6 Sustainable Wedding Venues in Colorado
It’s no surprise that with the increase in climate change and global population, change needs to be made in order to preserve our planet. As a sustainability aware wedding photographer, I strongly advocate for the protection of our natural resources and lands and ALWAYS support my couples in finding wedding vendors that align with sustainability efforts when applicable. Lucky for us here in Colorado, we’ve got a lot of vendors who pride themselves on pushing sustainable weddings. So today I’m going to share 5 of my favorite sustainable wedding venues in Colorado to help with your planning!
What Makes a Wedding Venue Sustainable?
Being a sustainable wedding venue can take on a lot of different shapes. But in general, some key attributes will be:
Leave no trace (or as little trace as possible)
Conscious about waste
Reusable or recycling focussed
Outdoor preservation and native plant inclusion
Below you’ll find a list of venues that primarily focus on a couple of these points, so determining what matters most to you will be important in choosing your perfect fit!
Headwaters Center, Winter Park, CO
About 90 minutes west of Denver is Headwaters Center in Winter Park, CO. Sitting on the Fraser River, they are a non-profit venue used for weddings, events, and water education with beautiful scenic Rocky Mountain views.
Sustainability Features
Designed with reclaimed materials
Utilizing renewable energy from the sun. Power is stored in and used from batteries onsite.
Uses as much clean energy as possible.
Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
Located in Lyons, CO along the St. Vrain River and 60 minutes north of Denver is Planet Bluegrass. Both a concert and wedding venue, this location offers indoor and outdoor options and rustic, picturesque backdrops for a beautiful wedding day.
Sustainability Features:
AGF Certified: An assessment that analyzes sustainability in terms of transport, energy and power, waste, water usage, local environment, CO2 and food and beverages.
Uses reusable cups and dishes and offers a reusable dish program
Partnered with the Town of Telluride, San Miguel County and the Telluride Foundation and planted a 2,000 tree demonstration forest that at maturity will remove 48 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Pikes Peak Ranch, Woodland Park, CO
A luxurious mountain property in Woodland Park, Pikes Peak Ranch is a little under 2 hours south of Denver. Utilizing the 160 acres it sits on, you can have a full wedding weekend complete with overnight cabins and beautiful indoor and outdoor event spaces.
Sustainability Efforts:
After a wildfire on the property in 2002 that took out two cabins, the previous owner, Garie Bieske, spent years rebuilding and reforesting. He planted thousands of trees to preserve the natural land and the current owners continue in his preservation efforts.
Mountain Crust, Denver, CO
Combining the feel of a backyard party with wonderful mountain views, Mountain Crust is known for its wood-fired pizza and located in Denver. It houses both an indoor and outdoor space and provides a fun vibe with its rooftop bar and full in-house team to bring your day together!
Sustainability Efforts
Reusable plates and silverware
Compost all leftover food
Recycle as much as possible
Power their HQ with solar
Venetucci Farm, Colorado Springs, CO
Venetucci Farm in Colorado Springs brings rustic vibes surrounded by mountains and flowers. Just under 90 minutes south of Denver, this venue faces Cheyenne Mountain and Pike’s Peak. With indoor, outdoor, and getting ready spaces, this spot is great for a full wedding day.
Sustainability Efforts
Uses sustainable farming with no pesticides or herbicides
The 200 acre farm is in a conservation easement. This means there is no commercial development. The natural landscape is kept intact for flowers and fauna.
Native plant landscaping allows for less water needs in Colorado’s dry climate
Partners with Dream Catcher Weddings is a sustainable wedding planning company, giving you peace of mind in your vendor selections, rentals, and compostable products
Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver and Littleton
The Denver Botanic Gardens makes its way on so many lists because it really is one of the best! With a location in Downtown Denver and just south in Littleton, this venue has numerous indoor and outdoor spaces for your day and provides dreamy gardens and fields as your backdrop. Check out this article to learn more about planning your wedding here!
Sustainability Efforts
Native and compatible gardens that are appropriate for Colorado’s semi-arid climate. This means less outdoor water use and more conservation.
https://www.botanicgardens.org/our-impact/water-stewardship, Outdoor water use accounts for more than half of Denver’s water consumption. The Gardens is committed to showcasing beautiful gardens appropriate for a semi-arid climate while advancing water-efficient gardening and agriculture principles through educational programs and partnerships with likeminded organizations.
Partnerships with One World One Water (OWOW) Center for research and education on water preservation
Uses four solar-powered atmospheric water harvesters. This uses the power of the sun to accelerate the condensation process to convert water vapor into water.
Sustainability is a topic close to my heart and one I love sharing with my couples. It’s so important to focus on reducing our footprint on this world so we can share in its beauty for years with our partner and loved ones. It’s SO great to find vendors with preservation on their mind and deduction to sustainability on your wedding day and I hope this list helps while starting your wedding planning process!
For more help adding sustainability to your day, check out this article or contact me to chat!
