Vail Ceremony & Reception

From the big and grand to the small and intimate, there are countless beautiful places to perform your perfect ceremony. From lovely, storybook chapels to mountaintop decks, richly appointed ballrooms and golf courses with breathtaking views, the high country will insure a most memorable day. Many local hotels and resorts offer large conference areas, perfect for a reception and a garden area for exchanging vows with friends and family. There are also many parks with lovely views.The Rocky Mountains are among the country’s premiere destinations for weddings. Wedding sites range from rustic ranch settings to soaring mountain locations to polished fine-dining restaurants – and everything in between. Several churches are available for a more traditional religious ceremony. Many brides and grooms also opt to exchange vows on a mountain, wedding deck, or at another unique, mountain-inspired location. Reception sites are just as diverse. Consider hotel ballrooms to on-mountain restaurants to outdoor ranch-style receptions. Venues will range in offerings from full packages, complete with entertainment, food and beverage, to do-it-yourself style locations that allow you to select caterers, hire entertainment and even bring in your own alcohol (make sure to ask for full licensing details if you select a location that allows you to provide the booze, there are some serious caveats that come with this option). Be sure to ask the vendor exactly what the provide – and know exactly what you will need to pay to bring in – so that you can plan your budget accordingly. See ‘Wedding Catering,’ ‘Wedding Photography’ and ‘Wedding Planners’ for more information on how to put all the pieces together for your special day. Needless to say, when you are planning your wedding, make sure to take the weather into account. Have an adequate weather backup plan, with an indoor location that will fit all your guests. If you opt for an outdoor ceremony, make sure you have a backup plan for that as well. Even if it’s as simple as rearranging the chairs in the reception site to form a make-shift aisle – be sure you’re prepared, because mountain weather cab be unpredictable.