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.
January 10, 2022
Colorado is beautiful, this is a fact. The entire state is filled with snow capped mountains, gushing rivers, pine forests, and mountain wildlife. Perhaps that why it is one of the most popular wedding destination states in the country. Not only is it stunningly gorgeous, but Colorado is centrally located within the country. It is easy to get to from all four corners, and your guests will love visiting this state for a long weekend to celebrate your marriage. Popular wedding venues in Colorado are ranches, as they provide great backdrops and usually can also lodge a good number of your out of town guests. Being out in the mountains also gives your guests weekend activities such as white water rafting, horseback riding, and visiting a brewery or two! I’d love to share with you some of my favorite Colorado ranch wedding venues with you.
Best Colorado Ranch Wedding venues;
This stunning view point is located closest to Ridgeway, Colorado near the Western Slope with beautiful views of the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Top of the Pines is seasonal, only open from May to October, and is a recreational and educational environmental base camp. There is a tent campground that would work well for a seated reception area, as well as a pavilion with a updated prep kitchen area.
This venue is perfect for a couple that is ok with creating their wedding from scratch and searching for vendors to bring in on to the property. The venue only provides the space for the wedding, and all other vendors will be brought in by yourself.
While the ranch is very secluded, some nearby towns would be the quaint mountain town of Ridgway, as well as the more upscale areas like Telluride.
Price range for exclusive use of the venue would be only $3,500!
Find out more about their availability on their website.
Guyton Ranch is a family owned ranch that sits on 330 acres of land right on Hwy 285. While its closest town is Jefferson, Colorado, many couples that choose this wedding venue stay in either Breckenridge (about at 35min drive over Hoosier Pass) or take the trek from Denver which is about an hour and a half away.
The venue is very secluded, and it truly feels as if you are surrounded by beautiful scenery. In the summer the mountains are singing with life and beautiful sunsets, and in the fall the lands are covered with bright yellow aspens. Kenosha Pass is about a 10 minute drive from the venue, and is famous for its aspen groves. Its a great spot for photo ops! Although the property itself is so stunning, you won’t necessarily need a reason to leave for photos!
The property consists of the main house/ranch, a small chapel, a barn, and a few extra spaces for cocktail hour and late night dancing. The main house is available for couples and bridal party members to stay at for the weekend, and can sleep up to 12-16 people.
When guests arrive, they are ushered to the far end of the property where the ceremonies are usually held. It is in a large field with a backdrop of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. From there they can enjoy cocktail hour in the paved courtyard, which is attached to a building with games inside such as ping pong and darts! There is also another large field and space that cocktail hour can spill out into.
Check out Tara and Ryland’s colorful and eclectic wedding held at Guyton Ranch! https://shellyandersonphotography.com/guyton-ranch-wedding/
Allison Guyton. https://guytonranch.com/contact
Located at under the goliath 14er of Mt. Princeton in the adorable mountain town of Buena Vista, Colorado sits the stunning Barn at Sunset Ranch. The barn itself has been renovated on the inside for large cathedral ceilings and is a bit modern/industrial with a slight flare of country rustic. The outside has a paved cocktail patio view views of the gorgeous mountains in the distance, which turn pink and purple at sunset! Market lights string this area for a romantic vibe as the evening turns into night. Ceremonies are held out in the field, again focusing on those insane mountain views for your backdrop! With fire pits and barn doors, guests will really enjoy this Colorado ranch wedding venue vibe.
The Barn at Sunset Ranch offers one package that is $7,500. This includes two getting ready suites as well as tables and chairs. The venue lets you bring in outside vendors for your wedding (with the exception of bartenders, which they use a specific vendor for), and it is BYOB! They also have an optional add on to your package of their airbnb on site which is a 2 bedroom space, perfect for staying the night and getting ready in the morning. This venue is seasonal, and it only open for weddings May 1 through October 30.
If you decide to go with the Barn at Sunset Ranch, then your guests will get to enjoy the adorable mountain town of Buena Vista! They can stay at the Surf Hotel in town, or if they are looking for something a bit more funky, then 30 mins away is another cute mountain town of Salida, where’d I’d recommend checking out the Amigo Motor Lodge!
