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Winter Wedding at the Aerie at Copper Mountain

  • dylancgallagher
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read
Bride and groom pose on the ski slope at Aerie at Copper Mountain in Frisco, Colorado


Winter Weddings at The Aerie at Copper Mountain:

What to Know Before You Plan


A winter wedding at The Aerie at Copper Mountain is an unforgettable experience — dramatic alpine views, cozy interiors, and plenty of snow make it one of the most stunning winter wedding venues in Colorado. But winter weddings also come with unique logistics, especially when it comes to getting ready, photo timing, and staying warm.


Here’s everything you should know to plan a smooth, beautiful winter wedding day at The Aerie.


Getting Ready


The morning of your wedding, you are going to want a hotel or rental home in downtown Copper or in nearby Frisco (which is only a 20 minute drive from the Ten Mile Circle drop-off for the American Eagle gondola). This will be where you hang out and have hair and make-up done. From here, you have two options.


Option 1: Get dressed at the hotel/rental and arrive at the venue fully clothed. 


From there, you can:

  • Ride the gondola together or separately

  • Optional first look downtown or on the mountain

  • Tuck yourself away in the getting ready suite while guests arrive


Option 2: One person arrive dressed, the other brings a garment bag containing wedding attire on the gondola.


This works especially well if only one partner gets fully dressed at the top, since The Aerie has limited getting-ready space (there’s only one private suite suitable for fully changing). The other person can do small 'getting ready' things, e.g. putting on a jacket, jewelry, boutonniere, etc.


Why First Looks Are Especially Important for Winter Weddings


From November through January, the sun sets around 5pm. in the mountains. That means your window for outdoor photos is much shorter than other seasons.

If you wait until after the ceremony for portraits, you may be photographing in complete darkness — and you won’t see the Rocky Mountains at all. A first look earlier in the day gives you more time, better light, and a calmer wedding timeline.


Where to Take Formal Group Portraits at The Aerie


For winter weddings at The Aerie, there are two ideal locations for formal portraits:


1. The Balcony Outside the Reception Space

  • Fits about 10 people comfortably, or 12 with the right lens

  • Offers mountain views


2. The Covered Ceremony Area

  • Heated and protected from wind

  • Snowy ski run as the backdrop

  • Includes ceremony florals in your photos


Best Locations for Couple’s Portraits in the Winter


If there’s one thing I strongly recommend: bring snow boots. It opens up so many portrait options.


Without boots, great locations include:

  • The balcony

  • The ceremony site

  • The gondola drop-off point

  • Inside the reception space once it’s set up


With boots, we can walk 3–4 minutes downhill to reach clean snow, wide-open views, and fewer distractions. I always encourage couples to be willing to spend 10–15 minutes in the snow — the photos are absolutely worth it.


What Else to Expect for a Winter Wedding at The Aerie


Lighting & Photography

  • Early sunsets mean your photographer should be comfortable in low-light conditions

  • The reception space has beautiful ambient lighting

  • Flameless, battery operated candles adds flattering light for candid photography


Staying Warm

  • Fleece-lined leggings under gowns work wonders

  • Shoulder wraps, scarves, and hand warmers are essential

  • Earmuffs keep ears warm without ruining hair


Flowers Love the Cold


Winter is actually great for florals — they last longer and stay fresh in the cold mountain air.


Expect Cheers on the Gondola


Yes, it’s true — skiers will cheer for you when you’re in wedding attire under the American Eagle lift. It’s one of those fun, unexpected moments that makes winter mountain weddings so special.


Final Thoughts on Winter Weddings at Copper Mountain


A winter wedding at The Aerie is magical, but it requires thoughtful planning. When you understand the lighting, the timeline, and how to stay warm, your day flows effortlessly — and your photos reflect the beauty of the mountains in winter.

If you’re planning a winter wedding at Copper Mountain and want photos that feel calm, natural, and timeless, choosing a photographer who knows the venue and the season makes all the difference.



Below is a real November wedding where the couple got ready at a rental home and had a riverside first look in downtown Copper. From there, they rode the gondola together and had plenty of sunlight for portraits with their family and wedding party. They finished with couple's portraits at the ceremony site and on the ski slope before heading inside to warm up as guests arrived. The sunset during their ceremony was magical, and afterwards it was straight to the party: cocktail hour, dinner, toasts and dancing!


