6 Colorado Mountain Wedding Venues With Beauty & Soul
I’ve officiated at hundreds of mountain wedding venues in Colorado and these six gorgeous heart & soul spots are my absolute faves. Here are photos & stories to help you find your dream venue - especially if…
You are a mountain girl at heart, regardless of where you actually live - you love pine trees and granite rocks and alpine streams and big open sky.
You value soul-fulfilling experiences and want to work with people who will connect on a real, down-to-earth level.
You also love visual beauty - not only in nature, but also the visual beauty that can be created for a wedding. The dress, the flowers, the decor - all the pretty things.
I love these things too and each of these venues is a combo of all the above. Take a tour of them with me and my couples below. I’ve listed in no particular order because they are all equally amazing:
DELLA TERRA MOUNTAIN CHATEAU
Estes Park, CO
www.dellaterramountainchateau.com
Officiating a romantic, meaningful ceremony for Casey & Jeremy’s Della Terra mountain wedding.
Photo: Travis Darnell
First of all, Della Terra is in a magical pine forest. That’s all I need lol. The Ponderosa Pines on the land are ancient, and if you stand quietly amidst all the busyness of a wedding, they will remind you, if even for a moment, to breathe a little more deeply, be in the present and take in the beauty.
Della Terra lit up for an evening reception.
The chateau itself, which houses luxury suites and a beautiful hall for receptions, has got that warm stucco feeling of a high end mountain spa resort, which makes you feel like you’re having a fancy and also very cozy experience all at the same time.
In short, I visit Della Terra as part of my job, but I always feel like I’m on a mini spa vacation when I’m there.
I also love the staff. They are professional, on point and have welcoming and inspiring personalities. My brides who have their weddings at Della Terra are always relaxed, and I can tell they feel that the venue staff has their back.
A walk through the woods to the ceremony.
Photo: Travis Darnell
The ceremony site itself is on an elevated platform surrounded by pines, and there is an intimate area of stadium-type bench seating for guests to get comfortable. The walk down the aisle is down a winding paved pathway through the forest - it takes a few minutes and you really get to take in the fact that you’re walking to your wedding ceremony.
Last but not least, there are elk and wild turkeys! They show up every once in a while, and if you’re lucky, the turkeys will strut right by you from the woods across the path. I don’t know why I love them so much - I think it’s because there’s nothing like watching the ridiculous walk of a wild turkey to remind you to not take life too seriously.
Oh and Della Terra is right on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, so you’re perfectly poised to have more adventure before or after your wedding day.
Sarah & Paul just after their ceremony in Della Terra’s beautiful Ponderosa Pines. Photo: Yellow Paddle
RIVER BEND
Me with Renée & Tom - pronounced married with River Bend’s red rocks as their backdrop!
Photo: Alchemy Creative
River Bend and The Lyons Farmette (see below) are two separate venues owned by the same awesome people, and are incredibly special places. There really is nothing like either of these venues in all of Colorado…
The magical river at River Bend.
Photo: Alchemy Creative
River Bend is just that - it’s nestled alongside a bend of the wild St. Vrain river which is a true treat in itself, but then it gets even better because the river is carving its way through absolutely stunning red sandstone cliffs which provide the backdrop for the venue.
You can walk down to the river to dip your toes in, or simply let the meditative movement of the water bring you a sense of peace & connection with nature.
Romantic reception under the River Bend tent.
Photo: Alchemy Creative
Next to the river is a big sandstone patio for evening dancing and merriment, then a luscious green rolling lawn with the reception tent, cocktail area and a couple of different spots for the ceremony. My favorite is nestled under some friendly trees with the river and big red rocks behind you.
When I check in with my brides at River Bend, I find them in one of my fave bridal “getting ready” areas - the Glamping Tent - a big open canvas tent with vintage sofas, chandeliers and a wooden deck overlooking the river. The kind of fancy tent that makes a girl feel incredibly special ;)
There is also THE coolest little mini town of tiny homes called Wee Casa right there on site next to the venue area so you and your guests can lodge where you get married and enjoy these adorable little abodes.
The staff here is the coolest too and I adore working with them - you can read more about them in the Lyons Farmette write-up next…
The big rolling lawn at River Bend with fire pit, lawn games, cocktail bar, the river and all that awesome rock.
Photo: Alchemy Creative
Lyons Farmette
Lyons, CO
www.lyonsfarmette.com/farmette-weddings
Ana & Michael in the Farmette’s luscious organic mountain garden.
Photo: Mary Mecklenburg
Officiating at the ceremony spot next to the river.
Photo: Mary Mecklenburg
The Farmette is just down the road from River Bend in the mountain town of Lyons and is not only a wedding venue, it is also a beautiful organic farm where they grow flowers for your bouquets and decor, and vegetables for their farm-to-table reception dinners. Yes, your flowers and food can come right from the very land upon which you get married! The sweetest animals live there too - alpacas, goats, llamas & chickens.
There is a large ceremony area in a meadow under big graceful cottonwood trees, and also a spot on a romantic stone patio right next to a rushing mountain river that is perfect for smaller groups. Both are beautiful spots to say I Do’s.
Farm-to-table reception at the Farmette. Complete with vintage truck! Photo: Mary Mecklenburg
Everything is contained on the intimate Farmette grounds, so you go right from your ceremony into cocktail hour and reception on the lawn outside the Farmette house. Think farm-to-table dinners, handmade cocktails and the feeling of being close to the land.
Oh, and when I check in with my Farmette brides before the ceremony, I get to find them getting ready in a hip vintage Airstream right in the middle of a flower garden full of bright colors!
