There’s nothing more unforgettable than saying your vows on a snow-covered mountain in Summit County. Whether you’re stepping off a chairlift into golden sunrise light, carving down the slopes together after your ceremony, or sharing a private moment tucked into the trees, a ski or snowboard elopement turns your wedding day into an experience instead of an event.
Summit County is truly the heart of Colorado’s ski culture — home to four world-class resorts (Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin), plus endless alpine overlooks, forest trails, and hidden winter nooks that are perfect for intimate ceremonies. Every mountain here offers its own kind of magic, whether you want iconic Breckenridge views, Keystone’s soft sunset glow, Copper’s quiet runs, or A-Basin’s dramatic, high-alpine energy.
I lived in Summit County for 9 years (and I intend to move back to my true home — the mountains of Summit County). These peaks will always feel like home to me. I still spend part of each winter here photographing ski and snowboard elopements — and because I’ve ridden all four resorts countless times, I know exactly how to help you plan a day that feels effortless, safe, and truly magical.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your Summit County ski or snowboard elopement, from choosing the right resort to building a timeline, staying warm, finding the best winter locations, and creating a day that feels authentic, adventurous, and completely yours.
Choosing the Right Summit County Ski Resort for Your Elopement
Summit County has four incredible ski resorts — Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin — and each one creates a completely different experience for your elopement. This choice isn’t about how advanced you are on skis or a snowboard — it’s about the energy, scenery, and atmosphere you want surrounding one of the biggest moments of your life.
Your elopement day might feel cozy and relaxed, adventurous and bold, or full of that classic ski-town charm — and the resort you choose shapes that naturally. Breckenridge offers the feel of a lively mountain town with charming streets, warm cafés, and plenty of places to wander before or after your ceremony. Keystone and Copper create more of an intimate ski-village experience, where your whole day — from getting ready to après — can revolve around the resort itself. And A-Basin delivers something completely different: a rugged, high-alpine environment that feels raw, dramatic, and beautifully minimal.
Each mountain gives you its own kind of magic. Below, you’ll find an overview of what makes each one special so you can choose the place that matches the experience you want for your Summit County ski or snowboard elopement.
Breckenridge Ski Resort Elopements
Breckenridge is the most iconic ski destination in Summit County — and for good reason. With its historic downtown, sweeping mountain views, cozy cafés, and vibrant ski-town energy, Breck creates a wedding day experience that feels both adventurous and warm. It’s ideal for couples who want the excitement of a classic Colorado mountain town woven into their elopement.
On the mountain, Breck offers expansive alpine bowls, tree-lined runs, and lift-accessed views that feel huge and cinematic. You can step off the chairlift into golden morning light, choose a quiet pocket of trees for a private ceremony, or plan a more adventurous afternoon exploring higher elevations. The variety here makes it easy to find a spot that fits your vision — whether you want something peaceful and tucked away or bold and wide-open.
One of the things couples love most about Breckenridge is how seamlessly the off-mountain experience pairs with the slopes. You can get ready in a cozy cabin, wander Main Street for a relaxed first look, grab a drink after skiing, or book a reservation at one of the many local restaurants to end your day. Everything you need — snow, views, charm, and celebration — is right at your fingertips.
Breck is perfect for couples who want a day that feels lively, scenic, and full of personality, with endless places to explore both on and off the mountain.
Keystone Ski Resort Elopements
Keystone is the perfect choice for couples who want a quieter, more relaxed ski-village experience without sacrificing stunning mountain views. It has a softer, more intimate feel than Breckenridge — the kind of place where your whole elopement day can unfold in one beautiful, easy-flowing location.
The village areas at Keystone make getting ready, meeting up, and celebrating afterward feel seamless. Everything is walkable, calm, and centered around the resort itself, which takes a lot of pressure off the logistics of the day. If you imagine a wedding day that feels cozy, connected, and effortless, Keystone delivers that naturally.
On the mountain, Keystone offers some truly magical scenery — especially in the late afternoon. Its sunset light is warm and golden, and there are plenty of quiet pockets along the runs where you can step away for a private ceremony with the mountains surrounding you. The gondola-accessed terrain at the top provides wide-open views without needing to go too far, making it ideal for couples who want elevated scenery without pushing into extreme alpine conditions.
Keystone is perfect for couples who want an easygoing, village-centered day with beautiful mountain light, soft scenery, and an overall sense of calm and closeness. If you picture a day that feels simple, warm, and seamlessly connected, this is your mountain.
Copper Mountain Ski Elopements
Copper Mountain is an amazing choice for couples who want a more grounded, easy-flowing elopement experience with beautiful winter scenery. While Copper has grown in popularity and can be busier on peak days, it still carries a calmer, less chaotic feel than the larger resorts — especially once you’re away from the main base areas.
What makes Copper special is the natural layout of the mountain. The runs are wide, varied, and spread out in a way that creates pockets where you can slow down and find a little breathing room. There are plenty of tree-lined sections and quiet corners that feel more intimate than the high-traffic areas at Breck or Keystone. It’s a great mountain for couples who want a balance of beautiful terrain and a more relaxed overall experience.
Copper also has some of the prettiest winter light in Summit County. Late afternoon brings soft, golden tones and glowing peaks that photograph beautifully, whether you’re tucked into the trees or standing on an overlook.
The village at Copper is cozy and compact, making it simple to get ready, grab a warm drink, ride the lift, ski together, and end your day with a relaxed dinner — all without the busyness of a larger town atmosphere.
Copper is perfect for couples who want a beautiful, slower-paced elopement day with great light, scenic terrain, and an overall feeling of ease.
Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) Ski Elopements
Arapahoe Basin — or A-Basin, as locals know it — is the most rugged and dramatic option for a ski or snowboard elopement in Summit County. If you want a day that feels wild, raw, and beautifully untouched, this mountain delivers that feeling the moment you step off the lift. There’s something undeniably special about A-Basin’s high-alpine terrain: towering peaks, steep drops, wide-open bowls, and that unmistakable sense that you’re truly in the mountains.
A-Basin’s energy is different from every other resort in Summit County. It’s more laid-back, more local, and far less commercialized. There’s no big village, no bustling town center — just pure alpine terrain and an authentic mountain crowd. Couples who choose A-Basin usually know right away: this is the place for people who genuinely love skiing or riding and want their wedding day to feel like an adventure from start to finish.
Ceremonies here can take on a truly epic feel. Whether you’re drawn to the high ridges, the dramatic East Wall, or the quiet tree pockets below, the scenery is bold and cinematic. The mountain’s elevation also gives you some of the best winter light in Summit County — bright, crisp mornings and golden, glowing afternoons that look incredible in photos.
A-Basin is perfect for couples who want an adventure-first elopement: raw, breathtaking scenery, fewer distractions, and a sense of being far from everything except each other and the mountains. If you crave a day that feels bold, untamed, and completely unforgettable, A-Basin is your mountain.