Cozy Colorado Winter Wedding Photography
Congratulations on your upcoming winter wedding in Colorado! There's a lot that comes with planning a wedding in Colorado during the winter months, but it'll end up being an unforgettable experience. The snow-covered landscapes and cozy ambiance make it a memorable setting for your big day.
I’m going to be honest here. Winter weddings are harder to photograph than summer weddings. There are fewer hours of light during the day, it’s colder, and indoor lighting may be a bit dimmer to provide a cozy atmosphere.
This may phase an inexperienced wedding photographer, so it’s crucial that you hire the right guy for the job cough me cough.
Here is a quick guide with some tips and advice when it comes to your Colorado winter wedding photography.
Choosing Your Photographer
Choosing your wedding photographer will be a crucial part of your planning journey, especially for a winter wedding. You’ll want somebody who is experienced in these types of weddings and has the equipment/expertise to document it correctly. This involves many things, including being able to handle the cold, knowing the best places to exchange your vows, and so many things in between.
It will also be very important that you and your photographer get along. It’s always a plus when you’re able to chat with your photographer before the wedding, whether this be on your initial phone call or during an engagement session.
I highly recommend requesting a video chat with any photographer you’re inquiring with. When you inquire with me, there is always an initial video chat so that we can get to know each other and make sure we are a good fit.
Okay, at the end of the day, the biggest thing that matters is your wedding photos. It is paramount that you view your photographer’s portfolio. Try finding photos in different lighting scenarios, indoor vs. outdoor, and anything in between.
Request full galleries if you really want to do some thorough investigation. This is totally normal, and any photographer worth their pricing will not hesitate to send you over a couple of full galleries. We want you to feel confident that your photos are going to be everything you want and expect when booking.
Less Light
Consider your ceremony time. In the winter, it could get pitch dark as early as 4:30pm. The ceremony is the part of your day that may suffer the most from poor lighting. If the lighting is too dim, then your photos may have lots of grain in them.
One solution is to use flash during your ceremony, but if you feel this would be too disruptive, consider moving your ceremony to earlier in the day.
If it gets too cold outside, you may need to take family photos indoors. Because of this, you’ll want to hire a photographer who knows how to use flash effectively indoors.
Another bonus that comes with hiring a photographer with extensive knowledge in flash is the amount of creative photos you can get outdoors even after the sun has gone down. If you’re having a Colorado winter wedding and you also value creative photos, then ask your photographer about their ability to use flash in these situations.
Cold Temperatures
Here are a few tips for battling the chilly weather to make the best of your winter wedding photography.
Hand warmers - I bring these along whenever I’m photographing in the cold. They’re surprisingly effective and will warm your hands up real quick.
Hot Chocolate - Think about having a hot cocoa bar at your reception. This will provide instant warmth at any given moment.
Hot Toddy - Consider providing a hot cocktail to your guests at your open bar. Something likea Hot Toddy could suffice.
Dress warmly - Consider adding a fur shawl to your outft to warm up in between photos/locations.
Travel
One quick tip that I like to bring up to my couples is travel. When you’re planning a winter wedding, you need to account for the snow. Traveling in the snow is not easy, and that last thing you want is for you or your guests to be rushing anywhere in snowy weather.
If you’re traveling from out of state, add some cushion to your travel dates/times to ensuret here is plenty of time to get to your destination. If your photographer is taking you off-site for your couples photos, you’ll also want to add some cushion into your timeline.
This ensures your photographer is able to capture everthing they planned for without worrying about time constraints.
Time Of Year
If you’re a lover of the snow and winter season, Colorado is one of the best places to get married. It can snow for eight months out of the year, usually starting around October, and sometimes lasting all the way through June! So, obviously, you probably don’t want to plan your wedding during the summer months if you want a winter wedding.
The best months for a Colorado winter wedding will be December-February if you want to guarantee snow.
Location
We could be here all day if I listed every single amazing winter wedding venue here in Colorado. So, in this section I’ll talk about a few general areas that you should definitely look into if you’re looking to tie the knot during the winter months. The next section will feature a list of some specific venues for you to look into if you want an amazing winter wedding here in Colorado.