Wedding Planner | Laura at L Elizabeth Events

Venue Coordinator | Mika, The Aerie at Copper Mountain

Florals | Lady Sunshine

Hair & Makeup | Weemala Breckenridge

Officiant | Phil Gallagher

Live Music | Diamond Empire Band


View of the ski slopes at Aerie at Copper Mountain near Frisco and Silverthorne, Colorado.
Bride in white gown and veil stands smiling as woman in red dress assists her.
Woman in a red dress adjusts a bride's veil.
Bride in white dress with pearl-studded veil being buttoned up.
Woman in white dress with long hair under a beaded veil.
Bridesmaid in black dress helps bride in white gown.
Bride in a white, pearl-studded gown with veil, hands clasped, showing a ring.
Bride with pearl veil and gentle smile.
Bride in white dress with veil stands by a fireplace with wood mantel.
Bride in white dress and woman in red gown holding hands, smiling in front of a fireplace.
Bride in a white gown puts on white snow boots.
Sunlight filters through snow-dusted pine trees at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Smiling man in a black suit with a boutonniere, standing in a snowy forest.
Man in a black suit with boutonniere smiles, hands in pockets, stands on a snowy path.
Bride approaches smiling groom on snowy forest path. Winter wedding scene.
Bride in white gown and veil holds hands with groom in black tux, standing in the snow, looking happy.
Bride and groom kissing in snowy forest. Winter wedding scene at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom hold hands on snowy path, surrounded by tall trees and sunlight filtering through.
Bride and groom smiling warmly, holding hands in a snowy winter wedding at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom smiling and holding hands in a snowy forest setting, with soft sunlight filtering through the trees.
Bride and groom share a joyful moment in snowy forest in Frisco, Colorado.
Bride and groom smiling, holding flowers in snowy forest at the Aerie at Copper Mountain near Silverthorne, Colorado.
Bride and groom smile in snowy forest, standing on a bridge. Evergreen trees in the background.
Bride in white gown and groom in black suit embracing on a snow-covered bridge, surrounded by tall evergreens under a clear sky.
Bride in a white dress and groom in a tux hold hands on a snowy bridge, surrounded by trees, gazing lovingly at each other.
Bride and groom stand on a snowy bridge in a forest, bathed in sunlight. Tall evergreens surround them.
Bride in white dress reads vows to groom on snowy bridge, surrounded by snow-covered pine trees. Groom reacts emotionally.
Bride in white gown reads vows to groom on a snowy bridge, holding a bouquet.
Bride in white dress, veil and groom in black suit hold a bouquet in a snowy forest setting, sharing an emotional moment on a snowy bridge.
Bride and groom exchange vows on a snowy bridge for a winter wedding.
Bride and groom on a snowy bridge in a forest, surrounded by tall pine trees.
Bride and groom walk hand in hand on a snowy bridge, surrounded by tall evergreen trees, under a clear sky.
Bride in a white dress holds a bouquet of white and green flowers, standing on a snowy bridge with an evergreen forest backdrop.
Bride in white dress holds bouquet, standing on a snowy bridge. Sunlight filters through trees.
People carrying skis and a dog walk past a ski resort map. String lights are above, and snowy mountains are visible in the background. Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom smiling, she holds flowers, her dress held by a woman. at the Aerie at Copper Mountain near Dillon, Colorado.
Skiers glide down a snowy slope with tall trees at Copper Mountain.
View of the Aerie at Copper Mountain from the ski lift.
Bride and groom exit gondola at the Aerie at Copper Mountain near Frisco, Colorado.
Bride and groom smiling, standing in front of a ski lift at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom kiss outside the "American Eagle" ski lift at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom smiling with friends on snowy balcony, holding white bouquets at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom standing in snow with a ski lodge in the background at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride in white dress holds bouquet, stands with groom in tuxedo on snowy mountain at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom pose in front of the Aerie at Copper Mountain near Silverthorne, Colorado.
A smiling couple in wedding attire stands on snow.
A bride and groom in formal attire face ski lifts on a snowy mountain, surrounded by evergreen trees under a clear blue sky.
Bride and groom stand on snowy mountain landscape, surrounded by pine trees and distant ski lift.
Bride and groom hold hands in snowy mountain setting.
Bride and groom smile in snowy mountain setting, trees and ski lift visible.
Bride and groom kiss in snowy mountain setting, surrounded by pine trees and ski lift.
Bride in white dress holding bouquet stands on snowy field with mountains and ski lift in background, smiling under clear sky.
Skiers on a chairlift in a snowy forest with tall pine trees.
Bride in white dress holds bouquet, stands in snowy landscape with mountains. Smiling, wearing sheer polka-dot shawl and veil.
Bride holding a bouquet of white roses and greenery, wearing a pearl-embellished dress. Snowy mountain backdrop.
Man in a tuxedo stands on snowy ground, smiling in front of mountains under a clear sky. Ski lift and trees are in the background.
Man in a black tuxedo stands smiling in a snowy mountain setting with evergreen trees and ski lift.
Bride in a white dress smiles while holding a bouquet on a snowy landscape. Ski lift and pine trees in the background. Winter wedding setting.
Bride and groom embrace on snowy mountain, surrounded by trees and ski lift at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom embrace in snowy forest; she holds a bouquet. Ski lift visible above.
Bride and groom walk hand in hand on snowy slope toward the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride in white gown and groom in black suit walking hand in hand on snow. Smiling, with snowy trees and ski lift in the background.
Chairlifts and gondolas move over snow-covered ground at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Wooden building with large windows reflecting mountains and trees. Inside, tables are set for dining. Bright chandeliers add elegance at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom in formal attire with champagne, standing in an elegant, warmly lit reception hall with wooden beams and chandeliers at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant dining setup with white floral decor, candles, and neatly set tables under large chandeliers in a wood-paneled room with mountain views at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant dining table set with white flowers and candles in a spacious room. Large windows reveal a scenic mountain view at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegantly set dining table with white linens, plates, and flowers by large windows overlooking a scenic mountain view at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant table setting with white roses in glass vases, candlelights, and a place card.
Elegant table setting with white roses, candles, and glassware.
Elegant dining setup with white tablecloth, crystal glasses, and white flowers. Brown chairs, modern chandeliers, and large windows at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant dining setting with white flowers and tableware overlooking mountains through large windows at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant dining table set with white roses, candles, and folded napkins.
Snow-capped mountains bathed in golden sunlight, surrounded by tall pine trees.
Bride and groom stand hand in hand under a wooden ceiling, overlooking snowy pine-covered mountains at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom walking down an aisle on a sunlit patio, snowy mountains and pine trees in the background at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Couple in wedding attire embrace on snowy mountain deck with sunlit backdrop, surrounded by chairs and floral arrangements at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom smiling, surrounded by white flowers on a snowy outdoor terrace with tall trees and mountain in the background at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
A couple in wedding attire smiles at each other, holding white flowers. Sunlight illuminates them.
Bride and groom pose in front of a ski run at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant bouquet of white roses and greenery in a stone vase on a ledge.
Audience in formal attire seated indoors, listening to a speaker in a suit holding a microphone. Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Man in a gray suit smiling, holding a microphone on a floral-decorated balcony. Snowy mountains in the background.
Two men in suits walk arm-in-arm down an aisle at a wedding. Guests, seated and smiling, observe.
Guests seated in covered outdoor venue at a wedding ceremony at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride in white gown with bouquet walks arm-in-arm with a man in a suit.
Bride in white veil facing groom smiling in tuxedo at snowy wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests and flowers.
Bride and groom facing each other, holding hands.
Bride and groom exchange vows in snowy mountain setting, surrounded by guests. Elegant, serene ceremony with evergreen forest backdrop at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.

