Getting married in the Colorado Rockies is a spectacular way to have the drama of the mountains and the vibes of small towns. The jagged mountain tops, the aspen groves, the alpine rivers- these are beautiful backdrops for an adventurous couple.

But getting married in Colorado comes with a unique set of considerations to be prepared for beforehand. Th weather can move quickly and be unpredictable. The high altitude of some of the best Colorado small towns come with it’s own set of challenges. Travel can be unique with seasonal closures and small airports.

As a Colorado mountain wedding photographer, I am often asked many of these questions! Here are some of the biggest things to consider when planning a Colorado mountain wedding.

Where to Get Married in Colorado?

One of the biggest challenges is choosing where to get married in Colorado. Travel, accessibility, mountain backdrops are all factors to take into consideration when choosing your location.

• Crested Butte: Nestled in the heart of the Rockies, this small, quaint mountain town is know for being the wildflower capital of the state with 360* mountain views
• Telluride and Ouray: Some of the most jagged mountain views
• Buena Vista and Salida: Easier to get to and lots to do with views of the Collegiate peaks
• Aspen: Dramatic mountain scenery and high-end accommodations
• Breckenridge and Summit County: Much closer to Denver for easy travel and a variety of accommodations

What is the Best Season for a Colorado Mountain Wedding?

Summer: Wildflower fields, rushing waterfalls, long, warm evenings. June and July are some of the best months for a summer wedding however most Colorado locations will be heavily populated and book out a year+ in advance.

Fall: The golden aspens in Colorado with the snow-covered mountains cannot be beat. September and early October is a pretty incredible time for the foliage.

Winter: Colorado mountain weddings in the winter may be slightly more challenging but worth it! The sun is low in the sky and the mountains are covered in a blanket of white. Skiing and snowboarding in your wedding attire make for unforgettable moments and images.

What Time is Best for a Colorado Mountain Wedding?

Timelines are very important for all your vendors. Taking time to plan your timeline with your photographer and wedding coordinator will ensure a smooth and enjoyable day. Depending on the season the light will be best in the late afternoon, early evening and at sunset. Planning for you ceremony to start a few hours before sunset will allow for sunset photos and nice light for wedding party and couple portraits.

• Summer: Ceremony time at 4pm, sunset at 8pm
• Fall: Ceremony at 3pm, sunset at 6:30pm
• Winter: Ceremony at 1pm, sunset at 4pm

Colorado Weather Doesn’t Always Follow the Plan

Colorado mountain weddings are always subject to the weather gods. Be well prepared for any weather at any time of the year! But luckily the weather patterns in most Colorado’s mountain towns moves quickly. If rain some in fast and hits hard, you can expect it will move out fast (and maybe leave you with a rainbow!)

Don’t let the weather ruin your wedding day. Be well prepared with umbrellas and blankets for your guests, layer and jackets and good footwear.

What is Travel Like for a Colorado Mountain Wedding?

Considering time and travel accessibility is important for your guests and on your wedding day. Some mountain towns are much more difficult to get to than others. However, they often have some of the best views and least crowds. Crested Butte is 4 hours from Denver but does have a small airport only 30 miles away. Breckenridge is much closer to Denver off a major highway but is much more crowded in the summer and fall months.

A beautiful location deep in the mountains may be hard to access without hiking or 4×4 vehicles. This may not be ideal for large weddings with a variety of guest mobility.

Should You Hire a Local Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographer and Vendors?

Yes! Experience in the mountains can make a big difference. Photographers and vendors who are familiar with the mountains and small town can help tremendously with guidance and tips in your planning. See my blog Should You Hire Local for more specifics.

