How to Elope in Colorado
Everything you need to know for how to plan an elopement in Colorado in 2024.
Why should you elope in Colorado?
So, you think you want to elope in Colorado, huh? Well this is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process of getting married here with everything from choosing a location, the best time of year to elope, the logistics of marriage licenses in Colorado, and the best vendors to help with everything for your day. I have much more in-depth info for couples that hire me that lists specific and exact locations in every region that are good spots to say “I do”, but for those in the beginning stages just trying to figure out where the heck to start, this goes everything you need to begin.
Colorado is home to mountains, plains, deserts, forests, lakes, waterfalls, cliffs, and some of the most majestic ecology and geology out there, so it’s hard to choose just one place. Luckily, as someone who was born and raised in Colorado and has traversed all throughout the state, I’ve got lots of recommendations and local tips to share.
Table of Contents:
How to elope in Colorado
Elopement laws in Colorado
The best time of year to elope in Colorado
Cost of eloping in Colorado
What to wear for an adventure elopement
Elopement planning checklist
The best places to elope in Colorado
The best intimate wedding venues
The best accommodations in Colorado
The Best Elopement Vendors in Colorado
Elopement galleries
How to Elope in Colorado
Step 1: Book a Colorado elopement photographer
If you don’t have a specific date in mind, choose your elopement photographer first and work around their schedule. If you have a specific date in mind, reach out as soon as possible to make sure your favorite photographer is still available for your date. Your photographer should be able to help you with the rest of the process as far as location scouting and timeline goes- they might even have recs for other vendors they like working with, too! This is also why I recommend hiring a local photographer- they’ll know far more about the best locations, the best lighting, what the weather will be like, where to stay, and other great vendors to work with. People from out of state simply will not have the knowledge and experience, and if you’re going out into the wilderness with someone, you want them to be experienced and prepared. Talk to me here if you want someone who can walk you through the day!
Step 2: Choose your elopement location
If you don’t already have a location in mind, ask your photographer where they recommend! They should have plenty of spots with gorgeous views and lighting. They’ll probably have an idea of some other places you can stop along the way and other activities you can do in the area.
Step 3: Create an elopement timeline
Sunrise and sunset are always the best times for photos, but beyond that, creating an elopement timeline can be confusing. I always help my couples figure out when is best for lighting, accounting for travel time, and anything else they might want to include, like photos under the stars or blue hour photos with lanterns.
Step 4: Book other accommodations & vendors
Photography may be the only other vendor involved with your day, but sometimes you might want a hairstylist, a bouquet, a little cake, or something else extra for your day. After you’ve sorted out the timing and location, you can figure this part out.
Step 4: Apply for any marriage permits
Depending on where you want to marry, this might actually be step #1. Places like Rocky Mountain National Park or Maroon Bells book up a year in advance, so you might need to get on this step sooner rather than later. Most national forests that require permits are pretty lax, though, so you can wait a bit. Once you’ve decided a location, inquire about the permit as soon as you can.
Step 5: Pick up your license
You usually have to make an appointment in advance and show up in person to receive your license- you can usually do this the day before. Once you sign it, you have around a month to return it.
Step 6: Elope!
Enjoy your day, finally! Explore the Colorado mountains, take in the views, and spend time with your partner on the day you made for just the two of you.
Elopement laws in Colorado
A couple important details to know beforehand
One reason so many couples choose to elope in Colorado (other than the stunning landscape, obvi) is because it’s so easy to get married here- easier than Vegas, actually. Since every state has different rules regarding marriage, it’s good to know before you decide a location.
1. Self-solemnization
You do not need a witness or officiant to marry you- you can marry yourselves! Just sign your own name as the officiant. You don’t need to bring anyone along that you don’t want to, or pay a professional officiant to officiate your wedding, you can just keep it simple with the two of you if that’s what you want.
2. Your dog can can sign as witness to your marriage
Since you don’t actually need a witness, your dog (or cat, or whatever) can claim witness instead- just bring an ink pad for their paw!
3. Marriage licenses are very simple
You can just pick up a license at one of the county clerk offices in Colorado, and when you’re finished, just mail it back or drop it off in person- just make sure you do so within 30 days of receiving the license- I can help if you’re flying out after your ceremony!
4. No waiting period
There’s no waiting period in Colorado, so that means you can receive your license, sign it, and turn it back in all within the same day if you want.
5. Minimal fee
The fee for a license is $35. So, in total, your whole wedding could cost just $35 if you really wanna keep it that simple.
The best time of year to elope in Colorado
Colorado has a year full of all four seasons, and what those look like can depend greatly on where in the state you are! The plains and front range (where Denver and most major cities are) are more standard seasons, with more temperate weather, so you’ll experience a blooming spring, and little snow throughout the winter. The mountains have quickly changing and unpredictable weather, lots of snow (esp. on the western slope), temperate summers, and afternoon summer showers. And then there are random places like Palisade that have warmer California-like weather most of the year, good for growing peaches, vineyards, and sunflowers. Some locations are open all year round, but many are not. So when you decide to elope will affect where you can go and what you can do quite a bit!
