SANCTUARY

There are Colorado wedding venues with mountain views—and then there’s Sanctuary Golf Course.

Tucked into the foothills just south of Denver, Sanctuary gives you that huge, unmistakably Colorado backdrop without asking your guests to make the trek deep into the mountains. The property has incredible 180-degree views stretching from Pikes Peak toward Longs Peak, and everywhere you turn there seems to be another beautiful place to photograph. The Pavilion is especially gorgeous for a ceremony, with its stonework, open-air feel and Pikes Peak sitting right behind you as you say your vows.

What I really love about Sanctuary, though, is that it feels elevated without losing the Colorado landscape that makes getting married here so special. You can move from an outdoor ceremony at the Pavilion to cocktails on the Terrace and then into the Great Room, where floor-to-ceiling windows keep those mountain views part of the celebration. And because the Great Room can accommodate up to 200 guests, you don’t have to sacrifice a beautiful setting just because you’re planning a larger wedding.

From a photography perspective, Sanctuary gives me so much to work with—dramatic mountain views, beautiful architecture, stone, trees, open skies and some absolutely killer light as the sun starts to drop. It’s the kind of venue where I can create those big, editorial portraits that deserve to be printed huge while still documenting all of the candid, emotional moments happening throughout the day.

It’s also an all-inclusive wedding venue, which can make the experience considerably easier for couples. Catering, tables, linens, china, glassware, valet parking and an onsite wedding coordinator are among the services included, so you’re not necessarily piecing together every element of the day from scratch.

If you’re dreaming of a luxury Colorado wedding with incredible scenery, an elevated guest experience and mountain views that don’t require everyone to drive hours from Denver, Sanctuary absolutely deserves a spot on your list.

The Manor House 

There’s something about The Manor House that feels completely different from your typical Colorado mountain wedding venue. You still get those incredible foothill views, but instead of a rustic lodge or barn, you’re celebrating at a historic estate that feels elegant, timeless and just a little bit unexpected.

Built in 1914 and sitting on six private acres in the Ken Caryl Valley, The Manor House has some seriously beautiful views—from the Colorado foothills and Red Rocks all the way toward Downtown Denver. I especially love that you get so much variety in one location. There are wide-open landscapes for those big, dramatic portraits, the historic mansion for something more classic and editorial, beautiful indoor spaces, fireplaces, the wraparound terrace and plenty of places to sneak away for portraits without ever leaving the property.

The outdoor ceremony space is one of my favorite features because the landscape essentially becomes your backdrop. Then, as the light starts changing later in the day, the back field is absolutely gorgeous for sunset portraits. From a photography standpoint, having that much variety gives us the opportunity to create images that feel completely different throughout the day instead of every photograph having the exact same background.

The Manor House is also a great choice if you love the idea of a Colorado wedding but don’t necessarily want to send all of your guests two or three hours into the mountains. It’s located in Littleton, just outside Denver, so you get the scenery and that unmistakable Colorado feeling while still keeping the weekend convenient for your guests.

And there’s something to be said for having the property to yourselves. The Manor House hosts only one event during your rental time, with space for up to 200 guests, indoor and outdoor ceremony options, getting-ready spaces, in-house catering and bar service, and day-of coordination. That means the day can feel less like you’re moving through a public venue and more like you’ve taken over a beautiful Colorado estate for one incredible celebration.

For couples who want mountain views but are drawn to something more classic, refined and editorial than rustic, The Manor House is easily one of my favorite wedding venues near Denver.

Blackstone Rivers Ranch

If your idea of a Colorado wedding involves towering trees, rushing water and feeling completely tucked away in the mountains, Blackstone Rivers Ranch is pretty hard to beat.

Located just outside Idaho Springs, Blackstone has that wonderful feeling of being somewhere much farther into the Rockies while still being only about 35 minutes from Denver. The creek runs right through the property, you’re surrounded by trees and mountain scenery, and the entire venue has this intimate, relaxed feeling that immediately makes you want to stay awhile.

One of my favorite things about Blackstone is the way the wedding moves through the property. You can exchange vows outside surrounded by nature, celebrate with cocktails along the creek and then move into their beautiful sailcloth tent for dinner and dancing. I LOVE a sailcloth tent because it gives you all the romance of an outdoor reception while still feeling polished and intentional—and once the sun goes down and the tent starts glowing, it’s absolutely gorgeous.

From a photography standpoint, this venue has so much texture and movement. The water, trees, mountain landscape and changing light give us endless opportunities for portraits without needing to manufacture a backdrop. It works especially well for couples who want their photographs to feel romantic and editorial but still very much connected to Colorado.

