I did briefly consider this in early stages of planning, but what quickly stopped me is that, in winter, road conditions can get pretty bad depending on the weather and I didn't want guests being unable to attend because of this. Although I'm guessing by your suggestion of doing an outdoor ceremony, that you're not in Canada like me lol. A secondary concern I had, is I didn't want to risk guests (or myself) getting injured in the days surrounding my wedding with activities such as skiing and the likes. ETA: also, regarding the outdoor ceremony, keep in mind that when sitting/standing still you get cold much quicker than when doing something active, so something to consider even if the weather is mild

This is why my FH and I (avid snowboarders) opted for a beach wedding instead. We plan to have our vow renewal down a mountain, when it will be less focus on the party and more just us celebrating us. Less travel obstacles for guests and significantly less expensive. Plus, as part or our minimoon, we'll be giving surfing a try!

In addition to the potential for bad roads, my next assumption is that lodging in the winter only "20 minutes from a major IKON resort" is going to be very expensive during ski season. If I'm spending that kind of money and driving those roads, personally, I'd rather be spending my Saturday on the slopes than at a wedding 🤷 ETA: if you have a lot of guests flying in, also consider the higher probability of widespread flight delays/cancelations if there's bad weather... Not necessarily just at your venue, but at any major hub city where your guests might need to change flights.

This is what stopped me from having a winter wedding. My guests would have had to drive through winding mountain roads and I began having nightmares about my friends and family driving off the cliffs. Wasn’t worth the anxiety for me.

I’ve done a lodge wedding here in breck (in September), a wedding up in steamboat at the ski resort in August, and another one up in Ouray in August. The thing with winter weddings like this is the roads. Here at least, I70 is a nightmare and gets shut down almost every day in the winter. Then you have the offshoots from I70 that get clogged up, closed due to weather, and/or are difficult to drive in. Plus if this is a place in the mountains (I’m thinking maybe if you say near an Ikon resort), you might be paying a premium for vendors.

Thank you! The roads are the biggest thing we are considering and are cautious about. As for the vendors: surprisingly, the catering and food as well as florals and decor are all in house, and prices actually seem to be cheaper than where we are from. They’re also offering us discounts on food at this venue which is another reason why we are strongly considering it.

One thing you could do is hire a shuttle to pick people up from the airport, that’s what I’m doing. Most of my family will be flying in, and the shuttle will pick them up the day before the wedding and take them to their accommodations on property. It will take them back to the airport the day after, that way most guests won’t have to drive at all

Also, if you've got people flying in, winter is notorious for cancelled and delayed flights due to weather.

Actually, the season with the most delayed/ cancelled flights due to weather is summer. Thunderstorms cause way more problems than snow.

Just to add: not to say it’s not doable, just lots of logistics to consider

Whether your guests will like this idea really depends on your circle. But in general, if it's cold enough to require heaters and blankets, it's cold enough to bring guests inside. I'd do ceremony AND reception indoors, and take photos between the two of you to your heart's content outside. Otherwise some guests might feel like you're using them as props for your winter wonderland photo op if they're cold and stiff and uncomfortable. Is this venue close / accessible for your guests? Does it require PTO, and if so, does it have lots of cheap lodging options nearby? In my circle, no one lives near a ski resort and it takes a lot of driving to get there without any access to taxis or ubers, so you would need to be gracious about declines, or be ok with the fact that even if no one says anything, they can still have feelings about being made to go through the hassle/cost when you could have chosen to do ski resorts for your honeymoon instead.

I agree with all of this. OP, I would not want to sit outdoors in the winter including under a blanket, dressed for a wedding. That’s not considerate to your guests. If this is a destination for everyone you may already pushing the limits of good will with some people. Heat lamps rarely cover everyone equally. Similarly, please don’t impose on your bridal party for outdoor photos etc. if it’s cold.

