Essential Tips for Planning a Wedding in Colorado | Burnlight & Co
Updated: Oct 14
Planning a wedding in Colorado starts with imagining the kind of day you want. From snowy winter celebrations to summer mountain views and golden fall colors, each season offers something different. Whether you call Colorado home or are traveling here to celebrate, you’ll find beautiful settings from the Front Range to the Western Slope. This guide will help you explore your options and make decisions that fit the two of you.
You have scoured the internet for venues, photographers, and even wedding coordinators but don't know where to start. I get it; even though I work in the wedding industry, I to get overwhelmed with all the options. A Colorado wedding can mean private vows in the mountains, a restaurant celebration with your closest people, or a full wedding weekend with 150 guests. Before choosing a venue, start with the experience you want and build a plan that supports it. Let this be your guide to the perfect wedding!
Decide what kind of wedding you want is essential.
Start with a priority list. Three things that you cannot compromise on. Then set an approximate guest count before contacting venues. This gives you a great starting point. Decide whether you want a single-day celebration or a weekend wedding. Choose the experience: an outdoor adventure, intimate dinner, traditional reception, or a combination.
There are four types of weddings you can identify with. Elopement, Micro, small to medium, and large weddings. While there is no correct choice, it's important to know what to expect from each. Whether it's Denver and the Front Range, Estes Park, Summit County and Vail Valley, Buena Vista and Salida, Telluride, Ouray, Durango, Grand Junction and Palisade.
Elopements - $3,000–$12,000+
An elopement is for couples who want the day to feel personal, with the freedom to focus on each other. That might mean just the two of you or a handful of your closest people. For this guide, I’m considering an elopement to be a wedding with approximately 0–10 guests.
You can exchange private vows, take portraits, share an activity, and finish with a great dinner. You don’t have to hike up a mountain or give up the traditions you love. Your day could include a scenic overlook, a favorite restaurant, a first dance, or time with family.
I suggested looking at Loveland Pass or Hoosier Pass on Crystal Lake.
A smaller guest list can give you more flexibility with your time and budget. It doesn’t automatically make the day inexpensive, but it lets you choose where your money goes—whether that’s photography, a beautiful place to stay, or an experience you’ll remember together.
The biggest tradeoff is deciding who will be there. If celebrating with your extended family and friends is one of your priorities, a small wedding may be a better fit. You can also exchange vows privately and celebrate with everyone afterward.
For a Colorado elopement, research your location before committing to a date. Depending on the site, you may need a ceremony permit or reservation, and there may be limits on guests, parking, decorations, or pets. Check the rules with the venue or land manager, and have a backup plan for weather and access.
Talk with your photographer about scouting your location beforehand, especially if you’re heading somewhere remote. Knowing the access route, lighting, and backup options can make a big difference on your wedding day. If your plans include rough mountain roads, check whether you’ll need a high-clearance vehicle or four-wheel drive. You can also have a beautiful Colorado elopement at an accessible location without an off-road adventure.
For higher-elevation locations, summer into early fall can be a good starting point for planning, but check seasonal road access before choosing your date and again before heading out. Snow and closures can change your plans. If hiking, backpacking, or camping is something you love doing together, consider making it part of your celebration. Just confirm that your chosen location allows the ceremony and any overnight stay you have in mind.
Micro Weddings - $7,000–$20,000+
A micro wedding might be the right fit if you want your closest people beside you while keeping the celebration small. For this guide, that means approximately 15 - 30 guests. Think of a ceremony with your immediate family and best friends, followed by a great meal and time to enjoy everyone’s company. You can still have the traditions you love: getting ready together, walking down the aisle, sharing a first dance, and hearing speeches from your favorite people. You get to decide which parts matter to you.
With fewer guests, you may have more room in your budget for an exceptional dinner, photography, or a memorable place to stay. But a smaller wedding isn’t automatically inexpensive. Some venues have minimum spending requirements, and services like photography and entertainment don’t necessarily cost less because fewer people attend.
In Colorado, you could explore a restaurant with private dining, a small wedding venue, or a lodge that allows events. Before booking, make sure the space can comfortably accommodate everyone, including an indoor option if the weather changes. If you’re considering a vacation rental, confirm that weddings are explicitly allowed.
The hardest part may be keeping the guest list small. Talk with your partner early about who you want there and how you’ll handle requests to invite more people.
For photography, think about how much of the celebration you want documented. Getting ready, exchanging vows, taking family portraits, and sharing dinner can still fill a meaningful day. A smaller gathering also gives your photographer opportunities to capture the conversations, reactions, and relationships that make your wedding yours.
3. Medium to Large Weddings - $20,000–$50,000+
If you picture celebrating with extended family, friends, and a full dance floor, a medium or large wedding may be your fit. These celebrations give you room to bring more of your people together, whether you’re planning one evening or an entire wedding weekend.For this guide, a medium wedding means approximately 61–120 guests, while a large wedding includes 121 or more. Your guest count will influence almost every decision, so start there before contacting venues.
With more guests, expenses like food, drinks, seating, and rentals add up quickly. Ask venues for a complete estimate based on your expected attendance, including staffing, taxes, service charges, and cleanup. A rental price alone won’t tell you what it costs to host everyone.
For a Colorado wedding, consider how your guests will reach the venue and where they’ll stay. A mountain setting can be beautiful, but you’ll also need enough parking, transportation options, bathrooms, and an indoor backup that comfortably fits the entire group. Ask about reception capacity with tables and a dance floor. Not just the maximum number of people allowed inside.
There are also more moving parts to coordinate. A planner or coordinator can help manage vendor arrivals, setup, and the schedule so you and your family can enjoy the celebration. Clarify what your venue’s coordinator handles and what you’ll need someone else to oversee.
The tradeoff is that you may have less time with each guest. Build breathing room into the schedule, and decide whether greeting everyone during cocktail hour or dinner is a priority. You don’t need to fill every minute with an activity.
For photography, talk through the timeline before deciding how much coverage you need. A second photographer can be helpful when you’re getting ready in separate locations or want different perspectives during the ceremony and reception. Guest count alone doesn’t determine that need your locations, schedule, and priorities matter too. Prepare a family-photo list and ask someone who knows your relatives to help gather people. That small step can make portraits run more smoothly and give you more time to spend with everyone you invited.
Your Colorado wedding starts with deciding what matters most to you. Whether that’s private vows in the mountains, dinner with your closest people, or a dance floor filled with family and friends, let those priorities guide your plans.
As you start bringing those ideas together, I’d love to hear what you’re imagining and talk about how you want it photographed. You don’t need every detail figured out to reach out.
Visit my contact page and share your date or season, any locations you’re considering, and a little about the two of you. Let’s talk about your day.
Comments