Another thing I really appreciate about Blackstone is the privacy. They host just one wedding per day, so you’re not sharing the property with another wedding or working around someone else’s timeline. The venue becomes yours for the day, which helps the whole experience feel much more personal.

And while it definitely delivers the Colorado mountain experience, it doesn’t require your guests to make the trek all the way to Vail, Beaver Creek or Breckenridge. For couples with a lot of guests flying into Denver, that’s a pretty big win.

If you’re looking for a Colorado wedding venue that feels intimate, elevated and immersed in nature—without losing the guest experience—Blackstone Rivers Ranch absolutely belongs on your list.

Villa Parker

If you’ve been dreaming about getting married in Italy but aren’t quite ready to ask 150 of your favorite people to grab their passports, Villa Parker might be the next best thing.

This Mediterranean-inspired estate feels completely unexpected for Colorado. From the moment you arrive, you’re surrounded by beautiful archways, warm architectural details, gardens, terraces and a courtyard with a tiered fountain that feels much more Tuscany than Parker, Colorado. But then you still have those Rocky Mountain views in the distance—which gives you this really beautiful combination of European romance and Colorado scenery.

The courtyard is one of my favorite ceremony spaces because it already has so much character. You don’t necessarily have to bring in a ton of décor to make it feel special. After the ceremony, guests can move into the gardens or onto the tree-covered Garden Terrace for cocktail hour before heading inside to the Grand Ballroom for dinner and dancing.

And from a photography perspective, Villa Parker is FUN. There are so many little pockets to work with—the architecture, archways, gardens, fountain, terraces and mountain views all give us completely different looks without ever leaving the property. If you love photographs that feel a little more editorial, romantic and European, this venue gives us a lot to play with.

I also love Villa Parker for couples who want their wedding to feel like a destination without necessarily planning a destination wedding. You’re just south of Denver and relatively close to the airport, which makes things considerably easier for guests traveling into Colorado, but once everyone is inside the property, it feels like you’ve escaped somewhere else entirely.

Villa Parker hosts just one wedding per day, so you have exclusive use of the estate rather than sharing the property with another celebration. They also offer multiple getting-ready suites, indoor and outdoor ceremony options, beautiful spaces for cocktail hour, day-of coordination and longer 10–12 hour timelines—which I LOVE because a wedding day shouldn’t feel like you’re constantly racing the clock.

If your style leans romantic, editorial or European and you want something completely different from the traditional Colorado barn or mountain lodge, Villa Parker absolutely deserves a spot on your venue list.

The Oaks at Plum Creek

The Oaks at Plum Creek is one of those venues that gives you the beauty of Colorado without feeling like every other Colorado wedding venue.

Located in Castle Rock, The Oaks overlooks the 18th hole of Plum Creek Golf Course with gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and Castle Rock’s iconic “Rock” in the distance. The outdoor ceremony space is tucked among mature scrub oak trees, so you get plenty of Colorado scenery without your wedding automatically taking on a rustic or mountain-lodge feel.

Inside is where The Oaks really sets itself apart. The Ballroom has huge windows, soaring two-story ceilings and massive exposed oak beams, so there’s a ton of natural light—which, as a photographer, I will ALWAYS appreciate. Then there’s the Art Deco-inspired cocktail lounge, which brings in a completely different mood and gives us something a little darker, sexier and more editorial to work with.

I also love that there are so many different spaces for the day to unfold. You can get ready on-site, have your ceremony outside, move onto the patio and lounge for cocktails, and then head into the Ballroom for dinner and dancing. That creates a really natural flow for your guests without everyone having to drive from one location to another.

And can we talk about the getting-ready spaces? The bridal suite is huge, filled with natural light and actually designed with photographs in mind. The groom’s space isn’t an afterthought either—it even has a golf simulator, which makes hanging out before the ceremony considerably more fun than standing around in a tiny conference room waiting for someone to tell you where to go.

From a photography perspective, I love the variety here. We can create those big Colorado landscape portraits outside, take advantage of beautiful natural light inside and then completely change the mood in the Art Deco lounge. You can walk away with photographs that feel like they were created in several different locations without ever leaving the property.

The Oaks is also a full-service venue, with in-house culinary and bar services, day-of coordination and many of the rentals you’ll need already handled. For couples who want a beautiful wedding but don’t want to spend the entire planning process coordinating a million moving pieces, that’s a pretty big deal.

If you want a Colorado wedding that feels modern, elevated and incredibly guest-friendly while still giving you those beautiful Colorado views, The Oaks at Plum Creek is absolutely worth a look.

