Weddings & Reunions

Gatherings

A Dream Wedding Destination

For any size or style event you envision, The Broadmoor offers numerous options for saying “I do” in style. BY AIMEE HECKEL

Planning a wedding can be immensely stressful. The details, demands, and decisions can break even the most organized and level-headed of brides.

Add to that planning a destination wedding in Colorado Springs while you’re living in Los Angeles in the first year of business school— while your fiancé is living in Nashville and your parents are in Denver—and you’ve got the challenge of the Schoelzel-DiNardo wedding.

In light of that, you wouldn’t expect bride Hillary Schoelzel to say she misses the planning process. But she says she genuinely does. She says she misses her weekly talks with her wedding planner and the staff at The Broadmoor, where she held her wedding weekend.

That’s just one of the many things that Schoelzel says makes The Broadmoor stand out as a wedding venue. Her full list of reasons is long, but at the top is the support and involvement she experienced from the resort’s staff, from day one of planning all the way through today, as she contemplates going back to The Broadmoor for an anniversary getaway. In particular, Schoelzel says she developed a meaningful bond with The Broadmoor’s director of conferences and catering, Pierre Stone.

“She was always so upbeat and happy and genuinely excited for our wedding that it made us feel genuinely excited, too,” Schoelzel says. “She had an amazing attention to detail. She would think of things we never would have thought of on our own, and she just made the whole process totally delightful. Even though we were living in different places, it went smoothly.”

Schoelzel and her fiancé, Erik DiNardo, wanted to get married at The Broadmoor for three reasons. First, the sprawling resort in Colorado Springs has been a special place for Schoelzel’s Colorado-based family since she was a child. She remembers visiting the grounds for her grandparents’ birthdays and other big events. Her grandparents spent their honeymoon there, and so did her aunt and uncle.

Then there was DiNardo’s family, primarily in Boston, and the couple’s friends scattered across the country. They wanted to pick

a destination that felt like a vacation for guests, too. “Where friends would be excited to come—a special trip for them, a whole weekend,” Schoelzel says. The Broadmoor more than delivered. Their wedding weekend also included a welcome dinner, bowling at Play, golfing, a cabana pool party, and a send-off brunch. “We wanted to make sure our guests had a nice time, and from start to finish, The Broadmoor totally took care of us and our guests. Every event .ESSENTIALS. was so beautiful and went off WEDDINGS AND EVENTS smoothly,” Schoelzel says. “The ceremony and reception was the AT THE BROADMOOR reason we were all there, but the surrounding moments and events The Broadmoor features a wide variety of spaces and leading up to and even after the options for hosting private groups large or small, including wedding were perfect.” catering services and a full slate of fun activities and The beauty of the hotel was the experiences. Contact The Broadmoor’s sales department at third characteristic that made The sales@broadmoor.com or (855) 498-7558 for information. Broadmoor stand out, Schoelzel says. She envisioned a European aesthetic, and the pink-hued buildings and elegant atmosphere, all set against a mountain backdrop, Scan for More provided the ideal environment. But style is not the full extent of Information About what The Broadmoor offers. The Hosting a Wedding versatility of the property truly or Special Occasion makes it unique, and the perfect setting is limited only by your imagination, says Stone.

For a picturesque view of Cheyenne Lake and Cheyenne Mountain, choose the Lakeside Terrace for the ceremony and cocktail hour. This iconic location pairs perfectly with the sophisticated style of the Lake Terrace Dining Room for the reception.

For a timeless, elegant ambiance with mountain views, Colorado’s only Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond restaurant, Penrose Room, is a unique option for a group of up to 120 guests.

The landscape of the West Tower Lawn gives couples a stunning natural framework for a romantic ceremony or a tented reception. Schoelzel and DiNardo exchanged their vows on the lawn, after a cocktail hour on the Lakeside Terrace. The evening continued in the Lake Terrace Dining Room, the resort’s most-requested wedding venue.

The Estate House offers a stunning historic residence located just steps from The Broadmoor’s main campus. This exquisite residence provides a timeless backdrop for romantic wedding celebrations and is a truly unique venue. Recite your vows on the spacious and private back lawn, while surrounded by lush, meticulously landscaped gardens and stunning views of Cheyenne Mountain, and either move indoors for your reception or continue to enjoy the fresh mountain air with cocktails and reception on the lawn. The nearby Broadmoor Cottages and Broadmoor Brownstones offer additional options for luxurious residential-style lodging and entertaining.

The Broadmoor offers Pauline Chapel, a historic chapel with old-world charm. It is reminiscent of a small European cathedral and comfortably seats up to ninety guests.

Celebrations with a guest list of fifty can select from a variety of venues, including the South Terrace, the Donald Ross Room, or the Mountain Clubhouse. The South Terrace overlooks Cheyenne Lake; the Donald Ross Room patio is ideal for a cocktail hour with unobstructed views of the golf course and Cheyenne Mountain; and the Donald Ross Room is a charming venue for dinner.

The Broadmoor Wilderness Experience properties—Cloud Camp, The Ranch at Emerald Valley, and Fly Fishing Camp—are ideal destinations for groups looking to spend quality time together while enjoying the beauty of Colorado’s mountains and forests. These all-inclusive experiences are a wonderful way to savor an intimate celebration with family and friends, while also enjoying activities such as horseback riding, guided hiking, fly fishing, and more.

Perched on Cheyenne Mountain and offering unobstructed views, the Mountain Clubhouse is a refined yet rusticfeeling venue that blends seamlessly into its natural setting. Anchored by a stone fireplace, this space is ideal for a mountain-inspired welcome, rehearsal dinner, or intimate wedding reception.

For the quintessential Colorado setting, Cheyenne Lodge offers 150 to 200 guests bird’s-eye views of the Pikes Peak region. The wraparound patio is a breathtaking location for a ceremony and cocktail hour, before you head into the lodge for dinner and dancing.

Finally, The Broadmoor has a traditional ballroom, the Rocky Mountain Ballroom (complete with an outdoor patio space), that comfortably accommodates as many as 400 guests.

Looking back, Schoelzel says she wouldn’t change a thing.

“When you’re a bride, it goes by fast, between the excitement and nerves, but I was never worried,” she says. “I could let go of the logistics and trust that The Broadmoor and my wedding planner were going to take care of it all. It was totally a dream.”

HOME AWAY from Home

In addition to rooms and suites on The Broadmoor’s main campus and Wilderness Experience properties, the resort offers several options for residentialstyle accommodations, including:

The Broadmoor Estate House, a 12,000-square-foot, fivebedroom residence located on the resort’s main campus. Each of the estate’s suites features a king or two queen beds, as well as en suite bathroom. The Grand Parlor can accommodate 60 people for seated dinners or 120 for receptions. Lush, private, and meticulously landscaped grounds and two croquet lawns are featured at the property.

Each of the charmingly appointed Broadmoor Cottages, available in one- to eightbedroom configurations, feature inviting parlors with high-beamed ceilings, wood floors, and natural stone fireplaces.

The Broadmoor Brownstones, each with two bedrooms, offer additional options for luxurious residential-style lodging.