Since I moved to Colorado 14 years ago, I’ve loved how fun of a city Denver has become. The culinary scene has blown up, and access to the outdoors and mountains is unlike any other city. Not to mention they average 300 days of sunshine! It can be 60-70 degrees in Denver in the winter and a total blizzard 90 minutes away in the mountains. But no matter the weather, people embrace it all. We think planning events in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall is the way to go for the most predictable forecast. And we love that because the airport is a United hub, the rest of the country has easy access.
Denver has so many unique neighborhoods, so depending on which one you find yourself in, you may feel like you’re in a totally different city. In addition to our Aspen office, we’re also now based in Wash Park, which is a neighborhood close to downtown and other covetable areas like Cherry Creek and Country Club. I love the park for a walking meeting or a morning run. But I also truly love exploring the Mile-High City for all it has to offer—from running trail to luxury hotel and of course, all the great wedding venues!
Top Hotel Picks
–The Four Seasons: It’s always a classic and has the best service of any hotel downtown.—with the awards to prove it.
–The Ramble Hotel: The design at this cool boutique hotel (seen above) in the RiNo neighborhood (a.k.a. the arts district) is fabulous. If you fancy a drink, Death & Co. takes over their downstairs. Good for the edgy crowd and foodies.
–Halcyon: Another well designed hotel (seen below) with an awesome speakeasy bar (this one’s in the back alley and called B&GC). Check out the amazing roof top and then settle in to your spacious and quiet room. The Cherry Creek location is great for a social weekend in the city.
–The Jacquard Hotel: This is a newer hotel in Cherry Creek and we’re all about its clean design. Plus it’s in a super walkable spot, with coffee shops, shipping, and restaurants nearby.
Top Spots to Stop Into
–Aviano: This is one of our go to places for coffee in Cherry Creek. We love the amazing coffee, pastries, and casual but stylish vibe.
–Avanti: A collective of food “outlets” in a series of shipping containers. Located in LoHi neighborhood, there’s something for everyone here! Plus a great rooftop scene year round!
–Hudson Hill: This coffee/cocktail bar (seen below) in the Cap Hill neighborhood is a wonderful gathering place by day and shifts into a bar with craft cocktails by night.
–Union Station: This isn’t your typical train station. Instead it has plenty of restaurants inside and a few little gift shops.
–Dairy Block: It’s a fun collective of restaurants downtown mixed with cool shopping like AYR, Jenni Kayne, Aesop, etc.
Cultural Highlights
–Denver Botanic Gardens: It’s a gorgeous little jewel in Denver. We love the greenhouse, which is available for events. Definitely go for a walk around Cheeseman park after!
-Attending a sports event: All major sports have their stadiums downtown Denver. And while sports aren’t necessarily my thing, they’re a huge part of the culture here, whether hockey, baseball, football, or basketball.
–Denver Art Museum or Museum of Contemporary Art Denver: I love art and am a big fan of checking out museums—and the ones here don’t disappoint. The Denver Art museum just had an absolutely insane Monet exhibit and is on the forefront of the art scene. The Dior Exhibit that then went over to the V&A in London came here too.
Top Venues
–Blanc: A gorgeously renovated warehouse space (seen above) in RiNo that’s a blank slate with subtle industrial vibes and a great outdoor space.
–Grant Humphreys Mansion: A historic old mansion that makes you aware of the history and the grandeur that was once in Denver.
–Asterisk: This new building just opened. It’s a renovated warehouse with total flexibility and tons of light.
–The Solarium at the Denver Botanic Gardens: This would be perfect for a bridal shower, small wedding, or baby shower. It’s a gorgeous and feminine little treasure of a spot for an intimate gathering (see if below).
–Union Station: A classic venue with amazingly high ceilings.
[all images courtesy of venues]