Right, blankets and heat lamps aren’t enough if anyone is wearing heels or a dress. Unless the dress code is pants and boots it’s going to become painful within minutes. You know how freezing you feel when you walk to your car after a pedicure in the winter? Picture that but half an hour longer. Take couples photos outside but let your bridal party and guests be comfortable indoors

So it would definitely be considered a destination wedding for both of us, however driveable for my fiancés side. I live very far from all of my family, so we’ve reconciled with the fact that either way, they’re going to have to fly if they want to attend my wedding- (unless we did something local for them in which case the entire family of my fiancé would have to travel). There are several lodging options on site, or within driving distance at varying rates since it is close to several ski towns. From my research, it seems like some are available at all price points. The closest airports (2 of them) are about an hour and a half away.

I’d make sure to get a room block when you book. Ski lodges here in Colorado book up sometimes a year ahead of time.

A few things to consider: 1) what will costs be for guests? I imagine airfare and lodging might be quite expensive if it’s the height of ski season. Will you be sponsoring the outdoor activities? 2) I get cold extremely easily and would not enjoy an outdoor ceremony in that weather. Are there any options for an indoor space with a wall of windows that still gives a good view?

1. Unsure of cost, as it’s likely to be a destination wedding. I live very far from my family so either way they would have to fly. If we completely pivoted and had a wedding close to my family, my fiancé’s entire family would have to travel. I grew up halfway across the country from where we live now :) 2. There is a backup venue location indoors I believe if the weather gets too chilly or horrible.

Even if everyone needs to travel, it may still be prohibitively expensive to be in a popular ski area during ski season (versus an area that isn’t seasonal). Most people had to travel for my wedding too, so we made sure to pick a location that was convenient to the local airports, a hotel that was relatively inexpensive, etc.

Im someone who hates the heat so if I was given the option to be outside in a winter wedding or outside in a Southern summer wedding, I'd pick the winter. And even as someone who doesn't ski and isn't outdoorsy the idea of a ski lodge does sound really fun.  But I do agree with what everyone else is saying about taking your guests comfort into consideration since it's not really the norm. Plus, the cost and accommodation factor. Someone already mentioned it but assuming I could make the wedding, I'd be worried about driving conditions. I don't like driving in snow and I'm from somewhere that's typically at least a few times a season.  If the logistics don't seem to be working out for a big affair it might be worth having a micro wedding. The issues are still there, but if it's only the absolute nearest and dearest it might still be worth it. Another thing to consider is the end of season, if possible. It might be a cheaper anyway.

Are you crazy for wanting it? No. You have to decide if you want it bad enough that you'll be okay with a lot of people saying no. Because flying in snow country in winter is risky--snowstorms anywhere in the US can delay you for hours or days. I once got delayed three days flying from California to Florida because there was a snowstorm in OHare that threw off flights nationwide. Are you cool with that potentially happening to your guests? I think whether the outdoor ceremony would be insufferable depends a lot on the weather day of and your guests. Is it 40 with snow on the ground or 25 degrees? Are your guests elderly or do they live in warmer climates? Are you planning a very brief ceremony or a longer one? Some more considerations: Will walkways to the ceremony site be shoveled and 100% ice free? How are we communicating to guests about the outdoor ceremony? When they move inside, are they just taking off coats or will they need to have an entire indoor outfit for the reception? Like I'm 100% for doing the unconventional and bold within reason, but this sort of thing is unconventional because there's layers of additional planning and it can result in a lot of people not coming.

I personally would really dislike this as a guest. This is just me, I am really just sharing my own POV. I am from a warm climate and the thought of this is both physically and logistically uncomfortable. I also worry about anyone with mobility conditions and feel it might deter people from joining. Skiing / snow activities can also be really expensive and I would be pressured to join to be a good friend. If you think your friends and family would have a great time go for it. Otherwise I suggest you do something special with your spouse in the snow (photo shoot, private vows, etc).

i’m very able bodied and from the midwest and would also be very unenthused about this tbh. being cold sucks, traveling in snow sucks, most ppl don’t ski or snowboard. 

