Many ski and snowboard enthusiasts dream of tying the knot at their favorite ski resort. While many might picture a winter wedding with snow glistening in the background, most major resorts offer a range of beautiful venues to host the perfect mountain wedding all year-round.
For a lot of resorts particularly those in Colorado, California and Utah, weather in the Fall and Spring can be a bit unpredictable which puts summer weddings in high demand. The combination of mild weather, lush scenery, and the opportunity for out of town guests to get a summer vacation out of the trip make summer a popular time of year for weddings. Whether a couple is looking for panoramic mountain views, a classic lodge setting or a modern and upscale setting, there’s a ski resort with the perfect wedding venue for all mountain enthusiasts.
When choosing which resort, there are a few things to consider (amongst affordability). The main things include: accommodations (lodging, capacity, transportation, etc) aesthetics (if the wedding venue is appealing, which shouldn’t be a problem at any of the major resorts), and what the resort provides you with on your wedding day and leading up to it (rehearsal dinner arrangements, dining tables, chairs, dinnerware, linens, etc). To help you plan your special day, here’s a breakdown of just a few of the most extraordinary resorts, venues and contact information.
Aspen/Snowmass– boasts its eight exceptional wedding venues. For a large wedding, Sundeck is very welcoming. Sundeck can be found on top of one of Aspen’s fabulous mountains. It features an outdoor ceremonial area with panoramic views and an indoor gallery with a cozy rock fireplace. The dining has room for 250 guests and the reception room can host up to 500 guests! For those seeking a more intimate setting, the Lynn Britt Cabin is wonderful option. The cabin can host up to 60 guests, and the meadow area can host up to 200 guests. The Lynn Britt Cabin has a rustic indoor atmosphere and a quaint outdoor atmosphere. All Aspen/Snowmass venues have multiple options for exceptional catering and a wedding planning committee to help assist with all of your wedding needs. See additional information below.
Breckenridge –is a perennial favorite because of its charming downtown and small-town feel. Many get married in Breckenridge for the experiences shared there as well as the awesome views. Wedding guests would be delighted to attend a wedding in Breckenridge for a beautiful celebration as well new adventures. Breckenridge has 7 wedding venues, each with its own perks. For the most authentic ski resort wedding, great choices are: TenMile Station and The Sevens. TenMile Station is ideal for those looking for a lodge themed wedding environment with outdoor areas and expansive views. The Sevens is pure elegance from exterior to interior. It’s located along the mountainside and has dramatic scenery. Each venue offers different packages. See our link at the end of the article.
Copper Mountain – a huge perk to tying the knot at Copper Mountain is that each couple receives a Copper Mountain Event Coordinator to assist in wedding operations. Copper Mountain has four unique ceremony sites. Copper Mountain has a Chapel for more traditional weddings, a mountain top site- Solitude Station, an on the golf course site- Copper Creek Vista, and a mountain lodge site- the Mezzanine. Solitude Station is ideal for those seeking a large outdoor ceremony with a mountainous backdrop. The site is accessible by a chairlift! After the wedding ceremony, the party moves on to one of Copper Mountain’s four reception venues. Copper Mountain has a reception space for intimate wedding groups as well as large wedding parties. A chic reception option is CB Grille. CB Grille is located Copper Mountain’s village and has a sophisticated atmosphere as well as menu filled with all of Colorado’s best foods.
Crested Butte – offers outstanding landscape of Mt Crested Butte. Crested Butte has five different venues. All venues can host large groups of people! Whether you are looking for casual, elegant, or an intimate setting, Crested Butte has something for everyone. Some of most unique venues include Butte 66 BBQ Roadhouse Restaurant and the Lodge at Mountaineer Square-Grand Ballroom. Butte 66 BBQ is ideal for those wanting a more laid-back ski country wedding. It has an outdoor deck perfect for soaking in the scenery. The Lodge at Mountaineer Square- Grand Ballroom is suitable for weddings year-round. It features a fancy cocktail hour deck, 400 guest capacity and fabulous interiors. Crested Butte packages are very generous and include discounted lodging rates for guests, complimentary rehearsal spaces, and all dining equipment.