2. Summer
This is, in my biased opinion, the BEST time to see Colorado in all her beauty. Early summer on the front range is temperate, green, lush, and beautiful- think “Sound of Music” vibes. Summer in the mountains is full of wildflowers, wildlife, ice cold lakes for plunging in, and any location you might want to elope at will be accessible to the most stunning views, so anywhere you want to hike or jeep will be accessible by late June to early July. Summer in Colorado is my personal paradise. The only drawback would be tourists and crowds, but a little hike or choosing to locate at more secluded areas will fix that.
Months: June-August
Activities: Hiking, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, off-roading, fishing, biking, mushroom hunting, horseback riding, camping
1. Spring
I will not lie to you, I do not recommend eloping in spring in Colorado. Spring probably has the most unpredictable weather of any season in Colorado. Spring doesn’t really start in most of the state until April or May, and a freak blizzard is always a possibility- March is the most snowy month of the year! There aren’t many blooming trees in the mountains, but along the front range, blossoms usually pop up somewhere between April and May, depending on how cold the winter was. In the mountains, May and Early June are considered spring, and are what’s called “mud season” from all the snow melting from the previous winter. Some roads might open back up, but most places remain inaccessible until late June. The only upside is that there are less people out this time of year than, say, July.
Months: March-June
Activities: Hiking, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling
4. Winter
As someone with seasonal depression, I gotta say, I’m not a fan of winter or the sun setting at 4pm. But! if you’re a snow bunny, the mountains provide a cozy winter escape for you and your love with hot springs, skiing, and warm cabins. Just be prepared with backup plans and a more flexible schedule, because this time of year, the weather can really impact travel with delayed flights, avalanches, crashes on major mountain highways, and white out conditions. If you’re looking for a winter wonderland, shoot for the western slope (where most ski resorts are), as it gets more snow than the eastern mountains and plains. Keep in mind not much snow falls in early winter, the snowiest months in Colorado will likely be January through March! Only major highways and roads will be accessible, many other roads and hiking trails will be closed this time of year, making many locations a no-go.
Months: November-April
Activities: Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, dogsledding, snowmobiling, hot springs hunting
3. Autumn
The east coast is known for its striking fall colors, but if you’ve never seen the aspens change in the mountains of Colorado, you’re really missing out. The weather in Colorado is most predictably blue and sunny in September through October, and gold veins crawl up the peaks of mountains during the fall. It’s hard to accurately predict when the leaves will change, but the last week or two of September through the first week of October is usually the changing period in the mountains, and the front range is a little later than that. There are much less tourists during this time of year compared to the summer, and most roads remain accessible until late October.
Months: September-November
Activities: Hiking, biking, fishing, leaf peeping, hot springs hunting
Cost of Eloping in Colorado
Technically, the only required cost for eloping in Colorado is the $35 marriage license fee. However, you’re probably here reading this because you want a little more than that.
Even at their most expensive, the most boujee, most luxurious destination elopement will probably still cost significantly less than the average traditional wedding. The average traditional wedding in Colorado costs around $35k- and I’d go as far as to say that’s still on the lower end: $40k is a more reasonable budget without skimping out on anything. So whether you’re looking for a very simple, easy, no frills elopement, or a luxury elopement where you still go all out, you’ll likely still end up saving much more money than you would going the traditional route.
Since elopements can vary so widely between each couple and what they want to do, I’m going to show two different examples of the extremes of budgets that would accommodate an elopement with just the couple with no guests with the typical vendors often involved in the day:
Luxury Elopement Budget
$35- Marriage license
$4500- 3 nights at high-end luxury hotel/Airbnb
$10,000- Photographer
$650- Helicopter ride to elopement location
$500- private chef
$2000- Florals: Bouquet, boutonnière, floral arch
$1200- Makeup and hair on location
$5000- Wedding dress
$1500- Tailored suit
Total Elopement Cost: $25, 385
Affordable Elopement Budget
$35- Marriage license
$600- 3 nights at a cabin or hotel
$3000- Photographer
$60- Picnic dinner with drinks
$200- Florals: bouquet & boutonnière
$250- Makeup and hair at a salon
$500- Wedding dress
$200- Suit rental
Total Elopement Cost: $4,845
These budgets can obviously vary, and don’t include plane or car rental pricing to actually get to the locations, but this gives a good idea of what a weekend spent in the mountains for your elopement might look like, financially.
When compared to the price of a regular wedding where the majority of the budget is just spent on a venue, alcohol, and feeding guests and not even spent on the actual couple who are marrying, eloping (even a very expensive elopement) is a lot more cost effective- and, the budget is spent on YOU and the things YOU find meaningful.
