Colorado Elopement and Wedding Location Guide: Buena Vista
I’m SO excited for today’s article as we get to look at one of my FAVORITE towns in all of Colorado, Buena Vista!! Buena Vista is special to me for so many reasons, both personal and professional. I have so many wonderful memories here, and Buena Vista consistently ranks as one of my favorite places in Colorado for elopements and weddings alike. With the fantastic options for these celebrations, the epic mountain views, and the unmatched amount of opportunities for recreation, I thought it was time to take a deep dive into Buena Vista and share what makes this place so special!!
Why I Love Buena Vista, Colorado
While I do love Buena Vista as a location for weddings and elopements, my personal connection to this part of Colorado plays a huge role in why I adore this area as much as I do! My family and I have a tradition where every summer we’ll camp at the beautiful Cottonwood Pass campsite, which sits just around 30 minutes outside of Buena Vista. While camping here we’ll adventure through the countryside, taking in as much of the gorgeous landscape as we can, but we’ll also spend a fair bit of time in Buena Vista as well! We’ll go paddle boarding, check out some of the many wonderful restaurants in town, and even catch a movie at the drive-in movie theater!! There’s simply SO much to see and do here, that it makes it one of my go to recommendations for anyone looking for an authentic getaway in Colorado!
Amazing Elopement Experiences
Buena Vista offers an array of wonderful experiences for couples looking to elope in Colorado, whether they’re after an all out adventure, something a bit more relaxed, or anything in-between! The town of Buena Vista is endlessly charming, and has plenty of beautiful mountain views and natural settings to enjoy for a more relaxed elopement. For anyone looking to get out and explore the Colorado landscapes, the town acts as a wonderful base camp for your adventures! There are plenty of places to stay in and around Buena Vista, and there are endless elopement locations to travel to like Twin Lakes or Cottonwood Pass.
You can also take your adventure to the next level by booking a rental through my friends at RMAR! With their UTV, Jeep, or snowmobile rentals you’ll be able to experience some of THE best views that Colorado has to offer, all without any hiking or needing to worry about any crowds being present! It’s arguably one of the best and most exciting elopement experiences you can have here in Colorado, and something I strongly encourage looking into if you’re craving some adventure!!
Stellar Wedding Venues
Buena Vista isn’t just for couples looking to elope though, as it’s one of THE best locations in Colorado for couples looking for a more traditional wedding as well! Buena Vista and the surrounding area is home to an array of incredible wedding venues, each with their own unique setting, style, and offerings. Some of my favorites include:
The Barn at Sunset Ranch
I’ve actually written a full venue feature about this venue which you should definitely check out! It’s a phenomenal space that has the most incredible rustic and romantic vibes, all tied together by the beautiful mountainous landscape surrounding it. With tons of modern amenities, and space for up to 160 guests, The Barn at Sunset Ranch is a favorite wedding venue of mine for good reason!!
Mount Princeton Hot Springs
A great option just outside of Buena Vista for couples looking to maximize their celebration and minimize their stress! Mount Princeton Hot Springs is a resort that can also host weddings of various sizes. The resort offers multiple indoor and outdoor options to choose from for your ceremony and reception space, and when you book a wedding here you also become a guest of the resort! This makes planning where to stay, what to do, and even the wedding itself so simple as the resort is there to help you every step of the way!
Surf Hotel
In the heart of downtown Buena Vista, along the Arkansas River, is the endlessly wonderful Surf Hotel! This luxurious and stylish hotel is capable of hosting the most intimate weddings as well as huge celebrations of up to 250 guests. No matter the size of the celebration, the Surf Hotel’s stellar setting and attention to detail make it a must consider for any couple planning their wedding in the area!!
Everett Ranch Weddings
The next venue I want to highlight is Everett Ranch, which is a dream come true for couples looking to celebrate their wedding with the breathtaking Collegiate Peaks as their backdrop! The Everett Ranch offers an array of wedding packages to ensure that every couple is able to choose the option that fits their wedding best. With wide open outdoor spaces to enjoy, and an indoor barn that can host up to 200 guests, Everett Ranch is a wonderful option for Colorado weddings both big and small!!
Deer Valley Ranch Hot Springs
The final venue on my list is Deer Valley Ranch Hot Springs! This ranch offers plenty of cabins and lodges to choose from for your stay, tons of activities to take part in, multiple indoor and outdoor locations for your ceremony and reception, and a magical setting to say your I Do’s in!! Deer Valley Ranch has it all, and it’s just a short drive outside of Buena Vista!!
Great Places to Stay
Buena Vista sits at just around 3 hours from the Denver International Airport, so you and the guests of your elopement or wedding are going to want to stay in or around town. Thankfully there are a TON of options here! Charming Airbnbs and VRBOs are a dime a dozen, the campsites here are incredible, and then places like the Surf Hotel or the resorts we looked at earlier all make for great lodging options! From private retreats to exciting resorts, Buena Vista has something for everyone!!
Tons of Outdoor Activities
A wedding or elopement is more than just a single day celebration, it’s a whole adventure that takes place before and after the big day!! Thankfully, Buena Vista is home to pretty much every recreational activity you could possibly imagine! Here’s a quick taste of just SOME of the outdoor activities available here to scratch that adventurous itch!
Hiking
Biking
Camping
Snowmobiling
Horseback Riding
Paddling
4x4 and Jeeping
And World Class Rafting
And that’s just a few! Don’t worry if you’re looking to keep things on a more relaxing note though, as there’s still a TON more to do in Buena Vista!
Even More Recreational Activities
We looked at a few wonderful wedding venues earlier that are built around the hot springs of the area, and that’s one of the biggest perks of Buena Vista and its surroundings! In addition to the ones above there’s also Cottonwood Hot Springs, Charlotte Hot Springs and Botanical Gardens, and Merrifield Homestead Cabins and Hot Springs. Hot Springs are the pinnacle of relaxation, but there’s still more to enjoy in and around Buena Vista!
Some of my favorite restaurants in Colorado happen to be in Buena Vista, like Crave BV (get the lasagna!) Simple Eatery is another favorite of mine, and for anyone looking for a good craft beer be sure to check out the Eddyline Brewery. Jan's is my go to place for breakfast in Buena Vista, and for those of you that need a bit of a caffeine pick me up check out Brown Dog Coffee Company!
The Whole Package Deal
You really can’t go wrong when choosing Buena Vista as the location for your wedding or elopement here in Colorado! The opportunities for adventure are endless, the views are immensely beautiful, and there’s no shortage of locations to choose from to celebrate your dream wedding day!! If you’d like to have me document your wedding or elopement in Buena Vista, and you want a little help planning out all the details of your day, be sure to send me an inquiry today!
