Not only is Breckenridge one of the wedding capitals of Colorado, but it’s also a destination spot for many couples around the country. One of the largest factors for having a celebration like this in Breckenridge (or anywhere else in the mountains of Colorado) is to have experience the outdoor lifestyle. It’s guaranteed that one – if not all – portions of your wedding will take place outdoors, which is for the breathtaking views, cool summer temperature, and the vast space of the wedding venues. Due to the potential for inclement weather with Colorado mountain weddings, it’s important to consider that your vendors have the experience to swiftly make any last-minute pivots.
Ten Mile Station Wedding in August
Dan and Dana planned their August wedding at Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge, Colorado for these exact reasons. They positioned their wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, special dances, and dancing to take place outside, while only having the dinner indoors.
It’s worth noting that almost every Colorado venue will have a wedding coordinator to make a day-of weather decision to determine if everything will still take place outdoors accordingly.
Planning for Mountain Weather
Having any portion of a wedding outdoors can be tricky, especially if there’s a chance for precipitation (which is nearly ~50% of weddings in the mountains, due to the late-afternoon showers). This is why it’s important to hire a DJ who comes prepared with multiple sound systems and even an assistant to speed up last-minute weather changes.
Guest Arrival at Breckenridge Ski Resort
Before dancing under the stars took place, the day starts off by all guests being transported up the winding dirt roads of Breckenridge Ski Resort by Epic Mountain Express (which is a shuttle services that is offered to wedding couples when they have a wedding through Vail Resorts). This is the time for guests to take in the high-elevation mountain views, snap photos with friends and family, or grab a drink from the outdoor bar. Once everyone was rounded up and the ceremony concluded, the outdoor cocktail hour began.
A DJ’s Perspective: Seamless Outdoor Sound
From a DJ perspective, we set up three separate sound systems: each for the ceremony (outdoors), cocktail hour (outdoors, on a different patio), and dinner (indoors). This is a small but important logistic, as having separate sound systems ensures there are no gaps in the music, and no DJ staff will not interfere with guests by moving equipment around. Once cocktail hour ended, we coordinated the grand entrance, mixed music throughout dinner, monitored the speeches, then invited all guests outside for their special dances. The first dance took place right as the sun was setting behind the mountains, then we went straight into dancing for the remainder of the night. At one point there were a few sprinkles, which was no big deal since we bring a large tarp to cover our equipment!
Songs Mixed Under the Stars
Between this being an outdoor wedding, and our DJ creativity, some notable songs that we
mixed were:
- Day N’ Night - Kid Cudi
- Last Night A DJ Saved My Life – Indeep
- The Rhythm of the Night – Corona
- All Night Long - The Mary Jane Girls
- Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Here’s a link to dancing under the stars.
Why Couples Choose Breckenridge for Mountain Weddings
Mountain weddings like this showcase exactly why couples choose Breckenridge for their celebration. With thoughtful planning, experienced vendors, and the flexibility to adapt to changing mountain conditions, dancing under the stars becomes more than just a vision, it becomes an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. When logistics flow seamlessly behind the scenes, couples and guests are free to simply enjoy the moment and celebrate surrounded by Colorado’s incredible alpine scenery.