What to Wear for an Adventure Elopement
What shoes to wear for your elopement
Leave the heels at home! Having shoes that are uncomfortable is gonna make for a bad time. If you’re hiking, or even just walking around a bunch on unpaved trails and fields, wear hiking boots. If there’s snow, wear waterproof and well insulated snow boots. This applies to the men, too! Wear dress shoes that are comfy, or opt for hiking or snow boots when necessary dress shoes don’t have much grip and can be very slippery, especially when it comes to snow and wet surfaces.
Wedding Dresses you can hike in
If you’re planning on hiking in your dress, be sure to choose something movable. Heavy dresses will making going up a mountain more difficult, a hem that catches on your feet will make you trip, and corsets will make you feel stiff. Be sure to move around, sit down, and dance around when you’re trying on your dress, so you know how it will fare on your elopement day. My favorite dress designers for breathable, movable, beautiful gowns are Linyage and Daci.
Suits you can hike in
Make sure when you’re trying on your suit, you can move around and sit down. Pay attention to the fabric, too- you don’t want to be wearing a wool or tween suit on a hike in summer, be sure to look for seersucker, cotton, and linen fabrics. Wear the shoes you’ll be wearing for the elopement to your sitting so that the pant legs can be tailored to fit with your shoes.
Warm clothes for winter elopements
Even in summer it can get very cold at night. Always come prepared, no matter the season, with a jacket or coat. Denim jackets, fur coats, long wool coats, sweaters, and shawls all look great with dresses. Wear fleece lined tan leggings under your dress For suits, wool, tweed, and corduroy are going to be warmer fabrics to choose from, and you can get a wool underlining for the inside of your jacket as well. Warm socks (preferable wool, so they will be waterproof as well) and mittens or gloves will be important to wear as well.
Other gear for your elopement
Anything else you think you might need for your elopement- backpacks, micro spikes, headlamps, or anything related to your other adventures! I’ve had couples brings lightweight cooking gear, a pop up tent for changing in, climbing gear, blow up floats for floating in lakes, things with sentimental value, and a whole plethora of other stuff. Whatever you might be doing, just think about the logistics of what you might need to wear or bring to stay comfortable.
The Best Places To Elope In Colorado
Snow-capped mountains, rugged 4x4 roads, wildflower meadows, blue alpine lakes, pine trees as far as you can see, and even some desert and dunes sprinkled in here and there is what Colorado is all about. If you’re into all the outdoor activities and want a little adventure and epic views packed into your day, Colorado is the perfect place for you to commit to your love. Below I have Colorado operated into 3 different categories- northern, central, and southern Colorado. Within those categories, I have various general locations listed for stunning places to say “I do” as well as relevant information related to each.
San Juan Mountains
My absolute favorite place in Colorado. This area encapsulates Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Ridgway, and Lake City. Because it’s such a large area, there’s tons of places to choose from for a ceremony. To best experience this area, you should rent a Jeep for a day or two to traverse the 4x4 trails. There aren’t many easy hikes in the area since the mountains are so steep, but they’re completely worth it.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
This is a bit more off the beaten path, but Great Sand Dunes National Park has one of the coolest landscapes in all of Colorado- maybe even all of the world. Great Sand Dunes has the tallest sand dunes in the US. Stepping foot into this landscape is like being on another planet and makes for amazing photos. It’s really something you have to see in person.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte is a quaint little mining town with adorable little cottages, rolling meadows, and, best of all, tons and TONS of wildflowers. There’s even a wildflower festival in the summer to celebrate! There’s 4x4 roads and hiking trails all over the mountains dotted with little pops of color, blue water, and lush, green, meadows.
The best intimate wedding venues in Colorado
If you want a private space just for you, or if you have a group larger than 15, you’re gonna wanna rent a venue. These are a few of my favorites in the state. If you’d like to see a comprehensive list of intimate wedding venues in Colorado, check out 100+ Small Wedding Venues in Colorado
The best hotels & unique stays in Colorado
If you want to stay somewhere with beautiful mountain views or more unique than a ski lodge, these are some of my favorite hotels and cabins in Colorado- you can even get married at some of them if you’d like.
Colorado Elopement Vendors
Photography
Me, duh! On a more serious note, your photographer should be helping you with the whole process of eloping. If you your photographer doesn’t offer that, they’re not an elopement photographer. I also think it’s really important to hire someone super familiar with the area you’re eloping in. Elopement can be really logistically challenging, so I truly believe your elopement experience is only as good as the people you hire to take part in it, and if you hire a bad photographer, it’s going to make the day much harder to plan and much harder for you to enjoy. I love helping my couples find something that will fit their vision and showing them all over my favorite places in the state. Contact me in get in touch and start planning your day!
Videographers
Florists
Bakers
Wanna Elope in Colorado?
If you want me to help you plan and photograph your adventure elopement in the Colorado wilderness, shoot me an email! You can find my pricing here, and you can contact me so we can talk more about what you’re looking for.