I was born and raised in Colorado (yes, we exist!) and have spent my whole life camping, hiking, skiing, and exploring the mountains of Colorado. My opinion is biased, obviously, but I think Colorado is one of the best destinations to elope at if you’re looking to plan a meaningful day full of adventure in some place that’s beautiful. Colorado marriage laws make it very easy to marry here, the views are to die for, and it’s an elopement destination made specifically for people who want more out of their elopement day, whether that’s finding secret hot springs to soak in, skiing down fresh powder, camping out under a sky full of stars, hiking to an alpine lake where you can say your vows with no one else around, or even if you just want to stay in a secluded cabin with your love in the woods, Colorado has so many different options to choose from for your elopement day. I love being able to show my couples my favorite spots I grew up around in Colorado and helping them plan an unforgettable mountain elopement, which is why I made this guide to explain the steps of planning a Colorado elopement and to show my very favorite Colorado elopement locations, venues, vendors, and activities.

Table of Contents

Why elope in Colorado?
How to elope in Colorado
- Colorado marriage laws and permits
Best time of year to elope in Colorado
Colorado Elopement Ideas
Where to Elope in Colorado
- Colorado Elopement Locations
- Elopement venues in Colorado
Elopement accommodations in Colorado

Why Elope In Colorado?

Relaxed Marriage Laws

Colorado is one of the easiest places to marry in the country. You don’t need an officiant or witnesses. You just need to make an appointment with a local county clerk office, sign your license with your partner, and you’re good to go! It’s easier than Vegas. This is a big reason why Colorado is such big elopement destination for so many- the process is easier and cheaper than almost any other state.

Beautiful views

I probably don’t need to tell you this, because this is likely what drew you to have a Colorado elopement in the first place, but Colorado has some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery in the country. There are plains, mountains, and deserts to explore all over the state. There are endless hiking trails, vistas, waterfalls, alpine lakes, off-roading trails, and nooks and crannies to explore in the state.

Cute Little Mountain Towns

One of the more unique aspects to Colorado that you don’t often find in other mountain states is many developed small towns outside of most major natural spaces that serve as a home base while exploring an area. Colorado is full of little mining towns with quaint cabins, lodges, restaurants, bars, and local vendors that make planning an elopement and exploring the state easier.

Epic Adventures

Whatever you want to do in terms of outdoor activities, you can find in Colorado. Hiking, climbing, rafting, camping, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, horseback riding, fishing, snowshoeing, even dogsledding can all be arranged to make your day extra special. I recommend incorporating a fun outdoor activity into your day, or at least your stay in Colorado while you’re visiting. If you want my recommendations on what to do, look at my local guides in the area you’re staying or ask me for my favs!

How to elope in Colorado

Step 1: Choose your location

This step can be switched with Step 2, because your photographer can help you figure out where to elope if you have no idea, but your first step is to decide where you want to say your vows. Figure out what town or region you want to elope in Colorado, and then figure out the specific spots you’d like to say your vows a take photos within that area.

Step 2: Choose your photographer

Again, this can be switched with Step 1, but you need to choose your photographer (me!), first. A reputable elopement photographer will help you with finding a location, putting together a timeline, can recommend other vendors, and are often the first ones to get booked up for prime dates early, so be sure to reach out as soon as you decide you’re ready to elope.

Step 3: Figure out the details

Do you want a florist? Hair or makeup artist? A little cake to cut? Do you want recommendations on where to stay or what to do? Figure out the details and book the rest of your vendors after figuring out a location and a photographer. Your photographer should also be able to help you with putting together a timeline for the day and recommend the best times for photos as well as info on any permits you might need.

Step 4: Elope

Make an appointment at a county clerk office, pick up your license, and say your vows! Enjoy the day, relax, and just have fun!

Colorado Elopement Laws and Permits

Colorado Marriage Laws

Colorado is an extremely easy state to marry in, which is part of what makes it so attractive to couples who want to elope. You can self solemnize in Colorado, which means you can marry yourself without an officiant or witnesses. All you have to do is make an appointment with a county clerk’s office- any county clerk’s office- pick up your license, pay the $35 fee, and return your license within 35 days after signing. There is no waiting period, and you can even have your children or dog sign as your witness.