Jayme at http://www.thebarnatsunsetranch.com/contact/
Check out this real wedding of Ginger and Jim at the Barn at Sunset Ranch to get some inspo!
One of the most popular Colorado ranch wedding venues would have to be Spruce Mountain Ranch! They provide a variety of options for your wedding day depending on your wedding size and budget. Spruce Mountain is located in Larkspur, Colorado, which is about half way between Denver and Colorado Springs. On site they have a few locations for your wedding day, and they can have two weddings happening on the same day. But don’t worry, your wedding won’t be interfered with the other event happening that day, as this property is so large that they are actually quite separated!
The most commonly booked space on the property is Trey’s Vista for the ceremony. This large field has a built in alter which can be decorated with florals to match your wedding colors and decor, and faces a stunning backdrop of rolling mountains in the distance. There is also a cow pasture in the back, which really gives it that ‘ranch’ feeling knowing that cows can be grazing in the distance while you say your vows!!
For receptions, the most commonly booked (and largest) space is the Ponderosa Room. This renovated barn space is HUGE! It can seat up to 250 people for dinner. There is plenty of extra space for dancing, and even a stage for a live band if you wish! The Ponderosa Room is also attached to a large patio outside that is strung with market lights. This area is a great spot for cocktail hour as well as late night dancing. The venue also provides tables and chairs as well as two large getting ready suites.
Then check out Molly and Brian’s Spruce Mountain Ranch Wedding, with their wedding ceremony at Trey’s Vista and Reception in the Ponderosa Room!
To learn more about Spruce Mountain Ranch, contact them here; https://sprucemountainevents.com/contact
A truly stunning place for you and your guests to relax for an extended weekend to celebrate your marriage is Devil’s Thumb Ranch. This beautiful getaway is a luxury Colorado ranch wedding venue! It is about an hour and a half drive from downtown Denver, and it just a bit north of Winter Park, Colorado. The venue has a capacity of up to 250 guests! They even have lodging options nearby for most of your guest count as well. Most ceremonies happen in the meadow, where you can find horses grazing in the distance in front of you beneath the Rocky Mountains in the distance. There is a platform where you say your “I do’s” that also has a rustic wooden arch which can be decorated with wedding florals.
Obviously this venue is an eye catcher, but it is more than just a wedding venue! It is a working ranch and lodging space in the mountains. Guests will be spoiled while staying here, and can partake in weekend activities such as horseback riding, zip lining, mountain biking, and much more! The lodge accommodations will provide you luxury local cuisine as well! And while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to hit up the Spa and enjoy some s’mores by the fire pits!
The venue also provides a few other spaces for events for the weekend (whether it be a rehearsal dinner, or day after brunch). The other venue spaces available on site are the Broad Axe Barn, the Axel’s Pavilion, Grotto Suraboza (perfect for rehearsal dinners or after parties), High Lonesome Barn and Loft (where the receptions usually happen), the Wine Cellar, Timber House, and the Yager House.
Late May through mid-October pricing for Devil’s Thumb Ranch starts at $100,000 for a weekend of events, with minimum lodging requirement of our 35-room High Lonesome Lodge for a minimum of two nights. (Don’t worry, it is totally acceptable to ask your wedding guests to pay for their share of lodging). October through late May starts at $65,000 for a weekend of events, with minimum lodging requirement of our 35-room High Lonesome Lodge for a minimum of two nights.
If you’d like to learn more about Devil’s Thumb Ranch and hosting weddings there, then you might find this blog post helpful!
https://www.devilsthumbranch.com/plan-an-event/
Another instagramable Colorado ranch wedding venue would be Three Peaks Ranch, just outside of Westcliffe, Colorado. It is a family owned ranch, built recently with glamping vibes in mind. On site there are a few buildings a cabins, some of which can be rented out for lodging for your event. The venue is about 3 hours driving distance from Denver, and just over an hour to Pueblo, CO. It is kinda of in the middle of no where, which is part of it’s charm! It is completely surrounded by snow capped peaks and a few 14ers including Crestone Peak.
