Surf Hotel & Chateau Wedding | Modern Riverfront Elegance in Buena Vista, CO

/ Colorado Weddings / By

If you’re dreaming of a wedding that blends boutique charm, mountain air, and riverside energy, Surf Hotel & Chateau in Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s most stylish and intimate destination venues. With its French-inspired architecture, walkable access to the Arkansas River, and modern event space, it’s perfect for couples who want sophistication without sacrificing soul.

As a Surf Hotel wedding photographer, I love how balanced this venue feels — visually rich, light-filled, and grounded in both landscape and design.

Why Couples Love Surf Hotel

Set in the South Main neighborhood along the Arkansas River, Surf Hotel is ideal for destination weddings, elopements, or weekend-long celebrations with people you love.

Why it works:

  • Ceremony options along the river, courtyard, or in the Ivy Ballroom
  • Guest lodging, reception space, and prep all in one walkable spot
  • Modern interiors, art-forward design, and rich texture
  • Private dining, courtyard access, and full event support
  • Breathtaking access to Buena Vista’s trails, cliffs, and hot springs

It’s especially ideal for couples who want a refined, minimalist wedding with a deep Colorado backdrop.

Ceremony & Reception Flow

Riverside Ceremony Lawn

Exchange vows just steps from the Arkansas River, with views of the Collegiate Peaks.

Ivy Ballroom

Warm lighting, textured walls, and clean design. Great for intimate dinners or full receptions.

Chateau Courtyard

An open-air stone patio for mingling, cocktails, or romantic night portraits.

Getting Ready Suites

Styled, clean, and full of soft light. Great for private moments and candid prep coverage.

Why I Love Photographing at Surf Hotel

I’m Ben — founder of Boxcar Photography. I’ve shot weddings in cabins, castles, and canyons — and this venue holds presence better than most. It’s modern, but never cold. Elegant, but never stiff.

What I bring:

  • Portrait pacing to blend town, river, and hotel space
  • Clean edits that respect color, texture, and emotion
  • Timeline support to keep the day flowing naturally
  • A calm eye for storytelling that matches the tone of the venue

Best Seasons for Surf Hotel Weddings

  • Spring: Crisp skies, riverside portraits, and fresh air
  • Summer: Outdoor courtyard energy, long evenings, and golden light
  • Fall: Peak beauty — changing trees and clear mountain views
  • Winter: Cozy ballroom dinners and candlelight charm

This venue works beautifully year-round — especially strong in fall and summer.

Explore more: Colorado Wedding Photography

Let’s Photograph It With Light and Elegance

If you’re planning a wedding at Surf Hotel, I’d love to photograph it — with presence, clean light, and a storytelling style that matches the intimacy of the space.

Contact me here to get started.

Where is Surf Hotel located?

In Buena Vista, Colorado — on the Arkansas River in the walkable South Main district.

What’s the guest capacity?

Up to 150 depending on ballroom layout and outdoor options.

Is lodging included?

Yes — hotel rooms and suites available for guests, with full buyout options.

Is it open year-round?

Yes — the venue supports winter, summer, and shoulder-season weddings.

What’s the vibe?

Boutique, clean, and artfully grounded. Ideal for couples who want a stylish, intentional wedding in the mountains.

