By Beth Buehler
A wedding should reflect the personal tastes of the bride and groom, including the destination. Colorado offers a wide variety of options that couples might not expect, from mountains and ranches to farms and cities. Here is a brief overview of potential Colorado wedding destinations to consider.
Cityscapes – If an urban feel and a wide choice of suppliers and venues—not to mention city views—are top priorities, the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado Springs and Pueblo are solid choices. There are magnificent churches, gardens, rooftops, rooms with lofty skyscraper views, clock towers, ballrooms and more for saying “I do” and celebrating in style.
Mountain Towns – Being the number one destination for skiing in North America and home to 25 ski areas and resorts, the Colorado mountains attract their share of outdoor lovers and wedding parties. Names like Vail, Aspen and Breckenridge are known throughout the world as ski areas and year-round resorts, while Estes Park is easily recognized for Rocky Mountain National Park, Blackhawk for casinos and Salida for the Arkansas River. Find all sorts of neat venues and backdrops while surrounded by the gorgeous Rocky Mountains.
Farms, Orchards & Vineyards – The soil and landscape that grows grapes, peaches, apples, plums and all sorts of produce are beautiful backdrops for planting the new seed of a marriage. Boulder is home to many farms that are used to hosting groups and dinners while Grand Junction and neighboring Palisade offer some of the state’s best options for holding weddings and dinners in vineyards and orchards.
Ranches – Colorado is the West. Boots, hats, country music, barns and more are all right at home at ranches in the mountains and on the plains and even on the fringe of cities like Colorado Springs. The beauty of ranches is that many have great lodging, wedding venues, food options and activities all on-site, making them one-stop shops for brides and grooms. Others might only serve as venues but have lodging partners at the ready to host wedding guests.
College Towns – Like the college town vibe or perhaps met the love of your life at one of Colorado’s vibrant institutions of higher learning? Boulder, Fort Collins and Greeley have the state’s three largest public universities and downtowns that provide fun spots for rehearsal dinners, bachelor or bachelorette parties, weddings and free time. The universities themselves have event venues, plus there are just a whole lot of options in towns that are used to hosting students, parents and alumni from all over the world.
Today’s couples are making statements with their weddings. No matter what the budget, Colorado delivers on unique, memorable and welcoming.
Beth Buehler is editor of Colorado Meetings + Events and Mountain Meetings magazines, has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado in all seasons.