Colorado Wedding Planner, Colorado Wedding Coordinator, High Altitude
Planning for a Wedding at High Altitude, Colorado
The Rocky Mountains of Colorado range between 8,000 and 14,000 feet above sea level. Denver is 5,280 feet (1 mile high) above sea level. Altitude can be an issue! It can be a issue for young to old, fit or not. If you are planning a wedding in a Colorado mountain town above 8,000 feet, here is some useful information about acute mountain sickness and how you can keep yourself and your guests happy and healthy at high altitude. Above Photo Credit: Cali Frankovic Photography
What causes acute mountain sickness, high altitude sickness?
Higher altitudes have lower levels of oxygen and decreased air pressure. When you travel in a plane, drive or hike up a mountain, or go skiing, your body may not have enough time to adjust. This can result in acute mountain sickness. Your level of exertion also plays a role. Pushing yourself to quickly hike up a mountain, for example, may cause acute mountain sickness.
The symptoms of acute mountain sickness generally appear within hours of moving to higher altitudes. They vary depending on the severity of your condition.
Symptoms: mild acute mountain sickness
If you have a mild case, you may experience:
- dizziness
- headache
- muscle aches
- insomnia
- nausea and vomiting
- irritability
- loss of appetite
- swelling of the hands, feet, and face
- rapid heartbeat
- shortness of breath with physical exertion
Symptoms: severe acute mountain sickness
Severe cases of acute mountain sickness can cause more intense symptoms and affect your heart, lungs, muscles, and nervous system. For example, you may experience confusion as a result of brain swelling. You may also suffer from shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs.
Symptoms of severe altitude sickness may include:
- coughing
- chest congestion
- pale complexion and skin discoloration
- inability to walk or lack of balance
- social withdrawal
Below this beautiful photo of Buffalo Mountain in Summit County, is some tips and advice for yourself and your guests on having a wonderful wedding weekend in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado or any mountain town at high altitude. I recommend adding this information to your wedding website, as well, so guests are aware of high altitude issues so they can be well informed. Knowledge is power!
Photo Credit: Emilyanne Photography
Buffalo Mountain, Summit County
Things to Remember When Visiting High Altitude
1. DRINK WATER! – Before your trip to Denver and Vail, and while you are here, drinking plenty of water is the number one way to help your body adjust easily to our higher altitude. The low humidity in Colorado keeps the air dry, like the desert, so you need about twice as much water here as you would drink at home.
2. Monitor Your Alcohol Intake – In Colorado’s rarified air, golf balls go ten percent farther… and so do cocktails. Alcoholic drinks pack more of a wallop than at sea level. It is recommended that you go easy on the alcohol in the mountains and in Denver, as its effects will feel stronger here.
3. Eat Foods High in Potassium – Foods such as broccoli, bananas, avocado, cantaloupe, celery, greens, bran, chocolate, granola, dates, dried fruit, potatoes and tomatoes will help you replenish electrolytes by balancing salt intake.
4. Watch Your Physical Activity – The effects of exercise are more intense here. If you normally run 10 miles a day at home, you might try 6 miles in Denver.
You gotta wear shades
5. Pack for Sun – With less water vapor in the air at this altitude, the sky really is bluer in Colorado. But there’s 25 percent less protection from the sun, so sunscreen is a must. Colorado receives over 300 days of sunshine each year (more than San Diego or Miami – they say). Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm… even in winter.
6. Dress in Layers – Two days before your trip to Denver and Vail, check the weather and use this information to pack appropriately. Because you’ll be closer to the sun, it can feel much warmer than the actual temperature during the daytime, but then become very chilly after sundown, particularly in the Spring and Fall. It is best to layer your clothing.
7. Enjoy Yourself – Don’t let anything you hear about the mile-high altitude scare you. The air is just thinner and dryer. In fact, many people with respiratory problems move to Denver for the benefits of the dry air. Just follow these simple tips and you will very likely not even notice the difference.
More medical information can be found here: High Altitude Awareness
Enjoy some s’mores
Like #7 said, don’t let the altitude scare you, just make some s’mores with your guests, relax and hire a wedding planner or coordinator who is knowledgeable about everything you can encounter in a mountain wedding. Like us!
Piney River Ranch, Vail
COLORADO WEDDING PLANNER, L ELIZABETH EVENTS
If you are looking for a wedding planner in Colorado – Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Frisco, Dillon, Winter Park, Silverthorne, Granby, Copper Mountain, Steamboat Springs – we would be delighted to help! We are mountain specialists and would love to help you create a day for of joy and ease. Get in touch and tell us all about your wedding plans… CONTACT US
These are SUCH important points! Altitude sickness is definitely a real thing and should be taken seriously! Great post!
