Ready to strap on some skis and say “I do”? Share your everlasting love for Vail with a Colorado winter wedding to remember.
The team at Discover Vail connected with local Vail wedding expert, Stephanie Fleck of Party Girl Events, who knows a thing or two about bringing a ski wedding to life — from the best Colorado winter-wedding venues to all the local vendors located right here in the valley.
Read on for Stephanie Fleck’s tips for planning a winter wedding in Vail.
Which Vail wedding venues are your favorites for planning memorable winter celebrations?
Fleck: The Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail because of the cozy vibe and The 10th because guests can ride Gondola One (#1), which is a unique and memorable experience.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: You’ll see startling Gore Range mountain views from The 10th, and this Vail Mountain winter venue can accommodate a big group — we’re talking up to 180 reception guests. Everyone rides the gondola, both up and down, so other festivities and lodgings are easily accessed from Vail Village. We think a moonlit gondola ride will be the thing everyone remembers for years to come.
Let’s say a couple came to you, asking for their dream ski micro-wedding or elopement. What types of experiences would you suggest?
Fleck: They could consider hosting an après-ski-themed welcome party or a group ski day on Vail Mountain. If all the guests are able to ski and the couple is comfortable getting married in ski gear, they could even ski to their ceremony. I’d also incorporate the ski theme in the decorations themselves.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: We’re giving bonus points if you use ski poles as an arch or figure out a way to incorporate a ski shot into your festivities! Learn more about après-ski, too, with our recommendation for Vail’s top après hot spots.
Speaking of Vail micro-weddings, what options do couples have for hosting smaller Colorado wedding celebrations come winter?
Fleck: If a wedding has fewer than 20 guests, I suggest renting an accommodating house near Vail Village or a penthouse in one of the hotels where all the guests can stay. This allows for decorating, hiring a musician and more. For smaller groups, I also recommend the Grand View Room, The Great Room at The Arrabelle at Vail Square (accessed from Lionshead Village), Leonora Lounge at The Sebastian Vail or The Library at Chasing Rabbits.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: Check out our handy lists of luxury hotels, ski-in/ski-out lodging and spacious vacation rentals.
A ski wedding requires a certain amount of creativity, especially when it comes to attire. What would you recommend for brides, grooms and wedding parties looking to embrace a winter look?
Fleck: It really depends on the location of their wedding and the activities planned. I’ve seen wedding parties ski in their traditional wedding attire on several occasions. Boots and fur shawls for the ladies are a must.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: Get ski- and winter-themed Vail fashion ideas from our local shops when you’re here for some wedding planning. Consider unique gifts from only-in-Vail boutiques when shopping for the wedding party, like The Golden Bear’s iconic jewelry.
What about your favorite spots for wintry welcome parties and warming post-wedding breakfasts?
Fleck: My clients usually opt to host breakfast at the hotel where their guests are staying. For welcome parties, I recommend the King’s Club at Sonnenalp Hotel, the Swiss Chalet (also at the Sonnenalp) or The Great Room at The Arrabelle, as they all have a cozy winter feel. I also like Kemo Sabe’s event space because it’s perfect for small groups — and it’s fun for guests to make their hats.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: Find more recommendations for breakfast and brunch spots, plus places your guests will love to get their morning coffees.
Dogs and Vail go hand in hand. What are your recommendations for a couple wanting to include their furry family member in their winter celebration?
Fleck: Definitely bring them, but hire a dog chauffeur to bring them where they need to be for photos and take care of them, so you don’t have to delegate that to a guest.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: Fleck says she can include hiring a dog chauffeur as part of her planning services, or prospective brides and grooms can seek their own pup-transport service from a local vendor of their choice. Learn more about bringing your dog to Vail in winter.
While summer is the most popular time to host weddings in Vail, a Colorado wedding for winter lovers will be just as memorable. What are your must-dos for planning a memorable destination event when it’s cold out?
Fleck: Winter weddings are so magical. I strongly suggest hiring local wedding vendors in Vail, as Vail Pass (along Interstate 70) frequently closes during the winter. It would be unfortunate for a vendor to miss the event due to traffic issues, and that has happened in the past.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: Fleck isn’t wrong when she says Vail Pass is known to close when winter storms hit. If your guests are driving in from out of town, direct them to keep their eyes on COTrip.org for the most up-to-date Colorado travel information. Here are our tips for getting here and getting around once you’ve arrived.
Are there any special considerations or different needs for hiring a photographer for a winter wedding?
Fleck: In addition to hiring someone who is local, I suggest hiring a photographer and videographer who are familiar with Vail Mountain and can ski to capture footage from the summit. It’s also crucial that they have experience shooting at night, as it gets dark quite early.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: Not sure where the most Instagrammable spots in Vail are? We’ve got you covered with our own list, organized by season. Plus, hear from a local photographer for tips on exploring and capturing Vail’s natural beauty. See Fleck’s photographer and videographer suggestions below.
We hear you’ve been involved in planning some extreme wedding proposals. What was your most memorable winter proposal in Vail?
Fleck: I love planning extreme proposals. A lot of the time we have to wear disguises and play a part in getting the couple to the proposal spot — or sometimes I just wear my bush outfit and hide.
One of the most memorable proposals we’ve done in Vail involved the couple getting into the decorated golden gondola car, then they went up a chairlift and passed their friends who were holding signs, then they stumbled upon the decorated proposal spot with “Marry Me” letters, and then there was an after-party on the Windows deck where they had a catered lunch. It was like four proposals in one. And it was challenging to time the gondola right, get their friends where they needed to be at the right time and ski with the letters, flowers, balloons, food, china, flatware and glassware — but we pulled it off.
Discover Vail Insider Tips: The golden gondola car is located on Gondola One and was painted gold for Vail’s 50th anniversary. Explore more of Vail Mountain’s many decks here.
Wedding Vendors Serving Vail, Colorado
Looking for Vail vendors for your ski wedding? Stephanie’s got you covered with ideas in no particular order:
Hair & Makeup: cKaceeGo, Sunshine Daydream, Karlie Cummins, BMC Glam and Carrie Stockert
Photographers: Toni Axelrod Studios, Nisha Louise Photography, David Gillette Photography, Michael Rawlings Photography, Townsend Photography, Two Elk Studios, Mockingbird Lane Photography, Tom Cohen Photography and Brooke Heather Photographer
Videographers: Gold Heart Weddings, Fully Committed Films and Love Story Films
Florists: Rose Petals, A Secret Garden, Petals of Provence and Fancy Pansy
Cake & Dessert Makers: Cornerstone Chocolates & Confections and Mountain Flour
Caterers: Red Maple Catering, Gourmet Cowboy Catering & Events, Taylor Made Private Chef and Rocky Mountain Raclette
Vail DJs: Greatime DJ and DJ Jay One
Live Musicians: Jonny Mogambo Band, Michelle Cohn Levy, Jake Wolf, Elevated Acoustic: Matt Lewis, Andy Cyphert, Quadrasonic and Mauri Cummins
Decor Vendors: Event Rents, My Balloon Obsession and Luxe Event Decor
Transportation: Vess Limousine, Imperial Limo, VailCoach, BLineXpress and The Turtle Bus
Get More Vail Wedding Inspiration:
- See our Vail wedding venue list
- Get ideas for your bachelorette party
- Rather plan a fall wedding? We have you covered
- Find recommendations for a special Vail honeymoon
- Here are all the reasons to celebrate your anniversary in Vail
Hero image courtesy of Stephanie Fleck