Estes Park Wedding & Elopement Guide
About Estes Park
Estes Park History
The Ute Indian Tribe called the Estes Park area home long before it was known as Estes Park. Often having traveling tribes such as Arapaho, Comanche, Shoshone, and Apache here during the summer months. The name originated from a newspaper editor of the Rocky Mountain News, William Byers after he visited the Estes family while attempting to climb Longs Peak. The Estes family didn’t stay long, searching for a better climate for their cattle. About ten years later, in 1874 it was settled under the terms of the Homestead Act. The town was founded under farming and ranch, then quickly became a summer hotspot for modern mountain travelers much like we see today.
Estes Park’s Best Wedding Month For:
Want to know when you're more likely to have the wedding of your dreams in the season that you're craving?!?! Well, the weather can be pretty unpredictable in Colorado! I'm here to give you the best possible chance for having a Estes Park snowy wedding or Estes Park summer wildflower wedding or a Estes Park fall wedding. These months are based on years of what I've witnessed but as you know, every year is different based on the amount of snowfall we get.
Estes Park Snowy Wedding or Elopement - February
Estes Park Summer Wildflower Wedding or Elopement - July
Estes Park Fall Leave Hiking Wedding or Elopement - September
Estes Park’s Wedding Venues:
The Pavilion at Stanley - This is an awesome new venues site for the historic Stanley Hotel. Huge glass doors open up to an Infinity like pond. This site is a super-modern feel in the rustic mountains.
Black Canyon Inn - With a variety of outdoor ceremony locations to choose from your intimate or large family gathering, Black Canyon has it.
Della Terra Mountain Chateau - This Boutique wedding venue is perfect for your extended family wedding of your dreams. A beautiful outdoor ceremony site secluded on the property get totally accessible for all your family members to access and party down.
Taharaa - A fantastic wedding venue with outdoor ceremony site overlooking the mountains. It's a great spot to bring your family and friends together to celebrate you guys.
YMCA of the Rockies - I really love this outdoor ceremony site with its built-in seating overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park. It's gorgeous! There’s also a variety of locations on property for your wedding reception.
Sky View - This awesome rooftop venue has amazing views and can handle a little weather. The perfect all in one location venue.
Estes Park’s Rehearsal Dinner:
There’s some awesome places in Estes Park for your rehearsal dinner get-together. You can make it super casual with some pizza at an outdoor Pavilion or go all out with some steaks depending on the size and formality Estes Park has it all in this little tiny mountain town. Below you'll find a few places to check out!
Estes Park Places to Stay:
The Stanley - If you dare… The Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for The Shining. So this place might give you the heebie-jeebies or just make you terrified cuz they play The Shining 24/7 on every single TV. I know I can't stay there. I'm a scaredy cat.
Murphy’s River Lodge - This is an adorable family-owned lodge right there on the river really close to town.
Black Canyon Inn - Perfect for that Log Cabin feel in the mountains, also super perfect if your getting married on property!
Sundance - AirBNBs are perfect for when your staying someplace all week, you can really relax. This is a great modern home for a small group or for a couple who just wants to splurge.
Blue Spruce Manor - This is the perfect Airbnb to gather a large amount of your friends and family together to hang out all week long.
Estes Park Activities:
The very best thing about being in a cute little mountain town is that you have full access to everything outdoors. The main problem is going to be wanting more days in the mountains to do all the fun activities you want to fit in.
Hiking
One of the best ways to see the mountain all year long! There’s great trails from your door or a little drive! With Rocky Mountain National Park at your fingertips to explore! Check out my whole guide to getting married there, here!
Mountain Biking
There are trails for every level around here!
Fly Fishing
Big Thompson River offers so many great places to fly fish, and relax!
Golfing
There’s one 18-Hole Golf Course if you want to try to get that hole in one!
Snowshoeing
There’s so many places in the winter to snowshoe and explore!
Climbing
Lots of Trad climbing available, you can almost see in from town!
Ice Climbing
Mainly can be found in Rocky Mountain National Park, there’s tons of routes to try out on your adventures.
Road Biking
There’s tons of ways to get your miles in biking around the canyons.
Paddle Boarding
Take a tour of the lake, a great way to spend the afternoon!
Estes Park’s Festivals:
While festivals are a fantastic town celebration, sometimes they can make wedding planning a bit difficult because of lodging, parking, and day of transportation. It's always best to know what festivals or celebrations are happening in the town that you choose to have your wedding so you can plan accordingly. Part of the planning accordingly may be that your guests partake in the festivals! I mean how cool would it be to have your wedding day and then go to a beer fest with all your guests the next day!
Rooftop Rodeo - July - A fun week-long event with parades and rodeo performances.
Bigfoot Days - April - Learn all about Bigfoot in this area of Colorado.
Autumn Gold Festival - September - Celebrate the turning of the leaves with block parties and a car show.
Elk Fest - October - Everything imaginable that has to do with elk! It’s a very hoppin’ event in Estes Park.