Has anyone had their wedding ceremony and/our reception at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO? I would love to chat with someone about their experience.
I looked in to having our wedding there but we decided against it for 2 main reasons...
1- Cost
2- They hold up to four weddings at the same time! I did not want to be one of four on my wedding day. I am sure they have the logistics all figured out but still.
3- The Stanley is the hotel the movie The Shining is based on and my husband is scared of it. Seriously.
I am not sure if you've got your heart set on it...it is beautiful! But there are tons of great venues in the area. I'd consider comparing before you decide. And if you go with the Stanley at least you'll know you looked at all your options.
We didn't have our wedding there because the basic package was $10K just for the *room*. That didn't include anything other than the space. We drove up and met with all of the staff and got prices hard copy (FYI: their internet pricing is NOT CORRECT) and according to the paperwork we were given even their basic package (a 4 hour "elopement package") was $5,000 and you could only have 10 guests maximum.
Actually "The Shining" wasn't based on the Stanley Hotel. It was just filmed there. The Stanley hotel is a result of Mr. F.O. Stanley and his Stanley Steamer automobile (which resides in the lobby of the hotel to this day) Mr. Stanley built the first water/sewer system, power system and first bank in Estes Park. Had it not been for Mr. Stanley and his vision of bringing tourism to Estes Park and the building of the hotel, Estes Park would not be a tourist spot today.
When they filmed "The Shining" the Stanley Hotel was in need of repairs as it's a historical monument and the movie's producers upgraded several areas of the hotel as part of the agreement to film. (the main ballroom still has the same paneling from the movie and the music room holds the piano (which cannot be removed for a planned event or even played) It sits right smack in the center of the "stage" area. Sorry.. hubby LOVES Estes park and therefore, I've learned a lot of the history! I wasn't trying to be "contrary"
There is a "Mini Stanley" on the property which is a miniture version of the big Stanley hotel built to scale. You can rent the entire "mini Stanley" for around $20k for 6 hours of time and be seperated from the other goings on of the hotel.
The cool thing that we liked was you can rent homes on the Stanley property for a ridiculously low amount if you're having a wedding there. The homes rent between $500 and $1,000 a night for up to 2 stories with 5 bedrooms and have verandas.
Thanks for the clarification..sadly, I don't think my hubby's phobia is going to be alleviated. I have always wanted to stay there but he just won't budge...based on, filmed at, I think it's all the same to him. Still freaked out! :)
Yeah, there's a pretty scary episode of "Ghost Hunters" that takes place there. I don't think I'll be staying there overnight any time soon, but attending a wedding there would be awesome. : )
Honestly? Staying there isn't "all that" The rooms are old and not at all like an updated hotel. Think more along the lines of an older victorian bed and breakfast and even the resturant inside of the hotel is overpriced. The best bet on the entire property is some little cottage/bungalo/townhouse type things they have that are all in a row. Each one comes with it's own little mini jacuzzi that seats like four people on the back patio. I think you can rent those for $200 per night and it's definately more of what I would consider "luxury" instead of the actual main hotel itself.
Bottom line in my opinion is The Stanley is a tourist trap. Totally overpriced in the early summer through fall season and dead as a doornail in the winter. We went to Estes in november and the entire town was closed for the season save the pizza place and a few shops the locals would visit.
My hubby loves Estes and we go as often as we can to visit Rocky Mountian National Park. Estes was our first choice of where to get married, so we even looked at just getting married on the patio area at the Stanley and they wanted to charge $3,000. That was for the slab of concrete! And when you book the patio, they have minimum you have to meet for their catering. I dunno, it's a very pretty place, and very prestigious and makes for pretty pictures, but WAYYYYYYY overpriced and pretty much a rip off in my opinion.
Like my MIL said about the patio: "it's not like they created the view!" after a lot of consideration, we decided to get married at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO instead.
Has anyone had their wedding ceremony and/our reception at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO? I would love to chat with someone about their experience.
posted by kansasgirl 9 posts 3 months agoHi Kansas Girl-
I looked in to having our wedding there but we decided against it for 2 main reasons...
