MOUNTAIN NUPTIALS

Outdoor or Indoor, Large or Small, Aspen is the Perfect Wedding Venue

ASPEN, Colo. (July 2013) - Whether your ultimate wedding involves crystal and caviar or blue jeans and bluegrass, Aspen is the perfect destination for tying the knot. Aspen weddings run the gamut from casual and rustic to quintessentially elegant, combining the romance of a luxurious, world-famous resort with the adventure of an active vacation with enough activities to keep guests and wedding parties entertained from sunrise to well past sunset.

Location, Location, Location

From celebrating (wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bachelor or bachelorette parties, brunches) or recovering the day after (breakfasts, brunches, luncheons), Aspen's diverse venues have what you'll need. Also be sure to check on the private dining rooms in Aspen's myriad of restaurants, which are always eager to host your group.

• Elegant Options. Aspen's hotels offer the exquisite facilities and experienced personnel essential to a seamless celebration. One of Aspen's favorite wedding venues is the Victorian-era Hotel Jerome, which has just reopened after a $40 million renovation with a newly renovated ballroom in elegant cream tones. (www.hoteljerome.com; 970.920.1000). Nestled at the foot of Aspen Mountain, five-star rated The Little Nell hotel is the place for the ultimate upscale affair (www.thelittlenell.com; 970.920.6322). The stately St. Regis Resort, Aspen has the largest ballroom in town as well as an outdoor courtyard that can be tented and a smaller courtyard surrounded by Aspen trees perfect for a cocktail reception (stregis.com/aspen; 970.920.3300). Even the Caribou Club, Aspen's famed, exclusive private venue, is available for special events (http://www.caribouclub.com/; 970.925.2929).

• Mountain Venues. Mountain venues combine the refinement of Aspen with the rugged beauty of the surrounding peaks for an unforgettable wedding. Perched atop Aspen Mountain and accessible by the Silver Queen Gondola, the Wedding Deck was designed specifically for wedding ceremonies. After the ceremony, guests can celebrate at The Sundeck restaurant with high ceilings, rough-hewn timbers, and a wrap-around deck overlooking miles of Rocky Mountain wilderness. In the same building, the elegant Aspen Mountain Club is also available for smaller affairs (www.aspensnowmass.com; 970.429.6971). On Snowmass mountain, the Lynn Britt Cabin is rustic but comfortable, mid-mountain location surrounded by aspen trees and wildflowers, perfect for a smaller wedding or a unique rehearsal dinner (www.aspensnowmass.com; 970.923-0469). On Buttermilk Mountain, Bumps (at the base) and the Cliffhouse (on top, with breathtaking views) are great options for the outdoorsy couple (970.923.0426). T-Lazy-7 Ranch is set in the gorgeous Maroon Creek Valley and features a Western log lodge and outdoor grounds for parties (www.tlazy7.com; 970.925.4614). The Pine Creek Cookhouse combines stunning views of the Ashcroft Valley and gourmet mountain cuisine in an intimate but grand log cabin (http://www.pinecreekcookhouse.com/, 970.925.1044).

• Cultural Alternatives. Looking for something a little different? The Aspen Art Museum is a memorable venue, with cutting-edge art inside and a wide lawn, tall trees, and the rushing Roaring Fork River running through the grounds (www.aspenartmuseum.org; 970.925.8050). Or make history at The Wheeler-Stallard House, the large, authentic Victorian house that hosts the Aspen Historical Society and hosts weddings and other events on its shady lawn from July to late September (www.aspenhistory.org; 970.925.3721). The Aspen Meadows Resort is located on the world-famous, Bauhaus-inspired campus of the Aspen Institute and can accommodate groups of any size, boasting gourmet catering services and sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding slopes. The Resort's new Doerr-Hosier Center opened in summer 2007 and accommodates up to 300 guests. (www.aspenmeadowsresort.dolce.com; 970.925.4240).
• Barefoot in the Park. For an affordable and beautiful wedding venue, reserve one of Aspen's public parks. You need is a written Parks Use Permit, granted by the City of Aspen. (970.920.5120).

Arrive and Depart in Style

At an Aspen wedding, limos are old news, and anything goes for coming and going. Couples have been known to show up on their big day in double kayaks, motorcycles, paragliders and even hot-air balloons. If you're not exactly an adrenaline junkie but like to shake things up...

• Horse Around. What could be more romantic than an old-fashioned horse-and-carriage ride to and from your wedding or through Aspen's streets? Aspen Carriage Company will customize a ride for the big day. (970.925.3394).
• Get off to a Rolling Start. Aspen's bike shops are happy to outfit the bride and groom with wheels, from a romantic tandem cycle, stylish beach cruisers or a four-wheeled, covered buggy. Try Aspen Sports (www.aspensports.com; 970.925.6331) or Hub of Aspen; (970. 925.7970).

Primping and Pampering

• The Aspen Club and Spa. Brides and bridesmaids, frantic moms, jet-lagged wedding guests, and maybe even frazzled grooms will appreciate time spent at this extraordinary full-service day spa and health club. They do it all, from yoga and massage to hair and nails, so the wedding party will look as good as they feel. (www.aspenclubandspa.com; 970.925.8900).
• Remède Spa at St. Regis Resort, Aspen. The 15,000-square-foot resort spa offers customized treatments and Remède signature treatments incorporating Aspen's alpine and mineral environment. Remède Spa offers complimentary oxygen in the post-treatment Oxygen Room, as well as luxurious treats including chilled champagne and truffles. (www.remede.com/aspen; 970.920.6783).
• O2 Aspen. Two local women founded this yoga and Pilates studio, and it was an instant hit among Aspen's local community. O2 offers yoga classes for all levels, Pilates, and a day spa featuring Chinese herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture facials, and beauty treatments, including manicures, pedicures and waxing in a gorgeous bamboo-floored studio on Main Street. (www.02aspen.com; 970.925.4002).

Activities for the Crowd

No matter how adventurous your entourage, they will have the vacation of their lives in Aspen. Here are just a few examples of convenient ways they might want to spend their days.

• Golf. at one of the area's world-class courses.
• Go Whitewater Rafting. on the nearby Colorado, Roaring Fork and Arkansas rivers.
• Take a Hike. from a mellow nature walk to summiting a "fourteener" (a peak more than 14,000 feet tall).
• Venture Off-Road. in a guided Jeep tour.

Leave the Details To...

• Aspen's Party Pros. This town knows how to throw a party, from an extravagant gala to an intimate soirée. So no matter what your hopes are for getting hitched, Aspen's planners can carry them off without a hitch. Just Ask Peter has organized events for celebrities, socialites, and Aspen locals alike (970.925.3351). Bluebird Productions has planned countless perfect nuptials right down to the garnish on the plates (www.bluebirdaspen.com; 970.948.7757). Whether extravagantly elegant, mountain casual or an enchanting theme, EKS Events will coordinate a flawless event (http://www.eksevents.com/; 970.704.9318). Aspen Eventworks plans exquisite events ranging from corporate to private (http://www.aspeneventworks.com/; 970.618.5750. And Nancy Snell Events is a full-service agency ready to prepare an unforgettable celebration. (http://www.nancysnellevents.com/; 970.925.9207).

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For media information and images, contact Promo Communications.

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970.925.8480 

For visitor information, visit http://www.aspenchamber.org/, or call 1.888.290.1324 or 970.925.1940.