Woman with long hair holding a bouquet of white flowers and greenery, standing outdoors with a snowy background, wearing a black coat.
Sun setting on the mountains at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom stand holding hands at a snowy mountain ceremony. Officiant reads.
Bride and groom stand with officiant holding a mic, surrounded by flowers, on a balcony with snowy mountains in the background.
Groom places the wedding ring on the bride's finger.
A couple kisses at a wedding ceremony on a snowy mountain terrace. Guests watch, surrounded by white flowers and forested slopes at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Bride and groom smiling at each other during a winter wedding, with a snowy ski slope and pine forest in the background. Guests watch at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Three elegant rings on a soft surface with a blurred, warm-lit background.
Elegant dining room with candlelit tables, white tablecloths, and napkins. Large windows show snowy mountains at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant dining setup with white roses, candles, and folded napkins on a long table.
Elegant dining room set for an event, with long tables, white tablecloths, and flower centerpieces at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Elegant wedding seating chart with white flowers in a vase.
Elegant table setting with white flowers, folded napkins, and glassware under warm light.
Guests toast at a candlelit dinner, seated at a long table with white flowers at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
Guests seated at elegantly decorated tables in a warmly lit banquet hall at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
White tiered cake with "The Poists" topper on a metal stand beside white flowers.
A bride in a white dress and groom in a black suit share a kiss beside a cake with flowers at the Aerie at Copper Mountain.
A woman in a black dress gives a speech with a microphone, smiling at seated guests.
Woman touches chest, emotional, at formal event. Man in suit nearby speaks with microphone.
Woman wipes a tear at the table.
Bride and groom seated, toasting with a woman in black dress.
Bride in white dress and groom in black suit share a kiss on a dance floor.
People dancing joyfully at a party, wearing formal attire. A woman in a red dress stands out.
Men in suits dancing energetically with light sticks in a lively room.
Band playing indoors, featuring saxophonist, guitarist, and singer. Motion blur.
Couple at a party, smiling and holding glow sticks.

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