Colorado Mountain Weddings 101: Everything You Need to Know About Bringing Guests to High Altitude
Most weddings taking place in the mountains of Colorado - whether the location is Aspen, Beaver Creek, Vail, Telluride, or Crested Butte, among other fabulous locations - are considered destination weddings. You are bringing guests from all over the country (and the world) to a high altitude climate. As Dorothy said, “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
Below are some great ways to prepare yourself and your guests for a mountain wedding! Remember to give them this information before they travel so they have it while packing. This information should appear on your wedding website and/or the details card of your formal invitation. If you provide welcome bags/welcome letters/any printed information for guests upon arrival, be sure to include this information in there as a reminder:
What to bring for your mountain wedding (or buy at an overpriced mountain ski town boutique):
Appropriate footwear - Many mountain venues feature grass, gravel, or uneven pavement which in many cases is the trade-off for amazing views. Always suggest that guests bring shoes that set them up for success at your venue. Flats, wedge heels, or block heels work best. Some of my clients will provide heel protectors for those wearing stiletto shoes or shoes with a pointy heel. Additionally, always remind your guests to bring hiking or walking shoes (snow appropriate shoes depending on the season) to take advantage of all the wonderful nature Colorado has to offer.
Layers - It’s sunny, it's windy, it's raining, it's hailing, and that is just in the past hour. If guests are going up onto a mountain, on a gondola, or will be outside past sunset, a light layer or even a jacket will benefit them (especially those from the south). Remind them not to worry if the jacket matches their outfit because they will be glad they have it.
Sunscreen + chapstick - Mountain towns are closer to the sun which means there is an increase in UV intensity. Wear sunscreen or sun protective clothing and cover any exposed skin with SPF. Even those luscious lips!
Sunglasses + hats - Kemo Sabe or Steamboat Hatter style hats are all the rage in mountain towns, so if you have one or stop by to purchase a souvenir, you will fit right in. That being said, a baseball cap or any SPF proof hat, as well as sunglasses, will help you avoid too much sun exposure.
Water bottle - Constant hydration is key to helping our bodies ward off effects of high altitude. Keeping a consistent water source near at all times is essential to having a successful vacation in the mountains.
Altitude Adjustments:
Denver’s elevation is 5,280 feet above sea level and most of our wedding and event venues increase in elevation from there! The town of Vail sits at 8,150, the Aspen Wedding Deck is at 11,212, and Beaver Creek Village is at 8,080. Anything above 8,000 feet in elevation is considered high altitude. In very simple terms, this means there is less air pressure thus fewer gas molecules (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide). Lower air pressure = less oxygen to breathe. This does not affect everyone but for some it can cause shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and trouble sleeping.
It usually takes approximately two weeks for a normal body to fully acclimate to higher elevations and higher altitudes. Most people don’t have that amount of time so here are some tips to help:
If possible, consider spending one night in Denver before heading up to the mountains. Arriving a day or so early will help give the body time to get ready for the Rocky Mountain wedding weekend!
Once you get to the mountains, be conscious of your body, give yourself time, and avoid strenuous hikes or exercise until day two or three.
If needed, get more oxygen into your body. There are companies that supply oxygen tanks for individuals or groups. I have set up oxygen bars at weddings and they are always a hit! Although I have never personally used oxygen cans, local stores sell them and people say it helps! To accommodate some of my clients’ grandparents or elderly VIPs, we have rented wheelchairs or portable oxygen tanks for the weekend.
Water - I cannot stress this enough. If you think you are drinking enough water, drink some more. This is the number one way to counteract possible altitude side effects. Bring that water bottle and keep it filled!
Along the lines of water, as you and your guests consume alcohol, it's best to alternate a glass of water with each alcoholic drink. Since most guests won’t have time to acclimate to the altitude, they most likely cannot process alcohol as quickly as they normally would at a lower altitude. Additionally, if the body is not fully hydrated, alcohol can exaggerate the negative effects of altitude.
Mountain Weather:
Regardless of the season, guests should expect to experience all different kinds of weather in Colorado. It could be sunny and warm one day and windy and chilly the next. The high could be 90 and blue sky during the day in June and 40 degrees at night.
