Maximize Your Wedding Photography With The Most Important Wedding Planning Decision What Will Be Your Wedding Venue?

Posted on 29. Dec, 2010 by Brian in Location, Wedding, Wedding Portrait

The fun of beginning to plan a wedding starts with the most important choice.  Finding the venue that matches your style.  Regardless of your budget, this decision will be how you, your family and all your guests remember the day.  In Colorado there are incredible mountain vista venues that range from modest to super high end in price.  Do you want your guest to brave the elements – the sun, possible mountain showers, the altitude.  How about a quaint hotel, a ghost town or a country club?  Is your wedding style modern, urban or outdoors in the mountains?  Other factors to consider is convenience for your guests is a central location convenient for your guests to travel or will a mountain location mean that your guests will have to overnight?  Some venues provide all the food and drink while other let you choose and bring in your preferred caterer.  A great source to get an idea of all the venues in Colorado and their pricing is the Wedding Sites and Services magazine.  This bi-annual publication features full-page listings from a wide range of wedding venues throughout Colorado that will detail a venues features, catering availability and pricing along with contact information.

Ten of My Favorite Wedding Photography Venues From 2010

The Cliff House at Pikes Peak in the center of Manitou Springs was voted One of the Top 100 Hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine.  The historic Victorian mansion was completely renovated in 2007 (See history) and offers first class accommodations and dining.  Its a great venue for a wedding with a large covered rooftop terrace for the ceremony and beautiful ballroom for the party.  The service is top-notch and the location in the heart of Manitou Springs offers guests a variety of attractions within walking distance including the Pikes Peak Cog Railway and Penny Arcade.

The Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park was the venue for Christi and Marks wedding in mid-September.  The new wedding pavilion was a picturesque ceremony site with a backdrop of the MacGregor Ranch, Lumpy Ridge and the Mummy Range.  The aspens had just begun turning making a great setting for wedding photography.  The property offers couples multiple locations for their ceremony.  The couple and their guests moved to the Twin Owls Restaurant (Located on the property) for their dinner and dancing to the fabulous sounds of the Grown-Ass Man Band.

Cielo at Castle Pines is a new, unique venue in Castle Pines.  Amanda and Mark began their ceremony in the outdoor gazebo surrounded by the tall pines and beautiful courtyard.  With all their family and guests seated and the ceremony about to begin, the afternoon thunderstorm began.  The rain came on quickly and heavy.  The Cielo staff jumped into action and was able quickly move the 100 plus guests inside the main dining and set-up for the indoor ceremony in less than 15 minutes.The spacious interior was more than enough room and the sliding glass doors brought the smells and sounds of the outdoors in without anyone getting wet.

The Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs is a Colorado landmark with a long history.  The beautiful outdoor courtyard is ideal for the ceremony while the historic charm and character inside compliment the reception.

The Bella Sera Event Center in Brighton once was theater in downtown Brighton.  Now it has been beautifully renovated into a gorgeous Tuscan villa.  The grand wrought iron staircase in the lobby is great for photography.  The ballroom is devoted exclusively to the wedding ceremony and reception.

The Evergreen Lake House was an ideal summer evening location for Kathleen and Jeremys August wedding.  With Evergreen Lake as the backdrop and perfect light for wedding photography the couple exchanged vows under the traditional Jewish Chuppah.

The Dunafon Castle a little west of Idledale is wonderful outdoor mountain park and playground nestled in the canyons of Bear Creek.  The castle was originally built in 1941 and completely restored by the current owner. The castle has been called Colorados Camelot by Home & Garden Magazine.  There is a lot to photograph on the Castle grounds.  Kelli and Homer began their wedding day with an outdoor ceremony in the wedding gazebo surrounded by their guests and the canyon walls.  The grounds offered many excellent portrait photography backgrounds from waterfalls and reflecting ponds to the castle itself.  After dinner and toasts the party moved upstairs to the open-air rooftop deck.

Amys Courtyard Winery near Grand Junction was the venue for Robyn and Johanns early October wedding. Chef and owner John Barbier relocated to Grand Junction from the Loire Valley in France.  Johns expertise in winemaking and as well as intimate knowledge of the arid high-desert region of western Colorado has been key to wine making in Colorado.  The vineyard makes a great background for wedding photography.

The Boulder Country Club in Boulder is a gorgeous park-like setting on Boulders east side.  The facility and dining experience are first class while staffs caters to the attention of every detail.

The Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver and The Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield in Littleton are beautiful outdoor settings for an open-air ceremony and reception.  There are numerous beautiful backdrops for wedding photography at both Gardens.

Beaver Meadows in Red Feather Lakes starts were the pavement ends and the Colorado wilderness unfolds.   Enjoy a mountain country experience of dining, dancing and even a bonfire to wind down the days festivities with close friends.

Tags: Wedding Photography, Wedding Portrait, Wedding Venues