In planning a rehearsal lunch for a wedding in Vail, Colorado, I was on the lookout for a “picnic” like venue with amazing mountain views that would highlight Colorado’s natural beauty for the many out of town guests that would be in attendance. Mission accomplished: Piney River Ranch.

Piney River Ranch is located just 11 miles north of  Vail, Colorado in the White River National Forest. The event site is set amongst the shimmering waters of Piney Lake with the Gore Mountain Range as a backdrop. The ranch has two covered, open air pavilions with a 250 person seating capacity, and a wedding deck that seats 175. Piney River Ranch has an in-house restaurant that can cater to any size party.

The ranch offers a variety of activities including: hiking, horseback riding, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing, volleyball, horseshoes, badminton and kids play area, ensuring your guests will have plenty of ways to enjoy the Colorado Rockies.

The location truly is stunning and you almost have to see it to believe how beautiful it is. Hopefully the below pictures will help!

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

Check out this amazing rehearsal lunch (yes lunch, not dinner!) at the Piney River Ranch in the White River National Forest. The ranch is approx 45 minutes from Vail and 30 from Beaver Creek…. only about 11 miles away but a windy dirt road the entire trip! We planned this lunch for a couple that wanted their guests to really experience all that Colorado has to offer. And boy, does Piney River allow for that! The setting is AMAZINGLY beautiful…. beyond words, actually. The rehearsal lunch was simple, yet elegant – set under an open air canopy.

Lunch was casual – a buffet with grilled chicken sandwiches, pasta salad, corn on the cob, fruit salad and brownies for dessert. Guests were treated to an open bar stocked with Colorado Microbrews, wine and liquor.

After lunch, the guests could kayak, canoe or hike – the goal was for them to be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery. It truly was an intimate, unpretentious and extremely special event.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio