Planning a Colorado Mountains Wedding? 5 Tips for Getting Married in the Mountains
Are you dreaming of a Colorado mountains wedding? Whether you quite literally want your wedding on top of a mountain or are searching for Colorado wedding venues with mountain views, you can have it in CO. At Mountainside Events, we are big fans of getting married in the mountains (as our business name suggests!). And having planned multiple mountain soirees, we know a thing or two about how to plan the perfect celebration. Keep reading to discover everything to consider when planning an epic wedding in the Colorado mountains.
Where are the Best Spots for Getting Married in the Colorado Mountains?
There are multiple Colorado wedding venues with mountain views. One of our absolute favorite Colorado venues near Fort Collins is the Mishawaka Amphitheater. Not only does it offer spectacular views, but it is a well-established, unique venue perfect for hosting your friends and family. If you’re serious about getting married in the mountains, it’s an awesome location.
We also love Della Terra in Estes Park. This boutique, luxury wedding venue is located at the Fall River Entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park and offers 14 acres of beautiful majestic Rocky Mountain landscape.
Another Estes Park venue that is a great option for getting married in the Colorado mountains is Estes Park Resort. This waterfront venue also offers mountain views and gorgeous options for a high-class wedding.
Lastly, some of our favorite hidden gems are found in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The Sprague Lake Trailhead and Upper Beaver Meadows trail make for some of the most dreamy and secluded wedding venues, most suited for a micro wedding or mountain elopement in Colorado. If you’re wondering if you can have a wedding on top of a mountain in these areas, the answer is yes! We may have to hike a bit, and not all of your friends and family would be able to come, but if you want to say “I do!” on a mountain top, we can make it happen!
How to Plan a Colorado Mountains Wedding
While a mountain wedding in Colorado is one of the most beautiful options for your special day, there are quite a few things to consider. To make sure all of the logistics are carefully thought out and planned, it’s best to work with a Colorado wedding planner who knows the area. With their expertise and industry knowledge, you can be sure you find the right venue for your wedding and the perfect spots for the most breathtaking wedding photos you can imagine! Consider these 5 things when planning your Colorado mountain top wedding.
1. Consider the Season
If you want a mountain wedding in Colorado, it is important to carefully consider the season. This is especially true if you want to have your wedding on top of a mountain rather than just have them as the backdrop for your wedding. The higher in elevation you climb, the colder it is going to be. This is why most mountains are snow-capped, even when the weather is warm and sunny at lower elevations. For the Rocky Mountains, you can expect it to be 10 to 15 degrees colder in the higher elevations at any time. And while it shouldn’t snow in July and August, the weather doesn’t always follow the rules.
So unless you want to get married when snow is falling, carefully consider the elevation at your Colorado wedding venue and how close you are to the mountains. Between October and April, you’ll likely encounter some snow. From May to September, the sun should be shining, but rain showers can come unexpectedly. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan for bad weather. Because as much as we wish they would, weddings don’t always go as planned.
2. Consider Your Venue Options
As we mentioned, there are a few different types of Colorado mountain venues, some that offer a more traditional wedding feel with beautiful mountainscape views and some that put you right in the middle of the mountains themselves. When you choose your venue, it’s important to consider the type of wedding you want to have. If you want to invite 150 of your friends and family to celebrate with you, you likely won’t be hiking into the Rocky Mountain National Forest. But you can choose from Colorado wedding venues with mountain views and good vibes. It’s all about finding the right venue that meets your wants, needs, and expectations.
If you’re not sure where to start, we can help! We include venue tours in our full-service wedding planning package. Whether you want to find a hike-able peak for a mountain elopement in Colorado or want to be surrounded by the mountains with your friends and family there, too, we can find the perfect place.
3. Consider Transportation and Accessibility
One of the most important things is that everyone you want to attend your wedding can easily make it there. So when you are considering the weather, the venue, and the type of wedding you have, keep accessibility in mind. Will it be easy for everyone to make it to your wedding in the mountains of Colorado? If the drive to your wedding venue requires backroads or steep mountain roads, consider organizing transportation, especially for older or out-of-town guests who may not be comfortable driving in those conditions.
4. Consider the High Altitude
If you live in Colorado and frequently go to the mountains, you are used to breathing in higher altitudes. But for your out-of-town wedding guests, breathing may be a little harder than usual. Consider having an extra supply of oxygen on hand, just in case. Colorado’s high altitude also changes the intensity of the sun. For a summer Colorado mountains wedding, be sure to supply sunscreen for your guests so nobody gets too burnt during your celebration.
5. Consider What You and Your Guests Will Wear
Because the weather in the Colorado mountains is different than in the bigger cities, it’s important to consider what you and your guests should wear. If someone isn’t familiar with the mountain weather and they look up the weather in Denver because that’s the Colorado city they’re most familiar with, they will be shocked to find they need a sweater for your wedding when Denver said it was in the high 80s.
Make Getting Married in the Mountains a Reality with Mountainside Events
Our name says it all… we love helping couples plan their wedding in the mountains of Colorado. Whether you know exactly where and when you want to get married, or you need help finding the perfect Colorado wedding venue, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our wedding planning packages to get you the Colorado mountain top wedding of your dreams.