Real Cliff House Couples

First and foremost, we also had to search for acceptance as a same-sex couple.  At The Cliff House, we were accepted with open arms as their first same sex wedding and celebrated as any loving couple would be by everyone, from the valet, to the front desk, to the banquet servers and bartenders. 

The Cathedral Spires Pavilion is a magical room with the best of both worlds for a summer afternoon wedding, under cover, but open to the outside.  When the steel guitar started playing, and we rounded the corner from the back of the room to our 130 friends and family, we were overwhelmed by seeing the front wall opened up for the first time and the answer to our lifelong dreams coming true.  The food was excellent, the bartenders efficient and friendly, and nothing but good memories were made on this Saturday evening in July.  We were honestly and pleasantly surprised by the acceptance of our marriage by so many friends and family members when we had to somewhat limit our guest list by the capacity of the room size.  Everything turned out perfectly and everyone came away knowing it was not a typical wedding, but love is love, as we danced into the night.

We stayed in the Henry Ford Suite and enjoyed every crazy minute there.  We were able to entertain our wedding party with cocktails the night before the wedding and use it for our gathering spot before the ceremony.  I can’t wait to return for many anniversaries there in the future.  Special thanks go to Carroll Hillebrand, the Front Desk Manager for all his help and support, and to Patrick the Valet who bent over backwards with great service, as well as the restaurant staff for making special effort to group us all together for brunch in the dining room on Saturday and on the Veranda on Sunday.

Photographer: Dickenson-Davis Photography | https://www.dickinsondavisphotography.com
DJ: Sensational Sounds | https://www.ssprodj.org

We definitely got to spend more quality time with our guests overall.  We could have drinks or coffee in the lounge area, we had many guest room "get togethers" and saw a lot of guests at breakfast (unlike an airbnb where you only see the people you are staying with). Having everyone in one place was perfect.

On the day of our Wedding the bridal party had a separate space for hair/makeup but we also had a lovely Brides/Groom Suite which is quite large and very nice for my bridesmaids to help me get dressed and we got a lot of beautiful photos in the room as well.  It was also good for me to take breaks in throughout the day and for my “now” husband to have drinks and be social with friends.  The front of the hotel is very picturesque for professional exterior photos and I loved having the Ceremony and Reception at the same place.  Also, Cathedral Spires (where we had the Ceremony upstairs) has a lovely view.  It was all wonderful because everyone, and I mean everyone, said they had a fabulous time. A brides dream.

Lastly, I needed a lot of guidance and was very anxious so I can’t say enough about Kristin, The Cliff House Wedding Planner.  She is patient, exceptionally kind, extremely knowledgeable and essential to every wedding. I absolutely wouldn’t have had the perfect day without her.  She is truly amazing.  We highly recommend her and The Cliff House.  

Photography Vendor Credit:
Steve Stanton Photography
http://stevestantonphotography.com
steve@stevestantonphotography.com
303-532-7100

We chose The Cliff House because they provided everything we needed from chairs and tables, to waitstaff and bar service. Menu planning was easy because they have a chef in house and an excellent menu to choose from. We loved the Cathedral Spires room and wanted to hold the ceremony and reception there, which required guests to leave the room while staff set up tables. Kristin coordinated the movement of guests from the ceremony, to cocktail hour in another room, and back to the Cathedral Spires room for dinner smoothly. Having everyone stay at The Cliff House eliminated the need for transportation and allowed our guests the opportunity to explore Manitou Springs. The service was first class and the staff was very welcoming and accommodating.

Nick Sparks Photography: https://www.nicksparksweddings.com
A Flower Girls Dream: https://aflowergirlsdream.com
Hair: Hannah Kathleens Hair
Make up: Vita Maria Hair

Our love of Manitou Springs led us to the Cliff House, where we were pleasantly surprised that Kristin had several options for us. She worked with us to maximize the number of guests we were able to invite by offering the Red Mountain Grill. We were able to use the entire bar, including socially distanced tables, the veranda and the entire fire pit area. She helped us pick an excellent menu and adjusted how it was served to comply with restaurant restrictions.

We had so much fun taking our pre-wedding photos in the Manitou Arcade next to the hotel, having The Tattoed Officiant conduct our ceremony and staying in the Crown Prince Ferdinand Suite for our honeymoon.

We and our guests thoroughly enjoyed the venue, the food and the exceptional service provided by all the staff.
Kristin took the time to work closely with our family members who served as DJ, Florist, Planner and Photographer.

If you are looking for a unique location and experience with the support and understanding of a catering manager with amazing planning, adaptability and attention to detail, the Cliff House is the place.

Featured Vendors:
https://www.thetattooedofficiant.com
https://www.theolivetap.com

Our advice to newly engaged couples is think about where you want your marriage to begin, which space will you recite your love story, will you be able to return, and have a place where you can always go back to- to remember it all?

Thank you so much for your help creating the most amazing day! We can't wait to return to the Cliff House soon <3

Photographer: https://www.ahpphotos.com/

Florist: https://theperfectpetal.com/