Keystone Resort – unbeatable scenery, variety of wedding sites, and top-of-the-notch accommodations. Keystone Resort offers an impressive dining menu, transportation to the wedding site for guests on the wedding day, complimentary rehearsal dinner arrangements, and furniture/ accessories for the wedding service and reception. Keystone has outdoor venues that truly create a fairytale wedding and are best enjoyed in the summer months. For a smaller wedding size, the go-to is Aplenglow Stube. Alpenglow Stube is an upscale restaurant, and the wedding ceremony is hosted outside with an endless view of the mountains. Also- wedding guests get to ride the gondola up to the ceremony! For those with a bigger wedding, an excellent choice is Keystone Ranch. At Keystone Ranch, the bride and groom exchange vows along the Keystone Ranch Golf Course while being encompassed by the stoic Rocky Mountains.
Squaw Valley- is a wonderful choice to have the day of your dreams. Squaw Valley has venues both mountainside and mountaintop. The mountaintop ceremony space is the Upper Deck at High Camp. This venue has breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and is located on the mountain edge. It has capacity for up to 250 guests. The mountaintop reception venue is the Terrace Room at High Camp. This venue also has expansive views of Lake Tahoe and panoramic glass windows to accentuate the view. Squaw Valley has three mountainside resorts, all just as impressive as the mountaintop venues. A good option for those in quest of exchanging vows outdoors amongst towering pines and green space is The Garden at Olympic Village Lodge. This venue features a beautiful garden, a mountain backdrop, and capacity for up to 300 guests. Squaw Valley has a dedicated and personable staff to help you plan your day.
Preliminary Planning Checklist:
-Agree on the number of guests & a budget before deciding on venue
-Decide wedding colors (*cool colors for winter, bright colors for springs, light colors for summer & rich colors for fall)
-Find a photographer
-Create a Pinterest wedding board to store all your ideas (*which you probably already have)
-Decide on a date and then send out a save-the-date (*6 months before wedding date)
-Find someone experienced to help you plan (*whether it be a family member, friend, or professional)
-Create a wedding website to keep guests updated on transportation, additional fun things to do in the area, time of ceremony and reception, transportation on wedding day, and registry details
-Create a #hashtag and advertise it early on so that when guests post pictures all pictures can be found under that hashtag
-Enjoy your engagement and have a stress-free next couple months of planning!
Additional Sources:
Wedding Planning Help:
https://www.theknot.com/ – your best friend during wedding planning. Creating a free wedding website, registry list, guest list, and a budget can all be done through The Knot. It’s also a great resource for decorating, photo and dress ideas.
Photography:
http://kentmeireisphotography.com/
https://www.trystanphotography.com/breckenridge-wedding-photography
http://www.dougmiranda.com/wedding-photos-lake-tahoe-golf-course
Resort Wedding Links:
Crested Butte – http://www.skicb.com/groups/weddings
Aspen/Snowmass – https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/weddings
Breckenridge – http://www.breckenridge.com/groups/weddings/weddings-in-breckenridge.aspx
Copper Mountain – http://www.coppercolorado.com/weddings/weddings-home
Crested Butte – http://www.skicb.com/groups/weddings
Keystone Resort – http://www.keystoneresort.com/groups-and-conferences/weddings/weddings-at-keystone.aspx
Squaw Valley – http://squawalpine.com/groups/weddings/wedding-venues
About the Author: Grace Holden helps with marketing and customer support at Colorado based ski resort furniture supplier Equip, Inc. As a graduate of The University of Colorado at Boulder, Grace has an affinity for Colorado mountain resorts. That, coupled with having recently helped plan her sister’s wedding made her the perfect person to write this blog post. ???? 
Grace can be reached with questions or comments at grace@equipinc.com