A bride and groom stand outdoors holding hands and smiling at each other, with rocky hills and pine trees in the background.
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A bride in a white dress rests her head on the groom's shoulder during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with guests seated in the background.
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An older man in a suit smiles as a woman pins a boutonniere to his jacket outdoors, with another man in a suit nearby.
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A bride in a lace dress and an older man in a suit wipe away tears while standing outside near a staircase.
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A woman and a man reach toward each other, with the man appearing upside down above her, as if reflected in a mirror. A body of water and mountains are visible in the background.
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Two men in tuxedos stand outdoors; one hugs the other from behind. They both look serious. There are green leaves and a wooden fence in the background.
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A couple stands on rocky terrain at a mountain peak, with the woman in a red dress and the man in a vest and trousers, sharing a kiss in windy conditions.
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A couple in wedding attire stands closely together outdoors at sunset, with a dramatic, cloud-filled sky in the background.
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A bride and groom stand facing each other on a lakeside at sunset, holding hands, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
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A couple in formal wedding attire walks hand in hand outdoors at sunset, with dramatic backlighting creating a silhouette effect.
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A woman in a lace wedding dress sits and smiles with her eyes closed, resting her chin on her hand.
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A bride in a lace gown and a groom in a blue suit hold hands and look at each other while standing by a large window in a brick-walled room.
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A bride and groom stand facing each other at night, surrounded by guests holding sparklers and creating a smoky, festive atmosphere.
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A bride in a white dress and a groom in a military uniform sit together on a wooden swing outdoors, touching foreheads and holding hands.
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A bride in a white dress approaches a groom in a suit from behind on a balcony overlooking a snowy landscape.
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A bride and groom stand holding hands outdoors, facing a group of people arranged in a semicircle under a cloudy sky.
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A bride in a strapless dress wipes her face while holding a piece of paper during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests.
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A couple in formal attire embraces and kisses under a wooden structure at night, surrounded by falling snow illuminated by warm light.
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A bride and groom embrace and kiss outdoors, dressed in formal wedding attire, with trees and a building in the background.
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A bride and groom kiss on the dance floor in a rustic venue, with guests seated and watching in the background.
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A bride and groom stand together inside a bar decorated with brewery signs, brick walls, and bar stools.
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A bride and groom stand facing each other outdoors, holding a bouquet, with autumn trees and hills visible in the background.
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A bride and groom stand close together, smiling and touching noses, with a veil draped around them on their wedding day.
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A bride and groom in wedding attire stand together outdoors, holding hands and looking at each other, with green trees in the background.
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A bride in a white gown stands on a wooden bridge, looking back, while a man in a blue suit stands in the foreground out of focus. Trees fill the background.
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Two people in wedding attire stand outdoors, each holding a coconut in front of their face, with palm trees in the background.
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A bride and groom stand hand-in-hand, facing a calm lake and cloudy sky with mountains in the background.
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A man in a vest and a woman in a lace dress lie side by side holding hands in shallow water, looking up at the camera.
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A woman in a wedding dress looks out from behind a glass door, while a man in a suit stands on a wooden balcony facing away.
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A couple embraces on a wooden floor by a decorated table, seen from above with sunlight casting shadows across the scene.
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A bride and groom stand side by side on a field with patches of snow; the bride holds a colorful bouquet and both are dressed in formal wedding attire.
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A man and woman stand facing each other on a road at night, illuminated from behind by a bright light, creating a dramatic silhouette effect.
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A bride and groom stand outdoors, facing each other and smiling, with greenery and hills visible in the background.
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A bride and groom laugh together outdoors during their wedding ceremony, surrounded by applauding guests with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.
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Two people walk along a wooden path in a field with tall pine trees and misty mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.
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Two women in floral robes sit by a window; one applies makeup to the other. Their reflection is visible on the shiny surface below. A floor lamp is in the background.
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A woman in a white hooded coat stands in front of a man in a suit on a snowy overlook, with a railing and winter landscape in the background.
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A person in a lace wedding dress walks down a hallway, seen from behind, in a black and white photo.
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A bride and groom walk down a wet city alley at night, surrounded by guests, with shadows cast on the brick walls; the scene is captured in black and white.
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A woman in an ornate lace wedding dress and veil sits indoors, hands resting on her lap, and looks to the side.
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Silhouettes of two people by a lake at sunset; one is skipping a stone on the water while the other looks on.
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A bride and groom share a kiss on the dance floor at their wedding reception, surrounded by seated guests in a decorated banquet hall.
