The Ultimate Colorado Elopement Guide

One of the most fantastic ways to get married in a beautiful and scenic mountain location, without all the stress and expense of a traditional wedding is to elope in Colorado. Here are a few tips for planning your Colorado elopement.

What is an Adventurous Elopement?

You may be wondering what the difference is between a regular elopement and an adventure elopement. With adventure elopements, we’ll go off the beaten path to spots with the best views and secluded spots where you can exchange vows surrounded by mountains, rather than one of the more popular spots. It may involve a bit of a trek (so remember those hiking boots!) but you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable and unique experience, and we’d love to be your guides to help you plan your perfect elopement day.

Choose A Colorado Elopement Location

Colorado is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world, making it one of the best places to elope! From Rocky Mountain National Park, the San Juan Mountains, Sapphire Point, the list goes on and on! The first step to planning your Colorado elopement is to decide what kind of environment you would like to get married in – a mountaintop, a meadow, a hiking trail, an alpine lake or a forest. There’s a huge variety of elopement locations that will provide a stunning backdrop for your elopement ceremony. Some popular locations for elopements in Colorado include Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Maroon Bells Amphitheater, Rocky Mountain National Park, Dillon Reservoir, Estes Park, and Sunrise Amphitheater. You could also opt for one of the cute ass mountain towns Colorado has to offer! That’s the coolest thing about eloping, there are no rules. Your Colorado elopement locations are practically endless. Get married in a mountain town, at a brewery, in a national park, you can choose literally anywhere you want for your elopement day! Here is a guide to some of our favorite locations to elope in Colorado!

Obtain A Colorado Marriage License

In order to get married in this beautiful state, you will need to obtain a Colorado marriage license in the specific county where you plan to get married. Both parties must be present, and you will need to provide identification such as a driver’s license or passport. The cost of a marriage license varies by county, but it is usually around $30. Here is a link to start the process of getting your Jefferson County, Colorado marriage license, but again, make sure you are getting the license in the county you will be getting married in! Be sure to do this as soon as possible to ensure that you get your perfect Colorado elopement location for your date :)

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Self Solemnizing For Your Elopement Ceremony

In Colorado, couples have the unique opportunity to self-solemnize their marriage without the need for a third-party officiant. In simpler terms, you can marry yourselves! This allows couples to create an elopement ceremony that truly reflects their love and commitment to each other, making it a special and unforgettable experience. As Colorado elopement photographers, we find self-solemnizing elopement ceremonies to be incredibly intimate and personal. One of the things that we think makes Colorado one of the best places to elope is the fact that couples can include their furry friends in the ceremony, and even have their dog “sign” their marriage certificate with their paw print as a witness! Tell me that’s not the cutest thing you’ve ever heard.. We feel privileged to capture these one-of-a-kind moments and create memories that will last a lifetime. Overall, self-solemnizing in Colorado is a beautiful way for couples to celebrate their love in an intimate and personalized way. Picture it: you, your love, your dog, and your photographer, having your intimate wedding in the stunning surrounding mountains, hiking trails, alpine lakes, and national parks that Colorado is known for.

Hire Professional Vendors

Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the details! Your elopement day can be as thought out and planned as a big traditional wedding, that planning will just look different and allow you to plan it exactly how you want it! Hiring a professional planner or coordinator can help you plan everything from the ceremony to the photography and flowers – many offer special elopement packages designed to make your adventurous elopement as unique as your relationship. They will also be able to recommend other local vendors who can provide any additional services you may need, such as hair and makeup, catering, or transportation. Some photographers (like us!!) help a ton with the planning process. We don’t go as far as booking things for you, but have a whole ton of vendors, locations, and ideas that will make your elopement day everything you could possibly want it to be included in all of our Colorado Elopement Packages!

Invite Only The People That Matter

One of the best things about eloping is that you can focus on the people who matter most to you. Invite your closest friends and family, or keep it just the two of you. When you have a big traditional wedding, you end up having to invite your mom’s sister’s brother in law, your neighbor from 7 years ago, your dad’s high school best friend, and a ton of other completely irrelevant people that don’t even know you well enough to pick you out of a crowd of people. Eloping allows you to ONLY invite people that really matter to you, the ones that care about you and DESERVE to be there on the happiest day of your life. That is an extremely special moment, and only the people who live to see you happy deserve to be there for those moments.

Enjoy it!

Your elopement day can be a very intimate and special experience. Take the time to soak in the beauty of your surroundings, and remember to focus on the love and commitment you are making to each other. When you elope in Colorado, take the time to really soak in those incredible views that Colorado has to offer. Whether you end up to a view of the Alpine Lakes, Loveland Pass, Maroon Bells Amphitheater or in a forest of Colorado’s beautiful Evergreen trees, soak it all in. This is the best day of your lives, ya know?

Wedding Permit

Your elopement location may require a wedding permit, so it will be worth checking first. Typically, if you choose a nation park then a wedding permit would usually be required. I’d highly recommend applying for your perfect location as early as possible as it can take a few week waiting period to be processed, especially in the busier peak season.

