I'm so glad you are here to check out some recent work. I'm a Colorado wedding photographer that shoots all around the country. The blog is filled with full wedding and portrait sessions, and includes weddings planning tips and inspiration.
August 4, 2023
If you’re searching for the prettiest, fanciest, and grandest place to say “i do”, then look no further than this list of the best Colorado luxury wedding venues. I’ve done the hard work for you!
Colorado has been for quite some time the ultimate destination for luxury weddings in the mountains. From Aspen to Telluride, and Vail to Colorado Springs, Colorado has proven time and time again that it’s beauty is unparalleled. Combine the beauty of the Rocky Mountains with fine dining, secluded ranches, and some of the top wedding vendors in the country, and you can see why so many couples choose to get married in this state. Even some of the top A-list celebrities would agree, with the likes of Taylor Hill and Lily Collins picking venues on this list!
After photographing some insanely stunning weddings throughout the state of Colorado, I’ve come up with the ultimate list of the best Colorado luxury wedding venues. This list is complete with castles, chateaus, lodges, resorts, ranches, and much more!
(Also, don’t forget to check out my list of the Best Colorado Ranch Wedding Venues!)
One of my favorite venues in the Chaffee County area would be The Surf Hotel. Located in the quaint mountain town of Buena Vista, Colorado, the Surf Hotel is all that is luxury. The entire hotel is technically considered a boutique hotel, yet it is reminiscent of a European chateau. It sits on the Arkansas river, and consists of two main buildings. The ‘hotel’ side is the main area where weddings are hosted, and includes the adorable and stylish bar Wesley and Rose, while the back side is more of a ‘chateau’, and has stone walled courtyards and larger suites.
The reason The Surf Hotel makes it onto this list of luxury Colorado wedding venues is due to a few factors. The venue is new and modern, with all the up to date needs to spoil guests. It is also stylish, with fun interiors and high end materials. The service is also stellar- including the wait staff, bar staff, and the on site catering. The setting might be what does it though. Buena Vista sits in a valley surrounded by famous Colorado 14ers, and with the babbling sounds of the river nearby, you truly feel secluded in this luxury hotel off the beaten path of the main road. Some of Colorado’s most stylish couples have chosen this venue for their event in the last few years!
The Surf Hotel can host up to 150 seated guests for a reception.
Most guests choose to stay on site at the Surf Hotel in Buena Vista. Of course there are other lodging options in town, including some beautiful Airbnb’s.
Seated capacity indoors reduces to 120 if having a live band on the stage in the Ivy Ballroom. Outdoor ceremonies are seasonal. The Wesley and Rose bar is only available with a full weekend buyout of the Surf Hotel.
A peak-season buy out of The Surf Hotel would be about a $20,000 rental and a $45,000 food and beverage minimum.
Check out this Surf Hotel wedding I photographed;
Reach out to the Surf Hotel for more up to date information on weddings!
If you’re looking for not only top luxury but also exclusive and remote, then look no further than Dunton Hot Springs in the San Juan mountains. This once ghost town turned ultimate resort is just outside of Telluride. The entire resort (or entire ‘town’) can be rented out for the weekend for your wedding festivities! Enjoy the juxtaposition of log cabin with high speed wifi, wood stove with fine dining and top chefs, and cold rivers with hot spring spas. Guests get to cozy up in the log cabins that are outfitted with Ralph Lauren style furnishings. This place is so plush that even Kim and Kanye rented the entire place to themselves!
The venue caps out at 40-60 guests depending on how much of the resort you rent out.
Dunton Hot Springs also has some nearby (off site) lodging options if you need to accommodate a few more guests.
If you will be hosting an event with more than 14 people, then a buyout of the property is required for the weekend.
Expect for a mid summer wedding of over 14 people to cost about $100k. It is totally normal to ask your wedding guests to help pitch in for their own accommodation costs.
Reach out to Dunton Hot Springs for more up to date information on weddings!
Devil’s Thumb Ranch weddings are the epitome of mountain-luxury at its core. The venue is actually a high-end resort, where you can do a weekend buyout. There is fine-dining on site, as well as horseback riding and other outdoor activities. The resorts spa and dry lodge offers a relaxing experience with complimentary yoga classes. The heated outdoor pool overlooks the rolling hills and snow capped mountains in the distance. But other than the sheer beauty and comforts the resort gives you, it makes for a stellar backdrop for weddings!
Weddings at Devil’s Thumb Ranch are special as most guests opt to stay on site for 3 nights and indulge in the resorts offerings. There are a few areas on site where you can choose to hold your ceremony, with most couples going for the outdoor meadow option. There is a built in rustic wooden arbor that overlooks where the horses graze, complete with a stone walk way to ensure that you won’t be getting muddy while walking down the aisle! It sits right next to the Yager House, where most couples get ready with their wedding parties. It makes it very easy for you to not have to transport yourself all over the resort on the wedding day!
