Cheesman Park Wedding in Denver 

Ali and Michael’s Cheesman Park wedding is a great reminder that weddings don’t have to be big or performative to feel incredibly meaningful. 

Their two-day September celebration in Denver was simple and personal, built entirely around their relationships and priorities, NOT expectations. From a quiet ceremony at the Cheesman Park pavilion to a laid-back downtown celebration the next day, every part of their wedding felt completely them. 

Cheesman Park Wedding Details 

• Day one started with a completely natural first look. Michael was already at Cheesman Park and Ali was walking up with her friends when they saw each other. It was a sweet moment that matched one of their priorities – to eliminate performative moments as much as possible. 

• Their ceremony included around 15 of their closest friends and family. The pavilion at Cheesman Park is so elegant, so they didn’t need to spend much money on anything to elevate the space. A few floral arrangements on the steps was just enough to level it up. 

• Michael and Ali kept some traditions in their ceremony to honor their relationships with their loved ones. Ali’s dad walked her down the aisle, and their best friends took turns officiating. 

• After they said “I do,” we broke out the champagne for toasts before taking family photos. Ali and Michael even made time to Facetime some of the people who couldn’t make it to their Cheesman Park wedding. 

• The pavilion at Cheesman Park is right next to the Denver Botanic Gardens, so we walked through there and took more photos before they headed out for a small family dinner.  

• The next day, I met these two at The Wild in downtown Denver. It’s an intimate cocktail and coffee bar, so it was the perfect space for a larger group than they had at their ceremony. 

• They had a gorgeous cake, a MASSIVE charcuterie board for everyone to snack on, and some more florals to decorate the space. 

• Later in the night, Michael and Ali did the traditional parent dances and had a t-shirt toss, which was hilarious. It’s one of my favorite memories of their day! 

Cheesman Park Wedding Must Knows 

• A Cheesman Park wedding gives you a backdrop that feels elevated without needing anything over the top. These two didn’t need chairs for their small group, but for a larger ceremony you could totally set up some chairs inside the pavilion.  

• Getting married at the Cheesman Park pavilion will cost about $350 to rent, which you can do online. 

• Michael and Ali had their friends officiate, but remember – you can self-solemnize in Denver! That means you don’t need an officiant to be legally married.  

• These two were really intentional about planning a weekend that was based on their interests and priorities. They wanted to create a great experience in Denver for their friends and family. Planning celebrations over two days really gave them the time to slow down, create intimacy, and be fully present with their loved ones. 

Vendors 

• Celebration Venue – The Wild 

• Catering – Potager 

• Dessert – Mermaids Bakery 

• Florals – KaraKara Blooms 

• Hair and Makeup – Callie Kay Artistry and Shanette Medina 

FAQs 

Can you have a small wedding at Cheesman Park?

Yes — Cheesman Park is an ideal location for intimate weddings. The pavilion works especially well for small guest counts when you want something elevated without a full traditional setup. For Ali and Michael’s ceremony, they chose to skip chairs, but you can totally rent some and set them up inside the pavilion. 

How much time do you need for a Cheesman Park wedding ceremony?

You don’t need a full day. Ali and Michael’s Cheesman Park ceremony, portraits, and family time all happened within 2-3 hours, which ended up being the perfect amount of time for what they wanted. 

How can I get married at Cheesman Park?

You’ll need to pay for a special occasion permit, which your planner or photographer (like me), can help you fill out and submit. It costs around $350. You can find more information here. 

Do I need an officiant to get married at Cheesman Park? 

No! Couples can officiate their own wedding through self-solemnization, which means you can marry yourself without an officiant or witnesses. A self-solemnization ceremony (or self-uniting marriage) is perfect for engaged couples who are dreaming of a chill wedding day with the least number of strangers involved as possible.

 I’d love to help you craft a day that feels uniquely yours.