Crested Butte Elopement Photographer

Elopements, micro weddings, and engagements in Crested Butte, Colorado

Hey There!

I’m Katie Dawn, your Crested Butte elopement photographer

And I can’t wait to show you around one of my favorite towns in Colorado. Crested Butte is probably the most quaint town in Colorado- little cottages, hanging plants lining the streets, meadows of wildflowers, and little festivals held throughout the summer make for the cutest little mountain town. Not to mention, some of the most breathtaking wilderness in Colorado nestled among the Maroon Bells, Elk Mountains, and loads of off-roading trails to explore

I was born and raised in Colorado, and have been visiting Crested Butte since I was a little kid, walking among the wildflowers, collecting mushrooms, and biking around town to the cute little shops and restaurants that line the street. I can’t wait to introduce you to one of my favorite spots here in my home state.

How to plan an elopement in Crested Butte

Pick a location:

Honestly, Crested Butte is a pretty small area comparatively to other mountain towns, and doesn’t have a ton of easy hiking trails, so locations are pretty limited, but what is available is stunning. There’s a few roads you can take to get out of town into the wilderness that have stunning views whether you’re looking for an alpine lake, mountain views, wildflower meadows, or golden aspen trees.

Pick up your license:

Colorado is a very easy state to get married in. Just make an appointment at the county clerk’s office, pick up your license, sign it, and then you’re done! You don’t need an officiant or witnesses, just both of your signatures- but you can have your dog sign with their paw print if you’d like!

Do something fun:

I, personally, don’t photograph elopements that are less than 4 hours. I really believe elopements should be just as special as a big wedding, but instead of time spent on others, it’s spent on you. So do something fun! Once you’ve spent the day prepping and saying your vows, spend the rest of your time together doing something special to you- whether that’s floating in a canoe, going on a hike, biking on mount Crested Butte, having a picnic, hiring a private chef, or doing anything else you think might make your day extra special.

Best time to elope in Crested Butte

Summer: Late June-August

Two words: Wildflower season. Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of the world and has a festival every year to celebrate the abundant blooms that dot the mountainsides. The best time to catch wildflowers is late June to July. The flowers will start to die off in August, but you might still be able to catch them earlier in the month. The weather can be pretty stormy this time of year, so be sure to pack umbrellas and be prepared for a downpour in the afternoons- you don’t get fields of flowers without a little (or a lot) of moisture, after all.

Fall: September-early October

The great thing about Crested Butte is that it’s beautiful in the summer and equally as stunning in the fall due to all the aspens that cover the wilderness outside of town. The weather is usually more predictable in fall, with sunnier days in September. Crested Butte might be the best location to experience Colorado leaf changing in if you love those golden aspens. If you want to plan your day around leaf peeping, be sure to plan for the last week of September or the first week of October, as that’s usually the peak time for the leaves to turn yellow.

Winter: November-March

Winter has a lot less accessibility than summer and fall, but Crested Butte is a great location if you love to ski or snowboard. Most roads that are unpaved that lead outside town are closed, so you’ll have to plan your day a little closer to town. Also, it will be COLD, so be sure to plan some of the day indoors and dress accordingly. If you want a bit of adventure and more accessibility, snowmobiles are a fun way to get around outside of town.

Spring: April-early June

I honestly do not recommend spring anywhere in the mountains of Colorado. Ski resorts are closed, there’s still wet snow on the ground, everything is muddy and brown, and the weather is extremely unpredictable- it’s very common that there will be a spring snowstorm in April and May. Accessibility is limited and most businesses will be closed as it’s the off season. Simply put, spring is just not a fun time in the mountains and I’d recommend choosing a different time of year.