Great tips! Guests coming from out of town or couples who have their destination weddings in CO don’t always realize the impact that the altitude can have. Especially if there is drinking involved. Altitude sickness and a hangover are not a fun combo for anyone.
What great information! Great advice from a wedding planner in Colorado! Thanks for sharing!
I never thought of this issue! So many great tips and things to keep in mind when you plan an outdoor setting. Colorado looks like an incredible backdrop for a wedding if you like a sense of adventure!
How terrible is it that I didnt even know mountain sickness could occur or that it was a thing?!?! Thank you for sharing!
What a great post for everyone to read!!! Any bride and group would be so lucky to have you as their wedding planner!! And S’mores… always have s’mores!!!
yes, always S’mores 🙂
Altitude sickness is something I would have never even considered when photographing weddings in Colorado! Thank you so much for sharing— it’s totally getting bookmarked…and I think I’ll use some of your tips on my upcoming trip to Peru too!
Peru! Lucky you. I think the altitude is even higher there. Actually altitude sickness can be pretty dangerous.
Those are great tips. I would never have thought to take that into consideration if I was planning a Colorado destination wedding!
this is something I never would have thought of being an east coast girl! it’s definitely something to consider when planning a colorado wedding and if i were doing it i would definitely want to hire a planner like you to help!
So many great tips! I live in Colorado and learned many of these things quickly. But these tips are really important for all those visitors coming from out of state and the bright sun and elevation are new to them. Great post!!
I have never thought about this aspect of planning a wedding at high altitudes, but this is great information!! This is another reason I always recommend couples seek experiences wedding planners for their events. You all have the wisdom, foresight and expertise to be able to plan and execute around circumstances other people would never think of. Colorado is blessed to have you!!
Awe, thanks. I am first aid and wilderness first responder trained as well to help in all that Colorado has – which can be a lot
OMG how beautiful!!! Can we do a wedding together? I love to travel!!! I’m jelly, missing the mountains.
Excellent tips! I’ll be keeping these in mind – Colorado is on my list of travel stops this year!
Thanks! Colorado is so beautiful. It’s a wonderful vacation spot- winter or summer.
I am THAT person that needs all of this advice! I always get so so sick, lol. Thanks for sharing all of these high altitude tips!
These tips are so helpful! Im sure a lot of couples want the “mountain” wedding experience and often forget about possible altitude sickness! Great article!
I have never heard of this, so crazy! See another reason why you are the best colorado wedding planner, helping everyone stay prepared!
Sarah, really? It can be fairly mild to actually very dangerous. Always good for wedding couples and guests to be aware of everything they can encounter when at high altitude. I hope you never get it but I’m glad you know all about it now.
Great tips for planning a mountain wedding! I feel like you are probably so good at what you do – so thoughtful and thorough!
Thank you, Virginia. I certainly try to be as detailed and thoughtful as I can be. I have great clients that make wedding planning awesome.
These are such great tips for anyone – even locals!! I love me some mountain weddings and they are the best when everyone is safe and feeling well!!!
These are some solid advice! I am sure many people will find your tips to be helpful. Taking the time to educate your (potential) clients is vital – that makes you such a great wedding planner in Colorado.
I am always so in awe of the backdrop a mountain wedding provides that I never considered that the high altitude could be something of an issue. Thank you for the education and great tips.
thank you so much for all these great tips. I still remember when we arrived to Cuzco (Peru) I felt like I couldn’t breath and my head was pounding with a headache! It’s always important to pace yourself and drink a lot of water.
Great pieces of advice. It would be a dream wedding to exchange vows with the one you love and have the mountains of Colorado in the background. However, family and guests should be made aware of altitude sickness to avoid any unwanted incidents that may ruin the couple’s special day.
Thank you for sharing all the great pointers! I’ll be sure to remember this next time I’m in Colorado! I honestly didn’t even realize altitude sickness is a thing! I’m from the flat midwest so not much altitude around us!
What great tips for visiting for a Colorado wedding. I have family who live in CO and when we go visit we have to lay low for the first day or two so we can acclimate.
What breathtaking views of the mountains! Hopefully I get invited to a Colorado wedding soon so I can enjoy these views! Thanks for the tips in the meantime.
These are such important points for a couple looking to plan a high altitude wedding especially the altitude sickness part. Such great tips.
This is such an awesome guide for any bride planning a mountain wedding! Heck, I even live at 8k ft and I didnt know all of this! You must be an amazing wedding planner, you’ve thought of everything!
Yes to all your high altitude advise! Its so easy to overlook that and so important to plan for it! You are such a awesome Colorado Wedding Planner! Love this post!
You are so prepared to plan Colorado weddings! These high altitude tips are really smart!
Holy cow, I never knew that being up in those gorgeous Colorado mountains meant a danger. Thank you for all of these tips and things to consider on my next hike!