4.8
Verified reviews from real couples
A Romantic Venue Tucked Away in the Mountains...
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Absolutely stellar! Their turnover from multiple other wedding parties and attention to detail were amazing. The dinner service was smooth and it was truly so nice to just soak it all in and enjoy our wedding night. I will have the fondest memories and it was so special to be back home in Colorado.
Annamaria S.
5.0
We recently hosted our western-themed wedding welcome party at the Donovan Pavilion and it was nothing short of magical. The architecture itself is stunning, with high ceilings, wooden beams, large glass windows, and a rustic charm that upscaled our cowboy chic theme beautifully. Many of our guests said it was one of the most beautiful venues they had ever seen.
Mindy and Lindsey, the venue coordinators, are incredibly sweet, helpful, and professional. One or the other was always available to answer our questions via phone or email. The wedding was put off for a year, and Mindy worked with us to reschedule.
While the Pavilion doesn't come with tableware or linens, the flexibility to bring in our own allowed us to customize our event to our own western theme.
I highly recommend the Donovan Pavilion for your wedding or welcome party.
Anne C.
5.0
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Donovan Pavilion is a rustic wedding venue in Vail, CO. Tucked away in the mountains, breathtaking views and towering green pines surround it. The town of Vail lovingly built this venue in 2003 to be a place where people can gather to celebrate their most memorable moments.
Donovan Pavilion rests on 50 acres of open space and green parkland. It is suitable for 200 guests and offers a selection of beautiful event spaces for you to host your ceremony and reception. You can exchange vows in a breathtaking outdoor ceremony surrounded by lush greenery and scenic mountain views. After you say I do, you and your guests can retreat to the reception hall for a night of dining and dancing. This space features high vaulted ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and large floor-to-ceiling windows that pool natural light into the hall. Sparkling chandeliers bring a romantic atmosphere to the room, while the large windows allow for stunning sunset views as dusk approaches. In the evening, guests can mingle and relax around a firepit while marveling at the starry night sky.
The Donovan Pavilion team would be honored to help bring your vision to life. Their professional management team can assist with vendor selection, or you are welcome to bring in your favorite catering company or restaurant. Wedding packages include state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, a flat-screen TV, and microphones. Tables and chairs are included to make setting up that much easier.
Check out the gallery for an exclusive 360° Virtual Tour!
23+ years in business
Small team (2-10 members)
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Venue Service Offerings
Rentals & Equipment
Awards and Affiliations
2013 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.041 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Makenzie O
Highlighted review.
5.0
10/03/2022
The Donovan was a dream come true. Not only was the venue itself beautiful, Mindy was incredible to work with. She was so kind and helpful in making sure our event was organized an...
d went smoothly. The space itself is gorgeous and the perfect mix of elegance and mountain charm. We got married in the fall and the back patio was unbelievable with the fall colors. This venue is also awesome because it lets you pick and choose your own vendors to bring in.
Annamaria S
5.0
10/04/2025
Absolutely stellar! Their turnover from multiple other wedding parties and attention to detail were amazing. The dinner service was smooth and it was truly so nice to just soak it ...
all in and enjoy our wedding night. I will have the fondest memories and it was so special to be back home in Colorado.
Response from Donovan Pavilion on 10/13/2025
Thank you so much for your kind words, Annamaria! We are so grateful that you chose the D...
onovan Pavilion for your special day and wish you all the best!
Any questions?
Anne C
5.0
9/07/2024
We recently hosted our western-themed wedding welcome party at the Donovan Pavilion and it was nothing short of magical. The architecture itself is stunning, with high ceilings, wo...
oden beams, large glass windows, and a rustic charm that upscaled our cowboy chic theme beautifully. Many of our guests said it was one of the most beautiful venues they had ever seen.
Mindy and Lindsey, the venue coordinators, are incredibly sweet, helpful, and professional. One or the other was always available to answer our questions via phone or email. The wedding was put off for a year, and Mindy worked with us to reschedule.
While the Pavilion doesn't come with tableware or linens, the flexibility to bring in our own allowed us to customize our event to our own western theme.
I highly recommend the Donovan Pavilion for your wedding or welcome party.
