Check out this guide to Colorado Ski Weddings to start planning your dream day on the slopes! Whether you are planning a ski elopement for just the two of you or a snowboarding wedding with family and friends, I will help you pick the perfect ski resort and the best time of year! I will also help plan out your whole day and answer any questions you may have!
Reach out now to ski wedding photographer, Mountain Marta Photography!
Guide to Planning a Colorado Ski Wedding!
One of the first things to consider when planning your ski wedding in Colorado is whether you want to include any guests. Many couples choose to have a ski elopement so they can enjoy a day on the slopes, just the two of them. But, some couples want to include family and friends as well! If you want to include guests in your day, there are a few ways to make a ski wedding happen. One option is having a micro-wedding ceremony off-site. This can also be in a gorgeous mountain location that I will help you pick! This is a great way to include guests that do not ski. Then, after your ceremony and some family photos, you can hit the slopes with anyone who wants to join.
Another option is booking a venue at a ski resort. Some ski resorts do not open their venues until spring time. But if you are lucky, you may get a chance to enjoy some spring skiing in addition to your venue wedding! Finally, I have worked with plenty of couples who have their wedding and then will book a ski wedding session in their wedding attire afterwards. This way, they can still have the wedding with all of their guests, but then some awesome ski photos!
The next step to planning your ski wedding is hiring a ski wedding photographer that will guide you through the rest of the process!
Guide to Best Colorado Ski Wedding Resorts
When choosing the ski resort for your ski wedding, there are a few things to consider. The first would be whether you have a ski pass already. If you have the Epic or the Ikon pass, you will likely want to pick a resort that is already on your pass. I have both passes so you can freely choose whichever resort you would like for your Colorado ski wedding!
The next thing to consider is the general area of Colorado you want to stay during your trip! There are a lot of great resorts in Summit County. Many of these are close to a lot of lodging and restaurant options. And, Summit County resorts are not too far from Denver International Airport. If you are willing to make a longer drive from Denver, then there are plenty of beautiful ski resort options farther southwest in Colorado too!
Guide to Colorado Ski Weddings at Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain is probably one of my absolute favorite ski resorts in Colorado! No matter where you go on the mountain, you get the most incredible 360 views. Also, because it is not as large as some of the other resorts, you can really explore a lot of the mountain on your wedding day! Most of my couples that elope at Copper Mountain park in the free parking at Alpine Lot. From there they take the shuttle to Center Village. From Center Village, you can easily access great spots on the mountain! If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can even ride a t-bar surface lift!
Copper Mountain is also a great mountain if you want a wedding with guests. It’s only about an hour and 30 minutes from the Denver airport and there are plenty of places for your guests to stay. Guests can stay at lodging on Copper Mountain or explore hotel options in nearby towns of Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne. If you are planning a ski wedding with guests, you can reserve the Aerie Lodge for your mountain-top wedding, and still ski on your wedding day! Your guests will ride the American Eagle gondola to your venue, so they do not need to know how to ski!
Check out some real Copper Mountain Ski Weddings!
Guide to Colorado Ski Weddings in Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a perfect place for your ski wedding if you want a mix of awesome skiing, stunning views, and small mountain-town charm! With 5 different peaks to explore, Breckenridge has so much terrain to take advantage of for your ski wedding! Which peak you choose will depend on your skill level and the specific views you are looking for. Don’t worry, I can give you examples from each to help you decide!
During your ski elopement at Breckenridge, you can also enjoy lunch at some of their mountain top lodges. These include, Vista Haus on Peak 8, The Overlook on Peak 9, and Tenmile Station at the base of Peak 10. There are also plenty of great restaurants at the peak’s bases in the town of Breckenridge as well. If you want to hit a brewery or a more fancy restaurant on your ski wedding day, Breckenridge has it all! Main Street is also a great spot to explore on your stay. If you want sunset photos on your wedding day, we can also go to nearby locations like Sapphire Point Overlook! If you want a ski wedding that includes skiing as well as some additional exploring around a mountain town, but is also close to Denver, Breckenridge is the choice for you!
Check out this Breckenridge Colorado Ski Wedding!
Guide to Colorado Ski Weddings in Vail
Vail is another beautiful resort in Colorado for your ski elopement! Vail is around 2 hours from Denver International Airport. This is another resort with a ton of terrain to explore! One of my personal favorite areas is at the top of Eagle Bahn Gondola. I also love the base area at Lionshead Square with lots of beautiful and colorful buildings! You can also start your day in Vail Village and take Gondola One to start exploring. Where you start your day will also depend where you decide to book lodging. I usually recommend staying somewhere close to the resort. Otherwise you will need to pay to park at either Lionshead Parking Structure or Vail Village Parking. Vail Village also has a nice covered bridge where you can take additional photos off of the mountain!
Check out this real Vail Ski Elopement!
Ski and Snowboard Weddings in Keystone
If you want to plan a ski wedding at a smaller ski resort with less crowds and have the Epic Pass, Keystone might be the resort for you! My favorite view in Keystone is of Lake Dillon and Buffalo Mountain! In particular, if you plan for early or late season and the lake is not frozen, the gorgeous blue water surrounded by snowy peaks is stunning!
