Sonnenalp Hotel Wedding | Zoë + Kylor

I was so excited to photograph Zoë and Kylor’s Sonnenalp Hotel wedding this summer- as it is an icon of Vail Village. From the moment you arrive in the village and step through the doors of this legendary European-inspired resort, you understand why couples travel from across the country — and across the world — to get married here.

We started in Zoe’s suite- a grand room with two separate bedrooms and a living room area. It was plenty big enough for her large wedding party of eight bridesmaids! We then walked her across the street to have a first look with Kylor in the side lawn of the Vail Chapel. We then headed over to the Gondola One, where we had day passes to travel up to the top for some epic views of the Vail mountain range! We took some lovely couple’s portraits here- and luckily weren’t hit with too much wind. We then headed back down for some portraits with the wedding party and close family.

Their ceremony was held inside the Vail Interfaith Chapel, where Kylor’s family pastor gave a great sermon. After they happily said I Do, guests were ushered across the street to the poolside patio for cocktail hour! A live violinist serenaded the guests as the reception room inside Ludwigs Terrace was being completed. Everyone danced the night away as the glass ceiling was opened up (no, literally!) to the night summer sky.

A little more about the Sonnenalp Hotel:

The Sonnenalp is not your average hotel-wedding-venue. It’s a 4th-generation family-owned and operated luxury boutique hotel. It doesn’t have the impersonal polish of a large chain property. It has *character*. It has soul. It feels like you’ve traveled across the seas to Europe and even stepped back in time a bit. Bavarian inspired style woodworking, copper details, and authentic German wooden beams make up the charm of this building. But you’re actually NOT in Europe, you’re in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

Vail sits high in altitude but only about 100 miles from the capitol city of Denver. So it makes it a true getaway for local Coloradans, but also easy to get to from any major cities, as Denver is a large hub of an airport. Shuttles can take you straight to Denver off i70, or renting a car is another easy options.

Here’s what I want you to understand before we get into the specific venue spaces: the Sonnenalp is not just a place to hold a wedding. It’s a place to *have a wedding weekend*. It’s full of a variety of venues on site for rehearsal dinners and morning after brunches. It also is in the epicenter of local activities for guests to enjoy such as mountain bike riding, hiking, spas, fishing, and much more! (Don’t forget skiing in the winter time).

The Hotel’s Wedding Event Spaces:

The Sonnenalp offers multiple distinct venues on property, each with its own personality. This is one of the things that makes it so versatile — there’s a right space for every size and style of wedding.

Ludwig’s Terrace;
This is the signature space, and for good reason. Ludwig’s architectural highlight is the Terrace — an enclosed glass room that features breathtaking views creekside. Its retractable roof and siding are both one-of-a-kind and versatile. Imagine a reception where you can open the ceiling to the Colorado night sky — or keep it closed and warm while snow falls outside. That kind of flexibility is rare, and it makes Ludwig’s Terrace work beautifully in every season. It sits directly next to and above the Gore Creek for a calming nature vibe.

The Grand Bavaria Room
Featuring intimate, high ceilings and rich, traditional décor, this ballroom radiates old-world charm. Its prime location offers a private patio that sits adjacent to the serene Gore Creek, making it a perfect venue for larger celebrations in the heart of Vail. If you’re hosting a larger wedding party, the Grand Bavaria Room gives you grandeur without sacrificing the warmth that defines this property.

Creekside & Garden
Perfect for an intimate outdoor setting amongst the ambient gentle flow of Gore Creek, this smaller space is cooler, tranquil, and rustic.

The Pool Deck
The pool area is a natural home for cocktail hour, and couples consistently rave about it. The pool is set against Vail Mountain with the Gore Creek corridor nearby, and in summer the gardens are in full bloom. It’s social, relaxed, and visually stunning — the kind of cocktail hour guests actually remember.

The Vail Chapel
Just across the street from the hotel is the quaint Vail Chapel. It seats up to 300 guests! This options is perfect for couples searching for both a traditional ceremony space and the grandeur of a historic reception space. The transition of events from chapel to hotel is extremely easy too.

Planning Your Sonnenalp Hotel Wedding: What to Know

**The coordination team is exceptional.** The Sonnenalp’s wedding team has received many reviews as being deeply experienced and genuinely invested in each couple’s vision. Having that level of on-site support makes the planning process so much more manageable, especially for out-of-town couples planning a destination wedding.

**Book your photographer early.** Vail wedding dates at the Sonnenalp book up well in advance, and photographers who are familiar with the venue fill their calendars quickly. If you have a date in mind, start the conversation early.

**Plan for a full weekend.** Since most of your guests will be traveling to the mountains, they might as well stay awhile! And as mentioned before, the venue (and the town of Vail) has so much to do. You’ll need at like 4 days to feel like you did it all.

**Peak season is January–March and July–September.** Summer and fall weddings offer the lush outdoor settings and mountain color that photograph most dramatically. Winter weddings are their own kind of magic — snow-covered Vail Mountain, fire in every hearth, and the warm Bavarian glow of Ludwig’s Terrace against a dark winter sky.

A Sonnenalp Hotel wedding would be a beautiful fit if you:

– Want a true destination wedding feel without leaving Colorado
– Love European aesthetics — warmth, history, craftsmanship, old-world charm
– Are drawn to intimate, service-driven luxury over grand ballroom impersonality
– Want your entire wedding weekend — rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, farewell brunch — to unfold in one gorgeous location
– Have guests who will turn your wedding into a ski trip, summer adventure, or mountain getaway
– Care deeply about how your photos will look (the answer: extraordinary)

Recap;

• Event spaces: Ludwig’s Terrace, Grand Bavaria Room, Creekside & Garden, Pool Deck, Sun Room, The Stüberl; Vail Chapel across the street
• Pricing: Expect a starting point of $20k, with most couples spending around $60k
• Style: European-alpine luxury, intimate and family-owned
• Services: In-house catering and bar, full event coordination, on-site accommodations, rehearsal dinners, farewell brunches
• Peak season: January–March (winter) and July–September (summer/early fall)
• Best for: Destination weddings, European-aesthetic couples, full-weekend celebrations, intimate luxury

Vendors:

Photography: Shelly Anderson Photography Ceremony Venue: Vail Interfaith Chapel Reception Venue: Sonnenalp Hotel Planning and Coordination: Petal and Bean Florals: Petal and Bean Catering: Sonnenalp Hotel DJ Entertainment: Ignite Entertainment

Want to see more events similar to this Sonnenalp Hotel wedding?

If you loved Zoë and Kylor’s Sonnenalp Hotel wedding, then you might also love this Winter Elopement on Vail Mountain. I’d also encourage you to check out this Arrabelle Square wedding!

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