Required Chairlift ride?

Also - I sincerely apologize about tiered guest list. I don't know how the heck I managed to not encounter anything negative about it until this thread, but I did not mean to upset so many people.

As a former skier with a crippling fear of heights, this stressed me out just reading about it. Please reconsider.

So I'm getting married at a ski resort in the winter. My initial plan was the same as yours, but instead of the ceremony being on the mountaintop, I was going to get married at the base of the mountain and have the reception on the mountaintop, accessible by gondola.

After thinking about it, we decided that it isn't fair to ask our guests to board a gondola to reach a party thrown to thank them for watching us get married, so we changed plans.

The current plan is that we're going to have kick-ass photos on the mountaintop by doing our first look up there. The first time my partner sees me will be when my gondola arrives and I step out of it. We'll have some private time and get some great shots, both outdoor and inside the cafe up there. Then we'll board the gondola together for a "get away" shot and do the remainder of the photos with the bridal party at the base of the mountain and at the hotel.

I'd urge you to consider something like the above to insure your guests' comfort and safety.

If it's Keystone, definitely push for the vans. They're a Vail Resorts property and being as large as they are, there is no way they don't have some sort of accomidations for vans. It might cost extra but it will be worth every penny to get everyone up there.

We're getting married in Crested Butte so the altitude is something we're having to deal with as well. I know most people say welcome bags aren't necessary but I think this is the one exception. Ours are going to be little alititude sickness prevention bags. Not everyone is going to read your website so I wanted to add in the extra reminders about water, Advil, electrolytes etc.

So...you're saying I have to ride a chairlift in (most likely) a cocktail dress to get to the ceremony? No thanks. I'd be declining and giving my spot to someone on your distasteful b list.

Honestly, you can remind people all they want but no one ever listens. The amount of times a day I say "I know you don't feel well, but just drink some more water, and it WILL help" is astounding.

I like the idea that others suggested about possibly renting vans, if the resort has access roads that can get to your ceremony site. It really wouldn't hurt to look into it.

I'm glad your friends and family have been easy to talk to and aren't coming across as too worried about the ski lift. One word of caution is that you should be careful about misinterpreting their perceived understanding of the situation. In some cases, your guests' understanding really does mean they understand and aren't offended. In other cases, they're just being polite and keeping their concerns to themselves. Friends and family will sometimes tell you something is okay just because they don't fell comfortable being honest and telling the bride what she doesn't want to hear. I've been polite and lied to a bride about being okay with something before. In reality, I was uncomfortable and my FH was hurt and offended that she thought we would be okay with her only inviting me, despite the fact that she was friends with both of us and all of our mutual friends were invited. Even though she "asked" first, it's difficult to burst a bride's bubble, so we went along with her wishes.

It's entirely possible your friends and family are being honest with you that the ski lift is okay with them. Just be careful.

So true @m, heck I have to remind myself of that half the time.

Not to change the original subject, but OP & Brooke, what exactly is in the welcome bag/ website re: altitude sickness? I have a blurb about it on our website encouraging people to drink tons of water, that alcohol will affect them differently, but a link to a site/ a pamphlet in the welcome bag about it might heighten the legitimacy. I was thinking about asking the bartender to make the cocktails weaker and the wines smaller as well, and the locals who feel fine can refill as many times as they like.

^^ I love these ideas about "altitude" welcome bags. I think that's something we're definitely going to do. Part of the reason we're having the wedding on an off day, too, is that we're encouraging everyone to get there several days ahead, if possible (having a weekend ahead of the wedding, we hope that's a more plausible option).

Samantha -- I also really appreciate your advice, and I think you're definitely right, and I recognize not everyone voices their opinion, so thank you. Thank you for being so kind about how you said it, too.

I am definitely going to push about vans/vehicles to the top. I know we can't afford to get the gondola running, but vehicles up are a different story.

I would panic. I would tell you I wouldn't, I'd convince myself I wouldn't, then I'd get there and panic, and in a cocktail dress? Nope.

We wanted to do a destination wedding at Disney and just two of our family members (his grandparents) wouldn't fly so I gave up my dream wedding since I was 5 and we are getting married here (I'm still slightly salty but grandparents were a deal breaker) this was about our guests and I sincerely hope yours aren't just trying to be nice. Just really push your venue for alternate transportation and if you can't I would really try to cut your budget to fit the gondola. I just don't think your ceremony will be enjoyable without it.

