With over 15 mountain ranges in Colorado, the tallest at over 14,000 feet, it’s one of the best places for a mountain wedding. In this article, I’ll discuss the best Colorado mountain wedding locations with stunning scenery.
Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony or a larger wedding in the mountains, you’ll find the perfect venue below.
I’ll share all the details, including max guest count, cost, availability, and the best budget-friendly options. There are also a few with lodging if needed.
Town Ranch, Crested Butte
Max guest count: 200
Cost: $700
Availability: Summer and Fall
Town Ranch is a stunning venue in Crested Butte, a charming mountain town in the Colorado Rockies. It’s the perfect outdoor wedding venue with 360 degrees of mountain scenery.
You can have your wedding and reception in the large open space. Town Ranch is protected, so it feels like a secluded area. However, it’s a short walk from Downtown Crested Butte, ideal for nearby accommodations and continuing your party after the wedding.
Mountain Wedding Garden, Crested Butte
Max guest count: 125
Cost: Starts at $2,000
Availability: June – September
Mountain Wedding Garden is easily one of my favorite outdoor wedding venues in Colorado. It’s situated in the Elk Mountains for a picture-perfect wedding backdrop.
The ceremony space is outside, with lush weddings, a beautiful garden, and basic amenities. You can have your reception in the park pavilion, which has two sides open to the outdoors. Both areas offer enough natural beauty that you can keep your decor simple or decorate the spaces as you wish.
There are beautiful aspen trees surrounding the venue of Mountain Wedding Garden. If you’re having a spring or summer wedding, you’ll also experience colorful wildflowers blooming.
Cement Creek Ranch, Crested Butte
Availability: Year-round
Cement Creek Ranch is one of the best secluded Colorado mountain sites. It’s a cabin in a stunning valley surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest. It’s a short drive from Crested Butte.
Cement Creek Ranch is the perfect place for adventurous couples to get married, with many outdoor activities nearby. You can also stay on-site with your guests or extend your stay with your partner for a simple but romantic honeymoon. It’s also easy to relax with Cement Creek Ranch’s tranquil atmosphere.
Brainard Lake, Ward
Max guest count: 20
Cost: Minimal parking/reservation fee only
Availability: Summer and fall; and winter if you’re up for a snowshoeing adventure
Brainard Lake, about 45 minutes outside Boulder, is one of the most affordable Colorado mountain wedding locations. It’s perfect for an intimate ceremony surrounded by natural beauty, including alpine forests, high mountain peaks, and a beautiful lake.
There is nearby parking, making Brainard Lake easily accessible. It’s also ideal for a dog-friendly wedding.
After your ceremony, you can go to Boulder to celebrate with your loved ones. This is also a great place to book your accommodations. You can also camp at Pawnee Campground at Brainard Lake if you and your partner enjoy adventure.
San Sophia Overlook, Mountain Village
Max guest count: 250
Cost: Starts at $5,000 for the venue
Availability: June-October and December-March
If you’re planning a large outdoor Colorado mountain wedding, San Sophia Overlook is incredible. It’s located at the Telluride Ski Resort, which is perfect for a destination wedding.
The San Sophia Overlook deck, where you’ll have your ceremony, is at more than 10,000 feet elevation and offers magical views of tall mountain peaks. You’ll exchange your vows on a wooden platform at the mountain ridge backed by mountains, with guest seating in a grassy space. There are also a couple of gorgeous reception areas at the ski resort.
Sapphire Point Overlook, Dillon
Max guest count: 30
Cost: $120
Availability: Year-round
Just outside of Breckenridge, Sapphire Point Overlook is one of the most convenient Colorado mountain wedding locations. It’s not only beautiful but also affordable and easily accessible.
Sapphire Point Overlook sits at a nearly 10,000-foot elevation between the Gore and Tenmile mountain ranges. It’s at the edge of a cliff above the Dillon Reservoir, making for incredible views.
While up to 30 guests and chair rentals are permitted at Sapphire Point Overlook, the space is relatively small and can get crowded. You’re also only allowed two vehicles, so you may need a shuttle. That said, I recommend inviting only your closest loved ones.
