A Maroon Bells Wedding & Ramble Hotel Reception

Choosing a Maroon Bells Wedding Photographer for Your Ceremony

There are weddings, and then there are days that rearrange the air around you. Mackenzie and Michael’s Summer wedding was the second kind. The day began with a handfasting ceremony surrounded by the Maroon Bells outside Aspen, Colorado. After, they continued the celebration with a reception at the Ramble Hotel in downtown Denver. The Ramble Hotel is one of the most striking event spaces in the state. As a Colorado-based luxury wedding photographer specializing in mountain and destination weddings, I’ve photographed a lot of beautiful days. This one still stops me when I look back through the gallery.

Why This Wedding Worked So Well (A Note for Couples Planning Something Similar)

If you’re considering a Maroon Bells ceremony paired with a Denver reception, here’s what I’d tell you as a photographer who’s done it:

• Plan for light and logistics at altitude. Maroon Lake has permit requirements and limited access windows. Timing your ceremony around the light (and around the shuttle schedule, if you’re not driving up yourself) matters more than people expect. I’d suggest first thing in the morning if possible.
• Let the two locations be different. Mackenzie and Michael didn’t try to make Ramble “match” the mountains. The alpine ceremony and the downtown reception each got to be fully themselves, and the contrast became part of the story. I also loved how they got “getting ready” photos at the hotel, getting ready together for their reception was really special.
• Choose a reception venue with a strong point of view. Venues like the Ramble Hotel do a lot of visual heavy lifting on their own so you don’t have to bring as many decorations. Great architecture and lighting mean more of my time behind the camera goes toward people, not fighting the room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Maroon Bells wedding ceremony location? The Maroon Bells are located near Aspen, Colorado, within the White River National Forest. The Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness area requires reservations and shuttle or permit arrangements for weddings, especially during peak summer season. More Info

Where is the Ramble Hotel located, and is it a good wedding reception venue? The Ramble Hotel is located in the RiNo (River North) Arts District in downtown Denver, Colorado. Its design-forward interiors, moody lighting, and acclaimed cocktail bar make it a popular choice for couples wanting an elevated, editorial-feeling reception space in Denver.

Can you photograph a wedding with a mountain ceremony and a separate city reception? Yes — pairing a Maroon Bells (or other mountain) ceremony with a Denver reception is one of my favorite combinations to shoot. It requires careful timeline planning around travel time and light, but it gives couples the best of both worlds: alpine scenery for the ceremony and a vibrant downtown setting for the celebration.

Who photographed this Maroon Bells and Ramble Hotel wedding? This wedding was photographed by Crane Co Studios, a Colorado Springs-based luxury wedding photography studio specializing in mountain and destination weddings across Colorado, including Vail, Aspen, and Denver.

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Crane Co Studios is a luxury wedding photography studio based in Colorado Springs, specializing in mountain and destination weddings throughout Colorado, including Aspen, Vail, and Denver. Shooting both film and digital, Crane Co Studios works with couples and planners who want their wedding day told with the same intention they put into planning it.

www.craneweddings.com/inquire