Response from Donovan Pavilion on 09/09/2024
Thank you so much for your feedback, Anne! Our team had a great time working with you, yo...
ur vendors and guests and we are thrilled that you were happy with the outcome of your event. We wish your son and his lovely bride all the best!
Jaime S
5.0
6/13/2022
Highly recommend booking Donovan Pavilion for your Vail wedding! This is an ideal space for those who like to have the freedom to select their own food and beverage vendors. Mindy...
was such a pleasure to work with and the space is beautiful.
Katie R
5.0
10/24/2019
I don't have enough amazing things to say about the Donovan Pavilion. Mindy is amazing and so incredible to work with. The views were amazing, the fall colors were perfect for our ...
day, and the Pavilion is hard to beat! I would absolutely recommend it to all of our friends!
Brooke H
5.0
8/13/2019
Donovan Pavilion was such a great venue! We were able to choose our own caterer and bring in our own alcohol, so this not only saved on cost but allowed us to find the best vendors...
for us. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and Mindy at Donovan was super easy to work with and even helped in our reception layout. Would highly recommend to anyone!
Rachel J
5.0
8/12/2019
We fell in love with Donovan Pavilion right away, in large part because of the gorgeous windows all around. Which was a good thing too since we had to move our ceremony and cocktai...
l hour inside due to rain. Even with the last minute rearranging everything was beautiful and the space was great. We used their chairs and tables and didn't do any rentals but had to find all of our vendors which really allowed us to get what we wanted and control price, but it's a lot more work! The venue is gorgeous and right off Gore Creek and the staff is great.
Katie G
5.0
10/18/2018
The Donovan Pavilion is beautiful and all of my guests were blown away! We held the ceremony on the back patio with the beautiful fall leaves behind us - and then moved inside for ...
the cocktail hour and reception. We worked with Mindy and she was great! Very personable and well organized. If you want a beautiful mountain wedding, the Donovan Pavilion is the place to go!
L E
5.0
9/28/2018
My (now) husband and I fell in love with the Donovan Pavilion the moment we stepped inside. The architecture provides décor in and of itself, and truly reminds you that you are in ...
the mountains. We decided to have our ceremony on the patio (in Mid July with 125 guests) and the Aspen trees are a beautiful ceremony backdrop. The first Donovan employee who toured us through the space wasn’t terribly kind or helpful, but we then dealt with Mindy for the rest of our planning and she is INCREDIBLE. I truly can’t say enough great things about Mindy. Between vendor recommendations, or constant questions via phone and email, she was patient and gracious and excellent to work with. We were able to use their wooden chairs for the ceremony and then round/ rectangle/ cocktail tables for the reception, but had to rent everything else. Planning a wedding here is not easy because you really do have to bring so many vendors in- rentals, flowers, cake, alcohol, bartenders, caterer. It was a lot to manage. I certainly recommend using the local liquor store for some of the alcohol, if you are having it at the wedding. Their pickup/ delivery is truly helpful. Overall, it is a beautiful structure in an exceptional town. While it certainly was more difficult than a “full-service” venue, if you want full control of all aspects, I definitely recommend the Donovan.
Victoria E
5.0
9/16/2018
We got married at the Vail Wedding Deck and then had our reception at Donovan Pavilion. The Pavilion is SO beautiful (without the need for tons of decorations). The management is a...
lso great - really responsive, helpful, and kind. We had about 140 guests and it was the PERFECT size (not too big, not crowded at all). We did our cocktail hour out on the patio, then the reception inside. Worked great!
Melissa B
5.0
7/11/2018
The absolute perfect venue for a “rustic elegant” wedding in the mountains of Colorado!! It is so naturally gorgeous that you don’t need to overdecorate. Mindy was so helpful and a...
ccommodating with the planning process and everything ran smoothly. All of my out of town guests absolutely loved the venue!! I had about 100 guests andI thought the space worked very nicely, but there is definitely flexibility to make it work for smaller or larger sized crowds.
savannah s
5.0
1/16/2018
Loved Donovan because we had so much autonomy and were able to make the little details whatever we wanted. I was able to choose my own vendors and that was one of our biggest desir...
es for our wedding! The venue itself is also so beautiful and doesnt need a ton of decor.
Virginia F
5.0
11/18/2017
We held our wedding at Donovan in September, 2017, and it was perfect for us. The staff was wonderful to work with, and the venue is beautiful. We had about 85 guests, and we had ...
plenty of room to spare, but it didn't feel empty. Thanks to Mindy and her staff!
