Weddingbee boards

First let me start by saying 2 things. 1) we were in Estes Park for a few hours today for some horseback riding, so we figured since we were so close, we would take The Ghost Tour of the Stanley Hotel. and 2) this was not to inquire about our wedding while there, as we had done that months ago, and our venue is all booked and ready for our wedding in 27 days!

The hotel is beautiful, the mountian views just breathtaking and we were intrigued by the history of the hotel and the supposed hauntings etc etc.. the guide was very knowledgable and extremely animated and his jobs suits him well. It really was informative and fun.  We just so happened to be doing our tour during a WEDDING. Yep, you read that right, during a wedding. Part of our tour (and they are scheduled all day every day) was on the front lawn/garden of the hotel where they were setting up chairs and a PA system and bridemaids and groomsmen were standing all around smoking and drinking beers.

There is no way I would have been happy about having the public walk around, tramp thru like typical tourists, and basically stand around and stare at me and hunny getting married.  The reception room inside was closed off to the public but nothing else was. Definately not a very initmate location at all. Strangers were actually allowed to walk up to the doors of the reception room, and stick their heads inside and peek around!

We had this place is mind for our wedding when we started our planning 4 months ago, but decided against it for 2 reasons, the most important being that we were not allowed to bring our 4 legged babies, and the cost was INSANE. The amount of money they charge just to use the facility for a small 4 hours is a rip off.. and then to still have to take care of caterers, cakes, flowers and everything else? No thanks. Our decision was vaildated today when the hotel was swarming with 2000 tourists as this lovely couple was getting married. I mean they have ghost tours going on while these folks are getting hitched in the front garden. I just kinda feel that for the amount of $ they do charge, that maybe they should have an area of the grounds secluded just for weddings, and then block those areas off to the public for a more intimate and private affair.  Not to mention, the traffic was horrible! It took 25 mins to take a 2 mile ride from the stables to the hotel and then we sat at the last light before the hotel 6 times. 6 times!!  Im so glad we did not choose this hotel for our big day.. knowing me I would have been stressed out tenfold!

@Eva Peron: the horseriding was amazing! we were way wayyyyy up in the mountains for about 2 hours. My horse was Barron and he was smart and gentle and so easy to ride. It was my second time ever and I am hooked~

Do you ride often?

i think the stanley is beautiful but the whole estes park area gets so busy.  my broker's family used to own the stanley so she grew up there.

@Eva Peron: FI and I are east coasters originally too! (Maryland)  We moved out here just about 2 years ago, and I absolutely love it! I have not a single regret leaving our home town and moving 1700 miles away. We live very rural, about 20 miles north of Denver. I can look at the mountain view 75 times a day and still not believe we actually LIVE here! Are you looking to move into Denver?

@profiterole: the stanley is indeed gorgeous, as is the view and quaint little town but the amount of people and cars was beyond anything I would ever want to deal with, even for just a short while. Today was my first trip to estes park, and it wont be anytime soon that we will go back. It just wasnt worth the hassle.  But the horseriding was a whole 'nother story :)