Best Colorado Wedding Venues for Intimate, Bespoke Gatherings
Planning a wedding with 50 guests or fewer? First of all—good call. There’s something undeniably special about an intimate celebration, where every face in the crowd is someone who truly matters to you. There’s no pressure to make the rounds to 200 people and no getting lost in a sea of plus-ones. An intimate wedding is not about cutting costs—it’s about creating an immersive, luxury experience where every detail is curated to reflect your vision. Lucky for you, Colorado is packed with incredible venues perfect for a small but mighty wedding. Whether you envision a cozy lodge tucked in the mountains, a private estate with stunning views, or something totally off the beaten path, I’ve rounded up the best spots to make your intimate wedding feel like an absolute dream.
Best Intimate Colorado Wedding Venues for Bespoke Gatherings
1. Dunton Hot Springs (Dolores, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 44 guests
- Reservation Cost: Starting at $25,000 for a full buyout
- Booking Process: Contact Dunton Hot Springs directly for availability and package options.
2. Sunrise Amphitheater (Boulder, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: $100-$400 depending on residency and time slot
- Booking Process: Reservations are made through the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation department, which books quickly during peak seasons.
3. The Little Nell (Aspen, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Varies, with ceremony packages starting at approximately $5,000
- Booking Process: Contact The Little Nell events team to customize a wedding package.
4. Piney River Ranch (Vail, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: $7,500 – $12,500 depending on the day of the week and time of year
- Booking Process: Inquire through Piney River Ranch for availability and seasonal access.
Here is your complete guide for a wedding in Vail at Piney River Ranch!
5. Maroon Bells Amphitheater (Aspen, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: $200 for a half-day permit
- Booking Process: Reservations open exactly one year in advance via Recreation.gov and sell out almost immediately. Plan and be ready to book as soon as the dates become available.
Check out James and Sophia’s Maroon Bells elopement for more inspiration!
6. Alta Lakes Observatory (Telluride, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 45 guests
- Reservation Cost: Starting at $5,000 for exclusive use
- Booking Process: Direct inquiries through Alta Lakes Observatory’s website; limited availability.
See this intimate wedding at Alta Lakes Observatory.
7. The Cabin at Snowmass (Snowmass, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 40 guests
- Reservation Cost: Custom pricing depending on the season and length of stay
- Booking Process: Contact Snowmass Tourism or private rental agencies for availability.
8. Three Peaks Ranch (Westcliffe, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: $10,000+ depending on lodging and ceremony site
- Booking Process: Direct inquiries through the Three Peaks Ranch website.
9. Trappers Cabin (Beaver Creek, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 20 guests
- Reservation Cost: Varies based on accommodation packages
- Booking Process: Inquire through Beaver Creek Resort for rental options.
10. Eleven Sopris House (Crested Butte, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 35 guests
- Reservation Cost: Custom packages available
- Booking Process: Contact Eleven Experience directly for package options.
11. Eureka Lodge (Silverton, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Starting at $5,000
- Booking Process: Inquire through Eureka Lodge’s website for seasonal availability.
12. Northstar Gatherings (Idaho Springs, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Starting at $8,000
- Booking Process: Contact Northstar Gatherings for event details and package options.
Check out this spring mountain wedding at Northstar Gatherings!
13. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (Gothic, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Varies; inquire for pricing
- Booking Process: Booking must be made well in advance through RMBL’s administration.
14. Locations with Crested Butte Land Trust (Crested Butte, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Custom pricing based on location
- Booking Process: Contact Crested Butte Land Trust to secure permitted locations.
15. Boulder Flower Farm (Boulder, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Starting at $5,000
- Booking Process: Inquire through Boulder Flower Farm for wedding and event packages.
16. Various Areas within Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park, CO)
- Guest Limit: 10-30 guests depending on site
- Reservation Cost: $300 permit fee
- Booking Process: Reservations must be made through the National Park Service and fill up months in advance. Only specific sites allow ceremonies; restrictions apply to decorations, seating, and noise levels.
17. Frisco Adventure Park (Frisco, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: Varies based on site selection
- Booking Process: Contact Frisco Adventure Park for event coordination and site reservations.
18. Marina Park Pavilion (Dillon, CO)
- Guest Limit: Up to 50 guests
- Reservation Cost: $500-$1,500 based on event size and season
- Booking Process: Reservations through the Town of Dillon Parks & Recreation department.
Colorado Wedding Photographer | Whitney Rae Photography
More traditional luxury Colorado wedding venues are also beginning to offer bespoke collections for intimate gatherings, allowing couples to experience high-end hospitality in an intentionally curated, smaller setting. If you have a dream venue in mind, it’s always worth inquiring about micro-wedding or elopement packages.
This list is just the beginning—many hidden gem locations aren’t widely advertised but can be the perfect setting for your intimate celebration. Consulting with an experienced planner or photographer can help you uncover exquisite venues that align with your unique vision, ensuring your wedding is truly one of a kind. If you’re ready to bring your vision to life and want a photographer who can capture all the love, energy, and little in-between moments of your intimate day, as well as a local expert at Colorado weddings and elopements, I’d love to chat! Reach out here to inquire, and let’s craft an extraordinary experience.
Every wedding is unique and deserves more than a cookie-cutter approach. By stepping back to let intimate moments unfold naturally while offering support and guidance to ensure no important memory is missed, I strive to create timeless images that blend an editorial style with a documentary approach. From the distinctive details of your celebration to the cherished traditions, I'll deliver a collection of photographs that allow you to relive these memories for years to come. After all, the moments that matter most aren’t always staged or polished—they’re raw, authentic, and uniquely you.
Don’t you agree?
MY PHILOSOPHY
An Honest Wedding Experience
“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still”
Words I Live by
I'm WHITNEY.
Your wedding day is a story—one filled with fleeting moments of beauty, deep emotion, and once-in-a-lifetime memories. As an artist, I am here to preserve those moments with intention, artistry, and care. I don’t just capture what your wedding looked like—I document how it felt.
Born and raised in the breathtaking landscapes of Vail, Colorado, I am deeply inspired by the way love and nature intertwine. There’s something poetic about the way light moves across mountain peaks, the way wind dances through a bride’s veil, and how the beauty of the outdoors mirrors the intimacy of a wedding day. My work is shaped by this connection—an effortless blend of refined editorial imagery and documentary storytelling, allowing each wedding to unfold naturally while being captured with timeless elegance.
Beyond photography, I am an adventurer at heart. Whether I’m exploring new landscapes, hiking through the Rockies, or traveling to breathtaking destinations, my love for movement and exploration brings an effortless, natural feel to my imagery. Every love story is unique, and I am deeply invested in capturing the emotions, scenery, and in-between moments that make your wedding day truly unforgettable. From the moment we connect, my goal is to provide an effortless, elevated experience that allows you to be fully present while I handle the art of storytelling. With a calm, intuitive approach, I blend artistic direction with documentary storytelling—guiding you when needed while allowing your most authentic moments to unfold naturally. My couples value timeless, emotive imagery, a refined yet relaxed presence, and the confidence of knowing their memories are being preserved with intention. When I’m not behind the camera, you can find me skiing down the slopes, hiking with my husband and our two border collies, or enjoying a slow morning with a perfectly crafted latte. I live for meaningful conversations, spontaneous adventures, and capturing beauty in the quiet, in-between moments of life—just as I do with my couples. I take on a limited number of weddings each year to provide an intimate, high-touch experience, ensuring each love story is captured with the highest level of artistry and care. If you feel drawn to timeless, emotional, and editorial-inspired imagery, I would love to hear your vision and create something extraordinary together.
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