Nicole A
5.0
10/01/2017
Donovan Pavilion was the perfect venue for our August 2017 wedding. The space is absolutely beautiful and perfect to be able to make of it what you want. Mindy and the rest of the ...
staff were extremely helpful in answering our questions, allowing us to tour the venue a few times and ensuring all the details of the day of were covered. We had 160 people at our wedding and had more than enough space. I would recommend the venue to anyone looking for a rustic wedding (at a good value) in Vail.
Haydn H
5.0
9/29/2017
The Donovan Pavilion was a fairytale venue to celebrate our wedding day in. The staff that we were able to work with throughout the process were very attentive at answering any que...
stions we had and giving us advice for the wedding day as well based on weddings they had seen previously in the space. Every time we wanted to get in the space (whether it be to tour it for the first time, meet there with our caterers, or select a time for the rehearsal the night before) we were always able to get the day and time we needed as well. Since you bring all outside vendors into the space (which we loved because we were able to hand pick everyone ourselves) the only other service the Donovan provided was someone to be there during the wedding to make sure that the venue was well taken care of. This person turned into a security man about half way through the night and they were both very helpful! The venue is an incredible space and I couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else!
Melissa C
5.0
4/02/2017
Beautiful venue to help capture your day
Mj B
1.0
11/01/2016
Our son had his wedding here a month ago. It was a beautiful venue and setting. We left the place Immaculate before we left that evening at 11pm. The reason for the 1 star is they ...
did not return his $500 deposit claiming damage to the floor and a small dirt stain on a raggedy entry carpet that we offered to vacuum up ourselves if necessary. We don't even know if this dirt was from our party!!! And As if the $5500 rent for the place for 5 hours wasn't enough! We took photos and got the run around. They finally conceded and said he would receive the full deposit. After emailing again after a month of not receiving it they finally sent a check for less! I DO NOT recommend doing business with them!!!! Very sad way of doing business especially for two newlyweds!
Becca B
5.0
6/09/2016
If you're looking for a breath-taking venue, Donovan Pavilion is the perfect place. The scenery is amazing, and the Donovan has gorgeous windows to take it all in. They were able t...
o accommodate our large wedding easily, and they were very helpful with the planning.
If you are a bride that is looking to plan all the details yourself, then the Donovan will be perfect. However, if you don't have a lot of time or desire to bring in everything, I wouldn't book here.
Mindy was wonderful about responding to all of my questions and helping organize all of our vendors. Unfortunately, she was gone the day of our wedding and that made our day a little less organized. I know if she had been then it would have been flawless.
Overall, it is a gorgeous place and we loved having our wedding there!
Erin B
5.0
9/21/2015
We were planning our wedding under a pretty tight timeline and feel so lucky that we managed to find a Friday availability 6 months out. Mindy and her entire staff were always extr...
emely responsive and efficient. The contract was clear and concise and I feel we got an amazing value for the money. We were able to get an in-county discount as well, which was nice that they offered that to locals. One great thing about it being a government-owned facility is that you have free-reign to choose your vendors and are even able to purchase your own alcohol from any source (as long as a TIPS certified bartender serves it).
Kirstie G
5.0
8/04/2015
We loved Donovan Pavilion!!
We did the ceremony on the back deck which was gorgeous, and then we did the rehearsal inside! Everything was amazing!
Laurie and Mindy were also a ...
big help with some issues we had after the wedding too! I highly recommend this place for your wedding!!
(If you are a Vail local then you can ask for the locals rate and prove that you live in town and the price of the venue is discounted!)
Elizabeth S
5.0
3/18/2015
The Donovan Pavilion was exactly what I was looking for. It was in the mountains and not far off the interstate so it made for easy access. Mindy and all the ladies were so helpful...
and were ALWAYS available when I had questions! The venue itself was beautiful. It offers space for indoor and outdoor ceremonies and has a surround sound system if you decide to forgo a DJ/Band. The kitchen is perfect for caterers and they have an extensive list of people/companies who have worked there before so it seems like everyone knows what they are doing. There were only a few things that I found tough when choosing The Donovan. They do not have any sort of package when it comes to weddings so be prepared to spend more than you originally bargain for (renting linens, heaters, etc.). Also, they have really strict times that you are allowed to be in the building due to the fact that they host many different types of events and not just weddings. Even tho those were obstacles they did not deter me from choosing this venue and in the end I believe it made my wedding beautiful and all of my guests were SO impressed with how stunning the venue itself is.
