before heading to higher elevation. Get good sleep, and avoid packing your day with adventures.
Attire
Weather can change frequently and throughout the day. Pack extra layers and sunscreen year-round. Plan for temperature changes of 10-20 degrees during the daytime. Sneakers, boots, and a puffy jacket are always great to have when visiting Colorado.
Activities
Depending on the area that you’ll be visiting, take advantage of the local activities. Colorado is known for it’s fly-fishing, rafting, and hiking. In the mountainous area horseback riding tours are popular in the summer, while skiing is popular in the winter months. I would recommend hiring a guide or instructor when doing an activity for the first time.
There are also many scenic driving routes, as well as parks to visit throughout Colorado.
Travel Tips for Mountain Weddings
Flying into Colorado
Denver International Airport (DIA) is Colorado’s main airport. DIA offers the most flight options and serves as a major hub for travel. The airport is about 30-45 minutes away from the Denver area, and about 1.5-2hrs from many major mountain areas in the summer months. There are many smaller airports that service the mountain regions as well. Expect turbulance, and potential weather delays year-round when flying into Colorado.
Transportation
There are rental car pickups at all Colorado airports. If you are in a major city area there is also access to Uber. Some of the mountain town areas have town shuttles for transportation, but are unreliable for ride share. If you’re traveling to Colorado to get married it is likely that you’ll travel on I-25 or I-70. I-70 services many of the mountain towns/ski areas. During the weekend or in ski season, expect traffic along this route as well as impacts due to weather. It is recommended to buffer an additional 30 minutes to an hour for travel times.
I specialize in working with destination couples, who are either traveling in Colorado, or bringing traveling guests to Colorado for their wedding. Reach out if you’d like to chat more about your Colorado mountain wedding.
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