Whether you’ve already booked a treetop wedding venue, or you’re simply dreaming of a magical mountain wedding, you’re in the right place. We’ve curated a collection of our favorite mountain weddings from around the world for your endless inspiration. Browse through ceremony aisles, tablescapes, and dance floor details, and hire the vendors behind the mountain weddings you love.
Mountain weddings combine the beauty and grandeur of the great outdoors with the romantic and personal relationship between you and your partner. Your journey to the perfect wedding ceremony and reception begins with the choice of a venue and a wedding planner. At Carats & Cake, we can help you select the right vendors and venues to create the mountain wedding of your dreams.
If you are planning a mountain wedding this year, you may have questions about the planning process:
Our directory of real-life mountain weddings can help you come up with the most brilliant ideas for your big day. We can help you to find mountain wedding venues that suit your preferences and your budget too. Whether you are planning a mountain wedding in Italy, a picturesque waterfall wedding or looking at mountain wedding venues located closer to home, we can help you find the right mountain wedding ideas for your special day.
The right vendors are also essential for creating a magical mountain wedding. We have near-countless recommendations for outstanding catering options, the people who can provide the best mountain wedding flowers, and the other vendors you will need to create a memorable event for your friends and family.
This guide will give you some insights into the popularity of mountain weddings and ideas for wedding décor for these venues. Below, we’ve found all the information you’ll need, including details about the ideal venue for a waterfall wedding, tips on what to wear to a wedding in the mountains, and an array of options for mountain weddings in Tennessee (among other locations!). Whatever your plans, we can provide you with the answers to all of your most pressing questions. We can help you to answer the perennial question, "Where can I find the perfect mountain wedding venues near me?" Whatever concerns you have, we hope to alleviate all of them as you plan your dream mountain wedding.
Mountain weddings are a popular choice for couples who want a unique wedding destination and an unforgettable ceremony and reception. From Hudson Valley mountain weddings to the locations for mountain weddings Colorado couples want most, these breathtaking venues can be found in many parts of the United States and in scenic destinations around the world.
Mountain weddings offer the chance for you and your partner to exchange vows in a beautiful and majestic outdoor environment. Many mountain wedding venues have spectacular views that can serve as an ideal backdrop for wedding photography. The natural splendor of mountain ranges and waterfall wedding ceremonies can make your photos truly memorable.
Finding the best venues for Rocky Mountain weddings, Loon Mountain weddings, and the mountain weddings Tennessee couples—to name just a few—want for their special day can present a few challenges. The time of year will often be an important consideration. In particular, mountain weddings in winter, while incredibly beautiful, may lead to difficulties when it comes to transportation and overall comfort for outdoor ceremonies. Indoor-outdoor weddings are available at some mountain wedding venues to reduce the time spent outdoors in brrr-inducing weather. By planning in advance for weather considerations that could affect your outdoor wedding, you can ensure that your guests enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Planning your mountain wedding can be challenging, especially if you and your partner are operating on a limited budget. The average cost of a wedding in 2020 was just over $20,000, a figure that has been on the rise since that time. As a result, budgeting for your wedding is an important part of the planning process.
Your choice of mountain wedding venues will have a significant impact on the overall cost of your wedding. In general, venues account for about 30 percent of the budget for most weddings. For example, planning a mountain wedding in Utah at a smaller resort may be far less expensive than a comparable Aspen mountain wedding because of differences in the price of the venue. As the wedding industry continues to gear up after the recent interruptions in public events, competition for popular venues is also on the rise. Because of this jump in demand, it could potentially increase the amount you and your partner will pay for a mountain wedding venue this year and next. In general, however, mountain wedding venues may be less expensive than comparable venues in high-population areas.
For remote outdoor locations, wedding rentals will typically be required to provide lighting, seating, and décor for these mountain wedding venues. The cost of rentals and transportation can sometimes be an unexpected added cost of a mountain wedding too. Making sure you understand your options when planning mountain weddings can help you to manage your available budget more effectively.
For couples looking to cut their costs for a mountain wedding even further, micro weddings are an option that can significantly reduce the cost of catering, transportation, and mountain wedding venues. By reducing the number of guests at your ceremony and reception, you can lower the cost of the entire wedding significantly.
