With a vast number of incredibly luxurious, large vacation homes in Colorado that feature stunning views, it is no wonder this trend has been increasing - especially for small, intimate micro-weddings. But, before you go down a rabbit-hole searching for that perfect AirBNB, VRBO, Vacasa…. Or even send off that deposit, there are a number of things to consider. I got married in a vacation home with 22 guests in Keystone in 2007, well before the term "micro-wedding" was coined. In my 20 years as a wedding planner, I’ve also helped over a thousand couples with their small intimate weddings, many of whom each year decide that a vacation home rental in the Colorado Rockies as their venue where they can find privacy, freedom, luxury, customization and uniqueness. This article will explain what to expect when searching for the perfect rental property for your ceremony and/or dinner celebration. And, while it's exhausting trying to keep up with the thousands of home listings, we will highlight some locales and property management companies at the end. Before reading further, I must dispel a myth that a vacation house wedding is affordable. While that may be true when comparing the cost to an expensive and expansive large event venue, it is NOT affordable compared finding a more off-the-beaten-path ceremony site (which is our specialty for couples) that may either be free or minimal permits (less than $500). The cost in the vacation house may be the minimum night stay required, cleaning fees and if you are in a resort area.... its just plain expensive. But, keep reading from more explanation and ideas as the cost and benefits may be just the right fit for you! 1. Decide your format: what parts of the wedding will be at the vacation house?What attracts many couples to a vacation home wedding is the 1-stop-shop idea. Its as all-inclusive as you can get: from hosting all or most the guests overnight to the wedding day getting ready, from the ceremony to the private-chef catered dinner, at the vacation house. It is the epitome of easy….. at first thought. When considering this format, reflect on the relationships among your guests. If there are any conflicts, like divorces or habits that others may object, it might be a good idea to give people some room and options to stay at their own choice of lodging. Also, if the locale features fun activities and great restaurants, your guests may want to explore and experience what is in the area. Finally, you may get a little cabin-fever if everything is housed at one place. Therefore, think about mixing-up some of those components. Here are some examples:
2. Consider variables and amenities between wedding vacation homesVacation home offerings are as unique as the couples we marry. Before you start searching, consider the following and make a list of your negotiable and your non-negotiable.
3. Consider permits, approvals and fees at your wedding vacation houseMake sure that you are clear with the homeowner about your plans for an event at the vacation house. Many towns have permitting requirements on vacation rentals for hosting events due to considerations like noise, parking, and sewage. And, we wouldn’t want you to put a huge deposits down only to find out it won’t be allowed, thus you having to change your plans. Worse yet, having the fire-department arrive because parking isn’t allowed on the street and then having your event shut down while in the middle of the ceremony. So please be open and clear about your wedding plans with the home owners BEFORE booking and sending any deposits. CAPACITIES: Permitting regulations will likely maximum capacities for the number of people allowed on property. These capacities for permitting can vary depending on the owner and permitting, even within the same town. Additionally, companies like AirBNB have put restrictions on owners for hosting events, especially during the COVID pandemic. Often we see houses permitted up to #25, #35, sometimes #50 guests, and occasionally up to #75. PARKING: Most often, we see regulations around parking - so, be sure that you know how many vehicles can park at the house and specifically where they can park. And, even if the house accommodates more parking, consider the time of year: it can be more limited due to snow removal in winter than what would be available in summer. SETUP & ACTIVITIES: When having conversations with the homeowner, be up front about any furniture moving or rental deliveries. They may not allow this because they don’t want scratches or dents in any flooring or furniture. Also be honest about dancing as heels and cowboy boots it can ruin custom wood floors. Thus, home owners may charge an event fee or ask for more of a damage deposit. Be understanding that this isn’t an opportunistic fee, there are expenses incurred by the owner such as additional cleaning, additional security in case of damage, and even additional trash removal. INSURANCE: Many vacation home owners will reqeust that you obtain special event insurance, which is always a great recommendation. Make sure to include the property in the liability portion. You can get this type of coverage through organizaiton such as "Wed Safe", or contact your renters or home owners insurance agent as they may have special one-day special event policies that you can attach. For micro weddings where your guests counts may be less than the maximum occupancy of the house (for example #12 guests when the house accommodates up to #16), permitting and approvals may not be necessary. But, we believe honesty is the best policy and be very clear with owners on what your event plans entail. Regardless of any allowances, regulations, parking situations or permitting (or not), it is absolutely essential to get approval in writing from any homeowner or property management company if you plan to host an event at the vacation home. 4. Booking expectation for a wedding vacation houseIn Colorado, we experience high, low, and premium seasons. Each one will have different sets of fee structures and minimum night stays. While we’d like to give you exactly what those might be, it varies from owner-to-owner during different season and regions across the state. For example winter may be peak season in ski-resort communities, in other areas of the state where there aren’t ski resorts, it may be low season. Generally summer season is our peak and the shoulder seasons are in April & May, and then again in November. Here is an article that explains our weather and seasonal patterns in Colorado. Depending on the season, you could see 2-night minimum night stays in low seasons, 5-night minimums in high season, and 7-night stays in premium seasons (like around the Holidays). Finally, make sure to ask about all fees: cleaning fees, pet fees, damage deposits and occupancy taxes - along with those event fees that we mentioned above. 5. Property management companies offering vacation houses for weddingsWe recommend working through a reputable property management company rather than an owner-source such as AirBNB, VRBO or Vacasa. Property management companies usually respond to any kind of service or maintenance requests immediately. Also, if something happens to the house (like a sewage leak), they have other properties in which they can move the group and the staffing to assist with the move. We once had wildfire breakout near a vacation the couple had rented - strict evacuation orders were called out TWO HOURS before the couples ceremony. The group had just enough time to pack their belongings before we were scheduled to depart for the ceremony. The property management company moved the group’s belongings while they were getting married. Now, that isn’t to say that you won’t receive they same kind of service with an AirBNB, VRBO or Vacasa as many property management companies will post their properties on these sites. And, many owners also have connections and are extremely responsive to their client’s needs. So, read the reviews carefully, ask questions and build rapport with the owners. This may seem like a lot to consider before selecting a property and sending off a booking fee. With a little conscious, thoughtful decisions, you’ll have a good plan and know what to expect when searching for the perfect wedding home rental:
I would love any comments or questions - what did you decide? Will you books a vacation home for any portion of your wedding weekend? Have you already hosted your event? If so, please let us know how it went. ~ Wendee P.S. Here are some great Galleries to vacation home weddings that we've planned & coordinated. Some of them did the entire wedding at the vacation house, others did a portion (like the dinner only) at the vacation house.
