Aspen is one of the most amazing cities in the world... but also one of the most difficult to get to. You can expect weather delays, missed connections, diversions to Grand Junction, and at the very minimum a bumpy ride into the airport.
Even if everything goes absolutely perfectly during your travel day, upon landing you'll be hit by being 7,908 feet above sea level, which takes a physical toll.
Because of this, our clients rarely (if ever) do a one-night event for their parties. It becomes more of a weekend affair, giving people time to enjoy the city, settle into the altitude, and act as a buffer for those pesky travel hiccups.
So what to do the first night your guests arrive in Aspen? A welcome party, of course! Here are three tips for making yours a success!
Keep it casual. Because of the travel nightmare that our lovely hometown can often be, when people arrive they are typically exhausted. The last thing they want to do is hair, makeup, and heels before trotting off to a fancy party. We recommend that welcome events have a laid-back vibe. AKA it's okay to wear jeans or even sweats! It's okay to not even attend. It's ok to eat more comfort-style foods like pizza and pasta. There's no assigned seating either.
A cocktail mixer or fun dinner is best. Your guests are coming in from all over the country, and typically they don't all know each other. That's one of the best reasons to have a welcome party, so everyone can meet and mingle ahead of the main event. For this reason, we love kicking it off with a cocktail hour, cocktail party, or casual dinner. A few hours of drinks, passed apps/ food, and socializing is a great way to get everyone introduced. Sometimes we offer optional afterparty activities, like going to a bar or a club, but keeping the evening simple and easy is the name of the game.
Set the tone for your weekend ahead. I'm a big first impressions person, and your welcome party is the ultimate first impression for the weekend. Let's face it: Aspen isn't cheap. In addition to it being difficult to get here, hotels, flights, and food are more expensive here... so let's make it worth everyone's while as the celebration of a lifetime! Upon arrival, always have welcome gifts waiting in guests' hotel rooms. At your Welcome Party, just because we're keeping it casual and laid back doesn't mean it can't be fabulous. Select gorgeous flowers, have a great menu with fun wines and signature cocktails, and let everyone know through your details and hospitality that they are going to have the time of their lives in the days ahead.