Required Chairlift ride?

Welcome! You may want to change your picture so you get more responses.

Honestly both FH and I are terrified of chair lifts. We may go on one if it was for a close family member, but we'd likely avoid it for anyone else. Is there any other way to get people to the top? A snow vehicle?

First of Welcome and Congratulations! I've never heard of this. I'm assuming that since you said only the chairlift is available means there are other means to reach the top. I would simply try talking with your POC at the venue and explaining the situation and ask if they have any suggestion for those guests. They would know probably better than any of us.

Expect to get some RSVP's as "no's" because of this. as Richard mentioned, you can't force them into it. make sure all guests know this is the case in advance though so there aren't any terrified people that day!

how many guests are you having? just trying to get an idea of how many people need to get on this thing!

Thanks for the photo tip!

Because it's a Tuesday in the summer, there IS a gondola "there." However, it costs $3000 to operate the gondola (an enclosed cabin) to get to the top---something FH and I just can't afford.

I have reached out to my coordinator there at least about age/height/weight restrictions (for kids), but I don't think there's a "too young/little" limit (I worked in this resort for a few years; I saw toddlers skiing and taking lifts all the time!). Unfortunately, my coordinator is on vacation for another week, and I guess my anxiety has gotten the better of me, hence my posting here, right now!

There are also technically service vehicles that go to the top, but they are not even for employee use (just for emergencies/for maintenance/etc.), so it's not an option for guests.

Further background for this wedding: We currently live in Minnesota, with our four families (yes, two sets divorced parents) spread across the country, and friends filling in from everywhere else! So this is a "destination wedding" for almost everyone involved. I'm trying very hard to accommodate others' needs, because none of our friends or family is *truly* in a place to spend lots of money to travel, and I guess with the recent issue of chairlifts I'm just feeling so guilty! (Whereas, when I first planned this ceremony that required a chairlift, all I could think about was how amazing this would be! Seriously, my dream come true!!!)

**Edited to remove bit asking about avatar photo, since I figured out how to change it, finally.

Also- thank you all for responses so quickly! I think you've all given good advice so far.

Ostrich -- I agree with you. I am planing on making this fact (mandatory chairlift ride!) obvious everywhere--on invitation, on wedding site in several places, etc. I suppose I can't help if some people will RSVP "no" because of this.

We are inviting 75. Of these 75, four are elderly (two in early 70s, two in early 80s), 5 are kids under 10, 5 more are kids under 5.

I've thought about trying to hire a sitter for the ceremony portion for any children under 5 whose parents don't want to take them on the lift. I'm just not sure, with this being a destination wedding, where I can have the babysitter watch the kids.

You will have to let people know about this in advance. Some people may not feel comfortable with it, epically if they haven't been on one before. You may have people decline or back out once they get to the mountain. I don't know if it's a good idea to be honest.

I would find a nice spot at the bottom of the mountain for the ceremony and then do photos at the top with just you guys and wedding party.

Amanda, is it a high-speed quad or an old-school two-seater? It makes a big difference

CO Bride - high speed quad. Big bar that comes down in front. So, it's a long ride (20 mins), but you are moving QUICKLY! Elevation gain is just over 2,000ft in 20 mins.

I went to a wedding in Michigan at a ski resort. We had to take a chair lift to the top for the ceremony. I did have a problem with in as I ski all winter long, others were a bit nervous but they would slow the chair and help everyone load. They also had blankets for guest because it was a late fall wedding. I wouldn't worry about it. It will be beautiful!

Since it's the quad with the bar, I think your guests will be fine unless one has a crippling fear of heights. (Are there any babies or small toddlers? Their parents can likely use a front baby-wearing device). Because it likely sounds scarier than it is if you've never ridden one, I would try to find some you tube videos of loading and unloading, and/or pics of the chair with the bar down. You could put those on your website so they know what to expect. As you know, they basically come to a dead stop when loading, and I bet the operator can even fully stop for anyone elderly or really uncomfortable. Can your guests with skiing experience pair up with anyone who is extra nervous to make them more comfortable? The only issue that occurs to me is shoes- they should probably hold them so they don't kick them off! But that sounds amazing- I would have done it if I didn't have a family venue!