The buildings are new and modern, including a canvas tent which is great for reception seating. Think glamping tents with a new edge. This beauty also has grazing horses in the distance for the extra ranch vibes. It looks like something from the hit show Yellowstone!
Ceremonies happen in the field adjacent to the cabins with the mountain range in the distance for a backdrop. The accommodations on site include 4 modern cabins, which is perfect for an intimate wedding. Food trucks are also allowed on site as well! While the venue can only lodge a few of your family members or bridal party, the venue itself can host up to 120 guests for a seated indoor reception.
For wedding cost, you can rent the ranch for a whole weekend for $21,000 for weddings over 100 guests. There are smaller wedding packages available as well. Wedding packages include chairs for up to 100 guests, as well as their lodging options!
Flying Horse Ranch is a vast wedding venue located just south east of Larkspur, Colorado. The working horse ranch can host up to 200 guests for a larger wedding. They offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony locations. One would be inside the main hall of the Ranch house, and the other would be out on the patio in front of the main hall outside. For reception locations, most couples choose to host their dinners inside the large barn space attached to the house. The ranch property is spread out over 1,400 acres and very secluded and private!
My favorite feature of the venue is that they have two large getting ready spaces. They are separated on each side of the my house, so there is no chance that you will bump into your significant other while getting ready! Sunsets at this ranch dip behind Pikes Peak in the distance, and there are continuous rolling hills as a beautiful backdrop for photos.
The venue provides chairs and offers “all-inclusive” packages, or you can feel free to bring in your own vendors as well. All Inclusive packages will go anywhere from $23k- to $37k depending on guest count and day of the week that you book. Other packages (basically, for just use of the venue and the option to bring in your own vendors) will be around $5k- $12,500 depending on day of the week as well.
If you’d like to see a full wedding example of Flying Horse Ranch, then check out Holly and Zack’s ranch wedding here!; https://shellyandersonphotography.com/flying-horse-ranch-wedding/
Contact their events team here. https://flyinghorseranch.com/contact-us/
Meeker Park Lodge is a wedding venue near Rocky Mountain National Park. It is technically located in Allenspark, Colorado. It is close driving distance between Estes Park and Boulder. This venue is not only perfect for weddings, but it is also a great spot for all of your guests to stay! Meeker Park has lodging for up to 100 of your guests! It gives off all the summer camp vibes, with a log cabin feel as well. The venue offers a few places on site for your ceremony and reception. It sits at the base of some of the most beautiful mountains in the entire state, with the Long’s Peak trailhead just down the road! You might see some Estes Park wildlife roaming around the venue such as large elk!
For ceremonies, you can chose between two outdoor spaces with views of either Lily Pond or Lane’s Pasture. For the wedding reception, you can have your event hosted inside either the Rec Hall, a 2,000 square foot rustic barn room with all the western vibes, or the Lane’s Guest Ranch with floor to ceiling windows and upper and lower deck! If you do decide to have all your guests stay over night at the lodge for the weekend, you have the option to add on activities to your package such as private yoga, square dancing, and rock climbing! How fun!
Audrey at https://sugarmtnevents.com/contact-1
Located at the top of North Peak at the Keystone Resort mountain is a beautiful wedding venue that is open in the summer months (Mid-June through mid-September) call Timber Lodge. The venue is a true lodge, with floor to ceiling windows and a large rustic fireplace. Guests get to enjoy a fun gondola ride up to the top of the mountain where the venue sits. There they will see the large wooden deck that overlooks the local mountain ranges for miles and miles! Ceremonies can be held on the outdoor deck, and most receptions are held inside of the lodge. This ranch wedding venue is LARGE and can accommodate up to 200 guests.
A lot of guests can also use lodging from the ski resort as well! This makes it very easy for your guests to enjoy a long celebratory weekend in the mountains for your event. The venue also provides food and drink services, so you won’t have to worry about bringing that in from an outside vendor. With this food and beverage minimum along with the venue rental, you’re looking at a cost of around $22-30k.