Marisa M
5.0
6/29/2014
My mom and I fell in love with this beautiful open space of Donovan Pavilion. They were very helpful in planning our big day and making sure the venue had all was promised. Would r...
ecommend for any bride that wants to create a special out of the box wedding.
Holly T
5.0
10/02/2013
What a joy and a pleasure it was to hold our wedding reception at the Donovan Pavilion. The room is just stunning, the location is naturally beautiful and the staff are a pleasure ...
to work with. We had an absolutely fabulous time there and our guests loved being able to use the back patio among the trees, the firepit and also take cover inside the beautiful pavilion when the rain passed through briefly.
It worked out much cheaper to host our wedding here and bring in outside suppliers to cater the event, than to use the other hotels in the Vail area. Bear in mind, you are only hiring out the pavilion, tables and chairs and no other services are included but if you are fine to organise the other details yourself, as I was, this works out as a really affordable Vail wedding. That doesn't mean it is cheap though since you are in Vail. We hired in caterers, linens, extra tables, DJ, bought our own alcohol and hired a bartender (it's the law the have a bar tender unfortunately) and bought decorations (although minimal decs are needed in this beautiful venue), which added up but all in all worked out as fairly reasonable. You can host both your ceremony and reception here or you can move here for just the reception as I did.
I would really reccommend the Pavilion for a beautiful natural wedding location, which is only a 1 mile walk/drive from Lionshead Village. We had a great time here and you must visit it to appreciate its beauty.
Jennifer D
5.0
10/25/2012
Everything was amazing here. The staff is easy to work with, extremely responsive, and helpful.
Christine L
5.0
10/08/2012
I loved the Donovan Pavilion -- it was the perfect venue for us since we wanted A) to have the ceremony & reception in the same place, B) to have an outdoor ceremony location, ...
and C) to bring in our own alcohol and bartenders. We saved a ton of money that way, allowing us to get married in Vail like we'd hoped. The building and outdoor facilities are all gorgeous. The only drawback was that you have to bring in everything (linens, plates, glasses, etc...) but that worked out well for us. Also, they were very friendly to deal with and gave us some good advice! It was expensive, but worth the cost to have a perfect wedding venue!
Jenna S
5.0
9/24/2012
When we began planning our Rustic Colorado themed wedding, we knew that we wanted a venue that would represent the beautiful Colorado mountain scenery! As soon as we took a tour of...
The Donovan Pavilion we knew that it was the perfect place for our fall wedding in Vail. The Gore Creek, Aspen Trees, and beautiful rustic building was a true Colorado Mountain experience! The Donovan Pavilion staff was so helpful throughout our wedding planning process and allowed us to make numerous appointments with our vendors. Our guests raved about how clean and maintained the building was! We loved being able to have an outdoor cocktail hour on the back patio and an indoor reception. The fire pit was a big hit too! We recommend this venue for any couple that is seeking that perfect mountain venue!
Catherine T
5.0
9/04/2012
We got married last month at the Donovan Pavilion and we are beyond thrilled by how wonderfully the venue worked out. The ceremony was held on the back patio with the backdrop of ...
the mountains and beautiful Colorado trees. The reception space inside was the perfect size for our group of 130 guests. The staff at Donovan is very helpful and available to answer questions throughout the planning process. I highly recommend this venue and I would not change a thing!
Ann P
4.0
8/07/2012
We loved the Donovan Pavilion. It is a perfect option for DIY couples who want a gorgeous indoor/outdoor space that they can make their own. Venue was very easy to work with and f...
lexible. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because, like everything in Vail, the price seems a little high.
Jessica H
5.0
7/29/2012
You can bring in your own caterer (if you have less than 50 guests, then you can bring in your own food without a licensed caterer), you can bring your own booze, as long as you do...
n't sell it. It is a gorgeous setting with a patio for ceremonies. If it rains, you can move it inside, which is also very amazing with all the windows. Mindy is wonderful to work with too!
