Estes Park Wedding with a Mariachi BandWedding Details:

When we arrived Christina was on floor 3 of the Lodge.  Mark was on the other side of the Stanley grounds in the Presidential suite.  Between our going back and forth between the Lodge, the Music Room, Billiard Room, and the Presidential suite we definitely burned some calories to earn some desert!  Christina and Mark first saw each other back by the fountain behind the main hotel.  It was a joyful first look followed by some laughter.

We went out in the field out front for some photos then back to the courtyard for family photos pre-ceremony.  Things were running a little slow prior to pictures but we were able to adapt and ensure Christina got her 4:20 PM pre-wedding shot on time.  Our take is we would rather plan for a little extra time in there so that you can have a relaxed day if things are a little behind.

The ceremony was in the Music Room.  At 5:00 PM in the late fall of the Colorado Mountains the sun can be rather bright in the windows.  The room fit everyone perfectly, the ceremony was short, sweet, and filled with some tears and laughter.  We loved the frame with the 3 colors of sand poured in to illustrate the weaving of Mark, Christina, and Aleah’s lives.  Following the ceremony the guests went 1 room over to the Billiard Room for a Mariachi Band filled cocktail hour.

We took a few extra photos out front after a marriage license signing but for the most part Mark and Christina enjoyed the cocktail hour with the awesome Mariachi Band!  As you will see there was lots of laughter, some fun dancing, and people just celebrating the wedding!

Stanley Hotel Review:

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO is a great location for a Colorado Mountain wedding with a small town feel nearby.  The grounds are well kept, the staff is attentive and respectful.  The place is popular certainly on a Saturday!  There are numerous rooms for doing an event and though we didn’t get to try out the cool air it looks like there is also a spot for an outdoor tent in addition to the other outdoor spots.  If you are looking for exclusive use of the facility this would not be your place of choice.  If however you want a refined classical venue with character then this might be your place.  The staff was great and everything you would want from a venue.

We would highly recommend a wedding day coordinator!  The Stanley grounds are large and people can be all over.  We had Emma with Glow Weddings and Events.  She was awesome and certainly made for a beautifully crafted, fun, stress free, orchestrated event!  She is full of positive energy and just makes you want to smile when you are around her.  Her vision and ideas bring things on the wedding day together so that you just need to enjoy the day and not fret over the details.

Here is our other work in Estes Park and other weddings at the Stanley Hotel.