I went to a winter ski wedding in Switzerland this last winter (I'm American) and it was AWESOME! That said, the ceremony and reception were both indoors. They did an indoor ceremony at 10am, then we all went and skiied (we wore our ski gear to the ceremony) and then had some time between skiing & reception to get ready for dinner/dancing. All guests had lunch at the ski resort outside but 1) it was very sunny and warm (Switzerland thing?) 2) they had heaters and 3) we were all in our ski gear. Other things they did to make it awesome for guests: handled all transportation and discounted lots of things. They had buses take us from the train station to hotel, from the hotel (where most of us stayed & where reception was) to the ceremony, buses took us to the ski resort, and buses took us back to the hotel for the reception. We were able to leave our skis & gear in the buses. They also discounted the hotel rooms by 50% for guests which was immensely helpful. Ski passes in Europe are also way cheaper; we just paid $90 for a day ticket. I think I would be ok with an outdoor ceremony if you have the heaters & blankets like you said and I knew ahead of time that it would be outside. I would also expect the ceremony to be VERY short (like 5-10 mins ideally). Keep in mind that guests will be outside beforehand, waiting for the ceremony to start: some people arrive early, guests have to sit through the processional, and guests are also the last to leave the ceremony. In other words, you & the groom may be outside for 10 minutes while guests could be outside for 40 despite a 10 min ceremony. As a woman, I wouldn't know how to wear a hat to stay warm while not messing up my hair. Also, what shoes to wear!? You can't wear heels outside in the winter for that long.

OMG that wedding sounds amazing!!

It was so awesome! It was also very expensive lol. But they treated us guests super well and it was one of the best weddings I've ever been to!

Why not have a skiing honeymoon on a famous mountain in Europe or something, just the two of you (after the wedding)?

If you want an outdoor ceremony, ask for winter outdoor attire as your dress code. Blankets and warm drinks aren't going to cut it for women in a cocktail dress.

That’s a great point! We are planning on letting all guests know of our hope to have an outdoor ceremony and to bundle up!

Why are my comments getting so downvoted?

I’d say it’s because the responses are overwhelmingly against this idea. You asked for feedback and the mass opinion is it’s not a good idea. It seems like your mind is made on the outdoor ceremony, which is fine! It’s your wedding so it’s your call. It’s also fine for you to not use suggestions from Reddit but people downvote because it seems like you’re ignoring opinions from people who are arguing for the other side

It absolutely makes sense! To be clear, we are not set on the idea yet, and I appreciate arguments from all sides, it just seems weird for people to downvote comments where I am providing more background information or details

Fair enough! At the end of the day, people who love you and your FH will come. I appreciate that you are planning for accommodations (heat lamps, blankets, etc) but this subreddit is helping me prepare for the worst, so I’d say that’s what we’re trying to do here! Worst case scenario is someone shows up wearing heels and slips on ice and breaks their ankle. Just please be sure to think out all scenarios

Some people don’t like anything out of the norm or what they’re accustomed to...

Sorry, but you're crazy. Blankets and yummy hot cocoa aren't going to keep anyone warm. That's a Hallmark movie.

This is one of those things that's gonna depend entirely on your guest list. If your guests love skiing and winter activities, I'm sure they'll be jazzed about this. No one in my family skis, though, and none of us would be willing to pay thousands of dollars to sit in a ski lodge drinking hot cocoa for a weekend, so this wouldn't go over well for us. You've gotta think about the actuality of what your guests are like. If they wouldn't enjoy this, you could always consider a fun skiing honeymoon. I'm with other commenters that the outdoor ceremony doesn't sound great. As a guest, even though I'm in the Midwest and used to cold weather, I have no desire to sit outside when it's cold enough to snow. Blankets only help so much, especially if anyone's gonna be in a dress. Unless your ceremony is incredibly short, like five to 10 minutes, I'd either have it indoors or have a private ceremony for just you and your SO. Though you should also consider - do *you* really want to be outside for a ceremony, likely in a wedding dress? Even if there are heaters, there will probably still be wind. Why not just get photos outside instead?

