Brundage Mountain Resort

ing—Brundage is a ski resort that also does weddings, 4) I planned everything myself without a planner, 5) we live out of state, and 6) this was their first post-Covid wedding season, so kinks were expected. The good: we wanted a unique outdoor venue in McCall for ~50 people without breaking the bank. We’ve skied at Brundage for years, and the wedding brochure promised stunning top-of-the-mountain views and a brand-new reception tent. In Dec 2024 we paid a deposit without a final walk-through, trusting our familiarity. At first, Joe (all names redacted) was great to work with, but after he left, we were shuffled to new contacts (Mary, then Sally). We asked for catering menus early, but months passed without one. We were promised tastings but dates kept slipping. Invitations went out without us knowing what food would be served—stressful, considering the cost. At our June walk-through, the reception tent looked great, but issues began. The “bridal suite” was essentially a storage area near daycare—zero frills. The groom’s room was nicer but still basic. Thunderstorms prevented us from riding the lift, so staff drove us up. Instead of the breathtaking ceremony sites we imagined, we were shown: 1) a platform behind a ski patrol shack with tools spilling out, or 2) a spot ~100 feet from the noisy, nonstop chairlift… and 15 feet from a pit toilet. We were told the lift wouldn’t disrupt the ceremony, yet during vows the alarm blared, which I unfortunately will never forget. Feeling trapped, I hired a day-of coordinator—best decision I made. Sally worked hard to help, but when we finally offered a “tasting” it was leftovers from another event, not our menu. We were being asked to pay thousands for food we never tried. Around this time, we also discovered—only by checking Brundage’s website—that a drunk yoga class and a concert were scheduled at the same time as our wedding prep and guest arrivals. None of the staff had told us. By rehearsal, stress was overwhelming. There was a new concert tent set up in the green next to the tent we were not told about and we also learned last-minute that the lift chairs would be blocked with bike racks, impacting photos. Sally fixed it day-of, but it was another surprise. The wedding itself: our ceremony looked beautiful and guests enjoyed the cocktail hour. Drinks were excellent, but the dinner we had worried about proved exceptionally disappointing: my chicken and my husbands elk were dry and salty. Not good at all. Some guests said theirs was better, but I suspect they were being kind. Staff were also rude to my coordinator during clean-up and distributing a surprise pretzel snack a family member had prepared at the end of the evening as guests were leaving. They were very strict on the no outside food, but this interaction was wholly unnecessary. In the end: our day was lovely, but the stress was enormous. The cost ended up no cheaper than other full-service venues in McCall. I can’t say I would recommend this to everyone. Brundage needs to improve professionalism, communication, and honesty about limitations. My advice: get everything in writing, hire a coordinator, and remember—this is a ski resort that happens to do weddings, not a true wedding venue.