For clients who want to make a grand entrance on their wedding day—and who doesn’t—we’ve handpicked three venues with dramatic views.
Star-Lit Affair
The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, complemented by a few out-of-the-box wedding celebration options such as an 8-tap beer wall featuring the region’s craft beers, a beer brunch for the men, champagne dresses—think portable bars for champagne that are displayed on the servers—a whiskey and cigar cart for guests to enjoy apres reception, s’mores stations, and a build-your-own hash brown station for those all-night party-goers.
Picture all this and then add floor-to-ceiling windows framing a mountain backdrop. The Mountain View Terrace and the Skyline Room give guests the best of both worlds as it’s an indoor/outdoor venue lit by starlight and showcasing the mountain scenery. As Tracey Johnston-Crum, director of public relations and community outreach at The Omni Grove Park Inn, puts it, it’s all about “location, location location. [With] astounding views of the Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop.” Adding that, “We celebrate all unions here. Every couple is unique and special and we want the very best celebration of their love that they can imagine.”
Wedding packages start at $175 pp for the Blue Ridge Celebration package and it includes a 4-hour premium bar, four butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, a 2-course plated dinner, custom-designed wedding cake, and champagne toast. The Built for the Ages package starts at $205 pp and includes all of the above plus a local culinary display, and a progressive dinner plated with entree stations. Room rates start at $249 per night.
Mountaintop “I Do”
In Telluride, Colorado, Alpino Vino, a charming European-style chalet, offers couples a refined mountain setting for wedding ceremonies. This venue, located at the top of the Telluride Ski Resort at 12,200 ft., can be reached by skis during the day and a snow cat-pulled coach by night, and is an ideal spot for intimate weddings. Alpino Vino, incidentally, is only one of an array of ceremony or reception venues at Telluride Ski Resort.
You can’t beat “the ‘wow factor’ of the Telluride backdrop—some of the most gorgeous mountain scenery in the U.S. You are literally in the mountains. Surrounded,” says Robin Wolff, managing director of wedding events for Telluride Ski & Golf. “For winter weddings, we offer either open-air sleigh service or enclosed snow coach service to the on-mountain venues. And, of course, a couple of the venues are also accessible by the free gondola.” Alpino Vino is available at $8,000 for a food and beverage buyout for up to 28 guests offering northern Italian fare paired with regional wines. You can also recommend couples overnight at Tempter House for $7,500 per night, which includes dinner for two including a $300 wine credit; cabin attendant for arrival and turndown service; continental breakfast; and private chef service, available for breakfast, lunch and dinner (additional cost).
By the Sea
For a beachside affair, the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, a Hyatt property, offers ceremony options with Mokapu Beach as the backdrop complemented by sweeping views of the West Maui Mountains.
Couples and their wedding parties can partake in locally inspired happenings such as the omakase blending experience at Awili Spa and Salon—a great option for brides and their bridesmaids as they can custom blend spa products to use during their treatments. Couples can also add traditional hula, ukulele and lei-making lessons for their big day.
For an intimate wedding option, recommend the Private Cabana package, starting at $2,000. It includes a private cabana setting with sunset views, a personalized chef consultation, a 5-course menu for two, champagne toast and table flower arrangements. The Elopement package is also just for two, and starts at $5,000. It includes an oceanfront ceremony created by an Andaz wedding designer, plus a marriage license appointment, a non-denominational officiant, a bridal bouquet and groom boutonniere or two lei, a 1-hour photo session, champagne toast, and discount on room rates, plus the same perks included in the Private Cabana package.
Contact Information
Alpino Vino & Tempter House: tellurideskiresort.com
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort: maui.andaz.hyatt.com
The Omni Grove Park Inn: omnihotels.com
