January 17, 2025
As Colorado documentary-style wedding photographers, Della Terra Mountain Chateau stands out as one of our favorite venues in Estes Park. This luxury boutique inn and venue embodies all the best parts of an Estes Park wedding: breathtaking views, being surrounded by natural beauty, and of course, having the perfect spot for an amazing celebration with your favorite people!
Located at the Fall River entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, Della Terra offers an elegant blend of modern mountain charm.
The chateau’s architecture seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings, featuring grand stonework and expansive windows that highlight the outdoor scenery. The venue has a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space framed by towering pine trees and an indoor reception hall with floor-to-ceiling windows.
You won’t have to go far for great photo opportunities at Della Terra! There are several great spots on the property to photograph whether you’re looking for mountain views, mid-day shade under towering pines, or the vibrant colors of the aspen groves in the fall.
The venue’s elegant architecture provides a gorgeous backdrop, with plenty of picturesque spots between the ceremony space and the venue. For the adventurous, a scenic trail behind the venue leads to panoramic views of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Located just a 1/4 mile from Della Terra, the Fall River Entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park allows couples access to epic mountain views of the Rockies without the heavier traffic often found at other park access points.
Depending on how much time you have built into your timeline, there are several great portrait locations worth checking out.
After entering the park, continue on Fall River Road for approximately 1.5 miles to reach the Horseshoe Park Overlook and Valley. There are several pull-offs and trailheads offering a variety of scenic photo opportunities. Horseshoe park is a wide-open valley offering great mountain views of and a serene river winding through the landscape.
Take a quick 5-minute drive to the Alluvial Fan Trailhead, located just inside Rocky Mountain National Park’s Fall River Entrance. The falls are located within Horseshoe Park, a scenic valley filled with alpine beauty and sweeping mountain views. Once at the Alluvial Fan parking area, it’s a short, easy walk (0.3 miles) along a well-maintained trail to reach the falls.
One of the first major scenic pull-offs along Trail Ridge Road, this overlook provides sweeping views of the valleys and peaks, capturing the grandeur of the park. At Many Parks Curve, you’ll be treated to expansive views and the towering peaks of the Continental Divide. The combination of vast open landscapes, rolling hills, and rugged mountain scenery makes it a beautifully dramatic backdrop.
Drive through the Fall River Entrance and continue on Trail Ridge Road for about 6 miles until you reach the Hidden Valley picnic area. This secluded spot features towering pine forests, open meadows and seasonal wildflowers. A peaceful, secluded spot with towering evergreens, meadows, and stunning seasonal colors—ideal for romantic and intimate portraits.
Timed entries are required for all visitors between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily from May 23 – October 13.
If you’re entering through the Fall River Entrance, your permit only needs to be Timed Entry (not Timed Entry +) and it will provide access to all areas in Rocky Mountain National Park, excluding access to RMNP’s Bear Lake Road Corridor.
To access the Bear Lake Corridor, a Timed Entry + permit is required.
Timed Entry allows park visitors to enter Rocky Mountain National Park anytime within a two-hour window, but you can stay as long as you want.
Only one timed entry permit reservation is required per vehicle (not per person). A visitor may only reserve one timed entry permit during a single day.
For brides and their wedding party, Della Terra provides a private bridal salon and lounge, designed for a luxurious and seamless getting-ready experience.
The Oak Salon features salon stations with professional lighting, comfortable seating and plenty of room, creating a relaxing atmosphere for bridesmaids and loved ones to enjoy the morning together. With large windows and access to an outdoor balcony, natural light floods the room, perfect for both makeup application and stunning pre-ceremony photos.
The Timberline Den is a great spot where grooms and their wedding parties can relax and enjoy a dedicated lounge, which offers a stylish and laid-back space to start the day with comfortable seating and entertainment.
Della Terra offers five cozy mountain cabins and fourteen chateau suites. As part of Wedgewood Weddings packages, couples can reserve seven suites and two cabins for their guests at an additional cost. To enhance your experience, a complimentary chef-prepared breakfast is served daily. Family-owned and operated since 2009, Della Terra is committed to warm hospitality and eco-conscious design.
Lodging Options:
One of our favorite first look locations at Della Terra Mountain Château is along the main path leading to the ceremony site. This scenic spot is an ideal place for couples to share their special moment before the ceremony.
First looks often take place around midday, when lighting conditions can be tricky, but this location provides soft, diffused light, ensuring natural, flattering photos without harsh shadows. The pathway gives you a straight shot to photograph the bride walking toward the groom, capturing the emotion leading up to their first look.
After the initial reveal, photographers can easily pivot for portraits to frame backlit shots and incorporate the mountains in the background.
Next to the Mountain Vista ceremony site is a beautiful open field set within the pine trees, a perfect spot for wedding party portraits.
Though you could close your eyes and point just about anywhere on Della Terra’s property and find a nice spot for portraits, we love how much space the meadow gives us to work with large groups and incorporate views of Deer Mountain the distance. We love working with a fun wedding party group who is not afraid to get playful with the posing!