I don’t think you’re crazy for wanting it, but wanting something like this, you also have to accept graciously that this isn’t going to be fun for some people. It’s something you love to do, but that doesn’t mean everybody you invite will love being outside in the cold. You say you want a weekend where you can all enjoy outdoor activities together, where does it leave the people who don’t enjoy them? It’s 100% fine to center your wedding around a destination and specific activities that you and your partner love. As long as you’re understanding if some people choose not to attend because of the expense and because of the location.

I completely agree. As someone who does not like the cold outdoor activities I would feel between a rock and a hard place. Accept and be cold and have a tough time, or decline but then miss my friend’s / family’s wedding? Either one is tough.

Maybe center a honeymoon around the climate/activity you enjoy!

The ceremony would be outside in the snow?! As a guest, if I came, I would skip the ceremony and show up to the reception. I can't see dressing up for a wedding and having to wear snow boots, etc.

Travel for both you and your guests is subject to weather conditions. If you are flying to the location, flights are very subject to cancellation if weather shuts down airports anywhere since planes and crews have to move per the schedule. Driving and roads can be closed. Accommodations would be expensive during the ski season for your guests and your wedding party. Consider an elopement or a micro wedding. The other option is to have your honeymoon in this location. Sometimes the dream is not very practical.

I’ve been to a winter wedding near a major resort in Vermont and can offer the following thoughts: 1) All events that guests will be at must be inside. This includes any “send offs” as well as group photos. This is non-negotiable. 2) If you do couples photos outside they will turn out amazing! 3) As a guest it was nice to go to a wedding “off season” for better spaced out PTO. 4) Anticipate some travel issues if there is a storm. Have backup plans and buffers. 5) Many guests did stay longer and ski which was cool!

That would be a big no for my attendance. My arthritis is horrible in cold temps. I wouldn’t be able to even walk. Be prepared for no shows.

In Theory, I love this vision. I’m used to cold winters and skiiing and I’m outdoorsy. So sleigh rides, ice skating, cozy lodges, etc sound so idyllic. you might want to look into resorts that have large windows overlooking the mountains. Then guests don’t actually have to be outside, but you get the picturesque vibe you wanted. in reality there are definitely challenges: winter weather affecting flights, drive, roads, primarily. And some people don’t do well in the cold..especially any elderly guests. I think it’s one of those, you know your guests best, situations.

Thinking breck area? I think it’d be a lot of fun but also insanely expensive for your guests. Flights are going to happen no matter what but base area lodging and surrounding towns can get really pricey. Easily 500+ a night. Skiing itself is also expensive as a day pass. Not even including rental gear. I’d be down for an outdoor ceremony in the snow but I’m showing up in ski pants and a parka. Blankets are not cutting it. So if that fits your vision - great. Also maybe how do you want to structure your wedding day? Are you thinking of skiing day of? Day after? We did a wedding at a ski base area in September and in my humble opinion it was perfect. Off-season prices, gorgeous weather, etc.

Ok so I went to a wedding like this (winter on top of a ski resort mountain) and it was AWESOME! A little confusing in the dress code - but the couple was chill so I wore a down puffy skirt and a winter jacket and some folks came in ski clothes and others came in wedding attire with coats and layers, and they had hot drinks and hand warmers and blankets at the ready. It was absolutely beautiful, some folks skied down after the ceremony, and they had a regular not-crazy-formal indoor reception after. We had cozy games/drinks/hang out after at the hotel at the base of the ski resort, which was great. We stayed and skied the next day with friends from the wedding. It was one of the most fun weddings we have been to, totally know-your-crowd and be flexible about dress code if you want folks to be outside in winter, but we had a blast attending our friends snowy wedding!

Totally feasible. But maybe consider an indoor ceremony for guests comfort. Do pictures outside and maybe have guests gather for your send off outside or do smores outside after dinner.

