How to Plan a Sapphire Point Overlook Wedding

6/8/2023

If you've been following us for a while and checking out our galleries, you'll quickly observe that we have many couples who choose host their small intimate wedding ceremony a Sapphire Point in Summit County, Colorado. Though it boast some of the most amazing mountain views, overlooks Lake Dillon, and is easily accessible (no hike required!), there are lots of little nuances to consider with planning your wedding at Sapphire Point. Read this article fully so that you know how to approach planning a microwedding at this amazing overlook.

5/7/24 UPDATE! The booking became available on Recreation.gov - it is much like it has been in the past with a few changes:

Seating is no longer allowed. NOTE - many public lands will make exceptions for an elder guest. Let us know if you have any special ADA needs
Maximum group size is now 30 (it was 35). County yourselves and vendors in this numer.
No amplification (i.e. amp or sound system). We still bring a small Bluetooth speaker for tasteful and light background music so as to not create a disturbance.
They request you book a shuttle. This one is hard to manage as many couples do not have the budget for a shuttle, and there are not many serice providers in the county. Our advice is to carpool, plan a few extra minutes for a regular parking spot to open. Do not park on the street as the Sheriff does issue tickets. Parking spots do become available quite quickly.
NOTES: if any of these new reglations are deal-breakers, please connect with me (Wendee) as there are many other amazing sites not only in Summit County, but other areas as well like Estes Park, Grand Lake, Vail, etc.

9/26/23 UPDATE! On their booking page, there is an alert that the two overlooks will be under construction in September of 2024 and service may be intermittently interrupted in 2024 and 2025. If this makes you nervous, there are many other great small wedding sites across Colorado, and we can help you find one that fits will with your group size, vision, priorities, budget and needs.

11/25/23 UPDATE! The Dillon Ranger District (who manages Sapphire Point Overlook) is changing their reservations system. Formerly, couples could reserve it on www.Recreation.gov at exactly 6 months out from the wedding date. That is no longer possible. They have not determined a new reservation system and will be posting updates on this website as it becomes available. Here is a press release about the closures in and improvements. If you plan to have a ceremony at Sapphrie Point Overlook in 2024/25, we suggest arrangement a "Plan B" at any of the nearby alternate wedding sites; Custom Weddings of Colorado can help you plan a strategy and logistics. Additional, we updated an article about alternate sites in Summit County for your Plan B.

Download Summit County Guide

About Sapphire Point

One glance at a photo of a Sapphire Point ceremony and you'll understand why it is so popular. It's nestled on a rock cliff overlook Lake Dillon and is equally located between Breckenridge, Keystone, Frisco and Dillon - making planning a small destination wedding here easy with a plethora of options for lodging, dining and activities. It is on National Forest Service property, so natural abundance abounds with regrowing forestation (recovering from beetle kill) and rock outcroppings. It is located along a wide hiking path that in it's entirety, is a one-mile loop trail.

For destination weddings, getting to Summit County is very easy. Once you land at Denver International Airport, rent a car and drive west on Interstate 70. Between 1.5 and 2 hours later, and after driving through some of the most scenic mountains, you'll arrive at the Frisco exit, #205. Sapphire Point is located between this exit and Breckenridge (which is 9 miles south of the exit). Tip: if you want to make day of it, peel off at Idaho Springs for lunch and a dip at Indian Hot Springs. Or, pull off at Georgetown and head up Guanella Pass for an amazing hike and lunch at Coopers on the Creek.

