Your New Favorite Wedding Venue in Steamboat Springs: Thunderhead Lodge 

If you’re searching for a wedding venue in Colorado with jaw-dropping views, Steamboat Springs’ Thunderhead Lodge is the spot. Thunderhead Lodge stands out as one of the most unique wedding venues, perched on a mountaintop with gondola access.

I had the chance to capture Sara and Bridget’s wedding here and it took my breath away. I’m giving you a behind-the-lens look at Thunderhead Lodge with details about this wedding venue and highlights from their celebration to help you decide if it’s the perfect spot for your wedding day! 

About the Thunderhead Lodge Wedding Venue 

Situated on Steamboat Ski Resort, Thunderhead Lodge has it all: epic mountain views, a massive deck for sunsets, and a picture-perfect backdrop for your wedding. In other words, it’s pure magic.

Thunderhead Lodge offers the perfect spot if you’re dreaming of a wedding that combines an aesthetic with mountains, adventure, and the perfect hint of rusticness. A wedding here immerses you and your guests in crisp mountain air and breathtaking natural beauty, and you will be able to view a magical sunset just before the rest of your wedding celebration begins. 

While Sara and Bridget had a winter wedding here, we all know how beautiful Colorado is in the summer, so this is truly an incredible venue during both seasons. That’s part of what makes it so memorable.

How to Get to Thunderhead Lodge 

One of the most unique parts about Thunderhead Lodge is that you and your guests will arrive by gondola! The gondola ride to Thunderhead Lodge surrounds everyone with breathtaking valley views, creating an unforgettable start to your wedding day.

Not only will you get the wedding of your dreams, but your guests won’t be able to stop talking about how incredible and unique the experience is. 

Thunderhead Lodge’s Ceremony and Reception Space 

There are a couple of different options to choose from for ceremonies and receptions. Some spaces will only be available during the summer/early fall months, so check that your dream space is available during your wedding season.

For winter weddings, the Champagne Powder Room is unmatched. You get incredible views, and you’ll be able to look out the most amazing floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Alternatively, you can have your ceremony on the patio to get that outdoor vibe and the stunning backdrop without worrying about trekking through snow. 

In the summer, you’ll have access to the lawn outside with the Rocky Mountains behind you. You really can’t go wrong with either option. 

If you plan a wedding in June through September, you can also opt for their Vista Overlook or the Grand Pavillion. The overlook gives you incredible views of the surrounding area and valley and the pavilion is like a little hidden garden with greenery all around. 

Thunderhead Lodge is available for weddings from mid-December to the end of March and mid-June to September.

There’s no bad time to get married here. You will have fantastic mountain views year-round, so it just depends on whether you want more of a snowy, cozy vibe for your wedding or a classic Colorado mountain aesthetic. 

With Thunderhead Lodge’s high elevation, prepare your out-of-town guests for altitude—hydration and a little extra care will keep everyone feeling their best. I know as a local it’s a bit different being up here, but the last thing we want is for guests to be down for the count at your wedding!

My advice? Ensure you have plenty of water on hand and talk to your guests about this before your wedding. This way, they can bring altitude sickness medication with them if they’d like to. I’ve also seen some high-altitude weddings where they gave out mini Boost Oxygen canisters as wedding favors for guests! This could be a fun and helpful idea especially if the majority of your guests are from lower elevations. 

For more details on cost and contact info for Thunderhead Lodge, click here.

Amenities and Services Available at Thunderhead Lodge

With impeccable service offerings, Thunderhead Lodge ensures that every detail of your wedding day is handled flawlessly, which should always be the goal! 

Some of what their site fees include are: 

• Ceremony chairs 
• Gondola transportation 
• Tables and chairs for your reception 
• Cake cutting service 
• A Dance Floor 
• Service Staff

…and even more. You’ll feel well taken care of so you can focus your day on what matters most: you and your partner celebrating your love story.

Sara and Bridget’s Wedding at Thunderhead Lodge

Sara and Bridget are from Texas, but they and their families love skiing and have been skiing in Steamboat Springs for a looong time. They decided to have friends and family come ski with them before their welcome party the day before the wedding and let me tell you, this was so much fun! It was the perfect way to kick off the wedding festivities and everyone had an absolute blast. 

On the day of their wedding, Sara and Bridget got ready at an Airbnb in town and then did a private first look and vow exchange before taking the gondola up to their wedding venue. 

If you and your partner want to have something a bit more intimate but also still want that big family wedding, this is the best alternative. Doing private vows gives you both a chance to take a breath, be with each other, and take in the moment personally before jumping into the craziness and joy of a big wedding. 

For their wedding, they had a beautiful sunset ceremony outdoors on the Thunderhead Lodge terrace. They kept the fun going at their reception with a live band and even a piñata—yep, you read that right!

Instead of a father/daughter dance, Sara and her dad sang a song together which was so special and meaningful. Sara’s sister also sang the couple’s first dance song and it just made the moment even better. 

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful winter day or a more beautiful location! 

Sara and Bridget’s Vendors

I wanted to give a special shout-out to all the incredible vendors involved in Sara and Bridget’s magical day. All of these vendors were incredible and made the day so special. 

Venue – Thunderhead Lodge

Photographer – Meghan Blanton Photography

Videographer – Forget Me Not Media

Florals – The Garland Guy and For the Love of Pampas

Planner – SoulSpark Events 

Cake/Desserts – Humblepie Baked Goods by Erin Hamway

DJ/Band – Golden Bell Music

Hair & Makeup – BeautyKit Studio

Catering – Steamboat Mountain

Wedding Dress and Shoes – Jenny Yoo and Sorel 

Suit & Shoes – Indochino and Michael Kors

Are You Ready for Your Wedding at Thunderhead Lodge? 

Colorado has many beautiful wedding venues, but it’s truly a unique experience to have your wedding at a ski lodge, complete with a gondola ride, and in a location that feels like it’s straight out of a magical winter fairytale. 

Thunderhead Lodge is genuinely one-of-a-kind and I hope this guide gave you a better picture of what your wedding there could look like. 

And… if you’re still looking for the perfect photographer to take your wedding photos, I’d love to talk. You can learn more about my services here or contact me here.