The Broadmoor

There are beautiful wedding venues in Colorado, and then there is The Broadmoor.

Set at the base of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor has that rare combination of old-world elegance, incredible Colorado scenery and true luxury hospitality. The lake, manicured grounds, historic architecture and mountain backdrop make the entire property feel like it was designed for a wedding—and from a photography perspective, there is almost an overwhelming number of beautiful places to work with.

What really makes The Broadmoor special, though, is the experience. This isn’t somewhere your guests simply arrive for a ceremony and reception. It’s the kind of place where everyone can check in for the weekend, meet for cocktails the night before, spend the morning at the spa or on the golf course, celebrate with you all night and come back together for brunch the next morning. Your wedding becomes the reason everyone gathered, but the entire weekend becomes part of the story.

I also love how many completely different weddings you can create here. You can exchange vows beside Cheyenne Lake with the mountains behind you, have an intimate celebration at the Estate House, choose something that feels distinctly Colorado at Cheyenne Lodge, or go all-in on a formal black-tie celebration in one of the ballrooms. You aren’t really locked into one particular “Broadmoor look.”

And for photographs? Give me the historic architecture, the lake, the gardens, the mountains and a couple dressed to the nines and I am VERY happy. There are opportunities for those huge, dramatic Colorado portraits, but there are equally beautiful spaces for something more refined and editorial. It’s a venue where a tuxedo and incredible gown just make sense.

The Broadmoor can also accommodate celebrations ranging from intimate gatherings to more than 1,000 guests, which is pretty remarkable. And because you’re at a full-service luxury resort, your guests have accommodations, restaurants, bars, spa services, golf and activities right there instead of spending the weekend driving all over Colorado Springs.

If you’re dreaming about a wedding that feels less like a single day and more like an incredible destination weekend for everyone you love, The Broadmoor is easily one of the best luxury wedding venues in Colorado.

The Home Ranch

If your dream wedding involves taking over an entire Colorado ranch for the weekend and basically disappearing into the mountains with everyone you love, The Home Ranch is pretty incredible.

Located in Clark, about 25 minutes north of Steamboat Springs, The Home Ranch sits on 3,000 acres in the Elk River Valley surrounded by mountains, open meadows, horses and some of the most beautiful untouched Colorado landscape you could ask for. This isn’t a venue where you’re sharing the property with tourists, golfers or another wedding happening next door. The experience is intentionally private, which immediately makes the celebration feel more personal.

And THIS is the kind of venue where I think a wedding weekend really shines.

Instead of asking everyone to travel to Colorado for a six-hour event, you can create an entire experience around the wedding—welcome parties, outdoor adventures, incredible meals, time around the fire, the wedding itself and all those little moments in between. Guests can actually slow down, spend time together and experience Steamboat rather than simply flying in, attending the wedding and leaving the next morning.

There are also several completely different spaces to work with. Hahn’s Peak Barn brings in that authentic Western character, while the open-air Pavilion overlooks the Continental Divide and feels much more refined and elevated. There’s even a campfire amphitheater that could make for one seriously memorable ceremony or gathering.

From a photography perspective, this place is a dream. Give me wide-open fields, horses, mountains, a gorgeous couple and that late-afternoon Colorado light and we’re going to make something pretty spectacular. But what excites me even more are all the moments surrounding the wedding itself—the welcome party, people sitting around the fire, your friends riding horses, everyone gathering for dinner. When your guests are actually staying and experiencing the property together, there’s simply more of the story to photograph.

The Home Ranch can host celebrations of up to 250 guests, but it still manages to feel secluded and intimate because of the sheer size of the property. There are also accommodations on the ranch for a smaller group of overnight guests, making it possible to keep your closest people right there with you.

If you’re looking for a luxury Colorado wedding that feels less like renting a venue for the day and more like creating an unforgettable destination experience for everyone you love, The Home Ranch should absolutely be on your list.

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection

If you’re dreaming about an Aspen wedding that feels sophisticated, stylish and unmistakably Colorado, Hotel Jerome is iconic for a reason.

Right in the heart of downtown Aspen, Hotel Jerome has been part of the city since 1889, and you can feel that history everywhere. But this isn’t stuffy, old-fashioned luxury. It has this incredible mix of historic Western character and modern design that feels polished, interesting and effortlessly cool. It’s the kind of place where black tie absolutely works—but so does a little personality.

One of my favorite things about Hotel Jerome is that your wedding doesn’t have to be confined to one ballroom for the entire night. There are courtyards, terraces, intimate rooms and larger celebration spaces that allow you to create an entire experience. The Grand Ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Elk Mountains and Red Mountain, while the Living Room Terrace gives you an outdoor setting right off the ballroom. The Prospect Courtyard is another gorgeous option for an outdoor celebration right in the middle of Aspen.

