Holy love at first sight! I totally adore Devil’s Thumb Ranch - so much so that I almost wish I could get married all over again, just so that I could do it at this amazing place! It’s an intimate event venue that captures the true spirit of Colorado, with spectacular scenery, a cozy ambiance and an air of relaxed sophistication. Located in Tabernash, Devil’s Thumb Ranch describes itself as “5,000 acres of raw Colorado” at the foot of the Continental Divide, complete with sweeping meadows, meandering creeks, the rustle of pine boughs. In a nutshell, it is the ideal location for your Colorado mountain wedding or event.

The crown jewel of Devil’s Thumb Ranch is the 2,900 square foot indoor reception room, The Broad Axe Barn. The barn is built from the hand hewn beams recovered from a Civil War-era Indiana barn and features a 25 foot vaulted ceiling, 7 x 10 feet windows and a 2,200 sq. ft. deck with stunning views of the Continental Divide. It’s the perfect venue for weddings or events up to 160 guests. The ranch also offers more intimate spaces for smaller events. The Timber House, with 900 square feet and 240 degree views of the Continental Divide, is the perfect locale for up to 50 seated guests. And John L’s Wine Cellar is a romantic and private setting for a rehearsal dinner or another special meal for 16 guests.

I am absolutely dying to plan a wedding or event at Devil’s Thumb Ranch…. any takers?

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

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

Imagine saying your vows in an open air chapel surrounded by breathtaking views and majestic peaks. Picture a cocktail hour where guests stroll through a rustic, yet elegantly restored ghost town. Envision a first-rate dinner cooked with organic, seasonal ingredients from local farms. Visualize dancing the night away in a historic saloon, followed by marshmallows around a campfire under a clear, starry sky. Suppose you could rent an entire town for your intimate and exclusive wedding celebration….. welcome to Dunton Hot Springs.

Dunton Hot Springs is one of the most amazing wedding venues in Colorado. Offering the utmost in luxury alongside some of the most pristine yet accessible terrain in the world, Dunton Hot Springs is an impeccably restored ghost town at 8,600 feet in the San Juan Mountains near Telluride. 

And you can, literally, rent the entire town for your wedding. Rental fees start at $10,000/day in the winter and $15,000/day during high season, and include accommodations and meals for up to 42 people. Complete with an open air chapel, historic saloon & dance hall, natural hot springs, luxurious spa and authentic log cabins, Dunton is an ideal Colorado destination wedding venue.

It will be a celebration your guests will never forget.

In short, it’s a one-of-a-kind way to say “I do” with a view.

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

Photo Courtesy of Jenna Walker Photography

The St. Julien Hotel & Spa is a fabulous Boulder venue for weddings and events. With a prime downtown location, chic décor, world-class accommodations, luxurious spa, and awe-inspiring views of the flatirons from the large terrace and gardens, The St. Julien sets itself apart from other Boulder hotels.

The hotel offers a variety of venues to fit all types of events. The venues include:

                  * 15,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, with an elegant ambiance and an incomparable concierge service

                  * 8,708 square feet of indoor banquet space, consisting of 9 rooms, six with windows

                  * 6,810 square feet of outdoor event space, with four terraces and garden areas for an airy atmosphere

For meetings and conferences, The St. Julien offers underground parking for up to 650 cars and incomparable concierge service for guests. And the central location of the hotel makes it easy for guests to enjoy everything Boulder has to offer, for both business and pleasure, without worrying about driving or directions.

The St. Julien is also an ideal location for weddings, with space for an outdoor ceremony set against the picturesque flatirons and a variety of reception options  – both outside on the terrace, and indoors in the ballroom. The hotel also offers:

                 * Complimentary Wedding Night Guest Room Accommodation for the Bride & Groom

                 * Discounted Lodging Rates of Your Wedding Guests

                 * Exquisite catering, providing guests with customized menus for every palate

                 * Professional, Experienced, and Courteous Staff

                 * Menu Tasting (limit 4 people)

                 * Complimentary Cake Cutting Service

                 * White or Cream Colored Floor Length Linens & Napkins

                 * Complete Custom set up of Tables, Chairs, and Full Table Settings

                 * Votive Candles for Each Table

                 * Indoor Dance Floor

                 * A Dedicated and Experienced Catering Sales Manager

Check out some of the pictures below so you can see for yourself everything The St. Julien has to offer!

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

If you’re looking for a farm venue in Boulder County for your next event, consider Lonehawk Farms. Lonehawk is a working farm located on 120 acres in a lovely, secluded area just 10 miles north of Boulder. In the summer the farm is open for weddings, rehearsal dinners, company parties, benefits and other special events. The gazebo is a beautiful site for an outdoor wedding ceremony, and the large barn can accomodate up to 150 guests.

The farm allows you to bring in an outside caterer, allowing for a greater level of flexibility in your menu choice. However, Lonehawk is also embracing the “farm to table” movement, and has started offering a salad course with ingredients grown in their organic garden.

With a beautiful view of the front range and surrounding countryside, the farm is a wonderful setting for a rustic, serene event in an open-air environment.

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio  

Photo courtesy of Julie Harris Photography

Photo courtesy of Julie Harris Photography

Photo courtesy of Julie Harris Photography

Photo courtesy of Julie Harris Photography

Photo courtesy of Lonehawk Farms

Photo courtesy of Lonehawk Farms

Photo courtesy of Lonehawk Farms

The Donovan Pavilion is a stunning venue in West Vail. The 5,200 square foot pavilion has floor to ceiling windows, soaring ceilings with timber beams and an enormous, private patio overlooking Gore Creek that is perfect for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour. The pavilion, owned by the city of Vail, is one of the most sought-after event venues – not only because it is amazingly beautiful, but because it is incredibly affordable. And anyone who has ever tried planning an event in Vail realizes that affordable venues are few and far between!

With lots of extras already included in the facility rental fee (chairs, tables, audio visual equipment, etc.) and an on-site staff that is extremely helpful and accomodating, it’s hard to go wrong with an event at the Donovan Pavilion.

If you’re looking for a venue in Vail that captures the mountain lodge feel in a classy and gorgeous way, check out the Donovan!

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

Photo courtesy of Stephen Sanderson Photography

Photo courtesy of Stephen Sanderson Photography