How to Plan a Telluride Ski Resort Wedding

Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride Ski Resort is home to some of the most breathtaking alpine scenery in Colorado. From sweeping panoramas of the surrounding rocky peaks to gorgeous views of the forests that cover them, this spot is the perfect setting for a mountain wedding. Whether it’s surrounded by vibrant wildflowers in the summer or soft snow in the winter, exchanging your vows in one of the many wedding venues offered at the resort will make you feel like you’re embarking on the adventure of a lifetime!   

I have photographed so many weddings at Telluride Ski Resort in every season as a local Colorado elopement photographer, and each one has been unforgettable. The views honestly never disappoint and the atmosphere is like an alpine dream come true, so let’s jump right in with my top tips on planning the perfect Telluride Ski Resort wedding!

Frequently asked questions about getting married at the Telluride Ski Resort

How do you get married at the Telluride Ski Resort? 

Since it’s open year-round and offers a variety of options when it comes to both ceremony and reception sites, the resort is very popular with couples who want a mountain setting for their wedding. Luckily, that means I’ve had the privilege of walking tons of them through the planning process for a Telluride Ski Resort wedding, so here is a quick overview of what you’ll need to know to plan your own: 

Pick a Ceremony Location

Telluride Ski Resort has a handful of officially designated ceremony sites you can pick from. Each one has its own guest limits, availability, and unique charm, so be sure to look through all the information on the resort’s official website here before choosing the spot that’s best for you! To make things easier, here is a quick breakdown of the sites that can be reserved for ceremonies (I’ve also noted whether or not they can double as reception locations as well):

• Gorrono Ranch
  • Guest Limit: 200 guests
  • Availability: June–October (summer) and December–March (winter)
  • Reception: Yes

• Palmyra Lookout
  • Guest Limit: 150 guests
  • Availability: Mid-June–September (summer/fall)
  • Reception: No, but you can do a cocktail-hour 

• San Sophia Overlook
  • Guest Limit: 250 guests
  • Availability: June–October (summer) and December–March (winter)
  • Reception: No

• Alpino Vino
  • Guest Limit: 24 guests
  • Availability: December–March (winter)
  • Reception: Yes

• The Crystal Room Combination
  • Guest Limit: 200 guests
  • Availability: June–October (summer) and December–March (winter)
  • Reception: Yes

Finalize Your Guest Count & Pick a Date 

Next, you’ll need to figure out how many guests you want attending the ceremony, so be sure to double check the guest cap for your chosen location before finalizing the guest list.

As for your date, it’s really up to you to decide what vibe you’re going for! Just keep in mind that each site has its own availability (e.g. Alpino Vino is only open during the winter) and some, like San Sophia Overlook, also have different time slots you’ll need to reserve. These slots can go pretty fast, especially during peak season, so I recommend booking at least a year out! 

Pro Tip: Most of the ceremony sites will require you to also book one of the resort’s reception venues if you plan on getting married between Thursday and Sunday, so I suggest you cross-reference those guest caps to make sure you’re not inviting more people to the ceremony than the reception venue can hold (Telluride Ski Resort outlines all of its venues and their restrictions on their official website here!).

Book the Venue

The process of booking the venue is actually pretty simple! Since all of the sites are managed by the Telluride Ski Resort, bookings and coordination goes directly through them. Once you’ve decided where and when you’d like to get married, you can either call the Weddings & Events team at (970) 728-7447 or email them at weddings@telski.com. When you do, that would also be a great time to ask any additional questions you may have regarding the venue!

Hire a Photographer & Plan the Day

Hiring a local photographer (like me!) means I can help you figure out the best plan for your day to make sure you not only have the perfect wedding, but the most epic pictures to remember it by! I know where and when the lighting is best and how to navigate the process of getting married at Telluride Ski Resort so we can make sure you have the most stress-free experience possible!

Obtain Your License

For the Telluride Ski Resort wedding locations, the best option would be to get your marriage license from the San Miguel County Clerk. To apply for the license, you’ll need to go in person (the office is open Monday – Thursday, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm) and pay the $30 fee—make sure you bring cash or a check, since they don’t accept credit cards. 