And photographically, there is SO much to work with.

Inside, you have rich textures, incredible design, historic details and spaces that lend themselves beautifully to something more editorial and fashion-forward. Then we can step outside and suddenly we’re in downtown Aspen with the mountains surrounding us. That contrast gives you a wedding gallery that can feel sophisticated and editorial one minute and completely immersed in Colorado the next.

Hotel Jerome is also perfect for couples who want their wedding to become a destination weekend. Your guests can stay right at the hotel, walk to restaurants and shops, explore Aspen, meet for cocktails at J-Bar, ski in the winter or spend a summer weekend in the mountains. Instead of everyone scattering after the reception, you’re creating this whole little world around your wedding for a few days.

And that’s really what makes Hotel Jerome special to me. You’re not simply choosing a beautiful room for your reception. You’re choosing Aspen itself as part of the experience.

If you want your Colorado wedding to feel luxurious, stylish, a little sexy and deeply connected to one of the most iconic mountain towns in the country, Hotel Jerome is hard to beat.

Spruce Mountain Ranch

Spruce Mountain Ranch is one of those venues that just feels like Colorado.

Located in Larkspur, almost perfectly between Denver and Colorado Springs, you get wide-open fields, mountain views, water, towering trees and that unmistakable Western landscape—but it all feels much more elevated than your typical rustic ranch wedding.

One of the things I love most about Spruce Mountain is how many options you have. The property is divided into the Upper Ranch and Lower Ranch, and they feel different enough that you can really choose the experience that fits your wedding. There are outdoor ceremony spaces with huge views, intimate spots surrounded by trees, beautiful courtyards and indoor reception spaces that range from warm and lodge-like to big, dramatic Colorado elegance.

And if photography is important to you, there is SO much to work with here.

Trey’s Vista gives you those wide-open mountain views that immediately say Colorado. Mountainside has the pond and sweeping landscape behind it. Grace’s Chapel feels completely different, with a gorgeous willow tree creating this soft, romantic ceremony setting. Then there are fields, trees, water, stone, wood and beautiful architecture throughout the property, which means we’re not trying to make one pretty corner do all the work for your entire wedding gallery.

I also love Spruce Mountain Ranch for couples who have a lot of people coming in from out of state. Your guests get the Colorado experience they came for without everyone having to navigate I-70 and drive hours into the mountains. You’re close enough to Denver and Colorado Springs to keep things convenient, but once you’re on the ranch, it absolutely does not feel like you’re anywhere near the city.

The indoor spaces are another big win. Colorado weather likes to keep us humble, and having genuinely beautiful indoor options means a rain or snow plan doesn’t automatically feel like the disappointing Plan B. The Ponderosa Room can accommodate a large celebration, while Albert’s Lodge gives you a warmer, more intimate mountain-lodge feeling with its huge wood-burning fireplace.

What I really love is that Spruce Mountain Ranch can be whatever you want it to be. Bring in elevated florals, incredible fashion and thoughtful design and this property can feel incredibly luxurious. Or lean into the landscape and create something relaxed, romantic and unmistakably Western.

If you want your guests to walk away feeling like they truly experienced Colorado—and you want photographs with a ton of variety—Spruce Mountain Ranch is easily one of the best ranch wedding venues in the state.

Oceana’s Gardens

If you’ve been dreaming about a wedding in the European countryside but would really rather not make everyone you know fly to Italy, you need to see Oceana’s Gardens.

Tucked away in Boulder, this private Italian-inspired estate feels completely different from what you typically expect from a Colorado wedding venue. Instead of barns and pine trees, you’re surrounded by mature gardens, ponds, bridges, stone pathways, beautiful architecture and flowers everywhere. The entire property feels romantic and a little unexpected—which is exactly why I love it.

And I can say from experience that photographing a wedding here is SO much fun.

There isn’t just one “photo spot.” Everywhere you wander, something new reveals itself. One minute we’re creating portraits surrounded by flowers, the next we’re walking across a bridge or finding beautiful light filtering through the trees. Then you turn a corner and suddenly there’s another view you hadn’t even noticed before. It’s one of those venues where I could photograph all day and still feel like there was more to explore.

I also love how naturally the property lends itself to an outdoor celebration. You can exchange vows surrounded by gardens, move into cocktails without your guests feeling like they’re being herded from one space to another, and then have dinner and dancing outside under string lights and the Colorado sky. It feels less like moving through a traditional event venue and more like hosting an incredible dinner party on a private European estate.

