Getting married in Vermont is enchanting no matter the season! Our picturesque state, famous for its maple syrup, stunning foliage, and world-class skiing, offers a magical backdrop for weddings year-round. Recently, we were captivated by a gorgeous wedding submission from GarrenTee Photography and Petals Floral Design, which inspired us to dive a little deeper into why a ski resort makes the perfect Vermont wedding destination! From breathtaking landscapes to cozy venues, read on for our list and take a peek at one couple’s beautiful wedding celebration at Killington Resort.
Year Round Activities
One of the top reasons to get married at a ski resort in Vermont is the multitude of activities, even beyond the traditional ski season. During the off-season, most resorts in Vermont offer mountain biking, hiking, and scenic chair lift or gondola rides as activities. These all make for great group activities. A fun idea is to provide guests with a recommended activity list for the ski resort, including hiking and biking trails that the bride and groom enjoy. Some resorts, like Sugarbush, Killington, Spruce Peak, and Mount Snow, also have golf courses open during the summer season.
For their early September wedding, bride and groom, Lindsay and Peter, opted for a scenic gondola ride up to their ceremony site at Killington Resort, giving their guests a taste of what makes Vermont unique! (Gondola rides no matter the season are one of our favorites!) Of course, during ski season, there are plenty of runs open for skiers and snowboarders of all different levels. If your guests aren’t all interested in skiing or boarding, there are options for snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, or fat biking.
On-Site Lodging
Another convenient part of being married at a ski resort in Vermont is the multitude of options for on site lodging. Many of the resorts have connected ski villages at the bottom of the mountain, or connected via shuttles, which makes lodging accessible without a car. The proximity also means that large wedding parties can all be lodged close to each other, instead of being spread across multiple towns. On-site stays tend to give a wedding an almost family reunion experience, which is great for destination weddings! After traveling for a wedding, lodging at ski resorts allows family and friends to stay close to each other for an even more memorable experience.
The Views
One of the obvious reasons to get married at a ski resort is the sweeping views that they offer. As photographed by GarrenTee Photography, the 360 views from Killington Resort’s Peak Lodge show the Green Mountains in all of their splendor. One of our favorite pictures Garren took at Lindsay and Peter’s wedding was zoomed out above the ceremony, showing how endless the mountains really are. From the bottom of Killington, there are also views overlooking a small lake, meaning that you’re not missing out on being lakeside by booking at this particular ski resort. An additional bonus is the easily visible sunsets from the mountains, which can end your special day most beautifully!
Garren did a great job of capturing the end of the sunset behind Lindsay and Peter, and if that doesn’t convince you to get married at a ski resort, the lush green forest will change your mind. There are so many opportunities for beautiful photographs, which you can see from Garren’s images at the end of this blog post, that make a ski resort wedding special.
Unique Venues
There is a wide variety of ceremony and reception sites available at ski resorts, catering to all guests. Options range from hotels at the base of the mountain to mid-mountain lawns and peak lodges. Most resorts offer two or three venue choices, including some that are only accessible via gondola or chairlift for a unique Vermont flair, as Lindsay and Peter did. Guests who take the gondola ride will enjoy breathtaking views, adding to the special moments of your day. However, even if you choose not to have a mid-mountain or peak ceremony, there are plenty of stunning views at the base of the mountain. These locations offer beautiful views of the ski trails, mountains, and forests and are conveniently close to ski villages, providing easily accessible services for all guests to enjoy!
Customizable Experience
If the rest of this post hasn’t made it clear, ski resorts offer a customizable wedding experience, with plenty of options for ceremonies and receptions. For example, Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont offers an a la carte wedding experience, where you can build your wedding weekend from their extensive list of activities. As far as food and drinks go, resorts will collaborate with you to craft a menu that fits your individual tastes and any dietary restrictions. Many resorts will allow you to bring in your own florist to decorate your wedding in a unique way as well. Michelle at Petals Floral Design did a gorgeous job of framing the mountain landscape and bringing in some red flowers to the predominantly green surrounding landscape. She collaborated well with Lindsay, Peter, and the team at Killington Resort to make the couple’s tablescape and reception as bright and vibrant as possible. (Just wait until you see more of her beautiful work below!)
There are also plenty of opportunities to incorporate ski-themed decorations into your special day that can be customized to you and your partner. One option is a sign with your favorite trail on the mountain that can be personalized with your names. Lindsay and Peter went for a Killington-themed sign that said “married” with their anniversary date on it. We have also seen couples do “shotskis’ with guests during their reception, or create seating charts based on different mountain names or ski runs.
If you’re thinking about tying the knot in Vermont, our ski resorts are top-notch venue choices. They offer year-round activities, on-site lodging, stunning views, unique venues, and customizable experiences. Petals Floral Design and GarrenTee Photography perfectly utilized Killington Resort’s setting to create an unforgettable day for Lindsay and Peter. Congratulations to the happy couple! We hope the following photos from the couple’s Vermont wedding inspire you are you plan your own!
Vendors:
Venue & Catering: Killington Resort, Planner: Maricela Ehman of Ehman Events, Photographer: GarrenTee Photography, Florist: Petals Floral Design.
Petals Floral Design is a wedding florist specializing in creating stunning floral designs, inspired by clients’ tastes and the natural splendor of Vermont. Along with floral arrangements, their team offers design and decor rental services to help you create an unforgettable celebration!
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