Estes Park
Estes Park is nestled right in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, home of some of the most breathtaking views in the state. Between the indoor wedding venues and ceremony sites in RMNP itself, there is an abundance of choice when it comes to planning your winter wedding. Keep in mind, you’ll need a permit if you’re looking to get married at one of the wedding ceremony sites in the park. For the adventurous couples.
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is about an hour south of Denver. The city is close to iconic areas and landmarks like Garden fo the Gods and Pikes Peak, so there’s no shortage of snowy backdrops to choose from. If you get married here, you’ll also have a great selection of mountain resorts and historic venues.
Vail/Breckenridge Ski Towns
Vail is a dream destination for tourists and couples in love alike. Not only is it home to some of the best fall landscapes in the country, but it’s not too shabby during the winter months either. The town of Vail boasts world-class ski resorts, a cozy little village, and snow-covered scenery in every direction. Provide yourself and your guests with an unforgettable Colorado winter wedding experience by tying the knot in this Colorado mountain town. Also a perfect spot for winter elopements and intimate weddings, or the couple up for some cross-country skiing.
Crested Butte
If you really want to get away from the city and cozy up in a Colorado mountain town, then Crested Butte is the spot for you. Situated four hours away from Denver in the Rocky Mountains, this small town is a bit more of an investment for you and your guests. However, the views and experience will be well worth it. Experience 360 degree snowy mountain views in this Rocky Mountain destination. For those who truly want a Colorado winter adventure.
Denver
Don’t think you need to travel outside of the city to plan the perfect Colorado winter wedding. You can combine the city’s modern amenities and unique venues with nearby mountain adventures to get the best of both worlds. Create a well-rounded wedding experience for you and your loved ones by choosing the Mile-High City as the destination for your Colorado winter wedding.
17 Top Colorado Winter Wedding Venues:
Tips for Choosing Your Colorado Winter Wedding Venue
If you’re able to, visit our venue… in the wintertime! This may seem obvious, but you’ll want to know what your venue looks like around the same time you’ll be getting married. A Colorado wedding venue can look completely different between summer and winter. Simply visiting the venue will help with all of the tips below. While you’re there, see how much natural light is available in the venue!
Research. Use your good friends Google and Instagram to research your venue. Search “Venue Name Winter Wedding” on Google and use the image tab to view photos. This will give you a good indication of what a winter wedding will look like at that venue. For instagram, visit a potential venue’s profile and check their tags. This will most likely show you wedding photos that have been taken at that venue recently.
Ask a photographer. If you’re curious about a venue, it’s always good to ask a wedding photographer about it. They may know more ins and outs than you can find online.
Accessibility. Consider how easy or difficult it may be to get to the venue. This may be extra important if you have elderly family or anybody with a disability attending your wedding. Also note: Is there an outdoor ceremony site only, or indoor as well for a backup plan?
Parking/Amenities. You’ll want to make sure that parking won’t be a pain in the ass come wedding day. Ensure your venue will have ample parking to ensure your guests are taken care of. Also, make sure the venue has good heating, as you don’t want guests and family members freezing up during the reception. Bonus points if there’s a cozy fireplace.
Pricing. Want a little known hack? Weekday weddings usually cost WAY less than weekend weddings. Combining this with the out-of-wedding-season winter months, and you could save at least a few thousand dollars by strategically choosing your wedding date.
Conclusion
Hiring an experienced wedding photographer will be one of the best decisions you make. This will ensure you get fantastic photos throughout the entire day.
Do not assume all wedding photographer's are the same. Being brutally honest, the skill level required in winter is higher than a light and airy summer wedding.
With the right photographer, winter gives you opportunities to get some low key, moody and unique photographs that simply can't be created in the summer.
If you’re planning a winter wedding here in Colorado and looking for a local wedding photographer who has the experience and expertise with photographing these types ofw eddings, I’d love to chat more with you. View additional info, fill out the contact form, and we’ll set up a video chat so we can see if we’re a good fit.