Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012) means gifts for your sweetie and fun, deals on the mountains of America.

Loveland Ski Area in Colorado is certainly the best-known area to celebrate the day with their 21^st annual Mountaintop Matrimony. 

The “mass wedding,” conducted by Harry Heilman, minister with the Universal Life Church, is for couples wanting to marry as well as those wanting to renew their vows. Thousands have participated and hundreds have been married since the event began

“When you have ‘love’ in your name, it just makes sense to have a Valentine’s Day event,” Loveland’s John Sellers told SnoCountry.com. “So every year we invite skiers and snowboarders to come up to Loveland for the ultimate expression of love, getting married high atop The Continental Divide.

“The event hasn’t changed much over the years. It’s been so popular, we haven’t had to make many changes to it,” he said.

The noon ceremony takes place outside the Ptarmagin Roost Cabin at the top of Chair #12 and lasts for approximately 30 minutes. Pre-register for the $59 “2-for- 1” day of lift ticket, and to purchase 2-for-1 lunches for $11. Lunches include two vouchers worth $11 at any Loveland cafeteria outlet. Wedding cake, raffle tickets, and beer coupons are complimentary for pre-registrants. There will be a prize awarded for the best-dressed couple in ski-wedding attire.

More Celebrations

But, the Loveboat doesn’t just dock at Loveland. Snowbird Resort will be doing its part to pair people with a singles-only “speed dating” line at the Peruvian Express chairlift. Singles will be encouraged to participate with adult, all-day chairlift tickets for $40 on Valentine’s’ Day. Later, head over to the El Chanate Mexican restaurant, mention the singles line, and get a buy-one-get-one-free appetizer and entrée throughout the evening.

Michigan’s Shanty Creek says bring your sweetheart to the Wolverine State Valentine's Day and receive two lift tickets for the price of one. 

Squaw Valley Resort, Calif., makes the celebration a multi-day event.  Pick up your “I Love Squaw” pin; join another singles line on KT where perhaps you’ll find your snowy soul mate, and if your number matches another’s number you can get two drinks for $2 each at the KT Base Bar. There’s a mountain Scavenger Hunt looking for heart bags with candy or coupons for discounts and prizes. Wrap it all up with a Valentine’s Day Dinner at High Camp for $99/couple (does not include Aerial Tram Ticket). Dinner is by reservation only. 

Alpine Meadows, Squaw’s new soul sister, celebrates Valentine’s Day early (Feb. 11) with two main events. There’s Meet your Match where you get a numbered sticker. Find someone with the same number and you get two drinks for $2 each at the Last Chair Bar. Later, join the Valentine's Day Bash featuring DJ Zeb Early and enjoy dance offs and drink specials from 2-5 p.m. at either the Sun Deck or in the Last Chair Bar, depending on weather.  

California’s Mammoth Mt. suggests beginning Valentine’s Day with a champagne toast and then snuggling with your honey for a romantic heated snowcat ride to the high-altitude Parallax Restaurant, Seatings begin at 5:45 p.m. and are $99 for adults. Reservations are required. 

Love In Vermont

Valentine’s Day is special in Vermont’s Green Mountains, too. Mount Snow has put together a Cloud Nine Nuptials package for those wanting to renew their vows. The service procession begins at 10 a.m. on the Sunbrook Quad, bringing you up to the top where Larry Feldstein, a local Justice of the Peace, will conduct the ceremony. 

A reception in Mount Snow’s Summit Lodge with coffee and cake immediately follows the ceremony. Participants need to have lift tickets, which are available for advance purchase online at the special rate of two for $49, and must be able to ski or ride intermediate terrain. You also can make the matrimony official by providing Larry with the proper paperwork for him to sign. 

Okemo Mountain Resort is honoring would-be, wanna-be brides and grooms Feb. 14. Show up at the ticket window wearing formal attire – such as a wedding or prom dress or tux – and you can purchase a lift ticket for $59, receive a coupon for a free order of chicken wings at The Sitting Bull and, if you agree to participate in an on-mountain photo shoot, receive a voucher for complimentary return visit. Who says you have to be a twosome to celebrate the day? 

Smugglers’ Notch has a Valentine's Day ‘Sweetheart of a Deal,’ Feb. 12-15. Choose from three Club Smugglers' Packages for two and you'll receive, upon arrival, a Cabot Creamery Gift Box, and $50 in Smugglers' Gold spending cash which can be used towards your Valentine's dinner, a gift from 3 Mountain Outfitters, a massage, or other choices. Packages start at $139 per person, per night. 

Free lift tickets are included in a Valentine’s Day Special at Bolton Valley when couples book a room at the Slopeside Inn, Feb. 13 or 14. You can spend one or two nights; rates are $119 per night, plus tax. Each room comes with two complimentary lift tickets for the following day. 

Maine-bound this Valentine’s Day? How about combining it with some more speed dating at Saddleback? There will be two single lines for skiers and riders at the Rangeley double chair where you can team up with another person. Who knows what long-term result that ride to the top – or run down the mountain – might be. Already married? Renew your vows at the top of the mountain at 1 p.m.

Loveland Mountaintop Matrimony Photo courtesy Marc Piscotty/Getty Images