Why Overlooks Are The Best Spot For Wedding Ceremonies

My first experience with the mountains was driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopping at every single overlook there was! I never wanted to leave to go to the next one cause the view as just too good. Overlooks pull you in and keep you in the moment.

Getting married at an overlook is freaking magical! The quite vast view of the mountains stops time cause it’s so beautiful! It takes the main event of a hike and makes it a ceremony site that you can say your vows at with your family and friends. It’s like bringing all your people to your favorite view for your wedding day, how great is that!?!?!

Best Time Of Day For Overlook Wedding Venue Ceremonies

The best ceremony time is 3:30 in the afternoon. It’s perfect because the light is really nice (it’s not directly overhead, hello noon!) and it’s perfect for the flow of a wedding day. It gives plenty of time after the ceremony for family portraits, cocktail hour and dinner before everyone gets a little too toasty.

You can always have couples portraits at sunset with your ceremony florals! I always bring out my couples for a few photographs during sunset to get that happy glow, there’s nothing like a just married glow!!

Getting To Overlook Wedding Venues

This is a little adventure and make sure your guest are prepared and ready to embrace it! Lots of the overlooks can only be accessed by chairlift or gondola. It gives your guests a Colorado experience and really let’s them take a little mini adventure! The flatlanders really get a kick out of a chairlift experience! But don’t you worry, I did include a few overlooks that are accessible in a car so if you’re terrified of hights, need not to worry!

Colorado’s Best Overlook Wedding Venues

San Sophia Overlook
- Spectacular San Sophia Overlook, located mid-mountain at Telluride Ski Resort. Overlooking the Town of Telluride and Wilson Peak, it’s freaking gorgeous! I just love the mountains view and the cloud view of the town. This spot has yurts to use for staging the bridal party and can accommodate up to 200 guests. One you must see!
- Website: San Sophia Overlook
Holy Cross Event Deck
- The Vail Mountain Wedding deck is gorgeous! It has 360-degree views of the mountains, including Mount of the Holy Cross, and the Gore Mountain Range. Holy Cross Event Deck is built into the mountains with stadium seating so everyone has a front row seat. It’s an adventure to ride the gondola to this spectacular wedding ceremony venue.
- Website: Holy Cross Event Deck

Black Mountain Lodge
- This might be one of my favorite overlooks, probably because it’s not technically an overlook but the views feel so fantastic it might as well be! The Black Mountain Lodge deck looks straight at the east wall of the A-Basin North Pole and totally sucks you into it’s beauty and adventure. The lodge is an adventure to the guest because they have to even take the lift to get to the wedding and reception site! It’s quincenal Colorado!
- Website: Black Mountain Lodge
The Little Nell
- One of the only overlooks in Colorado that offers summer and winter weddings! The Little Nell Overlook has breathtaking views of the Elk Mountain Range. To get to this Aspen Mountain ceremony spot you get to jump on the Silver Queen Gondola and ride up to the venue. This spot can accommodate up to 175 guests but would also be perfect for an intimate wedding cause you can design the ceremony spot with your own chairs and decor. Talk about an exquisite ceremony spot!
- Website: The Little Nell

Ten Peaks
- Ride the chairlift to this sunning overlook in Crested Butte. The Ten Peaks overlooks the dazzling Gothic Valley. This overlook is unique because in the fall you have this perfect aspen grove right behind the ceremony spot that is phenomenal in colors is you hit it the right week. But don’t worry the grove doesn’t obscure the view!
- Website: Ten Peaks
Snowmass Wedding Terrace
- This stunning Snowmass Wedding Terrace is perfect for couples who are afraid of heights and wanna just drive to their fabulous overlook location. This Snowmass overlook is freaking fantastic in the fall because the whole valley is full of aspens that surround the terrace. You’re still overlooking the mountains here but your not as high as you are at other venues which can be grounding for those fearful. The most important part is that it’s delightful!
- Website: Snowmass Wedding Terrace

Bella Vista
- This wedding overlook is WAY MORE than just a venue! It’s a private resort, with your own pool! I really recommend it for more private couples to have a whole weekend experience with their guests and remarkable views all day and night!
- Website: Bella Vista Https://Bellavistasteamboat.Com/

Sunrise Amphitheatre
- The Sunrise Amphitheatre in Boulder is perfect for… wait for it… Sunrise weddings! That’s cause it gets it’s name for overlooking the town of Boulder and the flats out east, where the sun rises up to greet you in the morning. This wedding ceremony site is also perfect cause the seats are built into the mountain in a circular shape wich is beautiful. This ceremony site is easily accessible for you guys if you elope or up to 100 wedding guests. There’s no place for a reception here but there’s plenty of great spots right down Flagstaff to celebrate.
- Website: Sunrise Amphitheatre
10 Mile Station
- The 10 Mile Station is a fantastic mid mountain Beckenridge overlook that’s surprisingly easy to get to! This wedding ceremony venue offers panoramic views of Baldy Mountain and a completely customizable wedding ceremony site so you can add as many flowers as you can dream of. It’s also just steps away from your reception site inside the adorably rustic 10 Mile Station. Oh and I almost forgot to mention, they are dog friendly so ALL your family can come to your ceremony!!
- Website: 10 Mile Station

Overlooks for Wedding & Elopements

The above overlooks are flipping amazing!! And having a wedding ceremony on an overlook is perfect for those adventurous couples who want the above the clouds feels with 360 views of Colorado mountain ranges. I also adore glamping weddings, ski resorts, national parks like RMNP, and don’t forget how to include your puppy!