Several inns, resorts, and restaurants are near Sapphire Point Overlook. Breckenridge is also a short drive away.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes
Max guest count: 30 for most sites
Cost: $350 for a Special Use Permit
Availability: Some sites are year-round, while others are seasonal
Just outside of Boulder in Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park is an amazing place to get married outdoors. It has some of the best Colorado mountain wedding sites, with 12 specific locations throughout the park. The park is gorgeous all year, and each season offers a unique experience.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy a hiking elopement or have a small ceremony with a beautiful backdrop. The park covers 415 square miles and has many gorgeous areas to explore. A shuttle is also available for you and your guests.
There are various picnic areas if you want to set up your reception at the park. You can also celebrate your wedding afterward in Estes Park or Boulder, both great places to book accommodations if needed.
Top of the Pines, Ridgway
Max guest count: 50
Cost: Starting at $1,000
Availability: May 15th – October 15th
Top of the Pines is a 175-acre outdoor wilderness recreation area at an 8,600-foot elevation in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in Ridgway, Colorado. It’s the perfect spot for a rustic wedding off the beaten path.
While the meadow surrounded by natural beauty is ideal for a ceremony, the enclosed pavilion is perfect for a reception.
If you need accommodations, you can camp at Top of the Pines, which many couples do for an adventurous wedding experience. There’s enough space for your guests, too. Otherwise, there are several places to stay nearby and more options in Ouray and Telluride, less than an hour away.
Ridgway State Park, Ridgway
Max guest count: 100
Cost: $200 during the week and $250 on weekends and holidays
Availability: Year-round
One of my favorite Colorado mountain wedding venues is Ridgway State Park. It’s gorgeous, and the park has many spots for stunning photos. The ceremony site is backed by mountain scenery and overlooks a reservoir.
Ridgway State Park has an open-air pavilion for an outdoor reception. To extend your stay and enjoy the park’s outdoor activities, you can tent or yurt camp in the park. If needed, there are also hotels nearby.
Maroon Bells Amphitheater, Aspen
Max guest count: 50
Cost: $200
Availability: June – September
As two of Colorado’s most beautiful mountain peaks, it’s no wonder the Maroon Bells is also one of the most photographed places. The mountains, Aspen trees, and lush forests surround Maroon Bells Amphitheater, making it a stunning place to tie the knot.
There isn’t a space for your reception at Maroon Bells Amphitheater. However, you can have a reception at the nearby East Maroon Portal Picnic Site, which sits along Maroon Creek and holds up to 75 people.
If you need accommodations for your Maroon Bells wedding, Aspen is the closest town with many options. Hotels and vacation rentals are also available in smaller towns nearby.
Gold Mountain Ranch, Ouray
Max guest count: 40 (up to 18 is more comfortable)
Cost: Starts at $6,500
Availability: Memorial Day to mid-October
Golden Mountain Ranch in Ouray, a cute mountain town in Southern Colorado, is one of the best places for a private wedding. The venue sits 1,200 acres above Ouray and offers picturesque views of the San Juan Mountains.
The ceremony space is on a green lawn and can accommodate up to 40 guests. Bench seating is provided for up to 18 guests. The outdoor patio and bar are perfect for your cocktail hour or reception.
There’s also a honeymoon suite and lodging at The Wilmont, a luxurious ranch house that sleeps up to 18 people. There’s also a hot tub, multiple lounge areas, and yard games, making this one of the best Colorado mountain venues with lodging for a memorable wedding getaway with loved ones.
Colorado Mountain Wedding Venues on a Budget
If you’re planning an affordable elopement or wedding, Colorado has incredible options without sacrificing the mountain views you’re looking for!
The following Colorado mountain wedding locations are each under $1,000, with Brainard Lake only requiring a small parking fee.
- Town Ranch, Crested Butte, CO
- Brainard Lake, Ward, CO
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
- Sapphire Point Overlook, Dillion, CO
- Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
Colorado Mountain Wedding Venues with Lodging
If you’re having a destination wedding in Colorado or a local looking to spend the night at your venue, the following wedding venues have lodging:
- Cement Creek Ranch, Telluride, CO
- San Sophia Overlook at Telluride Ski Resort, Mountain Village, CO
- Golden Mountain Ranch, Ouray CO
How much does a Colorado mountain wedding cost?
