How to Elope in Colorado: Your Ultimate Rocky Mountain Elopement Guide
Colorado is easily my favorite place in the world and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. After planning my own elopement, I decided that my passion was helping couples plan and capture their own dream elopement in Colorado.
If you’re dreaming of an unforgettable wedding experience surrounded by breathtaking scenery, picturesque mountain towns, and plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities, look no further than Colorado. In this guide, I’ll share my step-by-step process for helping couples plan their Colorado elopements. We’ll dive into how to choose your perfect elopement location, dates and seasons in Colorado, self-solemnizing and how to get your marriage license in Colorado, what to wear and pack, and much more. Buckle up–we’re heading to the Rocky Mountains!
Why Elope in Colorado?
Though I might be biased here, I think Colorado offers a bit of everything from diverse landscapes and picture-perfect towns, to exciting outdoor adventures, amazing bars, restaurants, and breweries and plenty of things to do. Here are a few reasons to elope in Colorado.
Breathtaking Landscapes
From snow-capped peaks to meadows full of colorful wildflowers, Colorado's diverse landscapes provide stunning backdrops for your elopement photos. Not only do we have multiple state and national parks, we also have a multitude of forest and BLM land where you can elope for free!
Intimate Wedding Experiences
Colorado's vast open spaces allow you to escape the crowds and create a truly intimate and private wedding experience. While there are popular destinations where crowds are abundant, there are just as many off-the-beaten-path spots where you can enjoy your wedding day in solitude.
Outdoor Adventure
Whether you and your partner are avid outdoor enthusiasts or just want a relaxing experience in the mountains, Colorado offers endless activities including hiking, skiing, exploring national parks, off-roading, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, sailing, and so much more!
You Can Marry Yourselves
Yes, you can literally marry yourselves in Colorado without a witness or officiant! It’s called self-solemnization and makes getting married here simple and stress-free. Simply pick up your marriage license from a local office (some offices may require appointments) then sign and return it by mail or in person within 63 days! And unlike other states that have a waiting period, you can pick up your marriage license and sign it same day. Your dog or cat can even sign with their paw print as a witness!
When to Elope in Colorado
Let’s chat about the best time to elope in Colorado. You can elope during any season in Colorado, but some seasons pose different challenges. Seasons in Colorado are different from other places mostly due to the amount of snow we get here in the mountains. Most locations in the mountains are snow-covered from mid-October through mid-June. Choosing your season is more than closing your eyes and picking a date—it’s selecting the setting you envision for your dream elopement.
When it comes to understanding the seasons in Colorado, I always recommend a local who is able to not only suggest locations based on the season, but who is also able to scout location conditions prior to your big day so there are no surprises! Below is an overview of each season in Colorado and what you might expect during that time.
Spring
In the mountains we refer to spring as “mud season” because the runoff from the snow creates a muddy experience on trails and dirt roads. It’s also a slow season for mountain towns and many restaurants and shops will take a brief hiatus and close to prepare for summer. If you do want to elope in the Spring, areas in the Front Range like Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Golden and Denver will have lush greenery and a more quintessential spring feel. Snow in the higher-elevation mountains will generally stick around until mid to late June and sometimes even July!
Summer
Summer is by far my favorite season in Colorado and also the easiest time to elope in the mountains in terms of accessibility. From mid/late June to late August temperatures are glorious (high 70s during the day and 50 or 60s at night), foliage is lush and green, wildflowers are popping up in meadows, and alpine lakes are finally melted. Most trails, dirt roads, and mountain passes are finally open and free of snow making hiking and off-road driving to ceremony spots finally an option! Not to mention July-August are peak wildflower months in the mountains.
Fall
If you have your heart set on the golden Aspens and fall colors, September and October are gorgeous and great times to elope. Colorado starts seeing snow as early as October, so plan for an earlier fall elopement to catch the changing Aspen leaves and avoid early-season snow. Towns like Aspen and Crested Butte are known for their incredible displays of changing leaves. While it changes a bit each year, the best time to catch the changing leaves is generally mid September through early October.
Winter
Winter elopements are an incredibly beautiful option if you love snowy mountaintops and freshly fallen snow. And if you’re an avid ski couple, then a skiing elopement at one of our world-famous ski resorts during the winter might be an amazing experience for you! There are plenty of activities in the winter including horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sledding, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, helicopter tours, and much more. I’ve even photographed a backcountry ski elopement that’s easily one of my favorite elopements ever!