I'm not afraid of heights and I'd begrudgingly get on the ski lift, but I cannot imagine having a good time doing it in a cocktail dress and heels.

Also, OP, to your comment about not encountering negative feedback about the B list until now - most people are not going to tell you to your face that your idea is rude, but the B list is not the way to go. People can almost always figure out that they're B listed - they know people who got invites sooner, they only have a week until the RSVP deadline, etc.

It's really not a good feeling to know you weren't important enough to get an invite the first time, and the couple is only extending the invite now that their first choices are unavailable.

The bags will have a reusable water bottle, a little bottle of advil, one of those oxygen assist bottles and according to our hotel block coordinator at CBMR, they have little packets on altitude sickness we can include. So basically it's the same as a hangover kit plus the oxygen bottle, which I'm not sure even works but I think it might make people take it more seriously.

I can't take credit for what it says on my website - I stole it from some other bride on WW :-)

For those visiting Crested Butte for the first time, please be aware that altitude sickness is a real thing! Just ask Brooke about how the proposal went for verification!

People have different susceptibilities to altitude sickness; for some otherwise healthy people, acute altitude sickness can begin to appear at around 2000 meters (6,500 ft) above sea level, the city of Crested Butte is at 8,909 ft. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, stomach illness, dizziness, and sleep disturbance.

Drink as much water as possible to prepare for the trip, and continue to drink water throughout. If you can spare an extra day, staying a night in Denver at 5,280ft is always a good adjustment period.

Alcohol will affect you much more quickly - think 1 drink at normal altitude equals 2 in Crested Butte. Sean will testify to this one.

Clark's Grocery carries many items that can help with altitude sickness if you get it, including additional cans of oxygen, Advil, electrolytes, etc.

The Oxygen bar off Elk Ave can also help alleviate symptoms. We want everyone to be ready to have fun on Saturday!

Yea my mom would be scared. I doubt she even do it for me she hates heights.

@Brooke that's such a great idea!

I was planning on a little info-whatever on altitude sickness and local to-dos with some advil and a bottle of water or gatorade. We're getting married in Lafayette, which is right around sea level, but I'm still worried about people getting sick.

I went to a wedding a few years ago at a ski mountain with a variety of guests who all took the lift. There were zero issues. The lift stopped totally to let people on and off, and everyone had an amazing time.

I just have to say that I would have LOVED if my cousin gave us those little O2 bottles! We saw them at the grocery store when we first arrived and laughed at them, but when it hit us a few hours later, we considered going back to get them. What a great idea to include for OOT guests! Very thoughtful.

I'm guessing that the majority of people that have responded have never been to a mountain and have never ridden on a chair lift. It is really not that scary and is absolutely beautiful in the summer. I worked at a ski resort in the summer and most people who were afraid at first, realized that it was way different than what they were expecting. The chairs have bars and move at a very slow speed.

With that said, it's important to know your guests. For example, 95% of my guests share our love for adventure and have been on chair lifts and would LOVE the idea! But that may not be true for your family.

Also to those of you that have suggested driving up the mountain- yeah, that's 100 times worse. The emergency access roads are not typically paved and are insanely bumpy. It usually takes 2-3 times longer to drive up an access road and you might lose your lunch.

I am terrified of heights and just the thought of having to go up 2,000 feet to get to your ceremony would make me decline the invite. I'm having anxiety just thinking about it. I would check with all of your guest in advance or at least let them know about it as part of the invitation because some people will not be able to handle the anxiety if afraid of heights. Some other guest, like the elderly you mentioned, may not be medically able to go on a chair lift . So it sounds beautiful and unique but you may want to consider having more of an intimate ceremony if you plan on the wedding ceremony atop of the mountain.

A few years ago my cousin was married at a ski resort. The mode of transport was a gondola up and it was a little freaky for me and I'm not even afraid of heights. I would definitely not be thrilled with the chair lift. Also, are people going to be drinking at your wedding? Riding a chair lift down after a few drinks would terrify me.

If at all possible, please look into ways to cut other things to afford the gondola. Your guests will be much more comfortable.