A Colorado mountain wedding can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000. The average cost is $25,625. However, costs can vary depending on the venue, time of year, and vendors.
You can get married on a budget or splurge. It’s totally up to you!
Colorado Mountain Wedding Locations: Conclusion
I hope you found this article helpful! If you’re looking for other location ideas, would like support with wedding planning, or want someone to capture your special day, I’d love to help you.
Among the Pines Photography (that’s me!) offers Colorado mountain wedding packages which include the following:
- Initial phone consultation
- Location scouting
- Timeline Planning
- Vendor recommendations
- Access to all-inclusive wedding planning resources
- Custom online gallery with all edited high-resolution images
- 48-hour sneak peek photos
- Rights to printing
- My travel to anywhere in the US
kinsley + caden
“Brooke was the perfect choice for our wedding day! We had a micro wedding at Sapphire Point in August. I had never been to Sapphire Point and Brooke was so helpful suggesting vendors, picture locations, parking, marriage license info etc. She was so kind and helpful before and during the whole process and was a large part of why the day went so smooth. She does so much more than just show up and take pictures, Brooke will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect! The photos are gorgeous and I keep getting so many compliments! I truly cannot recommend her enough!”
"Brooke was a large part of why our day went so smooth and will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect!"
We chose Brooke to capture our Colorado elopement and she did exactly that and more. She made it easy to plan our day out with locations and timelines so that we could focus on ourselves. We decided last minute to change our afternoon/evening elopement to a 6am sunrise one so beat the heat of the day. Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise. She was kind and understood what we wanted in terms of our elopement and we are so grateful to have her capture the day. Our photos turned out beautiful and truly helped us relive the day. I would recommend Brooke to anyone wanting their special day photographed.
"Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise."
erica + stacy
kirstie + colin
Brooke not only photographed our mountain elopement beautifully, but she put so much thought into the details and knew all of the answers the questions I didn’t even know to ask. She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had. She even helped pick the perfect spot for us and advised us on the logistical details like securing a reservation at the mountain lake where we wanted our ceremony. She is SO easy to work with and very friendly and chill. My husband and I are super awkward in front of a camera but she made it so natural and easy - and the shots came out better than we could have imagined.
"She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had."
amanda + jace
Brooke is many things; talented, calm, flexible, experienced/ knowledgeable, patient, incredibly responsive, organized, resourceful in a pinch, supportive, creative, professional yet a blast to work with, and goes above & beyond w her clients. Our wedding was a spectacular dream and we couldn't be more grateful that she made that single day last forever. Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be. We couldn't recommend her more and we look forward to booking with her for all of our vow renewals, seasonal and family pictures for as long as she'll have us.
"Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be."
linden + brent
Working with Brooke was a dream come true! Before we even met, my husband Brent and I were impressed by her portfolio. After meeting, we were even more convinced that her photography skills and knowledge, and her fun and easygoing personality were exactly what we were looking for in an elopement photographer. Brooke was able to take our vision and facilitate everything so that it worked out beautifully, especially when it came to finding the perfect location (the incredible mountains surrounding Ouray). Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy. In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo.
"Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible."
lauren + branden
I can't begin to express my gratitude for the intimacy and beauty behind Brooke's photographs. In capturing our wedding day, she went above and beyond to document our story, our families, and the depths of our love in ways that I'll forever be grateful for. Brooke has an eye for not only capturing the adventure and magic of your love, but deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way. She is truly an artist and tells your story in an authentic and creative way for you to look back on for years to come. We are forever grateful to Brooke for spending the time to get to know us, our story, and capturing the memories that we'll relive for years to come.
"Brooke deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way."
heather + jedd
“If you're contemplating which photographer to go with, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHOOSE BROOKE!!!! She is so so so talented and was able to capture our elopement exactly how I pictured and wanted! We eloped in Ridgway, CO this past September and she was so helpful figuring out picture locations, recommendations of timeline for the day, and just made the whole day feel so smooth. She schedules multiple check ins, phone calls, etc., leading up to the big day to ensure everything is as you want it. Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever after just the first time of meeting."
"Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever."
christy + austin
Brooke is the absolute best. She truly went above and beyond for my fiancé and I to be able to get our engagement photos taken with the fall colors. Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos! Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
"Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever."
