Great Family Artists played nine weddings at Camp Hale, the lakeside venue at 9,200 feet near Red Cliff, across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and two more are booked for 2027. Most couples there book an 8-piece band for the reception tent, and two or three of the same musicians play the ceremony and the cocktail hour.
This page covers how a Camp Hale wedding day runs with our team, the songs couples have chosen there, band sizes and prices from our own bookings, and what to settle with the venue first.
Camp Hale at a glance
| At Camp Hale | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Pando Valley on US-24 near Red Cliff, about 20 miles from Vail (Eagle County) |
| Elevation | 9,200 feet |
| Ceremony | Ceremony Island, in a private lake |
| Reception | Dinner and dancing in the outdoor event tent; a lodge on site |
| Our wedding dates there | Late June to early October |
| Band sizes we have played | 7 to 12 pieces; 8 is the most common |
| When couples booked us | Most 10 to 15 months ahead |
| Band investment | About $13,000 to $27,500 in our 2025 to 2027 contracts |
Camp Hale was the World War II training ground of the 10th Mountain Division, and the land around it is now part of the Camp Hale–Continental Divide National Monument. The wedding venue sits on a private ranch in the valley, surrounded by the White River National Forest.
How a Camp Hale wedding day runs with GFA
Every Camp Hale wedding we play follows the same arc, from the island to the lake to the tent. One team covers all of it, and one GFA manager runs the timeline with the venue staff.
- Ceremony on the island. Two or three musicians from your band play a prelude while guests take their seats, then three or four ceremony songs: the processional, your entrance and the recessional. We confirm sound and power for the island with the venue during our technical advance.
- Cocktail hour by the lake. A trio plays instrumentals in the style you choose: classic jazz, funky pop covers or acoustic. At one 2026 Camp Hale wedding the horns joined for the recessional and led a New Orleans-style second line from the ceremony to cocktails.
- Into the tent. The full band is on stage and playing five minutes before cocktail hour ends, so guests walk into music rather than silence.
- Entrance and first dances. Our lead vocalists MC the grand entrance, the first dance and the parent dances unless you name someone else. Some couples have the band play every dance live; others dance to the original recording for the first dance and have the band play the parent dances.
- Dance sets. The set list is built with you, and we double-check your must-play songs with you before the date. A DJ covers dinner and the breaks between live sets if you want the music to run without a gap.
Songs from our Camp Hale weddings
A few of the songs couples chose at Camp Hale in 2026, played live by the band:
- Grand entrance: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing”
- Parent dances: John Denver’s “Sunshine on My Shoulders”, “Because You Loved Me”, “Dancing in the Moonlight” and “I Just Want to Dance with You”
- Anniversary dance: “The Way You Look Tonight”
- Dance floor: “September”, “Boogie Wonderland”, “Callin’ Baton Rouge”, “Hey Brother” and “You Shook Me All Night Long”
About two months before your date, we collect your ceremony songs, special dances, must-plays and do-not-play list, then build the set list with you.
Planning notes for a wedding at 9,200 feet
- Book early. Camp Hale’s wedding season is short and Saturdays fill first. Most of our Camp Hale couples booked us 10 to 15 months out, usually soon after signing with the venue.
- Size the band to the tent. Send us the guest count and the tent layout before you ask for a quote. Eight pieces suits most Camp Hale receptions; we have played there with up to 12.
- Plan for cool evenings. Nights at 9,200 feet turn cold, even in July. Ask the venue about tent sides and heaters for the reception, where the band plays most of the night.
- Budget for the mountains. Camp Hale is in Eagle County. Expect roughly 10 to 15 percent above standard Colorado pricing for mountain travel, musician lodging and a longer load-in.
- Settle the logistics early. We complete the technical advance with the venue six to eight weeks before the wedding: power at the island and the tent, load-in, staging and the weather plan.
Which GFA band fits Camp Hale
- Great Family Reunion (8 to 14 pieces) played most of our 2026 Camp Hale weddings. Rhythm section, horns and several lead vocalists, with a DJ, MC, sound and lighting in the same package.
- The Burroughs (5 to 10 pieces) is our Colorado-based soul and funk band, a good fit for a smaller tent.
- Taylor James String Band brings folk and strings with a Colorado sound for the island ceremony and the cocktail hour.
- Great Family Brass leads the second line from the lake and joins the main band for the reception.
Book GFA at Camp Hale
Great Family Artists holds 478 verified five-star reviews (Google 132, The Knot 182, WeddingWire 164). Call our Colorado line at 303-351-2699, read the reviews, or check your date. For other venues near Vail, see wedding bands in Vail. For how mountain venues change band size, power and cost, read Denver or the mountains? Price ranges for every band size are on our Colorado wedding bands page.
Frequently asked questions
Has Great Family Artists played weddings at Camp Hale?
Yes. We played nine weddings at Camp Hale across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, from late June to early October, and two more are booked for 2027. We know the run of the day there: ceremony on the island, cocktail hour by the lake, then dinner and dancing in the event tent.
What size band fits a Camp Hale wedding?
Our Camp Hale weddings have used 7- to 12-piece bands, and 8 pieces is the most common choice. Give us your guest count and tent layout and we will size the band to the tent.
How much does a wedding band at Camp Hale cost?
Our Camp Hale band contracts for 2025 to 2027 ran from about $13,000 to $27,500, depending on band size, hours and production. Most 8-piece bookings fell between $14,000 and $20,000. Camp Hale is in Eagle County, where mountain travel, musician lodging and a longer load-in add roughly 10 to 15 percent to standard Colorado pricing.
Can the band play the ceremony on Ceremony Island?
Yes. Two or three musicians from your band play a prelude while guests are seated, then three or four ceremony songs. At one 2026 Camp Hale wedding the horns joined for the recessional and led a New Orleans-style second line to cocktail hour.
How far ahead should we book a band for Camp Hale?
Most of our Camp Hale couples booked us 10 to 15 months before the wedding. The season is short, so book the band when you sign with the venue.