Both parties need to be present to sign the application, but other than that you’re all set! Colorado is a self-solemnizing state, so you won’t need any witnesses or officiants—just be sure to sign the license within 35 days of the date it’s issued, then return it within 63 days of your wedding.

Get Married!

That’s it! All that’s left is to exchange vows and soak in every moment of your big day.

When’s the best time to visit Telluride Ski Resort? 

The best time to visit Telluride Ski Resort is June through October, when the weather is milder. During the summer months, you’ll find wildflowers in full bloom, while the fall shifts those vibrant colors to the warmer tones of golden aspens. The summer/fall season also makes most of the ceremony sites more accessible, thanks to the lack of snow! 

For smaller crowds, weekdays are better, especially during summer months, since that’s peak season. Early mornings and evenings specifically are good bets for less foot traffic and both provide gorgeous golden light for your wedding photos!

Pro Tip: Once you’ve locked in a ceremony location, ask your photographer about the light in that area specifically because, while both sunrise and sunset are beautiful, different spots could look better during one or the other. For example, San Sophia Overlook is especially stunning at sunset!

How do you get to the Telluride Ski Resort?

If you’re from out of state, the easiest place to fly into will be Denver. From there, you can either rent a car and drive the 7 hours to Telluride or take a connecting flight directly from Denver to the Telluride Regional Airport. Once there, the Telluride Ski Resort actually provides a free gondola service that takes you from the Telluride Station in town to Mountain Village, offering stunning views of the valley below along the way. I definitely suggest bringing a jacket during the winter, since the gondolas aren’t heated—you can even take your dog on the odd-numbered ones marked with a paw print on the side!

Some of the wedding sites, like Palmyra Lookout, can’t be reached directly with just the main gondola service from Telluride, but you can work with the Telluride Ski Resort Events team to organize transport from one of the gondola stops to the venue.  

Pro Tip: If you’re driving into Telluride, there is free parking at the Carhenge Parking Lot located at 37°56’14.1″N 107°49’11.2″W, which is only a 10-minute walk from the Telluride gondola station!

How much does it cost to get married at Telluride Ski Resort? 

To start, you’ll need a marriage license from a local clerk which will cost $30. As for the venue, pricing will vary depending on which site you choose. Rental fees for the sites typically start around $5,000, with the only requirement being that you have a wedding planner/coordinator—it could cost a bit more on weekends and less on weekdays due to demand. 

Like I mentioned above, you’ll need to buy out one of the resort’s reception spaces as well if your date falls during the Thursday-Sunday period, so that could add to the cost depending on what you choose. You can contact the Telluride Ski Resort Events team for a direct quote and availability—they can also provide you with a list of vendors to choose from! 

Beyond that, you can manage your wedding budget however you’d like! Usually, the couples who hire me prioritize having an adventurous experience in an incredible location, which is why they often invest most of their budget in photography to capture it all. If you want more details, feel free to check out my full cost of eloping guide here!

Are dogs allowed at Telluride Ski Resort?

Yes! Dogs are allowed most places around the resort, including on pet-designated gondolas and most trails. Just be sure to keep them leashed unless signage indicates otherwise.

Telluride Ski Resort Wedding Photos

Katte & Robbie’s Telluride Ski Resort Fall Wedding 

Katte & Robbie planned an intimate wedding with their ceremony being held at San Sophia Overlook and their reception taking place at Gorrono Ranch, both through the ski resort. What drew them to this specific location was its blend of rugged, wild, breathtaking views with great options to feed and celebrate with their closest people. These venues can hold up to 200 people, but even with 35 guests, they filled the space with so many great vibes. 

My favorite thing about Telluride is that exact blend of form and function for weddings! Despite having a full ceremony planned, Katte & Robbie still let me steal them away for a sunrise 4X4 drive up Imogene Pass, not far from Telluride. They explored some together and read private vows to each other before heading back to the gondola to get to the rest of their plans. 

They had a string quartet accompany their ceremony at San Sophia and the sky dried up just in time for them to walk down the aisle. After that, they had a plated lunch with all of their guests, which included more live music and speeches from their people. The blend they chose really highlighted everything Telluride has to offer!