8 Comments
It really helped when you said that we should be clear with the owner of the vacation cabin rentals regarding our plans with the place when renting them. I will share this tip with my best friend because she wanted an intimate ceremony this year together with their families and some very close friends. Being able to communicate well with the owner before they place the booking will ensure that there will be no additional expenses that they are not prepared for or permits that should have been processed.
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10/18/2022 11:44:57 am
It makes sense that you should consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms they have. My sister told me last night about how she wants to book a cabin vacation rental for her wedding in December. I'll pass this information along to her so she can know how to find a good vacation rental for her wedding!
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11/11/2022 01:12:23 am
Thanks for pointing out that there would be permitting regulations that we should know regarding the accommodation and how many people they can let in. I will ask about that when I look for a cabin holiday accommodation rental services for next month. My family and my husband's family will be celebrating Christmas together, so the place must fit around 12 to 15 people in it.
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5/1/2023 01:40:17 pm
It was helpful when you said to see if the house is located out of town. My sister told me last night while I was at her house for dinner about how she and her fiancé want to rent a vacation rental for everyone to stay in during their wedding in July. I'll pass these tips along to her so they can know how to find a good vacation rental for their wedding.
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Booking a small vacation house for our Colorado micro-wedding was a fantastic decision! Location was key, and this charming house ticked all the boxes. Nestled in the picturesque mountains, it provided a breathtaking backdrop for our intimate ceremony. The amenities were top-notch, from the cozy bedrooms to the well-equipped kitchen. The open layout created a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for our small gathering. The host's attention to detail was exceptional, ensuring we had everything we needed. Plus, the surrounding nature offered endless opportunities for stunning wedding photos. If you're planning a micro-wedding, this vacation house is a hidden gem worth considering.
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6/20/2023 04:24:10 am
Thank you for mentioning that the living room of the vacation home works well as a backup option if bad weather makes conducting a ceremony at a "rogue" outside location (we have quite a few) worry you. My sister wants the ceremony to take place at a different home. I'll advise her to book some holiday condos.
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8/18/2023 01:11:01 pm
With their small intimate weddings, many of whom each year decide that a vacation home rental in the Colorado Rockies is their venue where they can find privacy, Thank you for sharing your great post!
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Sydney
1/11/2025 11:52:48 am
Thanks for sharing this! My partner is a big fan of the vacation house idea for an all-in-one venue but I had wondered about some of the things you mentioned here. AND there were things I hadn't considered before that are pretty darn important!
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Wendee VezzettiMother, teacher, planner, gardener, mountain biker, entrepreneur, librarian, hiker, snowboarder, reader, chocoholic, trail runner and creative. Wendee has been planning weddings in Colorado since 1995. In 2012, she decided to "go small" and now only plans micro-weddings & elopements with 35 or fewer guests. You won't find a more knowledgable, reliable, friendly, experienced micro-wedding planner. Contact Wendee to get started planning your intimate small Colorado wedding. 🫶🏻 Your Micro-Wedding PlannerI've been planning weddings since 1995 when I moved to Colorado from Iowa. I cut my teeth at Keystone Resort in their wedding department, then then ventured on to planning corporate meetings. But, I kept helping friends and their friends with weddings starting my first full-service company in 2002 (yes - planned the big overwhelming ones). In 2012 with the birth of my son, values shifted and I decided to go small, intimate and meaningful. Please connect with me to make your dreamy, simple mountain wedding come true!
Behind the Scenes of a Micro-WeddingEver wonder what goes on behind-the-scenes of a micro-wedding day? Jaime L. Barba, one of our talented professional photographers, captured me at work ⬇️ from one of our May 2023 weddings in Boulder, Colorado. Enjoy! .... and yes, she does wedding day content creation (a great alternative if you cannot afford videography) for couples as well as photography.
Wedding Day Content CreatorWhat is a wedding day content creator? It’s someone who is there on your wedding day taking pictures on a cell phone (or in Jaime's case, her professional equipement), documenting behind-the-scenes moments, capturing and telling stories, and delivering short-form media content of your wedding day in real-time. Checkout one from our September 2023 weddings ⬇️.
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Custom Weddings of ColoradoColorado's best planner for intimate weddings, elopements and micro-weddings. Starting her event career in 1995, Wendee said "goodbye" to planning large weddings in 2012 and has since been specializing in small weddings & elopements. Based in the Western suburbs of Denver-Bouder, servicing the Central Colorado Mountains such as Estes Park, Winter Park, Grand Lake, Vail, Breckenridge, and beyond.
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