What can be more romantic than a wedding in the Colorado Rockies? With the mountains in the backdrop and the most magnificent sunsets you can imagine, a Rocky Mountain wedding will certainly be a memorable event. How do you choose your Rocky Mountain wedding venue? That depends on a number of factors. When would you like to have your Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding? Would you like an outdoor or indoor Rocky Mountain wedding reception? How many guests would you like to invite? How much would you like to spend? Fortunately there are Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding locations for every taste and every budget. Let’s explore the options.
Are you and your future spouse avid skiers or snowboarders? Are you looking for an economical wedding option? If so, you should consider Mountain Matrimony at the Loveland Ski Area. This event takes place every year on Valentine’s Day. The ceremony is performed atop chair #2 at the Ptarmigan Roost Cabin at an elevation of 12,440 feet. A reception follows at the Loveland Basin Cafeteria. You can pre-register at Loveland’s Web site and get a two-for-one lift ticket for that day.
If you are looking for a more elaborate ceremony for your Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding, there are some excellent reception sites in Summit County Colorado. For example, consider the wedding reception options at Keystone Colorado. A romantic gondola ride takes you up to the Timber Ridge Lodge, where the reception room can accommodate up to 300 guests. For an 85 guest Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding reception, consider Keystone’s Alpenglow Stube. From its location atop of Keystone’s North Peak, your guests can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains.
The Silverthorne Pavilion is another popular Summit County Colorado wedding venue. Located near the Blue River in Silverthorne Colorado, the Pavilion is a stunning reception area. Outside, the bridge over the Blue River provides some fantastic photo ops!
If you would prefer the Vail/Eagle area, consider the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera. This fantastic hotel offers superb golf and an excellent spa. You can have your wedding ceremony performed on the Cordillera lawn, while you and your guests enjoy the breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. After the ceremony, celebrate with a reception in the 1,600-square-foot Summit Ballroom or the 700-square-foot Alpenglow Room. Both of these elegant rooms open onto outdoor terraces overlooking Colorado’s majestic mountain vistas. If you would like a more intimate reception, choose the 380-square-foot Garden Room.
Perhaps you want to go all out when planning your Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding. If that’s the case, AspenColorado is your only logical choice. If you are choosing Aspen, there is no place more elegant than the Little Nell. Adjoining the Aspen Mountain Club, the wedding deck at the Little Nell is carved into the side of Aspen Mountain at 11,200 feet. The beautiful, terraced lawn has seating for up to 200 guests. With its outstanding views of the Rocky Mountains, the Little Nell in Aspen is truly a unique setting for a Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding.
If you would like your Aspen Colorado wedding to take place in a historical venue, consider the Wheeler Stallard Museum, which is located in Aspen’s quiet and historic West End. The exquisite, lush gardens of this Queen Anne style Victorian mansion offer an elegant and opulent setting for your Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding. The grounds of the museum are designed to accommodate parties of up to 250 wedding guests.
Marriage licenses can be obtained at any clerk and recorder’s office in any county in Colorado and used within 30 days from the date it was obtained anywhere in the State of Colorado.
If you decide on an outdoor Colorado Rocky Mountain wedding, you will need to consider the possibility of adverse weather. Colorado weather conditions are noted for their proclivity towards changing at the drop of a hat. There fore, it behooves you to have a “plan B.” Alternate plans might include an indoor location or a tent with roll-down sides and heaters. For scorching hot summer days, consider a tent for shade and sunscreen as gifts for guests.