Darcy B
5.0
6/13/2012
I really wanted to have a mountain wedding, with an outside ceremony and an inside reception… this place was perfect! It is truly one of the most beautiful places to hold a wedding...
... our guests were blown away. The staff are wonderful to work with and very helpful. We would highly recommend the Donovan to anyone!
Anne H
5.0
11/06/2011
Beautiful wedding venue! The staff is very helpful and available. Would highly recommend this venue to anyone!
Lauren H
5.0
10/22/2011
The Donovan Pavilion is owned by the town of Vail. We found their prices to be pretty reasonable for Vail, but the town sets the rules and the staff can't be very flexible about th...
em. Things like... you get a set time for the price and if you want more time you have to buy it in 2 hour chunks... even if you only want one more hour.
Otherwise the place is amazing! It's right off I-70 so it's convenient and though it is close to the highway, you don't notice the noise. Once you pay the site fee you can use everything at the pavilion... no extra charge for the sound system or the projector screen etc. Very little limitations on what venders you can use.
Example:
Catering Restrictions: must prepare food in health inspected kitchen and obtain a Vail sales tax license (which is free)
Worked with Mindy. She is professional, friendly, accommodating and flexible. My venders and family loved her! She made us feel so welcome and I could tell that our wedding day mattered to her. She was excited for us. I just loved her!
The Pavilion itself is beautiful. Though it is close to other buildings, the vegetation hides this and it feels so private. There is a public park next door with a playground, which was awesome for the little kids.
There is an outdoor gas fire pit that they turn on for the whole time you are at the pavilion. They have some tables and chairs, a projector screen (no projector), a built in sound system that is great for cocktail hour and dinner music (plays both inside and out), facilities are clean and well taken care of. High ceilings, big wood beams, lots of light from big windows, beautiful landscaping.
LOVED LOVED LOVED this venue!
Elise H
4.0
8/26/2011
We recently had our ceremony and reception at the Donovan Pavilion. Not only is the site stunning, the staff (Mindy) is phenomenal! The inside of the pavilion is wide open with flo...
or to ceiling windows facing the patio...with the mountains, trees and river in the background. Breathtaking! Next door is a city park with a wonderful playground that came in handy when the kiddos got a little restless. The firepit was working and was a great retreat when people wanted to get outside (and still stay warm!). Everything except tables and chairs needs to be brought in, which can drive up costs. However, being able to choose a caterer and bring your own liquor was a great option. Overall, I would highly recommend the Donovan Pavilion!
Kirsten C
4.0
8/16/2011
It was the beautiful setting for our reception. We had so many people who kept commenting on what a wonderful location we chose. It is a bit more expensive than if you were doing...
something on the front range but totally worth it.
Susan F
5.0
8/05/2011
The location next to the river is beautiful Close to the interstate but would NEVER know. Great places for photos. The nicest part is you can bring in all your own vendors inclu...
ding liquor so can really save money that way. Takes more organization with coordinating all the vendors and so I believe a lot of people will use a wedding planner though we did not and everything still worked out great.
Ashley H
5.0
6/14/2011
Great event planner, easy to work with, beautiful setting, and very affordable. But such a classy place that it looks to cost 10,000+
Trinette L
5.0
10/18/2010
We worked mostly with Mindy. We were able to walk through quite a few times and I was able to have samples mailed to her so I could look at samples of chair covers on the pavilion...
's chairs. They were very professional and incredibly helpful.
Sarah S
5.0
9/18/2010
This is a great venue...you can bring your own caterer, liquor, dj, band, etc. so that helps to keep the cost low. The interior has a high vaulted ceiling and really represents the...
mountainy-style architecture. The back patio is on the creek and great for a cocktail hour or your ceremony.
Shanley B
5.0
8/10/2010
We had our reception at the Donovan Pavilion and it couldn't have been more perfect! We absolutely loved the space and the staff was a pleasure to work with!
Michael W
5.0
5/10/2010
great location by the river, next to a park and beautiful interior/exterior of the facility. Very versatile space!!;Honestly the venue worked very well for us!
Stephanie B
5.0
5/10/2010
The facilities are beatiful and classy and perfect for the mountain setting. There is a nice large patio with beautiful trees and flowers surrounding it and the river running behin...
d it.
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Donovan Pavilion
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