Best Places to Elope in Colorado
Colorado is brimming with breathtaking locations for your elopement and I could spend days rattling off incredible places, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. In fact, one of the hardest things you’ll have to do as a couple is choose just a few options from all of the amazing spots we have!
Every couple booked with me receives a customized location guide based on their unique vision, outdoor ability, preferences, and dream activities. By getting to know you both on a deeper level and asking the right questions, I can help you narrow down your locations to pick the perfect one for your elopement!
Here are just a few of the incredible places to exchange your vows. For many couples, I will even suggest multiple locations so we have time to see and do it all!
Rocky Mountain National Park
With its towering peaks, alpine lakes, and sweeping meadows, this national park provides a stunning backdrop for a mountain elopement. Permits are required to elope or get married anywhere in RMNP (regardless of the size of your group) and all ceremonies must occur in the designated location on your permit. RMNP accepts applications the year in advance of desired wedding month and the maximum wedding ceremony size is 30 people, unless the normal site limit is less. Permits cost $300 and sites are reserved for blocks of 2 hours.
Maroon Bells
Considered one of the most photographed mountain ranges in North America, Maroon Bells offers unparalleled beauty and tranquility. You can rent out the amphitheater to have some of the most iconic peaks in Colorado as your backdrop. This incredible ceremony site can be reserved one year in advance for $200. There is a maximum of 50 people for private events. The site books quickly, so choose your date and then book right when the date is released (one year in advance).
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Imagine saying "I do" amidst towering sand dunes against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The sand dunes are one of the most incredible spots to visit in Colorado and are actually the highest sand dunes in North America! And with a special use permit, you can get married here!
San Juan Mountains
Located in Southwest Colorado, the San Juan Mountain Range is home to some of the most incredible backdrops with red-rock mountains, colorful alpine lakes, lush green fields of wildflowers, towering waterfalls, and some incredible 4x4 off-road trails. The San Juans also boast some of the most picturesque mountain towns with incredible history like Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, and Durango. Check out my full San Juan Elopement guide!
Garden of the Gods
Located near Colorado Springs, this iconic park showcases stunning red rock formations and dramatic vistas that will take your breath away. There is plenty to do in Colorado Springs including great lodging, restaurants, and outdoor adventures. And you can get married here for free!
Summit and Eagle County
Only about an hour from Denver is Summit County, which hosts some of Colorado’s best ski resorts and popular mountain towns including Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Frisco and Keystone. And just a half hour over Vail Pass is Eagle County with Vail and Beaver Creek Mountains. These are popular elopement destinations whether you want to hike in summer or ski in the winter for your wedding day!
Aspen and Crested Butte
Both Aspen and Crested Butte are perfect elopement locations in any season. Both towns have renowned ski resorts, incredible trails and greenery during the summer, famous landmarks (hello, Maroon Bells), and are hot spots for leaf peeping during the fall with fields of golden aspens! They are also some of the most picturesque mountain towns in Colorado with plenty of lodging, restaurants, and things to do!
How to Elope in Colorado: Steps for Planning Your Dream Elopement
Now that you've chosen Colorado as your elopement destination, it's time to plan the logistics. Here are some essential steps to help you elope in Colorado:
Brainstorm Your Elopement Vision
Before booking anything, sit down as a couple and start discussing how you want your elopement to feel and what are some “non-negotiables” for your day. Think about where you picture saying your vows, whether you have guests there for some of it, or if it’s just the two of you adventuring together in the mountains.
Ask yourselves some questions like: What do you love doing together? Do you want your pets involved? Do you picture having guests? (If you plan to have guests, consider keeping the number under 15 considering the two of you—it provides more flexibility and options for elopement locations!)
Next, determine what your budget is and what you’re willing to invest to create your dream elopement! Keep in mind that most elopement photographers who offer full-service planning and elopement expertise will charge more than photographers who intend to just show up and snap photos.
Choose Your Elopement Photographer
Oftentimes, the first step is booking an elopement photographer who can help you plan out your elopement from start to finish. It’s important to find a photographer who offers planning packages and specializes in elopements so they can take the stress off your plate. Elopement photographers should help with locations, vendor recommendations, permits and regulations, timeline creation, and much more.
It’s also important to find a photographer you vibe with, since this person will literally be spending your entire wedding day with you! Trust your gut and make sure you can picture your photographer third-wheeling your elopement day! Your wedding day is a private and personal event, so I like to make sure my couples think of me as a friend before I show up to take photos of them on their big day!