There are also a few places on site to host a very large seated reception. Barn areas with high vaulted ceilings and glass windows are the perfect setting for a candlelit dinner and late night dancing. This venue is very secluded in the mountains and gives an authentic ranch vibe that your guests will be enjoy traveling to Colorado for!
The maximum capacity with a live band at Devil’s Thumb Ranch is 220, which would go up to 250 if you have a DJ instead.
Most guests will tend to stay on site due to the required three night minimum room block. If some guests wish to stay somewhere off site, the closest towns would be Fraser or Winter Park for ample lodging options.
Summer pricing for Devil’s Thumb Ranch would require a 35 room block (with a two night minimum) and $125,000. Off-season pricing starts at $90,000.
Reach out to Devil’s Thumb Ranch for more up to date information on weddings!
Located on the main strip of downtown Aspen, Colorado is the beautiful Hotel Jerome. As part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, you know that Hotel Jerome is a top notch spot that caters to sophisticated clientele. This is the spot to go celebrity spotting in Aspen! It is also a perfect luxury venue for a wedding. The 5 star hotel actually offers quite a few different venue options within the property. Depending on the size and style of your wedding, there is sure to be a spot that is perfect for you. With indoor patio and garden spaces, to indoor ballroom or dark ranch vibe bars.
Depending on which space you choose to host your event, the capacity could range from 80-300 guests.
With Hotel Jerome being right on the main street of Aspen, a lot of other resorts and hotels are withing walking distance.
Prices may vary depending on guest count and which venues on site you use. Expect a venue fee of around $20k.
Reach out to Hotel Jerome for more up to date information on weddings!
Nestled at the bottom of Vail mountain, right in the center of the village, is the beautiful Four Seasons Vail. If you’re no stranger to any Four Seasons hotels, then you won’t need much convincing why this wedding venue made the list. Your every need will be catered to, with all the comforts and luxuries you’d want. One of the most appealing parts of hosting your wedding at the Four Seasons Vail would be the picturesque view of the ceremony over the pool! With the perfect birds-eye view from the hotel bar, you can get the instagram worthy photos of you walking down the aisle over a crystal blue pool. Even better, this option is open year round! Guests can then be ushered into the ballroom for a full night of dancing and partying. The village of Vail is a great luxury weekend playground for all of your guests to enjoy with fine dining and high end shopping at their fingertips!
The Four Seasons Vail can host up to 250 guests for a seated reception indoors.
There are not many restrictions at the Four Seasons other than the expected 5 hour bar service limit and 10pm outdoor sound and music time cut off.
Expect to pay around $300 per person for a customized menu, plus a venue fee which could be anywhere from $5-15k.
Reach out to Four Seasons Vail for more up to date information on weddings!
The Broadmoor makes this list of Top Colorado Luxury Wedding Venues because of a few factors. First, the Broadmoor itself is a stunning 5 star resort and spa that sits at the bottom of the mountains of Colorado Springs. Secondly, this venue is as close as you can get to Italian Villa vibes in Colorado! Think Lake Como, but….Rocky Mountains. There are a few locations on the property that set for weddings. You can get married in the adorable European chapel on property, or in front of the lake, or even indoors in a glamours ballroom. While staying the the Broadmoor, guests can splurge at the spa, the tennis courts, bowling alley, or any of the fine dining restaurants. Wedding couples getting treated like royalty when having their wedding here.
Since there are a few locations on site to have your ceremony and reception, the capacity will vary. Some venues can be more intimate, perfect for smaller guest counts of 25, and some venues can accommodate much larger gatherings of up to 200-250 guests.
Most guests choose to stay on site at the Broadmoor which makes for a fun inclusive experience for the wedding guests. They can enjoy the pool and spa and other offerings of the resort. The next best option would be local hotels or airbnbs in Colorado Springs nearby.
For a peak season date, expect a wedding cost of around $7,000 to hold your ceremony at The Broadmoor. On top of that, food and beverage packages will range from $150 per person, to $450 per person depending on your menu choice.
Check out this wedding I photographed at the Broadmoor!
Reach out to the Broadmoor for more up to date information on weddings!
One of my personal favorite venues on this list would be Camp Hale. This one tops my list due it’s obvious beauty. If you want to feel like you’re getting married in a vast meadow and lake in the Colorado Rockies, then Camp Hale would be for you too. Located half way between the bustling and fancy mountain town of Vail and the more quiet and adventurous Leadville, Camp Hale isn’t too far away from some great lodging and amenities. One of the features of the property that stands out the most is the “island” where you can hold your ceremony. There is also a large reception tent that can be decorated to the nine’s to your liking. Some of Colorado’s top wedding planners love to work and organize weddings at Camp Hale.
Camp Hale is a fairly large venue that can host up to 250 guests in the reception tent!
Vail would be the best option for large wedding guest count lodging. Some of the better resorts in Vail for lodging would be the Four Seasons, or Arrabelle.
Camp Hale has a food and beverage minimum of $9,000, plus the site fee.
Reach out to Camp Hale for more up to date information on weddings!
