Snowbasin Resort delivers some of the most dramatic ceremony views of any ski resort in Utah. The standout is Needles Lodge, reached by gondola and perched above the valley floor with sharp ridge lines on every side. Plenty of resort ceremony sites sit down at the base area. This one is genuinely up in the sky.
Snowbasin sits in Huntsville, on the east side of Mt. Ogden. You can marry at the base in Earl’s Lodge or ride the gondola to Needles Lodge and marry at the top, and either one books with a reception to follow.
Snowbasin Resort Wedding Quick Facts
Location — Snowbasin Resort is at 3925 E. Snowbasin Road in Huntsville, Utah, about 40 to 45 minutes from Salt Lake City and roughly 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Capacity — Snowbasin Resort holds up to 650 guests at Earl’s Lodge and up to 450 at Needles Lodge, though neither number comes with a seating layout attached.
Cost — Room rental at Snowbasin Resort starts at $10,000 for either lodge and moves up with the date, the day of the week and the space you book, with lower rates Sunday through Thursday.
Season — Earl’s Lodge and Needles Lodge both take weddings year-round at Snowbasin Resort, and the Overlook Deck on the east side of Needles is a summer and fall space only.
Catering — All catering at Snowbasin Resort is in-house, and the kitchen builds menus around dietary restrictions.
Lodging — There’s no lodging at Snowbasin Resort. The nearest rooms are in Ogden and the Ogden Valley, about 10 miles out, and Snowbasin currently points guests toward the Grand America and Little America in Salt Lake City for pass-holder discounts. It has also named Wolf Creek Rentals and Lakeside Resort Properties as nearby options, so ask which list is current.
Coordinator — Snowbasin Resort doesn’t staff a separate wedding planner. The event sales manager who works through pricing and options with you also acts as your day-of coordinator, and event coordinators build the itinerary.
Accessibility — Snowbasin Resort’s wedding venues are ADA accessible, and accessible parking is in Earl’s Lot.
Pets — Leashed dogs are welcome at outdoor ceremonies at Snowbasin Resort and on the Needles Gondola in summer, but not inside either lodge and not on the mountain in winter. Service animals are welcome any time of year.
Weddings per day — Snowbasin Resort has run as many as three weddings in a single day, and the venues are spread out enough that you won’t see another wedding party.
Snowbasin Resort Wedding Info
Ceremony Sites at Snowbasin Resort
Needles Lodge sits at 8,700 feet, 12 to 15 minutes up the mountain by gondola, and its main space is a two-story room with 360-degree views, a grand fireplace and Italian chandeliers. The Needles Patio is enclosed and open year-round on the top floor. The Overlook Deck, on the lodge’s east side above the valley and the reservoir, takes bookings in summer and fall only.
Reception Spaces at Snowbasin Resort
Earl’s Lodge has the Huntington Room, a private event space, and Cinnabar, a full-service restaurant that converts for private events. Up top, the Needles Lodge main room and The Overlook Bar sit against the east-facing windows.
The rental fee covers food, beverage, serving staff, bartenders, furniture, linens and the space itself, and the resort handles setup and cleanup.
Decorating is on you, and Snowbasin doesn’t allow nails, pins or tacks on any of the walls; ladders are for Snowbasin staff to use, not guests or vendors, and any outside decor materials need the resort’s approval first. You get six hours of event time plus two hours beforehand to set up, and more time can be added for a fee.
Getting Ready, Lodging & Guest Logistics
There are several getting-ready spaces across the two lodges, each big enough for a group, with good light, mirror space and a private bathroom, and Snowbasin stocks the room with snacks and drinks for the wedding party while you get ready. Confirm which one you get when you book.
Nobody stays on the mountain overnight. The nearest rooms are in Ogden and the Ogden Valley, within about 10 miles, Salt Lake City is roughly 40 miles away, and Snowbasin currently lists 20% off at the Grand America and Little America for its pass holders.
