The Garden
of the Gods, a spectacularly beautiful park owned by the City of
Colorado Springs, is a favorite location for outdoor wedding ceremonies.
Filled with magnificent red rock formations — the result of an ancient
cataclysmic upheaval that turned layers of red sediment-formed rock
layers up on edge to form vertical walls — the Park is an unusually
scenic setting for outings of any kind. The Park also offers perfect views of Pikes Peak.
Of the
outdoor settings available for weddings in our local area, the Garden of
the Gods is by far the top choice, both of couples coming to us and in
our recommendations to them.
Some
things you need to be aware of if you are considering the Garden of the Gods as a
location for your ceremony:
-
It is a
public park, and there are no private areas, although there are some
relatively secluded areas. Please understand that total
privacy in this particular public park is not feasible. We have
found that almost everyone who happens upon a wedding in a public place
is respectful, quiet, and careful not to intrude; and many are delighted
to stay and watch the ceremony.
-
There are
no covered locations in the Park. The summer sun is very intense
at our altitude — often reaching into the nineties (degrees F.) during
mid-day. For this reason, we prefer to conduct summertime
ceremonies in late afternoon or evening. For ceremonies we conduct
mid-day under a blazing Sun, we require the couple to provide a canopy
or choose a shaded area. Please also be considerate of your guests
— especially elderly ones. (Consider sun-block and hats for
protection.) For any outdoor ceremony, we require the couple to
have a back-up plan in case of inclement weather. We reserve the
right to relocate to the back-up location for weather-related reasons
(including the threat of lightning, even without rain). For any
outdoor ceremony we conduct, The White Rose Chapel
(which seats 35) is always available as a "rain alternative."
-
Parking
space is limited. The Park has undergone a transformation in
recent years — which we applaud! — to limit motor traffic and restore
more of the area to its natural state. Some of the most ideal
wedding sites in the Park have the most limited parking within easy
walking distance. Again, please be considerate of your guests when
choosing a site. (And wear flat shoes, not heels!) There is
one popular site (called "Jaycee Plaza") quite near the main parking
lot, but on a beautiful summer day even that lot is often totally full.
Consider car-pooling if you will have more than one vehicle in your
party. We quite frequently recommend the "High Point" area,
because it includes some lovely natural sites — with great views — on
some almost-flat rocks, just off a good-sized parking lot.
-
The Park
requires people to stay on designated walkways and trails, to preserve
the ecology of the Park. Please observe the rules in selecting
your site.
-
Sites with
views of the beautiful red rocks are easy to find, and sites with a
great view of Pikes Peak are easy to find, but sites with both are not
easy to find. This is because when one is facing the rocks, the
Peak is either out of sight on the other side of the tall rocks or in
the opposite direction. The "High Point" site (mentioned above)
offers one of the best compromises — the rocks and the Peak are both in
the background.
-
For
couples who choose "informal" sites and arrive with small wedding
parties (say, 10 or fewer guests), we can meet and conduct the ceremony
without any formalities with the Park. By "informal" sites we mean
those such as the aforementioned "High Point," where a small wedding
party can park, walk off the parking lot onto the nearly-flat rocks, and
form a semi-circle around the couple to witness the ceremony. For
more "formal" sites and larger parties, or if you plan on setting up
chairs, etc., the formality of obtaining permission and a reservation
from the Park authorities must be followed. There are several
sites the park suggests for weddings, and they are just off sidewalks
and main thoroughfares.
More
information about the Garden of the Gods, call the Garden of the Gods
Visitor Center at (719) 634-6666 or visit their website at
gardenofgods.com.
The Garden
of the Gods is 4-5 miles from The White Rose Chapel at its nearest
point.
If you are
considering this beautiful location for your wedding ceremony, we hope
you will allow plenty of time to explore the Park and choose the site
that best suits your needs. We trust you will enjoy every moment
in this gorgeous natural setting as much as we do.
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