Another huge advantage is flexibility. Oceana’s Gardens is a venue-only property, so you’re able to bring in the professional vendor team that fits your vision rather than choosing from a rigid all-inclusive package. That gives your planner and creative team the freedom to completely transform the property and create something that actually feels like YOU.

And while the gardens are obviously the star, the venue doesn’t need to be overly formal. I’ve seen firsthand how beautifully it can work for a celebration that feels elevated and editorial while still being relaxed, personal and incredibly fun.

If you love European garden weddings, beautiful design and the idea of creating something your guests haven’t already seen a dozen times in Colorado, Oceana’s Gardens should absolutely be on your list.

Gateway Canyons Resort

If you think Colorado weddings are all snow-capped mountains, pine forests and ski towns, Gateway Canyons Resort is about to completely change your mind.

Hidden away in Unaweep Canyon on Colorado’s Western Slope, Gateway Canyons is surrounded by massive red-rock formations that look more like something you’d expect to find in Moab or Sedona. It’s dramatic, secluded and completely different from almost every other venue on this list—which is exactly why I love it.

This is also one of those places where I wouldn’t think of the wedding as just a single day. Gateway Canyons was made for a destination wedding weekend.

Your guests can stay right on the property, meet for drinks when they arrive, spend the weekend hiking, horseback riding, exploring the backcountry, relaxing at the spa or hanging by the pool, and then come together for the wedding. Suddenly you’re not just inviting people to watch you get married. You’re giving them an experience they’ll probably be talking about for years.

And the ceremony possibilities are incredible. The Mission Bell Amphitheater can accommodate up to 300 guests with those enormous red-rock canyon walls essentially becoming your wedding décor. Cottonwood Grove gives you something softer and greener beneath mature trees, while The Ponds is beautiful for a more intimate celebration. Then there are indoor options like the Palisade Event Center, so you’re not completely at the mercy of Colorado weather.

From a photography perspective, Gateway Canyons is ridiculous—in the best possible way. The scale of the landscape allows us to create those huge, cinematic portraits where you almost become part of the scenery. But there are also beautiful architectural details, desert textures, water, greenery and gorgeous light throughout the property, so your entire gallery doesn’t have to look like it was photographed against the same red cliff.

What really sets Gateway apart, though, is the sense of escape. You’re not surrounded by traffic, tourists or another wedding happening down the hall. You’ve brought the people you love into this incredible little pocket of Western Colorado and created a few days that are entirely about being together.

If you’re looking for a luxury Colorado destination wedding that feels adventurous, intimate and completely unexpected, Gateway Canyons Resort is one of the most spectacular places in the state to do it.

San Sofia Overlook

If you’ve ever imagined standing on top of a mountain to say your vows, San Sophia Overlook is pretty much the Colorado wedding dream brought to life.

Located high above Telluride at more than 10,000 feet, San Sophia is one of those ceremony locations that doesn’t need much help. Your guests ride the gondola up the mountain, take a short walk to the overlook and suddenly they’re standing on a ridgeline surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Colorado. There’s a flagstone aisle, a simple wooden platform for the ceremony and huge views in basically every direction.

This is one of those places where I would tell you not to overthink the décor. You already have 13,000-foot peaks, towering spruce trees and the Town of Telluride sitting nearly 2,000 feet below you. Let Colorado do what Colorado does.

From a photography perspective, San Sophia is incredible because of the sheer scale of the landscape. I love creating photographs where you can actually see how small the two of you are against these enormous mountains. They’re dramatic, emotional and the kind of images that deserve to live huge on a wall—not just on your phone.

But I also love what happens after the ceremony. San Sophia is a ceremony location rather than a traditional all-in-one wedding venue, which means you get to create an entire Telluride experience around it. You might take the gondola to Allred’s for dinner, head into Mountain Village for your reception, or pair the ceremony with another Telluride Ski Resort property. That movement becomes part of the story of the day instead of simply moving from one ballroom to another.

And honestly, there’s something pretty unforgettable about putting your wedding guests on a gondola in their cocktail dresses and suits and sending them up a mountain to watch you get married.

San Sophia is especially perfect for couples planning a true destination wedding. Telluride already feels like an escape, and when you build an entire weekend around it—welcome drinks, exploring town, the gondola, a mountaintop ceremony and a beautiful reception afterward—the wedding becomes so much more than a few hours on a Saturday.

If your priority is an incredible guest experience and wedding photographs that couldn’t possibly be mistaken for anywhere other than Colorado, San Sophia Overlook is hard to beat.