Mountain Destination Weddings

One of the most popular mountain destinations in the east is Vermont. The rolling green hills and tree-lined mountains create a naturally landscaped backdrop for a wedding. During the spring and summer months, the natural beauty of Vermont offers plenty of hiking, biking and other outdoor activities that you and your wedding guests can enjoy. Fall months offer leaves of burnt orange, red and yellow as natural decor for a harvest- or fall-themed wedding. Winter months turn mountain destination weddings in Vermont into ski trip opportunities to complement the wedding festivities. Small rental cabins are scattered throughout the mountain areas, as are country inns and bed and breakfasts to lodge wedding guests and to hold the wedding ceremony and reception.

The rustically charming Inn of the Six Mountains is one venue that offers destination wedding packages. Options include a wedding planner to help you pull your wedding together, indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception alternatives, wedding night accommodations for the bride and groom, and a choice of a served meal, buffet or serving stations.

With its own golf course, spa and access to 48 hiking trails, Stowe Mountain Lodge combines the beauty of nature with luxuries and amenities for you and your guests. It offers a quiet respite to say your vows in a natural environment, and attention to detail that makes your wedding one-of-a-kind. The lodge combines the warmth and coziness of a ski lodge with the upscale features of a world-famous resort.

Beaver Creek Resort

The west offers a multitude of mountain destinations to choose from for your wedding, but one of the most popular is Colorado. While many think of the area as desolate, there are quite a few luxury hotels and spas that cater to Aspen and Beaver Creek. Colorado also has private homes, cabins and lodges that can be rented for special events or vacations. The part that most brides enjoy about mountain destination weddings is that they can whisk their guests away for a vacation and offer plenty of sports and activities in combination with the wedding ceremony and reception. Skiing, hiking and sleigh rides can entertain guests in the days leading up to the wedding or when the festivities are over.

Locations such as Stone Mountain Lodge & Cabins offer the bride and groom breathtaking backdrops for when they say, "I do." Red cliffs, blue skies and water views are a few of the natural decorations in an outdoor wedding. For those looking to capture the Old West style, locations such as Saddle Ridge in Beaver Creek provide an intimate setting with vaulted ceilings, authentic western artifacts and a Southwestern menu.

Elevation. Remember, mountains are at a higher elevation, which can cause elevation sickness. This is especially true if you combine drinking alcohol with the elevation and dehydration. Make sure you and your guests stay hydrated to avoid a trip to the hospital.

Temperature. Temperatures in mountain towns can be very cool in the morning and evening, even in summer and spring. And in the middle of winter, the sun can be so hot that you find yourself not needing the heavy sweater, jacket and gloves you're wearing. Check the weather before you go, and pack layers of clothing no matter the season.

Have a backup plan for outdoor weddings. Mountain weather can be somewhat unpredictable, so make sure to have an indoor or covered backup location in case the weather turns on you.

Each state has its own marriage license requirements. Some states have a waiting period between when you apply for a license and when you receive the license. Make sure to check with the clerk of the court in the county where the ceremony will take place for the application requirements and fees.

Most mountain destination wedding venues offer packages----including products, services and even excursions or sporting activities----for your wedding ceremony and reception. Find out what it is offered by the venue and what you may need to find other vendors for. Also ask the venue for a list of wedding vendors.