Ski Elopements in Crested Butte
Crested Butte is in my opinion, one of the best ski towns for a ski elopement if you want to feel truly immersed in the mountains! If you are willing to make the 4 to 5 hour drive from Denver Airport, trust me, it is worth it! Crested Butte has some amazing terrain with stunning views. There are also lots of adorable little shops and restaurants to explore. I absolutely love the look of colorful buildings on Elk Avenue covered in snow. One thing to keep in mind when choosing Crested Butte is if you want to include any guests, you will likely need to book a separate venue or house rental to host your ceremony. Post public land is difficult to access in the winter without proper gear, like snowshoes! If you have adventurous guests, we can still make it happen!
Telluride Ski Weddings
Telluride ski weddings are like a dream! The views in the San Juan Mountains are like none of the other resorts on the list. However, one thing to consider is that Telluride is about 6 to 7 hours from Denver. The drive is stunning, but can be challenging during winter storm. You could also fly into the smaller regional airport in Montrose, which is only one hour and 30 minutes from Telluride. If you do decide to come to the San Juan Mountains for your Colorado ski elopement, you certainly won’t regret it!
You can stay in the town of Telluride on the main street, or book lodging in Mountain Village. If you are up for an adventure, you can also explore nearby mountain towns including Ouray and Silverton. A hot spring soak after a day of skiing is a must! The Million Dollar Highway can be a little scary in the winter, so I do not recommend making that drive while it is snowing, but it is certainly breathtaking!
Loveland
Steamboat
Beaver Creek
Other Colorado Resorts I would love to photograph ski elopements at!!!
A few other Colorado ski resorts that I would love to encourage couples to pick for their ski elopement include Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, and of course Aspen! A list of best places for ski weddings in Colorado has to include Aspen Snowmass! You really can’t go wrong with any of the choices on this list, but I would love to help you pick the best one for you!
Guide to Colorado Ski Weddings-Best Time of Year
When booking your ski wedding in Colorado you definitely need to consider the best time of year. I usually do not recommend anything earlier than December or even January if you want to have access to more snow and more open terrain on your wedding day. While many Colorado ski resorts open in October or November, often a lot of trails are still closed at that time. However, if you want to enjoy some milder weather and are okay with just a few runs being open, then fall could still be the right choice for you. If you want a true winter wonderland ski wedding in Colorado, then I definitely recommend February and March!
Finally, if you want a chance of warmer temperatures and fun spring skiing, then late March into early April can be a great choice! Do keep in mind that Colorado can still have some heavy snowstorms in March or April. If you choose a spring elopement in Colorado, you need to be prepared for any kind of weather! Pushing your ski wedding into April could also leave the risk of less terrain open if we don’t have a good winter. We can talk through all of the pros and cons together when you are choosing your ski wedding date. Ski season does span from October to April in Colorado (sometimes even May). So, there are lots of dates to choose from!
Additional Ski Weddings FAQs
- Can we have our ceremony on the slopes?
If it is just you as a couple, then yes you can definitely find a nice spot at the of a lift or off of a less busy ski run to have your ceremony. If you are having any quests, then you will need to have your ceremony off-site or book a venue. In order to stay safe and not block any ski runs, I do not advise ceremonies with guests on the ski mountains.
- How do I ski or snowboard in my wedding dress?
My main recommendation for skiing and snowboarding in a wedding dress is make sure to bring your boots to your alteration. Then, I recommend a slightly shorter length than you might have for a more traditional wedding dress length. That way the dress will not get caught in the bindings. I also recommend choosing a dress that you feel comfortable and can move freely in! When buying your dress and trying it on, move around and sit down in it. You want to make sure you can get on and off a ski lift in your dress comfortably!
If you decide you want a train on your dress for photos off of the slopes, then you definitely need to make sure that you get a strong bustle! Finally, I once had a bride that sewed little handles into her dress. With the handles, she could hold up her dress more easily while snowboarding!
- Do we need to wear traditional wedding attire?
That is totally up to you! You can decide whether you want to wear a suit or a dress or wear something else! I have had couples that chose to wear ski bibs, brides in white, and grooms in black. I have also had couples stay in their regular ski clothes with the addition of small details like a bow tie or a veil. You can decide whatever makes you comfortable and how elaborate you want your outfit to be. If you do decide to wear full wedding attire, be prepared to be the coolest couple on the mountain!!!
- How do we stay warm if it is a really cold day?
I highly recommend wearing thermal layers under your clothes wherever you can. Skin-colored leggings are a great choice if you are wearing a dress that shows off your legs! I also advise you to bring a jacket. You can always take it off for some photos, but it is better to stay comfortable! We can also take some warm-up breaks in the lodges if it is getting to be too cold. Finally, hand, toe, and body warmers are a must!
- Should we wear a helmet? Will that mess up my hair?
This definitely depends on your personal comfort level. I am a huge proponent of always wearing a helmet, but I have had couples that chose not to. Most couples who chose not to stuck to the easier green trails. But, I also have couples who did wear theirs for skiing and snowboarding! If you are worried about messing up your hair, a great option is to take a gondola up to a scenic spot first. There, we can take some great photos, and then put your helmet on for the action shots! I also recommend bringing along a hair and and makeup artist that will provide touch ups throughout the day! I love working with Wild Brides Backcountry for ski weddings!
Ski weddings are the best. Your pictures are beautiful and memorable. Snow and skiing couple looking amazing. Good work!