Destination Weddings in Gunnison-Crested Butte Make Great Vacations, Too

Experience the "Disney Alternative"- Wedding Show on Jan. 16

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (November 30, 2010) - Couples looking for an alternative to a fantasy wedding that offers a real and natural experience should look no further than the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley in southwest Colorado.

"Destination weddings in places like Gunnison and Crested Butte offer brides and grooms the chance to have the celebration they've always dreamed of amidst the magnificent beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains," says Rachael Gardner, owner of Crested Butte Events, a company that plans weddings, meetings and events. 

Local planners can put all of the details together for couples, and with today's technology make sure everything is planned to their specifications. "That's so important when working with our brides and grooms," says Jane Chaney, executive director of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association.  "And, if affordability is important, you'll find Gunnison-Crested Butte to be a great choice as well. Our wedding experts create a plan tailored to each couple, identifying just the right price points for things such as lodging, music, flowers, location, food and beverage."

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Wedding Council, http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutteweddings.com/, and Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association, http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/ offer these tips for planning an outstanding and affordable destination wedding.

Look for destinations with natural outdoor beauty.

This bodes well for photos and outdoor ceremonies and receptions.  Crested Butte was designated the official "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature in 1990 and  placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and Gunnison County is 85 percent public land, making the mountain and river backdrops truly pristine.  The Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley also is known for its stunning autumn foliage and winter backdrops.

Outdoor venues can cost less or come with the entire package. 

For example, the Mountain Garden in Mt. Crested Butte is managed by the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, http://www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com/, or you can get married at Lazy F Bar Ranch near Crested Butte overlooking the East River or Phelps Ranch in Gunnison with acres of rolling wheat fields.

Or consider saying your vows by a river, in a meadow or at the ski area or a local church. The choices are nearly endless.

Create one-of-a-kind memories

"We have world-class, natural beauty that is accessible.  The views are breathtaking no matter where you look, even if you get married right in the towns of Crested Butte or Gunnison," says Alison White, owner of Alison White Photography.  "There are all kinds of unique opportunities to incorporate into your wedding, whether a carriage ride, tandem bicycle, horse-drawn sleigh dinner or dogsled escort to the ceremony site that make a wedding here memorable for bride and groom and guests alike.  The Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley is a magical, memorable place for all who visit, no matter what time of year."

Attend a wedding show to meet local professionals all in one place.

Gather great ideas at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Wedding Council's 9^th annual Wedding Show on Jan. 16 from 2 - 5 p.m. at The Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Mt. Crested Butte.  Meet all types of vendors, sample foods, enjoy music and check out the freebies.  For more information, go to http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutteweddings.com/.  Crested Butte Mountain Resort is offering a rate of $129 for one night's lodging at the slopeside Elevation Hotel and Spa for those attending the show over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday weekend.  CBMR also is offering 20 percent off lift tickets when purchasing this lodging deal.  Call Crested Butte Vacations at (800) 810-7669 for reservations.

For another resource, go to http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/ to download the Wedding Guide. 

Consider a winter wonderland elopement package for a stress-free wedding.

Take the anxiety out of planning your wedding with a winter wonderland elopement package that includes a wedding coordinator to assist in organizing details in advance and on the day of elopement, an officiant licensed in the state of Colorado, bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere in your choice of seasonal flowers, a photography package featuring your choice of participating photographers, two-day lift tickets for two adults at Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area, and two nights of lodging in Crested Butte at either The Ruby of Crested Butte, Elizabeth Anne Bed & Breakfast, Inn at Crested Butte or Old Town Inn. 

Prices range from $1,655 to $2,100 based on lodging and dates selected.  Sparkling wine and chocolates or chocolate-covered strawberries also are included by some lodging partners.  This package is subject to tax and availability and is valid through the end of the 2010 - 2011 ski season, which concludes on April 3, 2011. 

Examples of upgrades available for an additional cost include a couples' massage, concierge service for activities and meals, round-trip shuttle service to Crested Butte from the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) and an elopement wedding cake.  Contact Crested Butte Events at (970) 596-6844 for more information about this package.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages

To find out more about Gunnison County, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association's toll-free line, (800) 814-8893, or visit http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/.  Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta. 

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines and during the winter season by American Airlines and Continental Airlines.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options - from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels. 

Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, which offers bachelor's and master's degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities. 

Recognized as the "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area's conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.  Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

Photo by Alison White

For a Word file of this press release, click on the link below. 

Contact:                        Beth Buehler                                        

                                    Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association               

                                    (970) 349-1168 or bethbuehler@qwestoffice.net

                                    http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/

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