Catering & Vendors at Snowbasin Resort
Catering at Snowbasin Resort is in-house only, and so is the bar, in keeping with Utah’s alcohol laws. The wedding menus have run to passed appetizers, plated dinners, grass-fed beef and Alaskan salmon, with custom cocktails available. Ask for the current menu when you inquire. There’s also a full hors d’oeuvre and dessert menu if you’d rather not do a seated dinner.
Snowbasin Resort Wedding Cost
Room rental at Snowbasin Resort starts at $10,000, at Earl’s Lodge or at Needles Lodge. The final number moves with the date, the day of the week and the space, and a Sunday-through-Thursday wedding costs less than a Saturday one. That fee covers food, beverage, serving staff, bartenders, furniture, linens and the room for six hours of event time, plus the two hours of setup before it.
The last full price range we had for a Snowbasin wedding, in 2023, ran $5,000 to $30,000 for the ceremony and reception together. $10,000 is the current published floor, and $30,000 is still the only ceiling figure on record.
Snowbasin doesn’t publish per-person food or bar pricing, a food and beverage minimum, a ceremony-only fee, a service charge percentage or deposit terms. Ask for all of those in your proposal. Extra event time past the six hours has been billed at $500 an hour.
A Photographer’s Take on Snowbasin Resort
Snowbasin is probably the hidden gem of the ski resort weddings, and part of that is price. It has been the easier one to say yes to. You ride the gondola up with your guests, everybody stays up there together, and you get married near the top of the mountain.
That’s a small grievance next to the rest of it. The photo spots just outside Needles have some of the best ridge lines around. Inside, the wood interior feels like a fishbowl in the best sense, windows running the full 360 degrees, so the view is still with you while you eat.
The dance party goes indoors or out depending on the weather, and the elevation does one more favor: it stays a lot cooler up there through the summer.
Snowbasin Resort Wedding FAQ
How much does a wedding at Snowbasin Resort cost?
Room rental starts at $10,000 at either lodge and rises with the date, the day and the space. Sunday through Thursday is cheaper than a Saturday. The fee includes food, drink, staff, furniture and linens for six hours, and add-ons are quoted separately.
How many guests can Snowbasin Resort hold?
Earl’s Lodge takes up to 650 and Needles Lodge up to 450. Snowbasin doesn’t say how those numbers break down between a seated dinner and a standing reception, so ask for the seated figure for the room you want.
Can you bring a dog to a Snowbasin Resort wedding?
Yes, outdoors and on a leash, and on the Needles Gondola in summer. Dogs aren’t allowed inside either lodge, and they’re off the mountain entirely in winter. Service animals are welcome any time of year.
Is Snowbasin Resort ADA accessible?
The wedding venues are ADA accessible and there’s accessible parking in Earl’s Lot. The gondola ride to Needles Lodge is part of getting to the summit spaces, so raise any specific mobility needs with the venue early.
Does Snowbasin Resort have an in-house wedding coordinator, or do you need your own planner?
There’s no dedicated wedding planner on staff. The event sales manager who handles your pricing and options also acts as your day-of coordinator, and event coordinators build the itinerary — worth knowing as you decide whether to hire your own planner.
Do you have to use Snowbasin Resort’s caterer?
Yes. Food and bar both go through the resort, which is how Utah’s alcohol laws work at a venue like this. Every other vendor is your call, including the band or DJ.
Snowbasin Resort Contact Info
3925 E. Snowbasin Road, Huntsville, Utah 84317
(801) 620-1075
weddings@snowbasin.com
Details verified against Snowbasin Resort’s published materials August 5–7, 2026. We’re actively inquiring with Snowbasin Resort for up-to-date information. Venues change terms between seasons, so confirm current pricing and policies with the venue before you budget.
Similar Wedding Venues
Snowbird runs weddings from Cliff Lodge in Little Cottonwood Canyon up to the Hidden Peak summit, reached by tram.
Solitude Mountain Resort puts ceremonies on the Inn Lawn or at Last Chance Lodge, with the Wasatch Crest behind them.
Snowpine Lodge is a small remodeled property in Alta that holds the ceremony and the reception inside the lodge.
For the rest, see The Best Utah Wedding Venues: A Photographer’s Guide.
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