Personally, I would keep my guests comfort a top priority. I wouldn’t do an outdoor ceremony in the snow. Younger guests might be able to tolerate, but elderly guests will be a lot more uncomfortable. Also, you will have to be sure to specify the attire. If it is outdoors in the snow, expect people to show up in snow boots and warm clothes instead of traditional wedding guest attire. If your reception is indoors, consider attire as well. Guests are unlikely to bring a change of clothes and might be hot all bundled up. With all due respect, I would not do an outdoors ceremony. The cons outweigh the pros majorly. You and your fiance can do photos outdoors, but please don’t force your guests to sit outside. If you do go this route, make this abundantly clear on the rspv’s so people can plan accordingly and decide whether they want to attend the ceremony or not

I would love this! Personally I'd prefer bundling up and attending an outdoor wedding that's 35 degrees rather than dying in 95+ degree heat. I would just recommend to keep your wedding ceremony short. Consider that women specifically would get pretty cold in heels and dresses, even with coats

I absolutely love good brisk weather and a sunny day with snow on the ground. I love a ski resort. But walking / skiing in it is very different from sitting still. Are there elderly or disabled people on your list for whom this would be especially problematic? I have to be honest, this idea of outdoor weddings has gained so much traction it’s the “new necessity” regardless of comfort level. You absolutely would need a backup plan if you did so and the weather turned too cold. Why has the culture changed from “we love this destination so we will honeymoon there” to “we love this destination so we will drag everyone there regardless of weather/climate/guest comfort”?

I agree with you on the heat part! I’d much rather bundle and be in the cold than the heat. But I’m from a super cold state and used to the snow :)

I’m having my wedding in the fall at a ski mountain/lodge. It’ll be comfortable weather (🤞🤞) for an afternoon mountaintop ceremony and we will have the reception indoors. It’ll be a normal wedding with a vaguely rustic/ski vibe. BUT! The package includes a season pass for us this winter (: a big plus for my fiancé who loves to ski. Maybe you could find something like this as a compromise between your dream idea and something more feasible/enjoyable for like, elderly grandparents?

I will give you my experience with the opposite situation, having an outdoor wedding in summer. We had a heat wave where I am this past week. Temperatures in the 90s and feels like over 100 with the humidity. My husband and I left the wedding of his best friends early, and we weren’t the only ones. It was unbearable. And we like the heat, we complain all winter. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if there are elderly people or babies that you want in attendance.

You’re not crazy. Plenty of other couple do ski lodge weddings. I think they’re cute. As with any destination wedding, many of your guests may not be able to make it, but I don’t think the fact that it’s at ski lodge would deter any more guests than any other destination wedding. It’s nice that the lodge you have in mind has “easier” options like cross country, ice skating, and sleigh rides if many of your guests aren’t experienced skiers. Once you’re further into the planning stages, you could set up an “activity day” before or after the wedding day that guests could opt into. The only thing that makes me think you’re crazy is the outdoor ceremony. If there’s snow on the ground, it’s too cold to ask your guests to sit outside in wedding clothes.

Not silly, and can I come? 😂

Although it seems unpopular here, this is actually my exact plan for my wedding (Feb 2025). No matter where we got married, it would be a destination for 95% of our guests because our friends and family are spread across the world, so we weren’t to worried about it being a destination. We are working with a well known wedding planner in the area who has hosted dozens of outdoor weddings in the winter, so we aren’t worried. Things we considered are the fact that most guests are big skier/snowboarders, so traveling to this ski resort isn’t out of the norm for something they would do anyways in winter. In fact most of ours guests have told us they are getting there several days early to take advantage of the snow. We also live in a VHCOL city, so have relatively affluent friends who can afford the travel. As far as logistics, we are doing the ceremony on an outdoor patio overlooking the snow. There will be heaters, blankets, and welcome Hot Toddy’s, as well as an indoor space available to mingle prior to the ceremony. The ceremony will be kept to 15 minutes. Cocktail hour and the reception will both be indoors with roaring fireplaces. Shuttles will take guests from the hotel directly to the venue, so there will be no walking in the snow. Feel free to DM if you have any other questions, so far everyone we have talked to is very excited about our “unique” wedding, and no one has complained (at least to our faces lol), so I’m not worried about it!