Download Summit County Guide

Things to Know about Booking Sapphire Point

Maximum group size: 35 people total. So, be sure to consider yourselves in the count, along with vendor counts. For our package, we bring an officiant (optional - can be a family member too), coordinator and photographer
Parking: there are a bout 22 spots. Parking is free, no permits required. Though the lot can sometimes become full, wait 30 seconds and a spot is bound to open up. If you park on Swan Mountain Road, you run the risk of getting ticketed by the Summit County Sheriff's office. So, it is always best to simply wait 30 seconds for a spot to open.
Accessibility: it is a 3 to 5 minute leisurely walk, slightly downhill from the parking lot, utilizing a wide crushed gravel trail. Though the forest service doesn't promote Sapphire Point as being ADA accessible, we've had several clients with guests that have been in wheelchairs. It is open year-round, which makes it a great spot for small winter weddings
Regulations: the wedding regulations at Sapphire Point are not much different from any other kind of use of public lands. For example: you must have a permit to host a group at the overlook, the ground must remain undisturbed (no stakes, poles), you cannot affix anything to structures, the area has to be picked-up (trash removed), throwing of items is not permit, and..... as with ALL other public lands, it must remain open to the public and you cannot present anyone from using public lands.
- Now, this can be a little unsettling for couples, but in our experience, when people see a wedding ceremony taking place, they are usually very respectful. We also like to place a self-standing sign along the path that says "Wedding in Progress. Thank you for your polite consideration."
Booking: reservations for Sapphire Point open up exactly 6-months out on www.Recreation.gov. Yes - it is all online. Per their permitting regulations, vendors cannot make the reservations; it has to be the couple or a family member. There are only four time slots a day: 6am-9am, 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm and 6pm to 9pm. The 2pm to 5pm time slot is the most competitive to book. Overall, Sapphire Point is extremely competitive to book and couples sometimes miss out on booking a time slot.
- Cost: a time slot costs about $120
- Yes, we have MANY couples who plan a ceremony at Sapphire Point Overlook more than 6-months out. We do coach couples in how to book the site (you do have to be aggressive when it goes live).
- We also have back-up sites and plans in place in the event that a couple is not able to book Sapphire Point. There are about five alternate sites in Summit County that are a 5-minute drive to Sapphire Point; and, if your group isn't over 20 people, we have some amazing alternate sites about 15 to 30 minutes from Sapphire Point.
- Thus, our strategy is to plan at minimum a 3.5 or 4 hour package for couples. That way, if they are unable to book Sapphire Point, we utilize one of the back-up sites and then after group photos, we can take the couple only over to the Sapphire Point area with the photographer for about 15 minutes to capture some amazing scenic

