Footwear.
It’s no secret that the mountains are, well…mountainous! While the appeal of a lovely pair of stilettos is enticing, they’re not practical when you’re literally hiking through nature for those jaw-dropping photo backdrops. Pack along a second pair of shoes that will allow you to traverse fallen trees, rocks, streams, and hills with ease & comfort. This pair doesn’t have to be pretty since they won’t be in photos. Keep your heels in pristine condition and change into them for your reception & dance party! Make sure to pass along the same info to your bridesmaids and guests.
tRANSPORTATION.
For your guests and your vendors! Most mountaintop venues are only accessible for vendors via a dirt road meddled with switchbacks and off-road terrain. There is very little signage and directions to reference with even less cell phone service. Keep this in mind when considering a vendor who doesn’t have experience working at your venue or may be utilizing a low-to-the-ground box truck to deliver equipment & decor (ie. florists, bands, DJs, chair & table rentals, etc…). When it comes to guests’ access, the options can range from chair lifts to gondolas to snow cats & sleighs, depending on the time of year. In the most remote mountain locales, helicopters are also an alternative. Take it from me that guests will appreciate the heads up on how they’ll be transported to the venue so they may plan their attire & footwear accordingly.
Altitude.
This one should go without saying but always comes up. Especially, with my destination couples! In most instances, these highly sought after venues are located at or higher than 10,000ft above sea level. And they’re in remote locations without easy or quick access to medical care. It isn’t uncommon for the occasional guest to suffer the side effects of altitude sickness or severe sunburn (pack lots of sunscreen). Similarly, alcohol intoxication occurs much quicker at altitude than it does at lower elevations. As the industry saying goes, “a drink at altitude is like 3 or 4 drinks at sea level.” Consider planning at least a day or two with high altitude guest activities to help everyone acclimate before your big day.
Weather.
When you booked your mountaintop wedding venue, you know no doubt envisioned a sun-drenched, Pinterest worthy soiree in the clouds with sweeping 360-degree views of mountains & valleys as far as the eye can see. 80% of the time, Mother Nature cooperates and my couples get exactly what they want! However, in my experience, high altitude venues most certainly have their own weather pattern. And wedding days have the potential to go from warm and sunny bluebird skies to cool and overcast, windy and rainy with little to no warning. Having a great indoor plan B or weather backup helps to ensure a quick transition & holding pattern for you & your guests while the storm passes.
Drone Usage & Permits.
In addition to documenting your day on the ground, cinematography teams are now employing the services of drones. Which is such a cool perspective to tell your wedding story! It’s also another potential hoop for you or your procured vendor(s) to jump through. If your venue is located on National or State Forest Land, it’s an FAA requirement that a permit and scheduled flight plan be submitted for approval. This process can be somewhat costly and could take up to 8-10 months, so it needs to be started early. Better to give your video team more time to get this done than less!
If you’re a vendor with experience at high altitude, on-mountain wedding venues and have something to add to this post, comment below! If you’re a couple planning a Colorado wedding in one of our amazing high terrain locales and haven’t secured your wedding planner, let’s chat!
Until next time,
Cheers!