How to Plan an Activity-Packed Wedding Weekend in the Mountains

Wedding weekends have boomed in popularity over the past few years as a way for couples to keep the party going with their guests, and mountain weddings are no different! With so many couples renting out beautiful cabins and venues with gorgeous views, who wouldn’t want to extend the celebration into a weekend-long extravaganza?

Mandee Johnson Photography

Before you get started on your itinerary, we rounded up some top wedding pros to ensure that you have a seamless, action-packed weekend in the mountains.

Preparing your guests

Unlike any other wedding weekend, hosting a mountain getaway includes a few more details that your guests may not take into consideration. Make sure that you and your soon-to-be spouse are also keeping these things in mind when coordinating your trip. 

Kevin Dennis of Fantasy Sound Event Services urges, “Depending on your locale, understand that your cell service or Wi-Fi access may be much more limited than it is on the ground level. Your venue, hotel, or Airbnb likely won’t have any issues, but it’s definitely a possibility that you and your guests will be relatively off-the-grid for the weekend during certain times. Additionally, some guests may not be the most outdoorsy, so establish expectations early-on and take into consideration that not everyone will want to participate in difficult hikes or physically demanding activities.”

Nora Sheils of Bridal Bliss and Rock Paper Coin adds, “If you have time to plan the adventures plan ahead a few months to carve out time to explore and research the area. When you visit your wedding site, book time to try out the activities you want to suggest to your guests.”

Jocelyn Filley Photography

Unforgettable activities

Deciding on the agenda is the fun part! Give friends and family some options, and make sure that you’re offering a mixture of laid-back and relaxing activities along with some adventurous ones. 

For the spontaneous types, Jen Sulak of Weirdo Weddings recommends taking on a thrill. “I love the idea of zip-lining with your wedding guests! I know not everyone will want to do it, but for those who do, it is such a fun time of whoosh-ing through the trees and flying free into the trees and mountains! Do some research ahead of time for your personal experience, of course, and then plan a lovely time outside having a picnic or tidbits of food & drink to enjoy once you are all done.”

Alternatively, Alicia Igess Jones suggests something a little more low-key. “All of our activities were centered around food and taking in the views. One of the most fun activities we experienced was a wood-oven pizza party. When that ended, we had s’mores. There was a chef onsite that prepared breakfast each day, and we ate outside together as a group. We played all of the board games you could imagine. We also played cards and did karaoke. For those of us, who stayed up later than others, we had the most memorable conversations.”

Logistics to bear in mind

Planning a wedding is one thing, but coordinating an entire weekend dedicated to your loved ones is another. Logistically speaking, err on the side of caution and consider the details that come along with a few days in the mountains.

Sulak says, “Research, research, research! Not every location is the same, so you will want to research what you enjoy and what you can enjoy as a group. Not everyone in the group will be running off with you, so communicate accordingly so everyone knows the ins and outs of your activity. Bring in a professional coordinator or planner that can help with all the major details like cost, timelines, and a point person to contact for major Q&As that might come up when you start sharing your ideas for the activities.”

Sheils agrees, noting, “If you are strapped for time, you may want to delegate this task to your planner. It will most likely be an additional cost to you for their hours, but it will be money well spent for a well-thought-out plan for your guests. Your planner can ensure details are secured, confirmed, and printed out for guests to find and use easily.”

By Halie

This is your time to keep the party going and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and views with the people you’re closest to. As long as you bear in mind the details (there’s no such thing as being too prepared!), your mini vacation to the mountains will be one that you remember forever!

Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.