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Colorado

Wedding

Venues

Go off the beaten path for a memorable locale

Jen & Jasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding, photo courtesy of Vail Cascade Resort

By J u l i e B i e l e n b e r g

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, 24 .

plan | venues Photo courtesy of Latigo Ranch

Colorado has always been a much sought-

of Kremmling has hosted a number of summer weddings

after destination for weddings. Many venues with opulent

throughout the years. With multiple cabins for guests, a three-

accommodations and iconic views dot the state. Hop off the

floor social hall, wandering llamas and some of the best darn

beaten path to one of these luxury settings for your wedding.

home-cooked food the high country has to offer, Latigo is

Peruse these ideas and venues for creative Colorado nuptials.

certainly off the beaten path and one heck of a destination.

DUDE RANCHES

summer wedding. “It’s an intimate destination wedding—close

Smith Fork Ranch in Crawford also makes for a stellar Dude ranches provide the perfect backdrop for

family and friends of the bride and groom can stay in cozy

summertime weddings. With scenic views of majestic

cabins on our historic ranch. We have luxurious authentic

mountains and trees, you can have yourself one spectacular

western accommodations for up to 28 people, and, guests can

summer wedding. Dude ranches have so many family-friendly

enjoy full use of ranch amenities, the lodge, dining areas and

activities to offer in the summer, including river rafting, fly

grounds for summer fun,” says Margot Harter, reservations

fishing, mountain biking, hiking, nature walks, hay rides,

and ranch experience manager.

country dancing, cookouts, spa treatments and more. And, yes, s’mores are readily available for an evening treat!

The best time to book a summer dude ranch wedding

MOUNTAIN MAGIC Posh resorts at the base of the mountain or boutique

is Memorial Day through Labor Day to ensure moderate

hotels in Aspen book quickly. Investigate a date in April, May

temperatures. And it’s likely you’ll still see some snow-capped

or June–Colorado’s shoulder season–for a wider variety of

peaks for a beautiful photo backdrop. Latigo Ranch outside

options. Don’t forget to book special treats for your wedding

, 25 .

“It’s an intimate destination wedding—

close family and friends of the bride and groom can stay

in cozy cabins on our historic ranch...”

-Margot Harter, reservations and ranch experience manager at Smith Fork Ranch

denver life weddings

plan | venues

Photo courtesy of Steamboat Sheraton

weekend such as organic cooking classes, group yoga, guided

Ponder these ideas for inspiration: “Steamboat Springs

hiking tours, town history tours and jewelry- or pottery-

is an amazing slope-side mountain destination. Wedding

making classes.

parties can even visit Strawberry Park Hot Springs or golf at

At the base of Colorado’s famous ski slopes are the Park

Rollingstone Ranch, which is also owned by the Steamboat

Hyatt Beaver Creek, Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Sheraton

Sheraton,” explains Kristal Eckley, director of sales at the

Steamboat Springs, The Peaks Resort & Spa in Telluride, St.

Sheraton Steamboat.

Regis Aspen and WestWall Lodge in Crested Butte. In resort

“Why not marry in the spring and choose from a

towns, brides and grooms will find plenty of options for hair

plethora of free activities to entertain your guests, such as the

and makeup, gathering spaces, caterers, florists and other

Spring Back to Vail, Taste of Vail and Vail Music Festivals,” states

high-demand services. Plus, the backdrop of a ski resort at

Kristen Texler, public relations & communications manager

your wedding, even during the summer, is breathtaking. Book

of Vail Cascade Resort and Spa. “Take advantage of the longer

during the right time and guests can access the mountain

days in spring and get married on our heated deck. Treat your

via chairlifts and gondolas for a special treat. You can even get

guests to a crisp night of stargazing without any noise or light

married at the top of most of these resorts’ mountains.

pollution! You can even host your intimate gathering around

dlmweddings.com

, 26 .

The Broadmoor One of the most iconic places in Colorado to get married in Colorado, The Broadmoor hosts 75-100 weddings a year. However, few people realize that their incredible holiday light display is up through March, making a picture-perfect backdrop for any nuptial. Book in January or February and take advantage of the lighter guest traffic. “We can do some great custom cooking classes—we have a great grilling/cooking class demo with dinner— wine pairing dinners with our sommeliers, yoga classes, golf, spa, tennis, fly fishing and art classes; the list goes on for pages,” says Lindsey Wildman Suggs, catering manager of The Broadmoor.

plan | venues Photo courtesy of Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort

our huge fireplace with two-story picturesque windows as the backdrop.â&#x20AC;?

ORIGINAL, MEMORABLE AND NATURE-INSPIRED Have you always had a passion for relaxing and soaking in a hot tub? Take it to the next level and book your big day at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop. They do more than 60 weddings a year! With a new spa, dozens of hot spring pools, luxury cabins and lodge rooms, guests will have endless fun pool-hopping and soaking in the incredible views of Mount Princeton.

Other Venues to Consider Crooked Willow Farms, The Venue Larkspur, crookedwillowevents.com Denver Botanic Gardens Denver, botanicgardens.org Four Seasons Hotel Denver Denver, fourseasons.com/denver Four Seasons Resort Vail Vail, fourseasons.com/vail Rembrandt Yard Event Center Boulder, rembrandtyard.com Della Terra Mountain Chateau Estes Park, dellaterramountainchateau.com Glen Eyrie Colorado Springs, gleneyrie.org Lionscrest Manor Lyons, lionscrestmanor.com Tapestry House LaPorte, tapestryhouse.com Gateway Canyons Gateway, gatewaycanyons.com Hyatt Regency Denver Denver, denverregency.hyatt.com The Ritz-Carlton Denver Denver, ritzcarlton.com/denver Seasons Bliss Broomfield, seasonsbliss.com Silverthorn Pavillions Silverthorn, silverthorne.org St. Julien Hotel Boulder, stjulien.com Telluride Ski Resort Telluride, tellurideskiresort.com

Photo courtesy of The Broadmoor

Villa Parker Parker, villaparker.com

, 27 .

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Vail Valley, westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com Blackstone Country Club Aurora, canongatecolorado.com Black Bear Golf Club Parker, canongatecolorado.com

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