Affordable…budget…cheap…inexpensive…call them what you want, but many brides and grooms are looking to stay within a strict budget for their wedding, and saving money on their venue is a great way to start. Many of the venues and ceremony sites listed below are under $1,000, and some are even free! Colorado brides and grooms don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to exchange their wedding vows in a spectacular location with million dollar views. With careful planning, a DIY attitude and plenty of visits to Pinterest, you can save money and host an elegant and memorable wedding. Read our budget wedding tips and then check out the list of budget and affordable wedding venues below.
Tips for planning your budget Colorado wedding.
When looking for an inexpensive, or budget wedding venue, make sure that there are no hidden fees or requirements. Wedding venues often have a “preferred vendor list,” so using your own caterer (or other service provider) may be more expensive or not allowed at all. Sundays tend to be less expensive too. So if you’re flexible on days of the week, stay away from Friday and Saturday wedding ceremonies and that will help you stay within your budget.
With the proper planning, you’ll be able to host an affordable wedding ceremony and reception that is both elegant and memorable.
Below are some of our favorite Colorado budget wedding venues & Ceremony Sites.
Garden of the Gods – Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
https://parks.coloradosprings.gov
(Up to 50 Guests) The towering red rock formations of the Garden of the Gods Park are a spectacular backdrop for your Colorado wedding, and the area is free! Weddings at the Garden of the Gods are allowed provided they are small, brief ceremonies, and no receptions are allowed in the park unless you are having a picnic at the Scotsman or South Spring Canyon Picnic areas.
Wheatridge Recreation Center Ballroom
4005 Kipling St.
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Wheatridge Recreation Center
The Wheatridge Recreation Center Ballroom is suitable for all types of events from small, intimate gatherings to large groups up to 250 guests. Enjoy the flexibility to choose the right amount of space, time and extras needed for your event. In addition to the Ballroom, there are two small activity rooms across the hallway available to rent.
Three Trees Chapel
13416 W. Arbor Place
Littleton, CO 80127
During your ceremony at the Three Trees Chapel, you’ll enjoy abundant views of nearby Denver and the valley of the Front Range. The staff will do everything possible to offer an atmosphere that is both cozy and romantic, giving you your dream wedding on a budget. Check out their wedding calculator to see how much you can save at Three Trees Chapel. Elopement Packages for up to 20 people starting at just $350.
YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park Center
2515 Tunnel Road
Estes Park, CO 80511
Book this one early, as it fills quickly! With three customizable wedding packages, you’re sure to find a perfect option for your wedding ceremony and reception. The Estes Park Center can accommodate from 50 – 400 guests and has several choices for either indoor or outdoor weddings.
blanc
3150 Walnut Street
Denver, CO 80205
https://blancdenver.com
Looking for an eclectic, reasonably-priced wedding venue in the heart of Denver? Check out blanc. Inside, you’ll find a large gallery, an innovative conference room, exposed brick walls, ceiling mechanics, and an abundance of natural light. The urban-chic space is as flexible as it is comfortable with modern amenities and clever design touches throughout.
Fort Collins Lincoln Center
417 West Magnolia,
Fort Collins, CO 80521
(970) 221-6733
http://www.lctix.com/weddings
With six unique venues, Fort Collins Lincoln Center offers a variety of options to accommodate your wedding day needs. The Art Gallery and Founder’s Room are intimate and elegant, ideal for small receptions or a unique cocktail hour. The Terrace and Rooftop Deck offer open-air outdoor settings, great for garden weddings and lively receptions. Canyon West, their Grand ballroom, and the Columbine Room are perfect for larger elegant events. All spaces are available for wedding ceremonies and receptions; you can even rent multiple rooms for a truly personalized event. Whatever your event, they have the space for you.
Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
2939 N County Rd 31D
Loveland CO 80538
http://www.sylvandale.com/
(Up to 140 Guests) Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch is a great option when planning an affordable wedding in Colorado. Located just west of Loveland along the Big Thompson River, they’re convenient and accessible year ’round. The staff at Sylvan Dale can orchestrate your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception while providing comfortable accommodations for everyone. Site fees start at just $1,900 (Nov – April) with catering from $43pp. And, as a working Dude Ranch, there are plenty of activities for your guests.
Chief Hosa Lodge
27661 Genesee Ln.
Golden, CO 80401
(From 80 – 125 Guests) How about hosting your wedding at a historic Denver landmark? The Chief Hosa Lodge opened in 1918 and is only 30 minutes from Denver. An ideal venue for a rustic Colorado wedding, you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of the Continental Divide and the Colorado mountains.
Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, CO
6252 West 104th Ave.
Westminster, CO 80020
720-974-1879
http://www.butterflies.org
From a lush rainforest with 1,600 free flying exotic butterflies and an amphitheater next to a trickling creek, to a spacious ballroom and open patio overlooking a soft palette of colorful annuals, there are many beautiful and unique locations for your ceremony, reception, or civil union. Butterfly Pavilion accommodates engagement pictures, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and day after brunches… and is a great place to entertain out of town guests!
Creekside Event Center
5515 Palmer Park Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO
(60 – 150+ guests) Their basic wedding package (starting at just $3,900) gives you the space and access to their beautiful farmhouse tables, cross-back chairs, oak ceremony chairs, cocktail tables, and wine barrels for a beautiful, elegant foundation for your wedding day. You can use Creekside as a blank canvas to ensure every detail of your wedding day is special for you. With six indoor and outdoor locations to choose from, you’re sure to find a venue as unique as you.
Silverthorne Pavilion, Silverthorne, CO
400 Blue River Parkway
Silverthorne, CO 80498
(Up to 450 Guests) Owned and operated by the Town of Silverthorne, the Pavilion opened its doors in 2001 as an affordable, stylish venue to serve the local community and visitors. The Pavilion sits at the edge of the famed Blue River in the heart of the Town Center and boasts nearly 12,000 square feet of space. Learn more about the Silverthorne Pavilion. Cost of renting out the entire pavilion runs between $500 – $3100, depending on day of the week and time of year. Summit County residents are eligible for a discount, and the site fees includes use of all Pavilion grounds and indoor furniture, set up and take down time before and after your event, set up of indoor tables and chairs, and an attendant on hand to help oversee your event.
Missouri Heights Schoolhouse in Carbondale, CO
(Maximum 100 Guests ) With spectacular views of Mt. Sopris, and a 1/2 day (four hour) rental at only $200, the Missouri Heights Schoolhouse may be the best budget Colorado wedding venue we’ve found yet! You can rent it for 3 days straight for only $450! The schoolhouse is the only remaining historic building on the mesa that is available for public use. And, there is a chalk board and a three person swing set. Learn more about the Missouri Heights Schoolhouse.
Rocky Mountain National Park
What better place to tie the knot than in one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country. Rocky Mountain National Park has over a dozen spectacular locations for you and your partner to hold your wedding ceremony — and the permits are only $150! There are restrictions, and the use of these areas are not exclusive…but, the views are incredible. Guests can stay in Grand Lake, camp at RMNP or lodge in Estes Park.
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk
111 Richman St,
Black Hawk, CO 80422
(Wedding packages start at just $75 per guest). Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk offers an idyllic Colorado wedding location as one of the most luxurious resorts in Colorado. In addition to their superb mountain location – which presents a wide array of photographic backdrops – you’ll have your choice of wedding sites throughout the resort, featuring everything from grand to intimate.
The Loft
2506 W. Colorado Ave. #C
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719.445.9278
http://www.loftmusicvenue.com
One of the things our couples love most about The Loft is that they are an open venue. That means you may bring your own caterer and alcohol or even your own food! You may choose your own vendors and will never be forced to use the people that they recommend. (although they are awesome!) Freedom of choice…that’s what The Loft is all about.
City Park Pavilion
1700 N. York St.
Denver, CO 80202
City Park Pavilion
(Up to 350 guests) The City Park Pavilion is on the US National Register of Historic Places and Colorado State Register of Historic properties, and is available for weddings from mid-April to mid-October. The fee is just $350 to $600 per event, plus a security deposit.
Other ideas for Colorado Weddings on a Budget
- Be sure to check out all of the upcoming bridal shows and wedding events in the Denver area. Brides and grooms can learn about venues, caterers and specials that can save you money.
- Brides — Another way to save money is to buy a used or closeout wedding gown. There are plenty of high-end boutiques selling lightly used, designer wedding dresses at a fraction of the cost of new. View all consignment wedding dress shops here.
- Save on your wedding officiant. If you’re not getting married in a religious ceremony, you can save money by having a close friend or relative perform the wedding ceremony. It’s easy and free to get ordained at the Church of Universal Life. You can even go to confession online! So, you know…there’s that too.
The natural beauty of Colorado makes almost any location a perfect venue for your wedding ceremony. Go on a hike and exchange your vows overlooking the Continental Divide, or mountain bike up Peaks Trail out of Breckenridge or Frisco and get married with Mount Guyot in the background. The opportunities, like the natural beauty of the Colorado Mountains, are endless.
Mountain Celebrations made planning our wedding on a budget easy! We found inexpensive venues and all the services we needed. I couldn’t have planned our wedding without mountaincelebrations.com! – Melissa C, Littleton, CO