Deciding on what to wear to a wedding in the mountains is a big part of the planning process for guests and members of the wedding party alike. And brides need to consider perhaps the most important part of the wedding’s overall aesthetic: the wedding dress. Keeping the climate and likely weather in mind when choosing your mountain wedding dress will help you to avoid discomfort during the ceremony and reception. Your mountain wedding dress should reflect your personal aesthetic while accounting for terrain and potential issues with muddy or dirty pathways.
Long or elaborate trains for your mountain wedding dress don’t typically mix well with the great outdoors. If it’s a particularly muddy day, just make sure to remember that, or go with it and enjoy the natural elements that present themselves on your special day. That being said, choosing a mountain wedding dress that is ankle-length or shorter can reduce the chance of damaging your gown (and make it easier to walk through uneven terrain).
One of the most important wedding tips for mountain weddings is to consider your footwear carefully. Making sure your shoes are ready to take on mountain trails is essential for both you and your partner. When deciding on what to wear to a wedding in the mountains, the right shoes can make a real difference in comfort levels for you, your partner, and your guests. We recommend making this note to your guests and including it on your invitation and wedding website. Just remember: Stilettos and the mountains don’t mix!
Whether you are planning a formal wedding with black tie attire or a more rustic and informal mountain wedding, tailoring your clothing to your mountain wedding venues will make your day more comfortable and fun for everyone involved.
Where are the best areas for mountain weddings?
Finding the best mountain wedding venues will depend on your and your partner’s preferences. If you prefer to stay closer to home, then looking locally for mountain wedding venues and lodges can often save you money on transportation costs and other expenses associated with destination weddings. Some of the most popular options for mountain wedding locations include the following:
In some cases, the choice for your mountain wedding location may be obvious. For example, Rocky Mountain weddings are typically among the most popular mountain weddings Colorado couples decide on. If you are planning a waterfall wedding, your choices may be limited in a comparable way. Our directory of mountain wedding venues can help you decide on the absolute best location for you and yours on your special day.
Choosing the décor for mountain weddings will generally require you and your partner to take a look at the venue firsthand to decide on what additions are required for your wedding style. Some mountain wedding options are located in remote areas with little to no infrastructure. Others include indoor lodges, cabins and other amenities to keep guests and family members comfortable. Some of the most common mountain wedding themes include the following:
Venues that do not include furnishings, bathrooms, kitchens, lighting, or climate controls will require that these things be transported to the location before or on the day of your wedding. By contrast, lodges, cabins, and venues for your mountain wedding typically already have these things in place, which could save you time and money on the cost of transportation and installation. In many cases, using the items available at the venue and incorporating your own mountain wedding ideas can create the personalized look you want for your wedding, with much less stress for you and your partner.
You can often allow the natural beauty and splendor of the mountains to do a great deal of the heavy lifting in terms of décor. Keeping it simple with clean lines and plenty of flowers can create the perfect atmosphere for your upcoming wedding ceremony and reception in the great outdoors. For example, we know of all the best vendors for mountain weddings Colorado couples are planning, and they can help brides and grooms bring the most perfect Rocky Mountain weddings to life. Wherever couples decide to host their mountain weddings, there are plenty of vendors and venues we can recommend.
When you’ve come up with all of your mountain wedding ideas, it’s possible that you may run into some unexpected challenges. Some of the most common issues that arise when planning a mountain wedding may include transportation problems, the need for permits, inclement weather, altitude sensitivities, restrictions on photography and drone use, and overall mobility for your invited guests. You will also need to consider the effect on the environment before planning your mountain wedding ceremony and reception.
By keeping these considerations in mind when planning your mountain wedding, you can navigate these logistical issues much more successfully. This can help you to make your mountain wedding the most seamless, fun day and allow you to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event that requires careful planning and forethought by you and your partner. We recommend browsing through our directories of real-life weddings, the perfect mountain wedding venues and vendors. From there, you can start brainstorming the most unique mountain wedding ideas to make your big day as special as your love story.