If you’re looking for an outdoor “venue” that’s more of a grassy field surrounded by beautiful aspen trees and the horizon full of mountain views, getting married at the Woods Walk in Crested Butte might be just for you! Located right outside the town of Crested Butte, the Woods Walk is a short journey for your guests from their lodging, yet just far enough to get allllll the views! Let’s explore all that makes this space incredible.
Ceremony
The most popular space for wedding ceremonies at the Woods Walk is the first field, full of wildflowers in prime season of the summer, or surrounded by golden aspen leaves in the autumn. The spectacular views of the mountains make it a staple space for your ceremony. The field allows up to 100 guests, and must be less than 1.5 hours long (which is pretty easily done!) No amplification systems or bands are allowed for your ceremony – so make sure whoever is officiating is comfortable speaking up! The Woods Walk does remain open to the public regardless of events, though I’ve never had any passersby be anything but respectful. The main trail through the walk is a decent enough distance from your celebration that it’s not much of a distraction. You’ll probably be given lots of words of congratulations on your way in and out!
Logistics
The Woods Walk is run/maintained by the Crested Butte Land Trust, and there are certain guidelines you have to adhere to because of this. Nothing crazy, I promise! First, transportation. The Woods Walk is located outside of town up Kebler Pass. There are a couple pull-offs for parking nearby, but carpooling is a must here! If your guests are used to the elevation, walking or biking is encouraged as well.
Second, Leave No Trace. As their contract states, simple acts of Leave No Trace are required: “Altering the natural land in any way, including: trimming grass or plants, laying down hay, planting or removing vegetation, moving rocks, etc., is strictly prohibited. Organizing parties are responsible for ensuring no trash or litter of any kind.”
Portrait Locations
The best part of the Woods Walk are the portrait opportunities. There are so many backdrops we can utilize here! From Mt. Crested Butte in the distance to the aspen groves that glisten in the summer and glow yellow-orange in the fall… it’s just stunning. It’s also not a long walk to Peanut Lake, another favorite of mine, with Paradise divide in the background. Being right outside of town, there’s also a great chance to take photos down Elk Avenue for those perfectly Crested Butte portraits!
Reception
Because you can’t have your reception at the Woods Walk, you have a few options for that particular part of your celebration. CB proper is host to a number of wonderful restaurants that will allow you to hold your reception there. Some of my favorites are Bones, Elk Ave Prime, Montanya Distillers, and Secret Stash. Another option is to hold your reception at a nearby outdoor location, like Amy and William did at Lake Irwin!
The Woods Walk is a versatile ceremony space for your Crested Butte wedding. If you’re getting married at the Woods Walk in Crested Butte, hopefully these pointers will help you start planning your celebration! From larger weddings to intimate gatherings, CB is a beautiful destination and well-highlighted in the Woods Walk space. For more info on Crested Butte weddings, click here!
