An Aspen Wedding
After a truly magical weekend, it is hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a wedding.
The ceremony took place on the top of Aspen Mountain, at an altitude of 10,700 feet. The wedding couple had rented out the top of the mountain, because apparently, you can do that. It meant a 20 minute gondola ride from the base of the mountain to the main lodge on top.
The views on the ride alone were amazing, but the setting on top was breathtaking.
The only hiccup to the wedding day was the weather. After disembarking from the gondola, the clouds hung low over the mountains obscuring the view. The wind was whipping as well, dropping the temperature to a bone chilling 30F. The ceremony was taking place outside, so there was no escaping the cold. The staff was great though, meeting guests at the top of the gondola with wool blankets, a necessary accessory at that temperature.
I was an usher in the wedding, so I was relaxing with the groom at a private bar when I was summoned to duty. As I headed out to begin escorting guests down the aisle. the most surprising thing occurred: snow. Yes, snow. In June! It was the one thing I hadn’t anticipated, nor had the guests, especially the older ladies wearing short cocktail dresses and heels, shivering as I walked them to their seats.
We knew it might be a little chilly for the ceremony, but no one expected below freezing temperatures and a snow shower!
Luckily, as the ceremony began, the clouds dissipated and the sun broke through, warming the guests as the wedding couple took their vows. The view revealed itself, and the stunning backdrop of the Rockies became clear. Is there a more beautiful setting for a wedding?
I instantly became jealous of what the wedding photos were going to look like.
Even after the ceremony and the festivities of the reception began, the lodge provided views all night long, with massive windows perfectly framing the snow-covered mountains and valleys of pine trees. The event went off without a hitch, with amazing food (a hard task for a wedding of almost 250 guests) and an open bar all night, which helped fuel the late night dance party!
As we took the gondola ride back down the mountain a little after midnight, with a cupful of hot chocolate provided as we boarded (quite a nice touch I thought), the awesomeness of the weekend became clear. We had traveled a long way from London to attend this event, and it did not disappoint.
Aspen looks gorgeous, even with the unseasonable snow! I shudder to think what a wedding there must cost, but I can hardly think of a more picturesque setting for one.
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) recently posted…Stonewalled by Sedona
I too marvel at what the expense was, but man, it was a beautiful wedding. Once the sky cleared and all of the guests had a clear view of the snow covered Rockies, it was truly magical. It pays to rent out a mountain apparently!