Hi friends! We’re Rachel and TJ, Elopement Photographers based in the incredible state of Colorado! If you’re reading this, that means you’re interested in eloping in Colorado. We are so freaking stoked that you’ve made it here to our blog post for help! Since you’re already here, you probably don’t need any more convincing on why eloping is the shit. If you do need some more convincing, allow us!

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

1. Choose A Location
   
   Colorado is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world, from the Rocky Mountains to the red rocks of the Canyonlands. Decide what kind of environment you would like to get married in – a mountaintop, a meadow, a lake or a forest. Some popular locations for elopements in Colorado include Garden of the Gods, Maroon Bells, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Great Sand Dunes. Here is a guide to some of our fav elopement locations relatively near Denver!
   
   
   
2. Obtain A Marriage License
   
   In Colorado, you will need to obtain a marriage license in the 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 you Colorado marriage license, but make sure you are getting the license in the county you will be getting married in!
   
   
   
3. Hire A Professional
   
   Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the details! Elopements 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. They will also be able to recommend 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 everything you could possibly want it to be!
   
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
   
5. Enjoy It!
   Eloping 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 eloping, especially in a place like 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 Red Rocks, the Rocky Mountains, or in a forest of Colorado’s beautiful Evergreen trees, soak it all in. This is the best day of your lives, ya know?
   
   
   

By choosing Colorado as your eloping destination, 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 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.