Spectacular Wedding Ideas for All Seasons in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Jan. 15 wedding show & vacation deal for brides and grooms

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (December 27, 2011) - In tandem with the holidays, the engagement season gets into full swing with brides and grooms soon looking for the ideal wedding location. Couples searching for a destination with spectacular natural beauty, unique venues and plenty of fun to entertain guests 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.  

Jan. 15 Wedding Show & Vacation Package
Gather great ideas at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Wedding Council's 10th Annual Wedding Show on Jan. 15 from 2 - 5 p.m.  Meet vendors, sample foods, enjoy music and check out the freebies at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square ballroom in Mt. Crested Butte.  For more details about this free event and wedding planning, go to www.gunnisoncrestedbutteweddings.com.  Combine the wedding show with a relaxing getaway and receive 25 percent discount off lodging at Elevation Hotel and Spa, Grand Lodge and Lodge at Mountaineer Square and 20 percent off lift tickets for brides and grooms in attendance.  For Example, an Apex king room with courtyard view at Elevation Hotel is $129, not including taxes and fees.  These deals are available from Jan. 10 - 20, 2012; call (888) 443-6715 and request the Wedding Show Package. 

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

Great Wedding Ideas for Every Season
"The Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley is a magical, memorable place for all who visit, no matter what time of year. 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 the bride, groom and guests alike.  "

Wildflowers Galore in Crested Butte
Crested Butte was designated the official "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature in 1990 and hosts the weeklong Crested Butte Wildflower Festival every July. There are many treasure troves of blossoms for ceremonies and outstanding photo opportunities.  The Mountain Garden in Mt. Crested Butte is managed by the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival and features spectacular vistas and a covered pavilion next door for an outdoor reception.

The Town Ranch in Crested Butte also is a fair-weather venue that is perfect for a romantic ceremony at the gazebo and a tented reception nearby with majestic Crested Butte Mountain towering in the background. 

Summer Ambiance in Gunnison
The Pioneer Museum's historic chapel is perfect for couples desiring a small wedding with a dash of history.  The chapel holds only 10 people, but the ceremony can be held outside the chapel with photos taken inside.  There are photo opportunities galore with a train, antique cars and more.

The Aspinall-Wilson Center at Western State College of Colorado not only has nice indoor space for receptions, there is an attractive lawn space that can be tented as well as a patio for cocktail hour.  Another outdoor space suitable for smaller groups is the Gunnison Arts Center's courtyard, a charming space for receptions. 
 
Ranches & Rivers
If the beauty of crystal-clear streams and rustic ranches fits a couple's style, there are plenty of options throughout Gunnison County, which is blessed with 85 percent public land.

The Crested Butte Land Trust offers Gunsight Bridge as a ceremony site, which is a favorite for couples looking for a picturesque river and bridge backdrop.  Three rivers join to form the Gunnison River in Almont, home to Three Rivers Resort, Almont Resort and Harmel's Ranch Resort.  Crystal Creek runs through the colorful town of Crested Butte, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.  The Gunnison River flows through Gunnison, which also is home to Colorado's largest body of water, Blue Mesa Lake.

Incorporate a carriage ride or horseback ride through Fantasy Ranch Outfitters and consider an outdoor barbecue for a Western feel.

Fantastic Fall Foliage
There is a reason why Gunnison County attracts legions of photographers in autumn.  September and the first week in October are prime times for aspen groves unveiling their gold, orange and red wardrobes.  Snow-dusted peaks and Indian summer weather add to the charm of the season, known locally as "September Splendor in the Rockies" due to the sheer number of activities and events.  "It also can be a good chance for couples who get engaged later to book vendors and venues that are already busy for the popular months of July and August," suggests White.

Riding the Red Lady chairlift from the ski area base to mid-mountain and walking to nearby Uley's Cabin for cocktails and a reception is "out of this world," says Gardner.

Snowy Wonderland
White on white is drop-dead gorgeous when a bride makes her debut in a snowy winter wonderland. Arrival by dogsled, a Fantasy Ranch sleigh, or chairlift is sure to impress, or ski or snowboard to Uley's Cabin located mid-mountain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for a reception. Churches, lodging properties and the many charming, locally-owned restaurants provide indoor venues year-round that are a perfect pairing with winter options.

For the holiday season, Gunnison beautifully decorates a gigantic Christmas tree in front of the Gunnison Arts Center on one end of Main Street. Great photo opportunities by the tree can be combined with a reception at the arts center or a rehearsal dinner and cocktail reception at the nearby Brick Cellar.

Any Time of Year - Charming Museum & Inns
Crested Butte Retreat's décor and configuration are ideal for a classy, all-in-one place wedding in Mt. Crested Butte. The great room and deck provide memorable locations for a ceremony, and a reception can fill the main rooms with plenty of room to mingle.  The bridal party can stay on-site in stylish guestrooms.
 
New to the scene is CS Irwin's Scarp Ridge Lodge in downtown Crested Butte. This high-end property also has attractive reception space along with lodging, and the company can arrange outdoor adventures for the bridal party and guests.  Also downtown is the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, which is perfect for a reception or rehearsal dinner for up to 50 sit-down or 90 buffet-style. The exhibits and charm of the museum make little décor necessary, and the location is perfect for guests to enjoy a night on the town.

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 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.

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Photo by Alison White. 

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

Contact:  

Beth Buehler    
Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association  
(970) 349-1168 or bethbuehler@qwestoffice.net
www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com