3 Southern Colorado Wedding Venues That Feel Like You’re Getting Married In Europe

There are plenty of reasons to pack your bags and get married somewhere in Europe. Whether it’s for the gardens, the old-world architecture, dinner outside as the sun goes down or the mountain views in the distance. Trust me, I know! But Colorado has a few places that give me that same feeling without requiring you to ever leave the state! 

And I’m not talking about wedding venues that have added a couple of European-inspired details and called it a day. I’m talking about places where the setting itself does a lot of the work. Italian-inspired gardens tucked away into Boulder, or a ceremony thousands of feet above Telluride with mountains in every direction, or a historic ranch that feels more like an Alpine retreat once you’re standing there looking out over the San Juans.

Sooo, if Europe is all over your wedding Pinterest board but you’re still considering a Colorado wedding, these are three wedding venues in Southern Colorado that I would have on your list.

3 Southern Colorado Wedding Venues That Feels Like a European Destination

1. Oceana’s Gardens

If you’re feeling drawn to a European wedding for the gardens, I highly recommend taking a peek at Oceana’s Gardens in Boulder, CO. This wedding venue is basically a pocket of Italy in Boulder. It doesn’t matter how many times I visit, I am always left speechless because of how beautiful the gardens, statues, and just how many portrait locations there are throughout the property. 

I photographed Jen and Ryan’s wedding at Oceana’s Gardens and knew it was going to be beautiful going in, but I don’t think I realized just how much there was to photograph until I was actually walking around the property.

And if you’re someone who cares a lot about your photographs, that’s one of my favorite things about this venue. We can wander without wandering far… Meaning, your portraits can have variety without disappearing from your wedding for an hour.

And then there are the horses!!!

Oceana’s Gardens has the option to incorporate these giant, gorgeous horses into your photos, which is such a cool addition if you want something a little unexpected in your gallery or were classically known as a “horse girl” in your social circle.

For couples who have been looking at villas and garden weddings in Italy but ultimately want to celebrate in Colorado, this is probably the closest match of the three.

2. San Sophia Overlook 

San Sophia Overlook is one of my favorite wedding venues in Colorado that make you feel like you have landed in the Alps. One of my favorite features about this wedding venue is the Gondola ride up to the venue because suddenly you step off and your wedding venue is the entire mountain range in the distance. 

Having photographed weddings at this venue, I can attest to the belief that you don’t really have to “add” anything to this venue to make it beautiful—because I mean, hello?!? That view does the talking! 

If you’re drawn toward places like Switzerland, the Dolomites or the French Alps, I think Telluride scratches some of that same itch. It’s dramatic and elevated and feels like you’ve brought everybody somewhere for an unforgettable experience. 

Not to mention, Telluride is one of the best towns in Southern Colorado for a wedding weekend celebration not only for you, but also for your guests! You can celebrate the day before walking around downtown and checking out the shops, get married, and then wrap up with an adventure on the slopes. 

3. Gorrono Ranch 

Gorrono Ranch is another favorite in the Telluride area because it feels like a cozy mountain lodge tucked away into the mountains. There’s rustic wood, big mountain views and all of the character you would expect from a historic Telluride ranch. But when I think about why couples fall in love with mountain weddings in Switzerland, Austria or the Italian Alps, a lot of it comes back to the same things that make Gorrono so much fun: you’re up in the mountains, surrounded by your favorite people, and it truly feels like a communal escape from the everyday world. 

You can be outside soaking up the views one minute and inside by wood, stone and fireplaces the next.

There are multiple outdoor decks looking toward Mt. Wilson, plus indoor spaces for dinner and dancing, which means the venue can carry much more of your wedding day than a ceremony-only location.

That’s also why I like Gorrono for couples planning a full destination-style weekend in Telluride.

Soooo… Colorado or Europe?!?

I’m probably the wrong person to talk you out of getting married in Europe. I absolutely loooove photographing destination weddings, and if you’ve been dreaming about Italy forever, I fully support making the trip and eating the pasta and renting the Vespa and doing the whole damn thing.

But sometimes what you’re actually craving isn’t necessarily Italy, it’s the feeling.

Maybe you want your wedding to take everyone somewhere, or you want unbelievable scenery featuring a beautiful dinner outside, photographs that don’t look like everybody else’s and a day that feels completely removed from normal life—and Colorado can absolutely give you that! 

Tell me more about your Southern Colorado Wedding plans here! I want to hear all about it!

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