At both River Bend and The Farmette, you will be greeted by their incredibly down-to-earth, genuine, professional, caring and warm staff. They are consummate wedding experts who will guide you seamlessly through your wedding process, while having so much fun along the way. I love working with them and my couples do too.
Restored vintage Airstream dressing area for Farmette brides.
Photo: Mary Mecklenburg
SPRUCE MOUNTAIN RANCH
Larkspur, CO
www.sprucemountainevents.com
Katey & Joe play on Spruce Mountain’s infinitely open landscape right before our ceremony.
Photo: Melissa Brielle
Every time I get out of my car in the Spruce Mountain parking lot, I instantly relax. There’s something about the big open expansive rolling hills for miles and miles with endless sky above that is inherently calming.
Spruce Mountain’s lovely stone gateway entrance.
Photo: Melissa Brielle
Or maybe its just good vibes. All I know is that whenever I arrive at Spruce Mountain, I find myself remembering a quieter place within, I start to breathe more deeply and more slowly, and my mind turns to positive thoughts as I relax into the peaceful natural setting.
This venue has SO many choices for ceremonies and receptions! I’ve been to several of them now and they’re all gorgeous.
The buildings have that high end log cabin feel with a rustic vibe while at the same time totally modern. Rustic chic.
Mountain meadows, mountain views.
Photo: Melissa Brielle
The outside spots are a huge range of environments - wild flower gardens with mini streams and ponds, outdoor fireplaces, a beautiful lawn with a gorgeous old willow tree and several sites that are right in the middle of big meadows with open land and mountain vistas for as far as the eye can see.
You are literally immersed in the enormity and beauty of quintessential Colorado landscape. Oh and this is prime hawk territory too - never hurts to have a majestic bird or two fly overhead on your wedding day :)
Of course the staff here, just like all my other fave venues, are top notch. Friendly, welcoming, professional, creative and on it. My Spruce Mountain brides are always chill and I can tell that a big part of that is because they know that the venue has everything covered.
Last but not least, the drive and the entryway are stunning - you really feel like you’ve arrived some place special when you drive in through those big stone gates. And you have!
One of Spruce Mountain’s many luxe mountain lodge reception areas.
Photo: Melissa Brielle
WILD BASIN MOUNTAIN LODGE
Allenspark, CO
www.wildbasinlodge.com
Robin & Chris just before their Wild Basin Lodge ceremony on the wild St. Vrain River.
Photo: Emily Sierra
Walking into Wild Basin Mountain Lodge is like walking into that romantic weekend mountain cabin getaway you’ve always dreamed of taking.
Wild Basin’s quintessential mountain lodge.
Photo: Emily Sierra
The first thing you see is a big cozy fireplace lounging area, friendly people at the front desk and the building has that quintessential Colorado luxe log cabin feel. The entire venue is a mountain lodge surrounded by gorgeous land located just off the Peak to Peak Highway between Estes Park and Nederland which is one of the most beautiful drives in the entire Colorado front range.
The rest of the lodge has the same rustic-while-also-modern feel, with an indoor bar, reception area and huge wraparound porch out back overlooking the river.
The ceremony spot all set up for a special tea ceremony.
Photo: Emily Sierra
When it’s time for your ceremony, there are two sweet spots, each connecting you with the awesome wild river that flows through the property.
One ceremony spot is right next to the lodge and on the river with intimate amphitheater style seating.
The other is a nature walk from the lodge along the river, then over the river via foot bridge, then into a big open meadow with mountain views behind you as you. I particularly love that walk because I’m at a full-on wedding venue and at the same time I feel like I’m literally having a mini nature hike experience. It’s an easy walk though, so no worries for older guests, plus you can drive to a parking lot nearby if needed.
Working with the Wild Basin coordinators has a family feel - I think it’s because the lodge feels like a big warm house and everyone in it is like that too - warm, caring, organized, professional. Every time I head up for a wedding there, I know I’m going to feel truly supported and I know that my brides do too.
It doesn’t get any more “mountain bride” than this :)
Photo: Emily Sierra
FLAGSTAFF HOUSE
Boulder, CO
www.flagstaffhouse.com
A special shawl ceremony for guess who’s wedding on the Flagstaff House deck? Mine! ;)
Photo: Jewel Afflerbaugh
Someone once described the Flagstaff House to me as the restaurant that is on every single person in Boulder’s bucket list. Which was funny because it was on my bucket list at the time too. And that is no coincidence - Flagstaff House is a five-star dining experience in every sense of the word with an exquisite menu and a breathtaking setting. Plus, I got married there myself!
Flagstaff House with an evening glow.
To get there, you drive a quarter of the way up Flagstaff Mountain - the road is paved while also twisty-turny, taking you past granite rock formations, Ponderosa Pine forests and pretty quickly you get a spectacular view as you rise up above Boulder hugging the mountain on your the left and with Boulder and the big open Colorado plains for miles and miles to your right.
The restaurant itself is tucked into the side of the mountain in the most spectacular way. The outer walls are made mostly of glass windows so it is 180 degrees of views, views, views.
You can get married inside or out on the cocktail deck with views all around, then have an amazing five-star gourmet meal with your guests.
The wait staff and coordinators at Flagstaff House have an impeccable style that fits with the upscale nature of the restaurant. They are wonderful to work with and pay consummate attention to every single thoughtful detail. You will feel extremely well cared for.
What strikes me most about Flagstaff House is that every time I’m there I notice a happy, bright, positive feeling. I think it’s because it’s such a special spot that people come there for their most special occasions - birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc. As a result, the restaurant is a unique combination of fancy and classy, while at the same time relaxed, friendly, upbeat and with a twinkle of magic in the air.
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Lots of love, Officiant Lisa