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A bride and groom dance in the center of a formal reception room as guests watch and smile; the bride’s dress flares out as the groom lifts her.
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A couple stands close together outdoors at sunset, facing each other in silhouette, with distant mountains and trees in the background.
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A couple in wedding attire stands on a rocky ledge overlooking a lake and distant snow-capped mountains.
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A couple stands under a tree at night, silhouetted and facing each other closely, with soft backlighting highlighting their outlines.
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Two men in dress shirts and suspenders stand indoors; one laughs with hands to his face while the other looks down, holding a bag.
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A bride and groom walk through a crowd holding sparklers at night, with guests cheering and taking photos in a festive atmosphere.
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A couple dressed in formal attire shares a dip and kiss on a dance floor during a wedding reception, with guests seated and watching in the background.
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Silhouetted couple stands facing each other near a river with a waterfall in the background at dusk.
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A bride in a white gown holds a bouquet while standing next to a groom in a tuxedo outdoors, with green grass and trees in the background.
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A bride feeds a groom cheese curds outside a food truck at night, both wearing formal wedding attire and blue glow necklaces.
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A couple in wet formal clothes sit in a shallow rocky stream, embracing and touching foreheads while smiling at each other.
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A bride in a white dress stands inside near a door, with her reflection visible in the glass and potted flowers outside.
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A bride and groom stand facing each other at opposite ends of a narrow staircase, with a large window between them, in a black and white photo.
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A bride in a wedding dress and a man in a suit walk across a grassy field toward a large wooden building at sunset.
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A bride in a white wedding dress sits on the floor reading a card while a small dog looks up at her.
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A bride and groom walk together on a snowy path through a field at sunset, with hills in the background.
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A bride in a white lace gown walks with a groom in a formal military uniform on a dirt path at sunset.
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A couple in wedding attire stands close together under a large tree in a grassy field at sunset.
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A bride in a lace dress holding a bouquet stands beside a groom in a blue suit and floral tie, both looking at each other and smiling in natural sunlight.
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A woman in a strapless dress stands against a patterned wall facing a man in a vest and glasses; both have neutral expressions.
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A person in formal attire is partially visible through a slightly open door, while another person in a white garment reaches for the doorknob.
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A bride and groom stand close together by a river at sunset, with a bridge and bare trees in the background.
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A bride and groom kiss on the dance floor of a warmly lit wedding reception, with sunlight shining behind them and guests seated in the background.
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A person in partial shadow holds the train of a white, lace-detailed garment, possibly a wedding dress, against a dark background.
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A bride and groom share a kiss on the dance floor at their wedding reception, with guests and warm string lights in the background.
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A couple stands closely together on a grassy field against a white sky, positioned in the center of the image.
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A bride and groom share a first dance in the center of a dimly lit, elegant ballroom with round tables and chandeliers.
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A bride and groom sit on a rustic wooden fence with snow-capped mountains and a valley in the background under a cloudy sky.
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A woman in a white dress and floral headband stands between partially open frosted glass doors, looking down in a softly lit room.
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A bride and groom stand outdoors, facing each other and smiling, framed by green and yellow autumn trees with a distant hill in the background.
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A woman in a wedding dress sits in a dimly lit room, illuminated by soft light, with exposed brick wall and hanging lightbulbs in the background.
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A woman in a wedding dress stands in dim lighting near exposed brick, illuminated by hanging light bulbs.
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Silhouetted couple stands facing each other outdoors at dusk, surrounded by trees with a bright sky in the background.
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A couple in wedding attire embraces on a grassy hill with dramatic orange clouds in the sky at sunset.
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Two men in dress shirts and suspenders stand indoors; one is smiling with hands over his mouth while the other looks down, holding a black bag.
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A person styles another person’s hair in a dimly lit bedroom with exposed brick, a made bed, and framed pictures on the wall.
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A man and woman standing close together in dim lighting, the woman wearing a beaded necklace and lace dress, with a brick wall background.
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A couple in formal attire stands close together on a sandy beach at night, illuminated by backlighting as rain or snow falls around them.
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A bride and groom share their first dance in a wooden barn venue while wedding guests watch and smile in the background.
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A couple in formal attire floats on their backs in a small pool surrounded by large rocks and a flowing stream in a natural outdoor setting.
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A woman in a white lace dress leans against a man in a dark suit, looking at the camera, with greenery blurred in the background.
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A couple in formal attire holds hands while standing near a lake at sunset, with a cloudy sky and trees in the background.
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Two men in suits dance closely together on a wooden floor under a tent, with seated guests and string lights in the background.
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