As a former Buff and a Boulder wedding photographer, it should come as no surprise that I rank the University of Colorado as one of my top wedding venues in Boulder. If you’re looking for rooftop ceremony views or an iconic reception venue, it doesn’t get better, and it’s understandably a popular venue with CU alumni. But our campus is consistently named as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country, and is well worth a venue tour even if you don’t go to school here.
There are a couple of different venues on campus, each with their own charm, so I wrote this guide for couples who want to get married at CU but haven’t decided on a venue yet (and for photographers doing research before working here for the first time).
Folsom Field Events
2400 Colorado Ave, Boulder, CO 80305
Website • Directions
If you’re interested in hosting your wedding at CU Boulder, it doesn’t get much cooler than getting married at (or even on) Folsom Field. The best option here for ceremonies is the Rooftop Terrace, but you can also get access to the field for photos, and even choose to exchange your vows privately in the middle of the field. Walking out to the field is seriously the coolest experience for a Buff — a venue coordinator will walk you through the facility, showing highlights along the way, and you’ve even got a decent chance of running into players in the hallways. (One of my grooms and I were both equally freaking out over shaking hands with players, and I think he might have ranked our trip onto the field as the highlight of his wedding day.)
For receptions, you can choose from the Byron R. White Club, the Crawford Club, and the Touchdown Club, which can all seat between 250-500 guests, along with a smaller lounge that’s directly off the rooftop terrace that’s best suited for events with fewer than 60 people. Pricing varies, so contact the Folsom Field event team with more info about what you’re planning and they can get you a quote.
Folsom Field is a Boulder landmark, and if you have any connection to the university, this is the venue that’s going to really vow your guests. The venue is ADA-accessible, there’s plenty of garage parking, and with a central location in the middle of Boulder it’s easy to coordinate shuttles or buses to nearby hotels if you have a lot of guests coming in from out of town.
Koenig Alumni Center
1202 University Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
Website • Directions
Koenig Alumni Center is available for both indoor and outdoor events, but with room for up to 200 people in the backyard I think it’s a great fit for outdoor weddings like the one I photographed above. (Want bigger views for your ceremony? Head up Flagstaff to Sunrise Amphitheater then come down to Koenig for the reception. You can even rent Buff buses for guest transportation.)
The indoor venues can host up to 50 people in the living room or 30 in the dining room, which would be a good fit for micro weddings. The backyard will look best from the end of May through mid-October when there are leaves on the trees – I don’t think I’d recommend an outdoor event here in winter. Your venue rental also includes a large white party tent, perfect for avoiding any chance getting caught in the rain during the summer when afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Koenig Alumni Center is the most affordable venue on campus, with rates starting at $3,500 for Saturday weddings and only $2,500 for Sundays — plus a 10% rental discount for CU Boulder alumni. While parking can be a bit harder to find on this side of campus, Koenig is situated directly across the street from both Limelight and Moxy, Boulder’s two newest hotels.
Other event spaces
While Folsom and Koenig are the two most popular venues on campus, they also have other event spaces available for rent. I’d personally love to photograph a ceremony on the UMC Rooftop (my favorite “secret” study spot on warm days), and while I have a hard time associating the Glenn Miller Ballroom with anything other than my freshman orientation, it’s the largest ballroom in Boulder and a great option for big weddings.
You could also host a large tented wedding reception on the UMC South Terrace, and smaller events have a range of smaller rooms to choose from. You can see all the outdoor event spaces on a map here, although these are not all well suited for weddings.
Photos on campus
Interested in doing wedding or engagement photos on campus without renting a venue from CU? There is a $125 permit fee for all commercial photography on campus, and if you’re interested in taking photos inside any buildings you’ll also need prior approval from the relevant department. I actually include the permit fee in my session pricing because I love working on campus!
It’s been twelve years since I left CU to run my photography business full-time, but I still jump at every opportunity to revisit campus. If you’re getting married at the University of Colorado I’d love to photograph your wedding, so check out my pricing then reach out to schedule a call to see if we’re a good fit!
