The spectacular vistas are one of the biggest draws of getting married in the mountains. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks and hillsides blanketed in pine forests, it’s easy to lose yourself in the natural beauty and grandeur of the view. Colorado is the perfect place for an amazing mountainside wedding. With plenty of gorgeous resorts, lodges, and hotels, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. I highly suggest looking at Piney River Ranch in Vail, CO for a secluded mountain getaway wedding, surrounded by thousands of acres of rugged wilderness but with all the amenities you need for a fabulous wedding. Keep reading to learn more about what makes a Piney River Ranch wedding absolutely exquisite!
About The Piney River Ranch Wedding Venue
Piney River Ranch is a true Rocky Mountain retreat at the end of a dirt road, located 9,350 feet above sea level. It sits on the edge of Piney Lake and at the foot of the majestic Gore Range with 40 acres of private back-country wilderness about twelve miles north of Vail Village. Its secluded terrain is breathtaking and provides a place to enjoy various summer activities like fly fishing, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, and so much more.
Piney River Ranch is open seasonally in the summer between June 21 and the last Saturday in September. When they aren’t hosting events, they are open to the general public to come and take advantage of everything the property offers. Since the road to the property is unpaved, however, it can get a little tenuous in cooler and snowier months, hence why they are only open in the summer.
In addition to being an excellent spot for an event, Piney River Ranch also offers accommodations and an onsite restaurant with the best-smoked BBQ in the area!
Details of the Grounds
Piney River Ranch is known for having some of the most spectacular views for an event venue, making it the perfect wedding spot for a couple who loves adventuring outdoors.
Prepare for your wedding day in their cozy, rustic Bridal Suite and Groom’s Quarters, with enough space to accommodate you and your wedding parties as you get ready with some pampering.
For your ceremony, you can exchange vows on the spectacular wedding deck over Piney Lake, surrounded by nearby mountaintops and endless sky. The deck has bench seating for your guests, looking out over the incredible vistas that will be the backdrop for your “I do’s.” It’s a truly wild landscape, and with room for up to 200 guests, your wedding will be an unforgettable mountain getaway unlike anything else they’ve ever experienced.
The Cocktail Pavilion is adjacent to the reception pavilion and has a gorgeous lake view for your guests to enjoy as they mingle and sip on signature cocktails. You can also get creative and use this pavilion as your dance floor while using the Reception Pavilion to host dinner.
The Reception Pavilion is a spacious log event space equipped with heaters and sliding doors, perfect for hosting an elegant and rustic celebration. With lots of warm wood tones and features like exposed beams and columns, it’s a cozy space to transform into an event that brings your dream wedding to life.
Photography Opportunities
We will take absolutely breathtaking photos using the spectacular scenery as a backdrop in your photos. Your photos will be exquisite, with Piney Lake and the Rocky Mountains in the background. We can explore nearby groves of forests, with towering pine trees and wildflowers, looking for the perfect spot to stop and take some portraits.
Closer to the pavilions, we’ll use the rustic exteriors of the buildings and the ranch’s landscaping as a beautiful setting. But truly, the lasting beauty of the scenery is the real photographic draw of the venue, and we’ll be sure to feature it in as many photos as possible.
Wedding Details
Your Piney River Ranch wedding will include the use of the wedding ceremony deck, reception pavilion, and cocktail pavilion, as well as their bridal suite and groom’s lounge. You’ll also have access to their custom wood tables and chairs for up to 200 guests, plenty of onsite parking, and a one-hour rehearsal the morning before your wedding day.
Plenty of other unique amenities can turn your wedding into an event to remember, including using their fire pit for s’mores with an added upgrade. Or, make it even more special with the ultimate upgrade, adding dynamic ingredients like peanut butter cups, bacon, bananas, crushed Oreos, Nutella, strawberries, and more. Keep your guests entertained with a giant Jenga set, corn hole, and other social activities that form lasting memories.
Catering, Accommodations, & More
When it comes to your first meal as a married couple, Piney River Ranch’s in-house catering will provide you and your guests with a beautiful, mouthwatering meal. Their chefs will work with you to create a custom menu that will be buffet-style, with plenty of food to satisfy everyone. While they offer a variety of delicious desserts, you’ll need to source your wedding cake from an outside vendor, should you choose to have one.
Alcoholic beverages are also all provided through Piney River Ranch, without exception. Their highly qualified professional bartenders and wait staff will serve your guests with warm hospitality. They can also help you create a customized bar list that will suit the tastes of each of your guests with specially crafted cocktails and specially crafted beer and wines.
While the drive from town to Piney River Ranch takes approximately 45 minutes of driving through the backwoods, not all your guests will have to make the trek; they also offer onsite lodging, including six lakefront cabins and three glamping tents. Turn your wedding day into a wedding weekend, and imagine you and your closest friends and family sitting on a private porch, a cup of coffee in hand, looking out over a panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains. It’s certainly not a bad way to start your life as a married couple!
Piney River Ranch Wedding
Piney River Ranch is a one-of-a-kind venue for an unforgettable mountain wedding. Check out their website for more details and to start dreaming about how it could be the perfect spot for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding. After all, a Piney River Ranch wedding is an exceptional affair that is only worthy of the most incredible couple!
Finding the perfect venue always brings lots of joy and excitement! Both luckily and unfortunately, Colorado has so many incredible venues! But it makes it hard to choose one that is perfect for you! So if you are still on the hunt for the dream wedding venue, browse the blog links below! Then let’s chat about your dream wedding photos!
