Weddings

Find Unparalleled Beauty at a Sonnenalp Vail Wedding

the journal

welcome to

Wide shot of an outdoor green house like reception room decorated with greenery at the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado.

Sonnenalp is a luxury resort that gives you every amenity you could possibly need while keeping you in the heart of Vail. Surrounded by rolling mountains, this place is ready to give you a breathtaking backdrop for your storybook celebration! As a Colorado wedding photographer, I adore working with my clients to help them find the best venues in the entire state. Here is everything you need to know about hosting your Sonnenalp Vail wedding!

About The Sonnenalp Vail Wedding Venue

20 Vail Road, Vail, Colorado 81657

Since Sonnenalp Resort and wedding venue first opened their doors in 1979, they have consistently been a leader in hospitality. The history of the space started much earlier, half a world away, when the Faessler family established a bed and breakfast in Ofterschwang, Germany, back in 1919. Over the years, the hotel was handed down from the generations of the family, with the quaint building becoming a sprawling hotel complete with an indoor pool, tennis courts, and a sauna.

As the hotel continued to enjoy success, Vail was going through changes of its own. The Vail Ski Resort had opened in the 1950s and saw visitors from across the globe. The Faesslers started to picture how they could also improve the area, leading them to open a second resort right here in Colorado. Today, Sonnenalp continues to draw its original inspiration while bringing its guests modern amenities. You can come out and enjoy a game of golf, feel the rejuvenation of a cold plunge, feast on their award-winning food, and check out one of the many mountain experiences. No matter what you choose, you can count on a day you will never want to forget.

Details of the Grounds

With so many unforgettable experiences, I always encourage my clients to turn their destination weddings into an adventure. This resort offers exceptional accommodations, including rooms, suites, and even a residence. Not only will you spend your week in luxury, but you will also have a spacious spot to get ready ahead of your ceremony. Many of these suites are multi-level, letting you designate a bridal suite separate from the relaxing area.

For your Sonnenalp ceremony, you can choose from indoor and outdoor wedding venues. If you would prefer a spot for a religious ceremony, you will be right across the street from the Vail Interfaith Chapel. This spot has become a favorite for Sonnenalp couples, offering a modern Gothic space with wooden ceilings and a wall-to-ceiling window cut to mimic the surrounding cedars. For those who would prefer to tie the knot on-site, you can use The Terrace. This is a mindfully decorated glass space with a retractable ceiling as well as retractable walls. This will enable you to let in the views while giving you total control in case the forecast decides to throw you a curveball.

If you would prefer a fully outdoor space, you can use the lawn in front of the hotel. You can enjoy the warm summer sun as you exchange your vows while the heart of Vail remains on prominent display! They will also allow you to use their golf course for your ceremony.

Cocktails And Wedding Receptions At Sonnenalp

As you take your pictures around the area, your guests will be able to enjoy a cocktail hour around the outdoor bar. This spot will be ready to serve up carefully crafted drinks guaranteed to elevate the evening!

Your day will end with your reception. The Terrace remains the most popular spot for this, giving you a neutral space you can completely transform into your own. You will also be able to use Harvest, their on-site restaurant, to host this portion of your evening. This space is a little moody and a little rustic, decorated with wooden walls lit up by candle sconces. With this hotel, you will be able to celebrate with up to 150 guests.

Photography Opportunities

With Sonnenalp, you will have countless gorgeous spots for your pictures. The rooms themselves are ideal for your get-ready portraits, giving you stylish and sunny spaces with bright interiors that will serve as neutral backdrops. They also tie in the spirit of the area with nature-inspired interiors and antler wall hangings.

Once your wedding is over, you can use the Terrace for your group portraits. While this area shows off the best views in Vail, it also gives you a flat spot to ensure every member of your wedding party can be included!

You will have so many options for your couple’s portraits. If you would like to journey off the property, you will be in the middle of the village, giving you picture-perfect backdrops just steps away. You can get the old-world architecture alongside the jaw-dropping mountain views for pics you could only ever get in Vail! You can also find dense woods and grassy fields where you can steal a moment together.

Wedding Details

With Sonnenalp, you are going to be positively spoiled throughout your wedding! The venue requires you to have a wedding planner when you work with them. This will give you a liaison while ensuring you can have all the details ironed out before your day arrives. The hotel can help you find options so you can find the vendors who perfectly suit your style!

While guests can reserve rooms based on availability, the hotel does not offer room blocks. Luckily, you will be right by some of the best hotels in town, giving your guests tons of options for their stay!

The hotel is going to take care of the tables, the chairs, the linens, and the flatware. They will also provide you with on-site catering options that will provide you with the most delicious food throughout your celebration!

A Garden-Inspired Wedding in Vail, CO

I’d love to share this gorgeous Sonnenlap Vail wedding while you’re here! Meghan and Chris had originally planned their wedding for June of 2020, but like so many couples that year, they opted to reschedule until the following year in June of 2021. While we were in Oregon visiting Tyler’s family in June of 2020 (we were lucky to fit in a trip right after everything opened up again!) I got a phone call from Meghan saying that they had totally changed plans, and were moving their wedding to a new date (again) and venue! With the help of Lindsay from Calluna Events, Meghan was able to pull off planning an entire wedding in less than two months at the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado, in August of 2020.

With everything that went on in 2020, Meghan and Chris’ wedding became an especially meaningful event to everyone involved. Everyone was simply over the moon that the wedding was able to take place, which meant lots of happy tears throughout the day.

Meghan and Chris both have impeccable style, which was evident in every detail of their wedding planning. I absolutely fell in love with their reception area at first sight – I mean, how could you not?! The open-air dining, dripping with greenery and candlelight, was so dreamy! Even though we were on “Plan C” I don’t think anyone could have imagined a more perfect wedding day for these two.

I Can’t Wait To Capture Your Dream Sonnenalp Vail Wedding

If you have been looking for the perfect spot for your Vail wedding, I think you are about to fall deeply in love with a Sonnenalp Vail wedding. With this luxury hotel, you can have a fairytale wedding amongst the best views in the country! Once you find your venue, it’s time to start thinking about your photographer. I can be there for that, as well! I am a Colorado wedding photographer, and I love working with couples to tell their unique love stories. So I would love to chat and tell you all about my style so you can decide if I’m the photographer for you. Hope to chat soon!