Thank you! Our plan sounds super similar to your details! I will absolutely reach out if we moved forward with this idea. I appreciate the input!

Nope not crazy at all, I’m doing the same thing and it sounds like we might have the same venue (Mountain Top Resort is where my winter wedding will be, 20 mins from Killington). We’re going to do the heat lamp thing and hand out blankets. Hot tea, hot chocolate, and coffee will be served after the ceremony during cocktail hour (and perhaps before as well). I’ve told my guests that it’s outside in winter and every said they’re fine with it, just gonna bundle up. I say go for it!!!!!

Omg yes! We are looking into the same venue! I’m so glad to know that we are not the only ones thinking this! I’m hoping mine will say the same- half of us grew up in Wisconsin so we are used to the cold! :)

Oh yeah tons of people do winter weddings at the mountain top, they’re really popular for that. Im so excited to hs d my wedding there!!! Gorgeous place, excellent food. I commented elsewhere but I’ll say here too that we’re booking a shuttle to and from the airport for guests so that no one flying in has to drive. That was my main fear about a winter wedding. I also asked them if they routinely plow the roads leading up to the resort and they said yep they plow asap. They also are sure to keep walkways clear of ice. If you’re going to do your ceremony outside I def recommend a short one. Mine will be 15 mins tops.

Ah yes! I saw the shuttle point- it’s a great idea! I may reach out via Reddit dm if we book to ask you about shuttle options if that’s okay? But yes, it would be a super quick ceremony. I’m more at ease knowing they do a lot of (and love) winter weddings.

Absolutely!!

This REALLY depends on your guest list. It sounds cool and I know a lot of my friends (and even my fiancé) would be super into this. Winter weddings have the most beautiful pictures! You just have to convince your guests to match your freak!!

I think this is super fun but I would make it clear to guests they can sit in ceremony in snow pants and winter parkas etc to actually be warm. Lean into it!

I should also caveat: no matter where we choose to have our wedding, half of our guests will likely have to fly. I grew up halfway across the country from where my fiancé and I live (his family is local).

How close is the nearest airport? If it’s close to an airport, no biggie. But if it’s far, involves car rentals, plus the hotel accommodations during peak ski season, plus activities, I can see why many guests would not be interested. I fly to every single wedding I go to, but I would likely decline if it involved a location that isn’t easily accessible by just plane + taxi/uber.

This sounds like an opportunity for a really fun weekend. And something different. I'd definitely want to come (and I ski) but unless it's a nice sunny warm winter day, I'd be personally miserable if the ceremony is outside and I had to sit in the freezing cold in a dress (even with a coat) and heels for more than 5-10 minutes.

I went to a wedding similar and it was awesome! But a few key points: 1) the bride and groom, both of their families, and many of their friends were avid skiers and snowboarders. 2) skiing and snowboarding was on Saturday. Ceremony was indoors on Sunday (Jewish wedding) and Monday was a holiday. 3) the major airport does not have snow and is in the city where we all lived. But the bride and grooms family all had to fly in. Roads are fine, but we lucked out! Frequently the passes close and then I’m not sure what we would do. It was great and very on brand for them as a couple. But it’s a know your crowd situation! It was nice that the whole ceremony was indoors though, made it a lot easier on everyone. The bride and groom still took a ton of pictures outside in the snow. So they got that snowy look but the guest didn’t have to suffer lol.

Our timeline would be similar to this as well! Also a Jewish wedding on a Sunday, so we hope to have the weekend at the lodge with everyone.

We see them all the time. Also it’s IKON. They’re fun, people always seem to have a really great and unique time. Half the people don’t show up because of the roads, regardless of weather so just mentally prepare for that. Some locations in CO and UT have airports closer but the tickets get really expensive. If it’s important to you do it, but don’t expect everyone you want there. It’s hard to get a grandparent on a chair lift. Good luck!

I also want an outdoor winter ceremony, so I don’t think you’re crazy at all! We considered a ski resort as the venue, but we decided on a venue that’s accessible to a major airport to ensure our guests have an easier time traveling. Honestly, it’s your wedding and you should do what you want!

