As a Colorado wedding and elopement photographer I’ve had the pleasure of documenting SO many amazing celebrations between my couples and their closest friends and family. It makes me so happy to know that couples want to celebrate their love in this beautiful state I’m lucky enough to call home! Many of my couples travel from out of state for their wedding day, as do their guests, so more often than not they choose to make a bit of a vacation out of it which I am ALL for. As someone who grew up in Denver, and currently lives in the suburbs, I have some fun ideas to keep you and your guests busy during your time here! Here are 10 fun things for you and your guests to do during your stay here in Denver, Colorado!!

10 Things for You and Your Wedding Guests to Do in Denver, Colorado

1. Check Out the Local Breweries

Denver is home to SO many fantastic breweries that are great for anyone that loves a good craft beer! My personal favorites include FlyteCo which sits in an old air traffic control tower, Denver Beer Co who have 5 great taprooms to choose from, and Littleton Brewing Company who only recently opened their doors. Whether you plan on hopping from brewery to brewery, or you want to just enjoy some more time with your loved ones in a fun and inviting space, the breweries of Denver have you covered!!

2. Enjoy a Rockies Game

Something I always recommend checking out to my couples and their wedding guests while in Denver is to see a Colorado Rockies game! Are we particularly good at baseball? Not really, but the vibes at Coors Field are unmatched!! Nothing quite beats the open air stadium on a beautiful summer day, and the food here is phenomenal. Even if you aren’t huge fans of baseball I can assure you you’ll have a good time here, just make sure you get a Tornadough from the concessions stand (and thank me later!!)

3. Visit Union Station

Only a few blocks from Coors Field is the beautiful Union Station of Denver! This historic train station was renovated in 2014 and reopened with a TON of new offerings for you and your guests to enjoy. Bars, restaurants, dessert and ice cream shops, coffee shops, a bookstore, and even a classy and historic hotel on the 2nd level. Union Station is a wonderful stop to have on your list, and the neighborhood surrounding it also features some wonderful shops, restaurants, and local businesses to enjoy!!

4. Explore the Museums

Another fun option for those looking for something to do while in Denver, Colorado is visit one (or more) of our fantastic museums! There are SO many great museums that call Denver their home. The Denver Art Museum is one of my favorites as is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, both of which have been staples of the city for a LONG time now! We also have newer museums like the Museum of Illusions and Meow Wolf, which are both TON of fun and add a unique activity for you and your loved ones to enjoy!!

5. Get Outside of Downtown Denver

The heart of Downtown Denver often gets a lot of the attention, and for good reason as there’s a ton to see and do there. It’s worth noting though that these phenomenal experiences are just as plentiful outside the city center as well! For starters, Old Town Littleton is absolutely adorable. It has tons of cute shops, great eateries like Palenque Cocina and Pho Real, and SO much more.

There’s also 32nd Avenue which has that “main street” feel to it without actually being in the heart of Denver’s hustle and bustle. 32nd street is also home to my favorite local bookstore, Westside Books, my favorite local ice cream shop, Sweet Cow, and the amazing Blue Pan Pizza. Then we have South Pearl Street, which is another cute part of town. There’s another Sweet Cow location here, an incredible farmers market, and Stella's which is one of my go-to coffee shops in Denver!! There are plenty more neighborhoods of the city to enjoy as well, the main point being don't just limit yourselves to the heart of Denver's downtown during your stay here!

6. Head Out on a Hike

Even though there’s a ton to see and do in Denver, there’s still plenty more of Colorado out there to enjoy! While it may look like the mountains are super close in pictures, they’re actually a bit of a drive away. If you’re up for some adventure though, planning a day trip and hiking some of the nearby trails is always a wonderful time!! Some of my favorites that don’t require too much driving include Mt. Falcon, Waterton Canyon, and Chautauqua Park in Boulder.

7. Go Paddle Boarding

It’s no secret that Colorado has a lot of options when it comes to outdoor activities, and Denver is no exception here! I love a good paddle, and one of my favorite things to do in Denver is get on the water at Chatfield State Park and Bear Creek Lake Park. Both of these spots are awesome as not only are they gorgeous to paddle on, but they offer rentals for anyone that doesn’t have their own gear (or doesn’t want to bring it to Colorado for the wedding weekend!!)

8. Experience Wildlife Within the City Limits

Want to experience the wildlife of Colorado without leaving the city bounds of Denver? You can!! The Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a wildlife refuge just outside of Denver’s downtown. My husband and I go there ALL the time to go birding, and there’s a resident herd of bison that wander throughout the refuge. There are over 20 miles of easy hiking trails to adventure on and enjoy in the refuge, making this a fun and easy to access activity in Denver!

Hot Takes from a Local:

9. Snag Some Delicious Breakfast

One of the most popular locations in Denver for brunch is a place called Snooze, and it is totally overrated IMO. The wait is always SUPER long, and the food isn’t even good enough to justify that wait. Instead I recommend Toast in Littleton, or The Original Pancake House. They are both significantly better, and have nowhere near the long wait times that Snooze does! Take it from a local, and snooze on Snooze!!

10. Enjoy a Scoop of Ice Cream

Another hot take here, though maybe a little less so. Little Man Ice Cream has been the go-to ice cream shop in Denver for a while, and I can’t deny that it is delicious. The issue comes with its main location as the wait here is again WAY too long, especially in the summer!! Like I mentioned earlier, other places like Sweet Cow are just as wonderful, or you can go to a different Little M an Ice Cream location if you want that experience as there are multiple in the city. While the main location makes for a super cute photo op, it just isn’t worth it! There’s so much more to see, do, and experience in Denver, Colorado, who wants to spend that time standing in line instead?!

Those are 10 things for you and your wedding guests to do while in Denver straight from a Colorado local! For more things to do while here in Denver check out my 5 favorite restaurants in the city, and if you’d like to book me to document your wedding day be sure to send me an inquiry today. I’d love to help plan your day and recommend even more fun things to do during your stay!!