I have couples reach out often expressing their desires to get married in Aspen; An iconic destination, great food, epic views, and unmatched guest experiences are a few things that make Aspen such an incredible place to get married. Making the decision to have an Aspen wedding is easy, but deciding all the other details can get a bit trickier! Along with Jenny with Stargazed Wedding and Events, we are here to be a source of information and inspiration for Aspen weddings from both a photographer and planner’s perspective, while bringing in other local vendors to give you all the most up to date and inclusive resources. We are here to break down all things wedding in our favorite place on earth where we both call home.
Whatever the season or reason for visiting Aspen, understanding our mountains is an important first step in the planning process. Aspen and Snowmass boast four unique mountains including Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, and Snowmass Mountain that include year-round fun. We will be breaking down each mountain by season, event needs, and activities in future posts, but wanted to focus on general information to get you acquainted.
It is no secret that both Aspen and Snowmass are known for being a paradise for Winter recreation activities. Whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing, you will find unmatched views, bluebird skies, and pristine snow conditions to keep you playing, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Summers in Aspen and Snowmass are equally as beautiful and filled with endless adventures from hiking, biking, climbing, camping, and river activities including fishing, rafting, canoeing, and SUPing. Our Spring and Fall hold beauty as well as we fade in and out of seasons, but most service providers close their doors for a much-needed rest when the winter season comes to an end. The dates fluctuate each year when the mountains themselves end their season so expect limited activities and accommodations mid-April through mid to late-May. This same off-season occurs again in the Fall from mid-October through mid-November.
Aspen Highlands
Aspen Highlands is Aspen’s most advanced mountain for skiing and snowboarding and is arguably a local’s favorite. It is home to the Highlands Bowl and Cloud Nine, creating the ultimate “work hard, play harder” experience.
There are no summer mountain operations on Highlands making this a winter destination with the mountain opening mid-December and closing mid-April.
Wedding Venues on Highlands Mountain include Cloud Nine and the Merry-Go-Round. Cloud Nine was made famous for its après experience, is accessible by the Cloud Nine lift or snowcat during the winter season. Merry-Go-Round is accessible during the winter season by the Exhibition Lift and by hired shuttle in the summer and hosts 350 guests.
Aspen Mountain
Getting to the top of Aspen Mountain is made simple with the Silver Queen Gondola, which brings you to incredible views and steps from the Sundeck where you can enjoy food, drinks, and live music.
Summer operating hours are 10am-4pm on weekends from May 27th– June 11th and September 8th-October 2nd, and daily from June 16th-September 4th, closing October 2nd (2023 Season).
Wedding venues on Aspen Mountain include the Little Nell, which has a number of options for both indoor and outdoor weddings including the Wedding Deck, Wedding Overlook, Aspen X Mountain Club, The Gallery, Terrace Room, Sundeck, Gondola Plaza, and Grand Salon. The Sundeck sits atop Aspen Mountain and hosts 250 guests for dinner and up to 500 for a reception.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is your go-to family-friendly mountain with a terrain park and beginner runs during the winter season, and several summer activities to keep everyone playing.
There are no summer mountain operations on Buttermilk with the mountain opening mid-December and closing early-April, but is a favorite for summer mountain biking and hiking.
Wedding venues on Buttermilk include the Cliffhouse and the Buttermilk Mountain Lodge. The Cliffhouse is accessible by the Summit Express Chairlift and hosts 150 guests on the deck with additional seating available on the mountain. The Buttermilk Mountain Lodge is accessible via vehicle and hosts 240 guests with additional seating available on the patio.
Snowmass
The largest of all four mountains, Snowmass offers endless activities, great for those looking for an epic challenge or family-friendly adventures.
Summer operating hours are 10am-5pm daily from June 21st-September 4th and weekends from September 8th– October 1st (2023 season). With the help of the Skittles and Elk Camp gondolas, the summer season grants you access to endless activities for kids, biking, hiking, and live music.
Wedding venues on Snowmass include Elk Camp, Lynn Britt Cabin, and the Snowmass Wedding Terrace. Elk Camp is accessible by gondola and hosts up to 250 guests. Lynn Britt Cabin is accessible by shuttles in the summer and snowcat in the winter, and hosts 200 guests in the meadow and 60 guests inside the cabin. The Snowmass Wedding Terrace is operated by the Limelight Hotel Snowmass, is accessible by vehicle, and hosts 146 guests.
Taking all of these details into consideration when planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but we recommend hiring a local planner who understands the unique complexities of Aspen weddings and then picking your venue. For late Spring, Summer, and early Fall weddings, we recommend selecting an early June to early October date. For winter weddings, and to get the full Aspen wedding experience, we recommend a mid-December to early April date.
You can find an extensive list of activities and wedding venue information at Aspen Snowmass.