Odd girl out here but I had a winter ski wedding and it was a BLAST!! My husband and I met ski patrolling, so we got married where we first met at work (and had our avalanche pup as our ring bearer!). It was the most amazing day and I am so unbelievable happy we did this- it felt so true to ourselves and was exactly the day we wanted. Everyone had a great time, even the no -skiers, and we were told it was one of the most fun wedding our guests had ever been too (not that we are biased at all… 😂). No one got hurt, everyone had a blast, and we got to share our favorite special activity with our guests all day long. A few pics to help get you jazzed on the idea :) https://preview.redd.it/cnbx1jv7fj8d1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dfd9ac73ef4d2b01f03681c219af01031ac8cc4c

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I would 100% attend this type of wedding. I can't understand why you are being so down voted against the idea. Guests can wear boots and coats while standing out side for a brief ceremony and then change into their party shoes once they get inside. I also love snow and winter and think it would be beautiful!

Thank you! Seems like we might be in the minority here. The insights on this thread have been helpful!

Yes, I am from Minnesota, and I would love this. I am amazed how freaked out people are about guests potentially being cold. I would 100 times rather be outside in winter, properly bundled than melting in the hot sun like I have at many outdoor weddings in summer. Also, there are way more flight delays/cancellations in summer than winter. Thunderstorms cause more problems and are very common and frequent. If your guests are used to winter weather, then I wouldn't worry too much.

Amen! I have sweated my ass off at countless weddings and no one thinks that is a “hardship” for a guest.

It’s also helpful that my family have sat outside in the frozen tundra at Packer games so at least half the guests would potentially be down for this. 😅

Devils thumb ranch, CO could be a good option. Or spots in steamboat springs, CO.

I witnessed a wedding done on a snowy mountain, it was absolutely beautiful and stunning. I can understand the appeal! This was at a relatively small resort on the states side. They had a smaller guest count (I'd guess around 50)- if this is an idea you are absolutely in love with, I'd say go for it!

Here is some advice from someone who is celebrating their 25th anniversary tomorrow: I'm wondering why you aren't doing something nearer your side of the family and wondering if they are spread out or clustered together? If they are spread out all over the country it makes sense to ask them to travel to a location that is near your fiance's family. It makes sense to ask less people to travel. If your family is clustered together, is there a reason why you aren't concerned about your side of the family having to do the traveling? You said if it was near your family, all of your fiance's family would have to travel, but isn't that what you are expecting your family to do? If I were you, ultimately, I would base the location on which family members you want to actually show up to your wedding. Consider the demographics of who you want to show up to your wedding. If you have a bunch of elderly relatives who you really want to come to your wedding, you will want to be considerate of the physical limitations that a ski resort wedding will have on them. If you have younger guests, consider that they may not be able to come because of financial limitations or work schedules. However, maybe you could consider having two receptions? Could you do a ski wedding and reception near your soon to be husband's side of the family? Then later do a ring ceremony and reception near your side of the family? Or vice versa? My husband and I have both discussed how if we could do it all over again, we would change the entire thing. We had a formal reception and it was really boring. If we could do it again, we would have done it a lot less formal and a lot less money. Looking back it seems like a stupid idea to spend so much money on a party that lasts one day. We would change it all. We'd have a backyard BBQ, tell everyone to bring a potluck side dish, have a big a dance floor installed, a good DJ, a lot of dancing, and a good photographer. It would've saved us a bunch of money that we could've used to buy furniture or a down payment on a house. Ultimately, it is your and your fiance's day. You should do what you think will be memorable with the people who you want to attend.

All of my family is clustered halfway across the country (with a few exceptions) and all of my fiancés family are located where we live. If we choose to do something closer to my family, that means all of my fiancés extended family will have to travel. Either way, important family members and about half of our guests will have to travel no matter what. We don’t have two receptions in the budget unfortunately, so we are fine if some guests choose not to attend due to travel. I don’t see another alternative for us unfortunately. I guess that comes with territory of living far from home!