The Rocky Mountains are closer to the sun so the temperature and exposure to the sun is increased. There is less humidity and more cool breezes at high altitude so it may not feel as hot as it really is which can be deceiving. Those SPF products and hats that your guests brought or purchased are important!
It can snow from September through June so that layer I recommended above will need to be more than a pashmina or shawl. A light jacket in the summer and a heavier jacket in the winter, spring, and fall is recommended.
We’ve experienced a significant amount of wind in recent years. Wind can turn into anything from a minor annoyance (dust and dirt kicking up) to a hazard (tents blowing over) so hold onto your hats.
Typically (and luckily) it does not rain for long periods of time in Colorado. However, an afternoon sprinkle is common. Generally it will rain for 15 or so minutes and then the sun will come out. Situations like this exemplify why having an excellent team on your wedding day is so important!
Rain Backup Plans
If your plan is to get married outside, as a planner I do EVERYTHING in my power to get you married outside. Just ask my couple that got married in a fairly heavy rainstorm. To be fair, it started downpouring during the wedding and we were armed with tons of umbrellas. Or ask my couple who walked down the aisle and it started snowing. If you are bringing guests to Colorado, they are going to experience Colorado!
If there is a downpour, insane winds, or if we start getting worried about your comfort or your guests’ comfort, we move to plan B or C.
Every aspect of your wedding - including the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, dancing, etc. - needs a backup plan!
Set a time when the rain backup call needs to be made to ensure that your backup plan area is set for guests and looks fabulous.
Remember to remain flexible. No one can control the weather but we have lots of options. Make sure you are comfortable with all of them.
What couples can do to make their guests more comfortable:
Here are a few ways to make your guests feel more at home or relaxed in this new and sometimes uncomfortable environment.
Supply blankets at the ceremony and for outdoor portions of the evening.
If the event is outdoors, a tent is a great backup plan if you don’t want to be inside or if there is no inside option. Even a small, clear top tent for the ceremony will put a lot of those wedding weather worries to rest.
Rent heaters for outdoor spaces if guests will be in those areas in the evening. I had a wedding where we rented heaters (last minute) for our outdoor dancing area in September and, even though guests were moving around and dancing, the heaters made for a warm and cozy ambiance as well as a place for guests who were cold to stand! My couple was thrilled to have those heaters, as the comfort and overall experience for our guests and couples is so important!
Offer a place for guests to put coats, bags, or shoes. That way, guests have easy access to a safe area for their belongings. Also, doing so ensures your reception is not the location for these items - having people’s possessions in your photos is not ideal!
Have a table with high altitude survival items such as: oxygen, Advil, sunscreen, sunglasses, and electrolyte drink mixes. Bathroom baskets with mints and items to refresh with are always popular as well!
Make sure water and non-alcoholic beverages are readily available at all events.
How Events By Marguerite handles weather and wedding mountain logistics:
I plan for all weather possibilities! As a planner, keeping an eye the radar and staying in touch with the venue regarding their thoughts on weather (and the plans b and c we have in place) is necessary.
With many venues lacking cell phone service and WiFi, I always keep two-way radios in my emergency kit to be able to communicate with my assistant and other vendors.
For ceremonies, I have white umbrellas I always bring to wedding days. If it rains and there are only a few storm cells in the area (thank you radar app) I suggest to some clients that we delay the ceremony by 30 minutes and have guests come inside for a drink. My team and the venue team can wipe off the chairs and we can have the ceremony outside. In that case, I typically suggest shortening the cocktail hour after the ceremony to get back on schedule.
Keep in mind that rain is not always the issue! Sometimes the sun is just TOO sunny. For those situations I have gorgeous white parasols for the guests who need some shade from the sun.
Additionally, I have an emergency kit with electrolytes, sunscreen, Advil, tape, string, and a plethora of other industry tricks up my sleeve to help mitigate altitude sickness and weather (and any other complications that should roll my way…lost buttons, wardrobe tape, phone charger…check).
Now that you have all the information you need to prepare you and your guests for a mountain wedding, let's start planning your perfect day!
