Planning your Summit County wedding in Colorado? There are so many stunning mountain venues. It can feel overwhelming, but if you are a mountain lover than you are in the right place! These venues are easily accessible in the off season, come with planning resources and offer stunning views for your special day.

Some things to keep in mind when planning a wedding in Summit County:

Lodging

Many Summit County venues come with lodging for your guests, however, some go not have lodging (like ABasin), but there are plenty of AirBnB options in Silverthorne and Dillon. If you are interested in a more affordable and very hip lodging experience, check out The Pad in Silverthorne.

Transportion

If most of your guests are driving up from the Denver area, be sure to remind them what traffic can be link on I70 on a weekend. It’s important to leave plenty of time to get to your wedding ceremony on time. Many factors can have an effect on travel time when you are driving to the mountains. If your guests are staying in Summit at a lodge or AirBnB providing a shuttle could be helpful for out of town guests who are not familiar with mountain roads and weather.

My preferred shuttle company in Summit County is Epic Mountain Express.

Vendors

When selecting your vendors ask them if they have experience getting to your venue during wedding season. Getting to the mountains and getting around mountain venues can be logistically challenging. Be sure they are prepared and can show experience with all the unpredictable factors that can come up on a wedding in the mountains. Local vendors are great to consider, but can be harder to come by. Please reach out for my list of preferred vendors who I have worked with and trust on a wedding day.

Weather

Weather is always going to be a factor for a mountain wedding. If you plan to use a chairlift to transport guests, there are many safety measure that are taken around thunderstorms to ensure that you and your guests are safe. This can lead to a delay in your timeline. Also, be prepared with umbrellas and rain gear, just in case. Even if the forecast is clear on your day, storms can roll in quick and better to be prepared on your day. Talk to your venue manager about plan B should there be rain. The good news is that often in Colorado storms pass quickly and the rainbow that follows is a great reward for your delay.

Also, remember to bring layers, and tell your guests too as well. Sunscreen is equally important. It’s likely you and your guests will need sunscreen at the start and a puffy jacket towards the end. Be prepared for all the different Colorado weather scenarios on your wedding day.

Altitude

This one is important! If you have guests coming from lower elevations, warn them that being at a high altitude can cause headaches, breathing problems, and can cause you to get more drunk than you normally would. Remind them to pace themselves, and drink lots of water. Providing electrolytes and Boost oxygen canisters can be lifesavers to your party goers!

Also, consider hiring a Summit Oxygen to provide an extra boost of O2 for your guests!! It’s different, a great conversation starter and can help keep everyone vertical on the dance floor.