Planning a Fall Wedding in Colorado

These weeks of heat waves have us dreaming about fall weather. It’s not too soon to start considering the logistics of getting married in the fall! If you’re planning a fall wedding in Colorado, congratulations – you’re getting married in the most popular season here in the mountains! September and October are the busiest months for weddings around here, and it’s easy to see why. As the aspens begin turning golden yellow and orange, the mountains provide a stunning autumnal backdrop for your wedding day. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a fall wedding in Colorado:

Timing Your Fall Wedding in Colorado

What is fall in Colorado? In higher elevations, aspens (the trees mostly known for fall colors here) begin their color change in mid-September. (Click here for foliage maps and predictors!) At lower elevations, fall colors can start and last into October. If you’re coming from out-of-state and an area where October and November are typical autumn color months, this can be quite a surprise! Be sure to check the link for predictions to know when to book your wedding venue for those peak fall colors. If you’re getting married in places like Crested Butte, Telluride, Aspen or Vail, your fall colors will likely be peaking around the middle to end of September. Places like Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction will be peaking closer to and into October.

Weather for Fall Weddings in Colorado

As you can imagine, fall weddings in Colorado face rapidly changing weather. It’s not unheard of for snow to fall early at high altitudes! If you’re getting married in September over 8,000 ft. you run the risk of snowy weather. Be prepared with heaters from your rental company or venue, and consider having cute baskets of blankets provided for your guests. The fun part is you can plan a cozy reception for your party, complete with bonfire and smores! Be sure to let your guests know, whether through the invitations or your wedding website, what to expect for weather. Even with ideal autumnal weather, the nights will be pretty cold.

Holidays

With the fall comes many fall holidays. If you’re planning to double up your wedding with a holiday weekend, be sure you book early! Lots of other couples will have had the same idea, and booking early gives you a leg up on getting exactly what you want. Be sure to also give your guests ample notice if they will be traveling, as lodging and airfare can be harder to come by or more expensive.

Hunting Seasons

Here in Colorado, a lot of our locals will plan their fall weddings around hunting seasons. From deer and elk to moose and bears, September and October are common hunting seasons for local wildlife, and when after the season ends venues will be booked up fast. It’s just another reason why booking your venue and vendors early for this time of year will be your best move!

Off-Season

While it’s not always the case, exactly, the fall is kind of an off-season for our ski resort towns. Sure there will be tourists (we call them “leaf peepers”) driving through the state to see all the fall colors, but most of the ski resorts are done with their summer activities and not yet into ski season. This can create popular mountain towns that are far less busy than other times of year! Speaking of season, be sure to talk with your florist about what flowers are in-season before getting your heart set on anything. It can be tough to find certain flowers in the fall, but so worth it for the flowers that are easy to get!