Choosing Your Time of Year

We often advise couples to consider the benefits of each season when choosing the time of year to elope in Colorado. The summer months are perfect for couples who want to enjoy the great outdoors, with longer daylight hours and warm weather making it ideal for hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. The fall foliage season is another popular choice, with the vibrant colors of the changing leaves providing a stunning backdrop for photos. For couples who love the snow and winter sports, winter elopements are a great option, offering breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks and the chance to snowshoe, ski or snowboard. Spring is also a beautiful time for elopements in Colorado, with the wildflower season creating stunning photo opportunities against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Ultimately, the best time to elope in Colorado depends on the couple’s preferences and the type of scenery they want in their photos. No matter the season, a Colorado elopement is accessible year round, promising breathtaking views and unforgettable memories. Keep reading to learn more about what it is like to elope in Colorado through all the seasons!

Winter Elopements in Colorado

If you’re thinking of a winter elopement surrounded by snow capped mountains, there are some great locations that are accessible year round (including ski resorts, if that’s your thing!). Some of the best places to elope in Colorado in the winter are Brainard Lake, Lost Gulch Overlook, Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Chautauqua Park. Some of the beautiful mountain towns such as Crested Butte, Idaho Springs, Vail and Breckenridge also have tons of options for your perfect elopement location! One of the things we love about photographing a winter elopement is that the light in winter gives a gorgeous glow that will give your photos a special feel.

Spring Elopements in Colorado

Spring is a magical time to elope in Colorado, and we love capturing the beauty of the season. The snow is melting, flowers are blooming, and the wildlife is coming out to play. With the weather starting to warm up, hiking boots are a must-have for couples looking to explore the hiking trails of Rocky Mountain National Park or the San Juan Mountains. The spring season in Colorado is a great time for adventurous couples to exchange vows on mountaintops or near waterfalls with the fresh snowmelt creating a stunning backdrop. With the natural beauty of Colorado coming to life in the spring, it’s the perfect time to elope in Colorado.

Summer Elopements in Colorado

Summer is a super popular season for eloping in Colorado. The warm weather and sunny skies during the summer months make for a beautiful backdrop for a memorable ceremony. For adventurous couples, there are plenty of hiking trails and alpine lakes to explore, and it’s important to bring comfortable hiking boots to make the most of the experience. If you go somewhere higher in elevation, July and August are incredible summer months to catch some beautiful wildflowers too! Lake Dillon is a popular destination for summer elopements, with its crystal-clear waters and breathtaking mountain views. As a ceremony site, Lake Dillon offers a stunning backdrop for an intimate and personal elopement. Whether you choose to say your vows on the shores of Lake Dillon or on one of the nearby hiking trails, the natural beauty of Colorado in the summer months will make your elopement truly unforgettable!

Fall Elopements in Colorado

Early fall, particularly early October, is a popular time to elope in Colorado, and as a Colorado elopement photographer, I can see why. The fall foliage in Colorado is absolutely stunning, with a range of colors from bright yellows to deep reds. Sapphire Point is a popular destination for elopements during the fall months, with its stunning views of Dillon Reservoir and the surrounding mountains. The crisp, cool air and the beautiful colors of the fall foliage make for a magical wedding day. Many couples choose to have their elopement in a national park, like Rocky Mountain National Park, to take advantage of the beautiful fall scenery. As an elopement photographer, I love capturing the beauty of fall in Colorado, and I strive to create images that truly capture the essence of the season. Overall, eloping in Colorado during the fall months is a beautiful and romantic experience, and one that couples will cherish for a lifetime.

Choosing Your Time of Day

When considering eloping in Colorado, choosing the right time of day can make all the difference in capturing the perfect moment. For example, Chautauqua Park is a popular location for Colorado elopements, and we recommend considering an early morning sunrise elopement. The light during this time of day is warm and golden, creating a stunning backdrop for your elopement ceremony. To find the best time for your elopement, consult a Colorado Elopement Guide (like us!) to learn about the weather and lighting patterns in the area. Keep in mind that weather in Colorado can sometimes be unpredictable, so planning for early morning can increase your chances of clear skies and ideal lighting conditions. Whether you plan for a sunrise elopement or another time of day, careful planning and preparation, with the help of your new Colorado elopement photographer friends, will help ensure that your elopement is everything you’ve ever dreamed of!

By choosing Colorado as your elopement location, you will have the opportunity to say your vows in the presence of beautiful natural landscapes that will make your memories so so vivid and special. Eloping does not (always) mean you are taking the easy way out. Sometimes, eloping can mean just going to City Hall to have your wedding ceremony and signing the necessary documents. But sometimes, there can be even more planning involved in an elopement than in a big wedding! The difference is instead of making decisions for others like you do for a big wedding, planning your elopement is a constant conversation of “what does YOUR best day look like?” and “what is involved in making your wedding day the most authentic reflection of you two as a couple?”

We would love to be the ones to not only help you plan your special day, but to also be the ones there to capture those memories that will allow you to relive your perfect day over and over again. We hope this blog was helpful to you, but we’ve got tonssss more knowledge up our sleeves just waiting for you! Submit our contact form, and let’s get planning your most special day ever.