FAQ Wedding Questions

1. How much does wedding photography cost? Wedding photography ranges quite a bit based on experience products and coverage. Many micro weddings range from $2500 to $5000. A full day wedding will range from $4000 to $10,000.
2. What’s included in your collections? Wedding collections can include a variety of products- most commonly a photo album and digital files. Collections will also vary in the amount of coverage. A full day is typically between 8 and 10 hours of coverage. Most wedding collections also include an online gallery of retouched and edited images for easy sharing and downloading.
3. How many hours do we need? For a full day wedding 8 to 10 hours typically will cover all events of the day.
4. Should we have a second photographer? A second photographer is great, but not necessary. A second photographer will add to the variety of images and perspectives captured and will also help in assisting the lead photographer with lighting and gear.
5. How many photos will we receive? Depending on the length of coverage most wedding days yield 800 to 1200 deliverable and edited images.
6. Do I want all the raw images? No. There is no reason to have to sift through 2000 to 5000 images that your photographer took. Hire a professional photographer for their photographing and editing talent and let them deliver the best version of their photos. Professional photographers will often take 10 to 20 images per moment in a wedding day yielding 1 to 2 good photos. There is no reason to have the 18 images where the composition or lighting was not perfect. Let them do the work and you can enjoy the final deliverables.
7. When do we receive our gallery? Most photographers will deliver a sneak peek of images within 48 hours of your wedding event and a full gallery within a month of the wedding
8. What gear should wedding photographers use? Professional photography gear is quite variable in both price and professionalism. But a good photographer will create successful imagery with anything. Don’t get hung up on what gear a photographer has. Connect with the photographer’s personality and portfolio of images and trust in them to chose the right equipment.
9. Should we do a first look? A first look is a great opportunity for a couples to have a relaxed timeline where they get to enjoy each other before the craziness of the rest of the day. It also gives couples an opportunity to go to multiple locations for private creative portraits without the stress of the timeline.
10. How long should portraits take? Creative portraits should take a minimum of an hour and can take up to three hours if the couple is adventurous and spending time driving to different location locations.
11. Best ceremony time? Depending on the time of year, the ceremony time is usually just a little before dinner. Often dinner is at 6 PM with a 5 PM cocktail hour means a ceremony starts around 4 PM. If you are looking for an outdoor ceremony in the winter, you will want to start it earlier to maximize the best light and warmth of the day.
12. Best sunset time? Sunset varies, depending on the time of year and often the best sunset photos are right before the sun dips below the ridge and for 30 minutes or so after. In the summer, this will be around 8 PM, in the fall around 6 PM, and in the winter around 4 PM.
13. Wedding timeline tips. Planning a timeline is imperative for a successful wedding day. Take the time to walk-through your day with your Photographer or wedding planner. Start with your ceremony time and work backwards through the day and forwards through the reception. A typical timeline for a full day of photography coverage will look like this:
    • getting ready 12PM
    • first look one to 1:30 PM
    • creative portraits 130 to 3p.m.
    • ceremony 3pm to 4p.m
    • family and wedding party pictures 4 to 5p.m.
    • cocktail hour 5 to 6p.m.
    • dinner 6 to 7p.m.
    • toast 6:45pm to 7p.m.
    • cake cutting 7pm to 7:15 p.m.
    • first dance 7:15 to 7:45 pm
    • dancing 7:45 to 9:30 pm
14. How much time for family photos? Family photos typically take 30 minutes and are pretty easy and straightforward. Your family and wedding party at the ceremony site right after the ceremony.
15. How many family combinations? Family photo combinations include the couple and their parents, the couple and their immediate family, the couple and grandparents the couple with each extended family the couple and everyone
16. Do you help build timelines? Yes, your photographer will help you build your timeline and should have timeline guidance and a timeline worksheet.
17. How do we avoid feeling rushed? Feeling rushed on your wedding day can lead to unnecessary stress. Have multiple conversations with your photographer or your wedding coordinator to ensure plenty of time for each part of the day. Be honest about the amount of time you need in your morning routine and to get ready so that you are not feeling rushed. If you are a person who tends to be late or overextend themselves keep planned activities limited in your morning and give yourself extra time.
18. Best venues in Crested Butte? These locations are beautiful and well equipped and use commonly for wedding events. Some of these locations require rentals such as tense and more planning such as hiring caterers bars, staff and necessary decor. Other locations like the Club At Crested Butte and Ten Peaks provide many of those options. Smaller events, such as micro weddings and elopement can be more creative in their locations using the natural forest and other unofficial locations. The best venues in crested Butte are:
    • Ten peaks
    • the Center for the Arts
    • the Wedding Garden
    • the Club At Crested Butte
    • the Woods Walk
    • Town Ranch.
19. Best wildflower locations? Some of the best wildflower locations for couple portraits include:
    • Emerald Lake
    • Cb campground
    • the Woods Walk
    • the Lower Loop
    • the Umbrella bar
20. Best fall wedding locations? Some of the best fall locations for couples portraits include:
    • Woods Walk
    • Lower Loop
    • Gunsight bridge
    • Umbrella Bar
    • Gothic Rd.
    • Slate River Rd.
    • Washington Gulch
21. Winter wedding tips? Winter weddings are wonderful in the Rocky Mountains. Be prepared for snow and cold temps but beautiful, lighting and adventure. Wear layers under your wedding garb and bring layers for over your wedding attire for in between your photos. See my winter wedding blog for more details.
22. How windy is Crested Butte? Very windy in crested Butte in the spring and the fall with mornings in all the seasons, being the most calm and predictable weather.
23. Altitude tips for guests? The altitude in the Rocky Mountains can affect guests greatly if not well prepared. Let your guests know that they need to drink extra water to be careful of their alcohol intake and provide them with information about oxygen bars, acclimate water supplements, and have them go down in Altitude if they are starting to feel ill.
24. Should we have an unplugged ceremony? Unplugged ceremonies are great for giving your guest, a full wedding experience and their undivided attention. Higher professional photographers, and videographers to capture the day and ask your guest to leave their phones in their car.
25. Do we need permits? Some locations such as the Woods Walk and the Town Ranch require a rental permit for larger events. Groups 10 or less people do not require a permit permits in the national forest.
26. Best reception lighting? Lighting, like candles or twinkle lights, are great for adding a warm feel to your reception. Professional photographers will bring along additional lights such as flashes for their reception photography.
27. Biggest wedding mistakes? The biggest mistake is not having a clear timeline and communicating that timeline with all the vendors involved. A good professional photographer will help guide in the creation of the timeline as well as the execution if there is not a wedding coordinator to do so.
28. Questions to ask photographers. The top best questions to ask a photographer when interviewing them is will you help in the creation and execution of the timeline? How long before my final images will be delivered and can you explain your style of photography. Good communication a level of professionalism is paramount.
29. How do you choose a photographer? Based on their portfolio and personality and professionalism. You should feel comfortable with your photographer and want to see your face in their pictures. A professional photographer will have a large variety of images to share with you, including full wedding galleries and will communicate quickly and clearly and have a high level of professionalism.
30. What style should we look for? Style is a very personal opinion. Look through the photographers portfolio and try to envision you and your family and friends in their pictures. Different styles include light and airy, vintage bold and glamour, editorial, photojournalism.
31. Why is wedding photography expensive? A professional wedding photography studio will not only have talented photographers who are well experienced and have education in photography, but also will have a lot of overhead. Just like any professional business there is a cost to run the business as as well as as a cost for time and talent. Price is what you pay value is what you get.
32. What’s the difference between editing and retouching? Yes editing will include basic changes such as exposure. Contrast clarity white balance. Retouching is often more extensive and includes the removal of blemishes, distracting background objects, wind blown hair fly-a ways. A professional photographer will always deliver. Edited images, but retouching may be an extra expense.
33. Can you help with vendor recommendations? Yes local photographers will often have a list of recommended vendors that they have worked with before.
34. What if the timeline changes? If there needs to be changes in the timeline, clear communication with your photographer and wedding coordinator is important.
35. What if someone gets sick? Most professional photographer studios will have more than one lead photographer in case something like sickness or injury occur.

Planning a Colorado Mountain Wedding?

I photograph weddings, elopements and micro-weddings throughout the Colorado mountains, including Crested Butte, Gunnison, Telluride, Ouray, Buena Vista, Salida, Aspen, Breckenridge and surrounding mountain communities.

If you’re planning a Colorado wedding and aren’t sure where to start, I’d love to hear what you’re envisioning and help you think through locations, photography and a timeline that lets you actually enjoy the experience.