Tell. people. about. altitude. sickness.

- Colorado mountain bride.

My friends got married at the top of the mountain.

Their photographer from Illinois almost passed out.

Cut the B list (tiered invites are NEVER a good idea), hire the gondola. If it doesn't fit in the budget, find something to cut. This is one of the difficulties of a unique venue but if there are people who are important to you that you are worried about (which I assume they are since you invited them to your wedding) I really think you should prioritize their comfort over, say, flowers, upgraded chairs, upgraded linens, etc. I can't imagine my 95 year old grandmother maneuvering a ski lift. I wouldn't even really want to maneuver a ski lift in formalwear. What's the drop point look like? Most ski lifts you ski off of so it's a slope downwards. I can't imagine landing on that in heels or the like.

Talk to people about altitude sickness!

Also, B lists are awful awful awful.

I would not be taking a chair lift to the top of a mountain for any wedding. Not even my own sisters. For safety and comfort reasons, there should be other options you need to make available. I would rather have a beer and wine bar and a vehicle to drive me to the top than an open bar and only one option of getting to the top.

You're going to get on a chair lift in your dress??

I do have to admit, the mountaintop ceremony where you ride a ski lift to the top does sound romantic. If I were a guest, though, I'd have some reservations about getting up there. I'm pretty darn afraid of heights and have never been on a ski lift before. Aside from the 14 guests you mentioned that are old or very young, are all of your other guests likely to be unafraid of the ski lift? I do like the idea someone else had of looking into switching your ceremony site to a different area of the resort that would be more accessible. I'm assuming the 4 older guests are grandparents. If they are unable or unwilling to get on the ski lift, would you be okay with them missing your ceremony?

If you decide to go through with your ceremony as planned, I'd talk to all of the parents of the younger kids. Ask them if they are comfortable with their kids riding on the ski lift, and tell them you would consider getting a sitter for the kids who aren't allowed to go to the ceremony. I'd go so far as to provide the parents with the references of the hired sitter, as well as the sitter's contact info so they can speak with him or her ahead of time. Some parents can be very particular about who they leave their kids with, and this could help things go smoothly. I would think the resort would have a lodge with a space where the sitter could stay with the kids not going to the ceremony. Otherwise, is there a nearby hotel where you could rent a room where the sitter could watch the kids?

I agree, try to justify the 3k by getting rid of the B list, only inviting VIPs, and having a Tuesday wedding.

I agree with Cathy on this one. Even though it may be your "dream" wedding, I would seriously consider moving the ceremony to someplace easier to access for elderly, children and the terrified.

What's more important to you, to have your ceremony at "your dream location" or to have the people that care most about you there?

And the B/C list thing won't go well over here.... Its kinda on the rude side.... It's like saying, "I'm only inviting you if X # of people that I really want to be there decline". Umm... rude.

Wait, you guys didn't have a similar issues with your chair lifts?

I'm going to be honest and say I didn't read the comments. But if a friend invited me to a wedding like this I would decline unless it was my very best friend or family. I am terrified of heights. Anxiety inducing terrified.

Just be honest with your guests and expect some declines as a result. Only they will know what they are comfortable.

"I'm trying very hard to accommodate others needs" - no you are not. You've choose a ceremony location that require special transport that not everyone would be comfortable with and in planning it you ignored the $3000 for the appropriate transport options for older guests, those with children etc. In your budget! It should of Been factored in at the beginning.

I'm sorry but it's all quite selfish. If it's the ceremony that you both have your hearts set on that fine, have it with two witness and then have a celebration of marriage a while later at a place where you actually accommodate others needs