1- Cost
2- They hold up to four weddings at the same time! I did not want to be one of four on my wedding day. I am sure they have the logistics all figured out but still.
3- The Stanley is the hotel the movie The Shining is based on and my husband is scared of it. Seriously.
I am not sure if you've got your heart set on it...it is beautiful! But there are tons of great venues in the area. I'd consider comparing before you decide. And if you go with the Stanley at least you'll know you looked at all your options.
posted by MrsSpitzer 75 posts 3 months agoWe didn't have our wedding there because the basic package was $10K just for the *room*. That didn't include anything other than the space. We drove up and met with all of the staff and got prices hard copy (FYI: their internet pricing is NOT CORRECT) and according to the paperwork we were given even their basic package (a 4 hour "elopement package") was $5,000 and you could only have 10 guests maximum.
You're welcome to email me if you'd like
debi_rmc at yahoo dot com
posted by July2008Bride 189 posts 3 months agoMrsSpitzer...
Actually "The Shining" wasn't based on the Stanley Hotel. It was just filmed there. The Stanley hotel is a result of Mr. F.O. Stanley and his Stanley Steamer automobile (which resides in the lobby of the hotel to this day) Mr. Stanley built the first water/sewer system, power system and first bank in Estes Park. Had it not been for Mr. Stanley and his vision of bringing tourism to Estes Park and the building of the hotel, Estes Park would not be a tourist spot today.
When they filmed "The Shining" the Stanley Hotel was in need of repairs as it's a historical monument and the movie's producers upgraded several areas of the hotel as part of the agreement to film. (the main ballroom still has the same paneling from the movie and the music room holds the piano (which cannot be removed for a planned event or even played) It sits right smack in the center of the "stage" area. Sorry.. hubby LOVES Estes park and therefore, I've learned a lot of the history! I wasn't trying to be "contrary"
There is a "Mini Stanley" on the property which is a miniture version of the big Stanley hotel built to scale. You can rent the entire "mini Stanley" for around $20k for 6 hours of time and be seperated from the other goings on of the hotel.
The cool thing that we liked was you can rent homes on the Stanley property for a ridiculously low amount if you're having a wedding there. The homes rent between $500 and $1,000 a night for up to 2 stories with 5 bedrooms and have verandas.
posted by July2008Bride 189 posts 3 months agoThanks for the clarification..sadly, I don't think my hubby's phobia is going to be alleviated. I have always wanted to stay there but he just won't budge...based on, filmed at, I think it's all the same to him. Still freaked out! :)
posted by MrsSpitzer 75 posts 3 months agoYeah, there's a pretty scary episode of "Ghost Hunters" that takes place there. I don't think I'll be staying there overnight any time soon, but attending a wedding there would be awesome. : )
posted by amysue 643 posts 3 months agoHonestly? Staying there isn't "all that" The rooms are old and not at all like an updated hotel. Think more along the lines of an older victorian bed and breakfast and even the resturant inside of the hotel is overpriced. The best bet on the entire property is some little cottage/bungalo/townhouse type things they have that are all in a row. Each one comes with it's own little mini jacuzzi that seats like four people on the back patio. I think you can rent those for $200 per night and it's definately more of what I would consider "luxury" instead of the actual main hotel itself.
Bottom line in my opinion is The Stanley is a tourist trap. Totally overpriced in the early summer through fall season and dead as a doornail in the winter. We went to Estes in november and the entire town was closed for the season save the pizza place and a few shops the locals would visit.
My hubby loves Estes and we go as often as we can to visit Rocky Mountian National Park. Estes was our first choice of where to get married, so we even looked at just getting married on the patio area at the Stanley and they wanted to charge $3,000. That was for the slab of concrete! And when you book the patio, they have minimum you have to meet for their catering. I dunno, it's a very pretty place, and very prestigious and makes for pretty pictures, but WAYYYYYYY overpriced and pretty much a rip off in my opinion.
Like my MIL said about the patio: "it's not like they created the view!" after a lot of consideration, we decided to get married at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO instead.
posted by July2008Bride 189 posts 3 months ago