Sitting on the top of Telluride mountain lays a beautiful wood ranch that overlooks the majestic San Juan Mountains. It just so happens that you can also get married at that ranch. It’s name is Gorrono Ranch. The ranch turned ski lodge makes this list due to a few factors. The main reason being its location and incomparable mountain views. There aren’t any views that can rival Gorrono Ranch’s within the Telluride area, except for maybe San Sophia Overlook. The overlook is just that though- an overlook- and is not a full service wedding venue. It is definitely possible to rent out the overlook for your ceremony, and then hold your reception at Gorrono! Their executive chef promises local and organic cuisine that can accommodate any customized menu.
Gorrono Ranch has a capacity of 200 guests.
The Madeline hotel is a luxury hotel that is located near Gorrono Ranch! It is a Auberge Resort Collection hotel so you know it will be nice!
A wedding coordinator is required (and in my honest opinion, ALL venues should require this!). Parking is not ideal at the venue, so they do require you to do either valet parking or a shuttle service for your guests.
Expect the average cost to be around $200-250 per head plus a venue rental fee.
Reach out to Gorrono Ranch for more up to date information on weddings!
Yes, Greystone Castle very much so resembles an actual castle! The venue sits at the top of Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, Colorado. I’d like to say it might be one of my favorite venues in Boulder! This private home started opening it’s doors to weddings and events within the last few years. After one of the family members went to culinary school, the venue opened up to pop up events serving local delicious cuisine. Weddings were soon to follow. The inside is decorated with fun and elaborate wall paper, with a black and white checkered floor. The backyard (where most of the ceremonies are held) is set amongst the beautiful rolling hills and mountain tops of Flagstaff Mountain. The front lawn is the perfect spot for a tented reception.
Since most of the events will happen outdoors and/or under a tented reception space, the capacity can be quite large. It would depend on how large of a tent your order for the event, but typically the capacity would be up to about 200 guests.
The city of Boulder, Colorado is where you and your guests would stay if you hosted your wedding at Greystone Castle. Some of the best lodging in town would be the Hotel Boulderado or the St. Julien Hotel.
Since Greystone Castle is still a functional home for the owner’s family, there are a few restrictions within inside the home. Most of the rooms cannot be used or entered, including the upstairs. Events will not take place inside the home, but guests can walk through the foyer to get to the back yard where most ceremonies are held. Parking is also limited and it is recommended to hire a shuttle service to get your guests to and from the venue. (You wouldn’t want them driving down that winding road at night anyways!)
Greystone Castle’s pricing will vary, so please reach out to their team to get up to date and accurate information.
Reach out to Greystone Castle for more up to date information on weddings!
Probably the most sought after wedding ceremony spots would be the Little Nell at the top of Aspen mountain. When you hear the words “Aspen wedding”, you can already expect glitz and glamor. But if you were to google “Aspen wedding”, then photos of the Little Nell is what would probably come up first. Guests are escorted to the top of the mountain via the gondola. From there it is a short walking distance to the ski lodge, where on the other side opens up to the most majestic view with an aisle to the most breathtaking wedding deck ceremony site. The sun sets perfectly behind the ceremony location, making sure there is never a bad photo at this location (part of its great appeal!). Receptions can then be held inside the ski lodge in the sundeck room which has a large wall of windows overlooking the mountain view.
The Little Nell best suits weddings that cap at around 200.
The Little Nell is a hotel at the base of the mountain. If you’re looking for other ultimate luxury options, you might want to check out staying at Hotel Jerome, the St. Regis, or the Viceroy in Snowmass.
You can not drive up to the wedding location. You must take the gondola to the top.
Expect an average base cost of about $60k for the sundeck at the Little Nell, and up to $275 per person for reception food and beverage.
Reach out to The Little Nell for more up to date information on weddings!
If you’re looking for the best all-in-one luxury ranch wedding venue, then look no further than T Lazy Z Ranch in Aspen, Colorado. This venue is sought after for the insane ceremony views of the Maroon Bells, the proximity to downtown Aspen, and it’s cute ranch charm. While the main vibes of this venue would be rustic ranch, you should definitely think rustic “chic”, as it is a well manicured ranch. The bonus is that T Lazy Z Ranch has SO many options on site for where to host your celebrations. There is the romantic meadow that is set with the perfect backdrop that is popular for ceremonies but can also hold a large bistro lit reception tent. Then there is also the event lodge for an indoor option, which is grandiose and rustic. Lastly, there is a unique spot on property called the Chuckwagon grounds that is the perfect rustic ranch spot to host a cocktail hour or even a welcome dinner!
T Lazy Z Ranch can host up to 220 guests for an indoor reception, but that number go significantly go up if doing an outdoor reception.
Similar to the other Aspen venues, nearby luxury lodging would be Hotel Jerome, the St. Regis, or the Viceroy in Snowmass.
A valet or shuttle service must me organized. A wedding coordinator is required to book this venue as well.
Expect a venue cost just shy of $10k for T Lazy Z Ranch.
Reach out to T Lazy 7 Ranch for more up to date information on weddings!
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