Reach out to the team on their website; https://www.keystoneresort.com/explore-the-resort/about-the-resort/weddings.aspx
A wedding venue with owners that pride themselves on providing a boutique love experience on their property, Deer Creek Valley Ranch has it all. It’s scenic backdrop near Jefferson, Colorado off Hwy 285 is enough of a selling point, but the whole venue really caters to couples in love ready to celebrate with friends and family. The venue cost host up to 180 guests. The vibe they give is a little bit boho, and a little bit rustic. There are two options for ‘venues’ on site, the Barn venue, or the Homestead venue. With their all-inclusive packages, you don’t have to worry about rentals or catering! This all-inclusive packages also includes florals, coordination, on-site transportation, a photo-booth, and a DJ!
They also have getting ready rooms for couples, as well as on-site lodging options for up to 20 people. Pricing for different packages will depend on guest count as well as day of the week, but expect to spend around $20-38k. The crew at Barn at Deer Creek Valley Ranch are now wedding experts, and have seen it all. They are there to help you with your every need.
Tim and Christian at https://deercreekvalleyranch.com/contact/
The T Lazy Z Ranch is one of the most beautiful Colorado ranch wedding venues you can find! Located near the classy ski town of Aspen, Colorado, this ranch has stunning views of some of the most photographed 14ers in the state. The venue is just down the road from the Maroon Bells entrance, so you know it’s going to provide the views! T Lazy Z Ranch has a few ‘sites’ on property. The most common flow that couples use is having their ceremony in the meadow with the mountains as their backdrop, then move to the Chuckwagon Grounds for cocktail hour, and move everyone inside the Main Lodge for reception and dinner. Of course, you can still have an outdoor tented reception if you wanted as well!
The capacity for T Lazy Z Ranch is about 220 people for a seated reception. The vibes here are country ranch, as well as mystic mountains, and then cabin ranch reception feels. They do provide ceremony chairs and a few reception tabes, but you may need to also rent out more if needed. The venue pricing will depend on a few factors, such as the venues you choose to use, and day of the week, but will be around $6,500-9,500. If you wanted to do a tented reception, it will run you around $15k.
Julie Wiig events@tlazy7.com
Also located in Larkspur, Colorado is the adorable Colorado ranch wedding venue of Crooked Willow Farms. This 90 acre property sits halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs. A little bit garden, a little bit ranch, and a little bit castle, this venue is super unique! They have bridal suites for brides as well as grooms, and multiple locations on site for ceremonies and receptions. For outdoor ceremony options, the courtyard provides an intimate garden vibe. Surrounding by flowers in the middle of the main barns, you can seat up to 100 guests. For larger guest count ceremonies, the front lawn is a great option! It has views of the Rocky Mountains. The Carriage House Ballroom is a large barn like structure which is perfect for a large (225 people!) seated reception dinner. While it has barn vibes with the brick and wooden side paneling, its chandeliers hanging from the tall ceilings gives it more of a glam look. They also have a more intimate space available, their wine cellar room, for rehearsal dinner options! For a truly rustic barn feeling, you can even have your ceremony inside the ‘loft’ of the barn!
The venue includes some great rentals for you, which makes your life a LOT easier. They have on site chairs and tables for all of your guests, as well as wine barrels for cocktail hour! You can also add on a photo-booth option to your package for $500. And bonus- there is a KIDS lounge! What a great way to keep them occupied during the day! A peak season Saturday wedding will run you around $10k.
Reach out to the team via their contact page; https://crookedwillowevents.com/contact/
If you loved this list of the Best Colorado Ranch wedding venues, then I think you’d enjoy checking out the Best Denver Wedding Venues! I also have a list of the Best Colorado Wedding Venues with lodging for guests, the best small Wedding Venues in Colorado for Intimate Weddings, and the Best Colorado Mountain Wedding Venues with epic views and scenery!
+ Send
Thank you!
Your message has been sent.
We WILL contact you shortly
All photos copyright 2024 Shelly Anderson Photography
p: 607.382.8351
e: shellbell.anderson@gmail.com
i: @shellyandersonphoto
Be the first to comment