Della Terra’s outdoor ceremony site, the Mountain Vista, is just a short walk from the main lodge. Couples exchange vows on an elegant brick stage surrounded by towering pine trees, all set at the base of a pristine mountain meadow. The backdrop of MacGregor Mountain is the cherry on top!
With tiered seating for guests, everyone is sure to have a clear view of every heartfelt moment. This is also great for photographers, helping us capture a wider variety of images.
Being right in the middle of such a majestic natural setting makes everything feel both intimate and expansive at the same time, creating a truly ideal spot for an unforgettable ceremony.
An indoor ceremony space is available as an alternative choice or weather back-up.
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Della Terra’s indoor event space is thoughtfully designed, featuring elegant architecture, balcony overlooks, and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase gorgeous mountain views. It’s a space that feels both grand and inviting, with plenty of natural light that makes for stunning photos.
The space comfortably accommodates up to 200 guests with plenty of room for a dance floor alongside a full-service bar and designated areas for a DJ or live band. There’s also a gourmet kitchen for catering teams to work efficiently behind the scenes.
Upstairs, The Chateau offers an additional indoor space with balconies and two large fireplaces. It’s a great spot for a cocktail hour, especially when the Colorado nights begin growing a bit colder, providing a warm and relaxed setting for guests to mingle before joining the reception.
As photographers, we love how this space is laid out, giving us opportunities to capture photos from upstairs and downstairs, and offering plenty of room to work and set up equipment. The second floor is also a great spot for naturally-lit getting ready shots of the guys.
Regardless of the type of celebration you’re hosting, Della Terra’s event space makes it easy for guests to move between dining, dancing, and socializing.
Tucked just below the Chateau’s main building, the Pinecrest Patio provides a charming outdoor setting for cocktail hour. With café lights overhead and covered spaces for shade and comfort, it’s an inviting spot for guests to relax and mingle.
This area also serves as a popular location for photo booths, which can add a fun and interactive touch to your celebration. Whether sipping cocktails under the glow of string lights or capturing candid moments with friends and family, the Pinecrest Patio offers the perfect transition between ceremony and reception.
At Della Terra, couples have two catering options:
In-House Catering – Featuring a mountain steakhouse menu, Della Terra’s in-house catering is available for an additional fee beyond the facility rental. For details, email catering@dellaterramountainchateau.com.
Approved Outside Caterers – Couples are welcome to bring in a full-service caterer, but they must be approved by Della Terra and meet health and insurance requirements. Della Terra is happy to review new vendors upon request, but also maintains a list of pre-approved caterers on their vendor list.
As the evening unfolds, you’ll want to stay close to the reception area to take advantage of the breathtaking golden hour, sunset, and even blue hour for additional portraits. The best part? You won’t have to travel far!
On the west side of the main lodge, you’ll find a glowing view of the lodge that creates a romantic ambiance. Just south of the lodge, an intimate patio area features the charming “Love 5296’” sign, a nod to the venue’s elevation, surrounded by the soft glow of café lights strung overhead.
Couples can effortlessly step away for a few moments for evening portraits, and return to the celebration without missing a beat.
On-Site Parking: Della Terra offers ample free parking for wedding guests and on-site transportation staff begin offering support two hours before the event.
Shuttle & Bus Options: Many couples arrange shuttle transportation from Estes Park hotels for added convenience.
Limited Rideshare Availability: Uber/Lyft can be unreliable in the mountains, so guests should plan ahead.
Your guests will love the abundance of activities available before and after your wedding!
Della Terra is perfect for couples seeking a romantic, immersive wedding experience surrounded by Colorado’s mountainous landscape.
If you’re planning a wedding at Della Terra Mountain Chateau in 2025, here’s a quick pricing breakdown:
Couples can choose from four different levels of wedding package, ranging from $85 to $150 per person.
The differences between the packages are based on different levels of services for food and beverage, entertainment and decor.
Ceremony costs, which cover location coordination, rehearsal, and set up/breakdown, start at $495 for winter weddings and rise to $1,495 for ceremonies between May and October.
Venue feeds are based on two factors, the day of the week you have your wedding and the time of year you’re getting married.
Saturday Weddings: Start at $6,995 in the winter and rise to $11,495 in the fall.
Friday + Sunday Weddings: Start at $4,995 in the winter and rise to $7,495 in the fall.
Monday – Thursday Weddings: Start at $995 in the winter and rise to $4,495 in the fall.
Lodging accommodations include access to five luxury suites with private hot tubs, soaking tubs, fireplaces, and more.
Prices start at $2,000 for December through March and rise to $3,000 for May through October.
All prices subject to a 22% administrative fee + tax. Discounts are available for couples booking less than six months out from their wedding date.
(970) 413-3228
autumn.parry@gmail.com
Based in Fort Collins, CO
WE WELCOME ALL COUPLES
Colorado Wedding Photographers – Available to photograph anywhere in Colorado with a focus on cities throughout the Rocky Mountains like: Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Estes Park, Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride, Keystone, Granby, Winter Park, Summit County, Aspen, Durango and more.
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