Things to know about planning a Sapphire Point wedding

Once you have Sapphire Point booked, then the fun planning can begin. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Weather. Yes, any time of year in Colorado we can expect either snow or afternoon thunderstorms. But, are commonly, we have over 300 days of sunshine. And, if the forecast is afternoon thunderstorms, do now fret a they are usually quick moving. We do bring umbrellas as part of our package/services.
- Learn more about what to expect for Colorado weather across the different months.
Windy. Sapphire Point can become windy. It is for that reason, and also the fact that you can't stake anything in the ground, that we do not recommend arches. See below about some other possible decorating ideas. Wearing a veil at Sapphire Point can also be risky-fun - you'll have to go with the attitude that if it feels like it will blow away, simple reach up, take it off and hand it to one of your guests.
Attire: inform your guests to wear attire that will be appropriate 10-degrees lower than forecasted temperatures. Also, they need to wear comfortable shoes as they access the site via a wide crushed gravel trail.
- On that note, for any wedding in Colorado, we advise guests to wear layers, sunscreen and sunglasses - year round too! Though, keep in mind we'll ask you to take those sunglasses off during photos.
- For the couple, wear attire that you'll not only feel and look great, but will allow for movement.
- Finally, as part of our package, we do bring loaner furs, faux furs and shawls for the bride/bridesmaids to keep the evening chill off your shoulders.
Seating: chairs or benches for ceremonies are allowed. They must be setup after your permit time begins, and torn down before your permit time ends. IDEA: in the cooler months, add-on throw blankets as favors to place on the benches to see your guests cozy-warm both at the ceremony and then your celebration dinner (especially if you are planning an outdoor gathering).
Dogs & Pets: Sapphire Point is dog and pet friendly. Remember your poop bags and leashes! Also, if they are your fur babies, we recommend designating a handler for your dog so that you can be focused on your ceremony and not pet management. Many restaurants do not allow dogs inside, so make a plan to keep your pet comfy for the rest of the evening.
Florals & Decor: Sapphire Point boasts some of the most dramatic views in the state of the Gore Mountain Range. Many of our couples opt not to interfere with Mother Nature and literally do no decoration - what better is there than mountain peaks? However, if you love flowers like we do, here are some simple ideas as any decor needs to be setup and remove during your 2 or 3 hour reservation block.
- Have guests hold paper umbrellas (great to shade the powerful mountain sun off heads and eyes)
- Set-out a nice 4'x6' rug to stand on as you exchange vows
- Place floral arrangements on the ground - these can be planned to fit in a garden wagon for easy transport down to the site.
- Tie ribbons or floral arrangements on the ends of chairs
- NOT A FAN: we really aren't fans of aisle runners as they can be chintzy, tripping hazards, and by the time you round the corner, your aisle is pretty short. As an alternate, pile floral petal runners along the sides of the aisle. Note - it is WINDY, so you'd have to do this right before you walk down the aisle, and remember that everything, including petals, need to be picked up by the end of your reservation time slot.
- AVOID: anything with flames as you wouldn't want to spark a wildfire (please! this is very important).
- Read about more ideas in how to plan florals for your micro-wedding.
Shuttles: you can hire a shuttle company to pickup your guests in town. We've found though that many guests like the independence of driving themselves. And, it can be quite expensive. So, if you are concerned about your budget, this is one area where it wouldn't be necessary. Though, if you are concerned about your guests drinking & driving, there are UBER and LYFT services in Summit County.

Download Summit County Guide

Other ideas for how to get married at Sapphire Point

Though there are some regulations and planning aspects to consider, overall Sapphire Point Overlook is a very easy place to host a microwedding ceremony or elopement. Here are some of our best recommendations:

Signage: Place a self-standing sign on the trail letting other areas know that a wedding is in progress. A reservations simply give you a permit to do a ceremony, you don't have exclusivity (meaning you cannot prevent the public forma accessing public lands). However, a permit does mean that other groups cannot use the site at the same time of your reservations.
Cake: setup a little table and bring down some cake and bubbly. After group photos, you can do some celebrating! Why not eat dessert first before heading off to the restaurant?
Dances: also, you could do some first and parent dances at Sapphire Point. This is especially neat if your guests are eating a few desserts and sipping a beverage. We like this format because if you are going to celebrate after the ceremony at a restaurant, many of them won't allow dancing because they don't have the space and it would disrupt other diner's experiences.
Off-peak dates and seasons: due to the competitiveness of booking Sapphire Point, consider having your wedding Sunday - Thursday. The busiest months are June through October. So, consider November - May for off-season dates. Though, do read our article about Colorado Weather By Month as holidays and Spring Break can be very expensive for travel/lodging.
Other sites: after your cermeony and photos, there are a couple of other amazing spots around Lake Dillon to capture a variety of photo backdrops.

Book a Wedding Package at Sapphire Point

If you are ready to start planning your gorgeous intimate wedding at Sapphrie Point, reach out to Wendee for a customized quote. She'll need your preferred date(s) or time of year, number of guests, and if you plan to have any bridesmaids/men or groomsmen/women. Part of the package is also making recommendations on nearby places to stay (whether its a vacation house, condo or hotel) and places to go out for dinner (private dining room or semi-private area). So, it helps to know your overall budget. And, if you've visited Sapphire Point, have further questions, or can provide some more tips & advice, please leave a comment below.

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Contact Wendee

Sapphire Point Wedding Galleries & Ideas

We've done weddings at Sapphire Point for many years, in every month of the year. So, if you don't see someting below, reach out to Wendee as we are sure to have more galleries for your season.

Download Summit County Guide