Alta Lodge

The Alta Lodge does everything wedding-related exceptionally well - there's gorgeous scenery, delicious food packages, linens, floral displays, caring and thoughtful coordinators and employees, (they went above and beyond for us time and time again) but the thing that ultimately made the Alta Lodge the absolute no-brainer choice of a venue was the gift of time that being there provided us. By booking the whole Lodge for the weekend for us and our guests, we were given a luxurious amount of time with our loved ones, and we were given a luxurious amount of time back to us in the wedding planning process. Most non-Alta Lodge weddings we go to are a bit scattered: you go to the welcome event, then you probably don't see anyone again until the wedding, and then at the end of the reception you're ushered out and you go back to your hotel, or find a sober ride to the after party spot. Not at the Alta Lodge. At our wedding, people started checking in on Thursday and therefore we got to hang out with family and friends Thursday, all day Friday, all day Saturday, and a good chunk of Sunday. The events all being at the Lodge meant people could relax and not have to worry about transportation. At the end of the night, people could hang out in the Sitzmark Club (just upstairs) or hit the hot tubs. Everyone being at the Lodge for 3-4 days meant it felt a bit like a summer camp, and people from different family and friend groups got to mix and mingle more than I've ever seen at a wedding. It meant little inside jokes could start and by the end of the weekend everyone was involved. It meant people had time to let the beauty of Alta soak in and go on hikes, or just sit on the deck playing games. It meant real connections formed among people I never imagined would mix. For us, the bride and groom, having everyone and everything in one place relieved us of so much potential stress and logistics planning. I previously mentioned the typical guest experience of having to go from venue to venue - just think about the typical bride and groom experience of all that planning! The wedding planning process for me with the Alta Lodge felt fun and as stress-free as it could've been (this coming from an above average anxiety person), thanks to the coordinators at the Lodge. I mean, just the ability to wake up in our room on our wedding day, go down the hall to the bridal suite/upstairs to the groom suite, get ready with friends and family, and then walk down the rest of the hall to go to the ceremony was such a breeze and worth every penny. I cannot say enough how nice it was to be there and to get to have those extra moments of relaxation whenever we needed it. Truly, the gift of time with your people is something that is so special and I don't know if any other venues do it as well as the Alta Lodge. In all my research I had trouble finding another place where you can have all your friends and family together for a few days, relaxing and celebrating love, in a comfortable and picture-perfect lodge. Its simply the perfect place to have a wedding. I'd relive the weekend over and over if I could. People say "run don't walk" when talking about making sure you get the best things, but I think for the Alta Lodge it should be adjusted to "Sprint don't run!" because that's how incredible a wedding weekend at the Lodge is.