Choose a Date and Time
Generally, you can book your photographer without a specific date and they can help you narrow it down. I’ve assisted plenty of couples in choosing their date and time based on their vision for their elopement. We will talk through pros and cons of different seasons, weather, and timing to make sure your date aligns with your elopement vision!
Decide on Guests
Making the decision around whether or not you plan to invite guests and how many will influence what locations you’re able to choose, where you want to book lodging, and whether you need to consider transportation or other logistics for your guests, so making this decision up front will help you make other decisions down the road. Here are some unique ways you can include guests in your elopement.
Pick a Location
Once you’ve secured your photographer and they provide you with a location guide of potential locations to choose from, it’s time to pick the best elopement location for you. Everything from travel logistics to activity planning hinges on your chosen location. Many couples will even opt for multiple close-by locations to be able to have multiple backdrops on their elopement day!
All of my couples receive a customized location guide based on what they have told me they envision for their elopement setting. Oftentimes, choosing your location is the hardest part of your elopement planning journey, since there are just so many places to choose from, especially in Colorado! That’s why I help your narrow down the options based on my expertise and experience.
Book Travel
Next it’s time to book your travel and lodging. Booking far enough ahead will ensure that you’re able to get the best deals on Airbnbs, flights, etc. Colorado is a popular travel destination and lodging fills up quickly and far in advance, so if you have a general location in mind, look to book your lodging right away!
Choose Your Vendors
Once you’ve decided on a location, work with your photographer to book other vendors for things like hair and makeup, flowers, catering, etc. I provide each of my couples with a preferred vendor list of folks who specialize in elopements. This helps take the guesswork and Google searches out of finding your perfect vendors.
Plan Activities, Timeline, and Details
Once you’ve chosen a location and date, I will help you put everything together to build your perfect elopement day timeline. I provide a list of potential activities for your elopement day based on your location and what you dream of doing. This could be adventurous activities like hiking, horseback riding, skiing, or 4x4 driving, or something more relaxed like a picnic, scenic drive, cooking class, or sunset canoe paddle.
This is also the time we’ll put together details that are special to you. If there is a specific meal, snack, or beverage that is unique to your relationship, we will incorporate that. If there are things you love doing together, this is when we’ll build that into your timeline. If you’re looking for ways to include your pets or family members, we’ll decide just where they fit!
Obtain a Marriage License
Research the requirements for obtaining a marriage license in the county where you plan to elope and ensure you have all the necessary documentation. I will assist with any information you need around your marriage license!
Experience Your Best Day!
Now comes the fun part: committing your lives to each other and celebrating while experiencing an unforgettable day in Colorado. I strive to make every elopement fun and stress free, so you can simply focus on the experience. Don’t forget to slow down and soak up every moment, because the day goes by quickly!
Colorado offers one of the most incredible locations for couples seeking an intimate and awe-inspiring elopement experience. From the majestic mountains to the charming towns, you won’t be disappointed by choosing Colorado for your elopement. Want to discuss your dream elopement? Contact me today for your free intro chat!
Things to Do on Your Colorado Elopement
We’ve covered why you should elope in Colorado, when to elope, and where you can elope, so now let’s discuss all of the incredible activities Colorado has to offer that you can include on your elopement day! Because there’s so much to see or do, I always recommend couples book at least 6 hours so there’s plenty of time for activities and soaking up the experience without feeling rushed! Here are just a few of the activities you can include on your elopement day.
Hiking
Colorado is a hiker's paradise, with countless trails that range from easy strolls to challenging treks. You can either plan a hike to a scenic location, such as a mountain summit or a picturesque alpine lake, to exchange your vows surrounded by nature's splendor, or hike together after the ceremony!
Scenic Drives
Colorado is known for its breathtaking scenic drives, offering panoramic views of mountains, valleys, and charming towns. Consider incorporating a scenic drive into your elopement itinerary, stopping at viewpoints for memorable photos. Some of my favorite scenic drives include: Mount Evans in Idaho Springs, Pike’s Peak in Colorado Springs, Cottonwood Pass in Buena Vista, and Independence Pass between Leadville and Aspen, just to name a few!
4x4 Driving/ Jeeping
Colorado is home to some of the most incredible off-road trails anywhere, so if you don’t want to hike but still want seclusion, consider renting a Jeep or other 4x4 vehicle to take to an off-the-beaten-path spot for your elopement! You can rent a Jeep to drive yourself or consider going through a tour company with plenty of experience driving high-alpine trails.
