BY HENNESSY PHOTO CO | COLORADO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPEHR | featured on Wed Vibes
When Rachel & Logan reached out to me to photograph their day, their first question was: “Would you come down to Durango?” They’d been having trouble finding anyone local to the area that they liked, and it was extremely important to them that their wedding took place on Rachel’s family property. I absolutely jumped at the opportunity and their wedding was a gorgeous Durango, Colorado backyard party to remember. I spent some time in and around town while I was there for their wedding, and absolutely fell in love with Durango–I couldn’t get enough of how small-town cozy it was, how amazing and different the landscape was, and just how phenomenal the San Juan mountains are in this area. Everyone is always talking so much about Telluride, but Durango is truly a hidden gem. So I spent some time afterwards digging into some local Southwest Colorado and Durango Colorado wedding venues, and that’s why I’m sharing with you today, along with some wedding inspiration from Rachel & Logan’s day!
The best part about being a non-traditional wedding photographer really comes down to the unique couples I work with, and the unique ways in which they choose to celebrate their wedding days: a lot of which come directly from the spaces where they choose to have their wedding! In Rachel & Logan’s case, it was her family’s backyard because it meant a lot to them as a couple, but if I was going to choose some unique Durango Colorado wedding venue options for a couple looking into this area, it would definitely be the list below. The hard part about Colorado wedding venues is that they love to be very “western” and “barn friendly” and I’ll be honest, the clientele that work with me aren’t really into all that. So here’s my favorite out of the box, unique and alternative Durango Colorado wedding venues, all wrapped up into a nice, organized list for ya:
UNIQUE DURANGO COLORADO WEDDING VENUES
Ridgewood Event Center — I’d call this one a little more backyard party than barn, but overall does have a bit of a rustic vibe. However, the interior of the event center is wooded and looks gorgeously elevated, and the outdoor space is just phenomenal for a luxe garden party, I love this option!
Powerhouse — A super unique venue with an eclectic vibe!
Black Diamond Lodge — an elevated, mountainous venue with lodging up to 46 people, perfect for a mountain getaway and microwedding in one!
Cascade Village — absolutely stunning, cozy location with sweeping mountain views and a reception area that feels luxe, but also laid-back!
Purgatory Ski Resort — one of the best ways to get sweeping mountain views? Book a ski resort! Most of these luxury resorts have affordable rentals in the summer in line with other wedding venue costs, and can make for a wedding location that is truly unique and has views unlike any other!
The Observatory at Alta Lakes — Okay, I know I said that Telluride always gets all the attention, but this one truly deserves it, especially for a micro-wedding venue. It’s close enough to Durango to be a viable option, and is absolutely worth looking into!
The Strater Hotel — a historic spot downtown!
The General Palmer Hotel — another historic spot downtown, right next to the Durango train! You’ll spot some photos with Rachel & Logan inside this hotel, below.
Dunton Hot Springs — enough said, wedding + relaxation in one!
I also have a pretty expansive list of Colorado wedding venues that you can find here, if you’re looking into other areas in the state!
COLORADO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
As your alternative Colorado wedding photographer, I’m an expert in capturing your day as a calculated ninja, documenting moments as they happen and reaching for magical light. Travel for the entire state of Colorado is included, so whether you’re looking for a Durnago Colorado wedding venue, or going somewhere else in the state, I’m down to follow you anywhere.
Rachel & Logan’s Durango, Colorado backyard wedding
