The Scoop: Brides-to-be often dream of the perfect wedding, and the first step is finding the ideal place to hold the ceremony and reception. The Venue at Crooked Willow Farms is a popular spot to hold a wedding located about 40 minutes south of Denver, Colorado, and its appeal goes well beyond aesthetics. Its staff of experienced professionals helps families and couples work through all of the logistics to make the big day less stressful.
The venue is one of the most important wedding planning decisions — perhaps even more than a dress or a ring. A lot of thought goes into finding a place that aligns with the bride and groom’s vision for their big day. The first step is typically deciding the event’s degree of formality. Many modern couples want a rustic backdrop with festooned lights, beautiful landscaping, and plenty of spaces that work for different elements of the wedding and reception.
The next consideration is the guest list. Some venues may be picturesque but not the right size, depending on how many friends and family members will be invited. The wedding budget is another key consideration. Venues may initially seem affordable, but they can charge premiums if the wedding or reception exceeds prescribed limits.
The experienced team at The Venue at Crooked Willow Farms in Colorado understands all of those pitfalls. The Venue aims to provide stunning spaces and excellent service that makes the big day perfect while fitting into couples’ budgets.
Brides, grooms, and their families should think about how much work they want to do compared to the help they’ll need on the wedding day. The Venue makes striking that balance simple with a comprehensive list of approved vendors for the location. And its staff members can help with anything necessary to make the day a success.
“We are a highly professional, conscientious, and friendly group of people committed to making the client’s day magical and memorable,” said Kim Sexton, Venue Manager at Crooked Willow Farms. “We realize this is most people’s dream day.”
For many couples, The Venue exceeds their expectations on the happiest day of their lives.
A Decade of Experience Hosting Memorable Weddings
Kim said The Venue has hosted hundreds of weddings since it first opened 11 years ago. And it has a record number of 70 weddings booked so far for 2022.
The Venue is located in Larkspur, Colorado, about 40 minutes south of Denver and just north of Colorado Springs. It offers plenty of event rooms for rent on its sprawling 90-acre property.
The largest is the Carriage House Ballroom, which has a rustic interior design with white pine walls and red brick accents. On the wall, sconces that evoke the aura of the original barn hang below gorgeous chandeliers on the high ceilings. The ballroom includes a stage, reception hall, and dance area.
The ballroom seats up 225 guests for receptions and backup indoor ceremonies. And its floor-to-ceiling barn doors add a classic yet stunning touch to any photo, Kim said.
“The iconic red barns are a standout, and the location south of Denver offers stunning front range mountain views,” she said. “We only host one event a day, so it is a very private and intimate experience for events.”
Couples often choose Lola’s Loft at The Venue for smaller events. It has room for 100 seated guests or 150 at a ceremony. The space boasts rustic hammered steel railings, and a spiral staircase with a wall of cathedral windows. The chandeliers are made of wagon wheels, illuminating an unobstructed view of the Rockies.
Bridal Parties Receive 12 Hours of Exclusive Use
Unlike many other venues, The Venue has a contract that allows bridal parties to enjoy exclusive use of the property for 12 hours. No other events are scheduled at the same time, and guests have full access to all spaces.
The contracts include tables and chairs for up to 200 guests, all the furniture on-site, and the services of a Crooked Willow Farms Event Manager ready to assist for the duration of the wedding.
Couples and their families can select from a preferred list of caterers and rental companies when planning for the big day. The Venue lists a variety of recommended vendors on its website and ensures everyone receives the same high level of service that couples would expect from such a popular and highly rated venue.
Some couples exchange their vows on the Mountain View Lawn. The space has a sweeping mountain view as a background perfect for creating breathtaking videos and photos.
Kim said the staff gets a lot of positive feedback from couples about their experiences. Couples and their families often say everything was exactly how they dreamed it would be. And prospective brides and grooms can browse The Venue’s gallery to see the photos that prove it.
“I guess what we hear most often is how the client’s day was absolutely magical and a fairy-tale setting,” Kim told us.
Crooked Willow: One of the Best Venues for Rustic Elegance
The Carriage House, Lola’s Loft, and the Mountain View Lawn are just a few of the spaces included in the contract. Couples can also take advantage of the Wine Room, photo booth, and activity area for children. The property also has rooms for the wedding party to get ready while onsite — both areas feature plenty of mirrors, make up bars, rolling garment racks, and steamers. The Lost Horse Lounge even features a cigar room for the guys to partake in celebratory cigars in a unique space with plenty of ventilation.
The quiet and secluded reflection pond is one of the most popular places for a customary post-ceremony photo shoot. Those incredible memories will be printed in books and framed on walls for decades. During the winter, the Crooked Willow Farms staff has also been busy maintaining the property so the facility can be everything a bride or groom dreams of for their big day.
The Venue is currently scheduling events from April to October.
Because The Venue is located in Douglas County, Colorado, there currently are no COVID-19 pandemic health and safety restrictions that stop couples from enjoying their big day with the ones they love. When those health precautions presented concerns, Kim said The Venue could still customize packages to handle any wedding scenario.
“We are full steam ahead with 70 events currently booked and more starting to book for 2023,” Kim said. “We also make improvements in the off-season, so we have a few updates going on now and are looking forward to a very busy and successful 2022 events season.”