Hot Springs Soaking
Colorado boasts several natural hot springs that provide relaxation and rejuvenation. Take a dip in a hot spring either before or after your elopement ceremony to unwind and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the warm mineral waters. Some of my favorites are in Glenwood Springs, Buena Vista, and Steamboat Springs.
Paddle Boarding, Kayaking or Canoeing
Colorado has plenty of gorgeous lakes for water-based adventures like kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding. Consider adding a mellow water adventure to your elopement plans, which is a fun way to explore a new area and makes for incredible photos!
Mountain Biking
For couples seeking an adrenaline-filled activity, Colorado offers excellent mountain biking trails. Rent bikes and explore scenic trails together, combining adventure with breathtaking views.
Rock Climbing
If you and your partner are experienced rock climbers or want to try something adventurous, Colorado's rocky landscapes provide ample opportunities for rock climbing and bouldering.
Skiing or Snowboarding
If you're eloping in the winter months, consider hitting the slopes for a memorable skiing or snowboarding adventure. Colorado is renowned for its world-class ski resorts, offering thrilling winter sports and some of the best views in all of the state! Ask me about backcountry ski elopements as well!
What to Wear and Pack for Your Colorado Elopement
Unpopular opinion: I believe your day and activities should dictate your attire, not the other way around. Choosing attire that is too restrictive or that you’re afraid to get a little dirty will definitely limit the things you’re able to do on your elopement day. So instead, choose attire that works with your elopement day instead of against it. Here are some key things for your elopement attire and how to choose the best for you!
Dress
When choosing your dress, find something you feel beautiful and comfortable in. Consider the way the dress moves and pick an option that moves with you rather than against you. If you plan to do any type of activities on your day, choose a wedding dress that you can move freely in. Avoid tight-fitting trumpet shaped dresses, extremely long trains, or dresses with uncomfortable corsets or itchy material.
Make sure you can comfortably sit, walk, and spend long periods of time in whichever dress you choose. And keep in mind that if you’re spending your elopement day outside, your dress might get a little dirty—and that’s okay! I like to say you’re taking bits of Colorado with you on your dress.
And consider having a seamstress make any alterations necessary to make sure your dress is comfortable for all day wear.
Suit
When trying on suits, make sure that you have full range of motion in it, including sitting, walking, hiking, or standing for a long day outside. Consider the type of fabric and make sure it’s appropriate for the season you’re eloping in (lighter fabrics for summer; heavier/ warmer fabrics for late fall and winter!)
Make any alterations to ensure comfortable wear like having pants hemmed.
Footwear
Footwear is one of the most important pieces of clothing you’ll wear on your elopement day. Make sure your shoes coincide with whatever activities you plan to do. Consider bringing multiple pairs of shoes with you to change into throughout the day and extra pairs of socks. Warm, dry feet can mean the difference between an awesome elopement day or complete misery, I promise!
Pack a sturdy, waterproof hiking boot or shoe for any hiking adventures, a waterproof sandal (like Chacos or Tevas) for any water activities, and any “cute” shoes you might want to throw on for portraits. High heels are best for indoor reception sites or for portraits on flat ground and men’s dress shoes should follow the same rule of thumb since they tend to slip and slide on wet surfaces or loose rock!
Layers
Pack plenty of layers since Colorado weather is notorious for changing from one minute to the next. Women can pack a casual jacket like a jean jacket or leather jacket for during the day. And both men and women should pack a warm jacket for early mornings and later evenings. Consider a coat you don’t mind being photographed in like a fuzzy white/ cream coat or a white puffy! You can also buy nude fleece-lined leggings to wear under your dress when temperatures drop!
Other layers for the day include hats/ beanies, gloves, rain jackets, extra socks, etc.
Gear
You’ll also want to consider any gear you might need throughout the day like backpacks, hand warmers, headlamps, snacks and water, pet accessories, and more. I also offer couples access to my “gear closet” to borrow things like paddle boards, canoes, backpacks, tents, etc. on their elopement day.
You can find more on my full Colorado Elopement Packing List to help you pack for your adventure elopement!
Ready to chat about your dream elopement?
If you’re interested in having me help you plan and capture the perfect adventure elopement in Colorado and beyond, I’d love to see if we’re a good fit! Contact me today so we can get to know each other better! So excited to hear from you :)