Colorado Marriage Permits

What permit you need will depend on where you’re eloping, since every public space has different rules. National Parks will always require a permit, and permits to places like Rocky Mountain National Park will have limited permits they give out every year, so you need to be ready to reserve them well in advance. Permits can cost anywhere from $50-$300 and any other rules associated with marrying on the land will depend heavily on the park. Ask your photographer for information on permits in specific areas or look up the information yourself by looking up the park’s “special use permit”.

Best Time Of Year To Elope In Colorado

Summer: Late June-August

Sumer is probably the most popular time to elope in Colorado, and probably my favorite season. The mountains are green, the weather is warm, and there are wildflowers all over the meadows. Summer in Colorado is when trails and roads will be most accessible and when the most businesses will be open in the mountains. The snow on high alpine roads and hiking trails doesn’t melt until the end of June at the earliest, but sometimes will stick around until the first or second week of July if it’s been a heavy snowfall year, which means more remote locations will be inaccessible. Trees don’t usually grow leaves until at least the second week in June. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend planning your elopement at a high elevation until at least late June so you have more options. The cons to planning in summer are that this is usually the busiest time in Colorado with the most tourists, there can be wildfires, and there are afternoon showers in the mountains almost every day. To avoid this, plan around ceremonies around sunrise or sunset to avoid crowds, and if you’re afraid of rain, plan for the morning instead of the afternoon.

Fall: September-early October

Fall is also a lovely time to plan a Colorado elopement. This time of year is often best to visit waterfalls and catch the aspens turning golden yellow. There are less tourists, but keep in mind weekend get very busy from local Colorado leaf peepers, so there’s bad traffic and can still be lots of tourists. The weather is usually more reliably sunny in September, but snowfall begins at higher elevations in late September and early October, so keep that in mind when deciding on clothing to pack. There’s still a lot of accessibility to hiking trails and roads until mid-late October when it starts snowing and things start closing down. Fall is an extremely short season in Colorado, and the leaves only last about 2-3 weeks. If you want to catch aspens at their peak, the last week of September or first week of October are reliably the best time to plan around.

Winter: November-March

Winter can be beautiful in Colorado, but this time of year has very little accessibility to natural areas outside of ski resorts. Unpaved and higher elevation roads will all be closed, in order to get to many places you’ll need to snowshoe, use crampons or micro spikes, or take a snowmobile. Some tourist towns that don’t have ski resorts, like Ouray and Estes will be totally dead this time of year and businesses will be closed. I’d recommend sticking around places like Telluride, Breckenridge, and Aspen if you still want access to good views and a town that’s open.

Spring: March-early June

Spring is the only time I really don’t recommend getting married in Colorado. Everything will be closed in the mountains, the weather is often very windy and cold, most businesses will be closed or have reduced hours, the snow is beginning to melt, so it’s dirty and there’s mud everywhere, and there’s little to no accessibility on roads and hiking trails to scenic destinations due to snow and mud. A lot of blogs and other photographers recommend spring because it’s a cheaper time to visit and there’s less people around, but that’s for a reason! It’s not a fun time to visit Colorado, and there’s very little to do.

Colorado Elopement Ideas

Hike to a scenic elopement location
Jeeping/Off-Road to a remote location
Ski/Snowboard down a mountain
Ride horses to a remote location where you say your vows
Try out a new outdoor activity like a via ferrata or rafting
Stargaze in a remote area with no light pollution around
Attend a festival- check out Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, Ouray Ice Climbing Festival
Have a picnic where you munch on a charcuterie, cut a cake, or pop some champagne
Soak in some natural hot springs
Build a campfire and cook s’mores

Where To Elope In Colorado

Colorado is separated into 3 key areas:

The Front Range

The front range is the most populated area where everyone lives: Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, etc. This part of Colorado is not in the mountains. Many people who’ve never visited Colorado think the whole state is mountains, but the front range is situated on the plains, and while most cities have access to foothills, they are at least an hour or two drive from any public land and open natural spaces with tall mountain peaks. If you plan an elopement here, you’ll have many vendors to choose from, plenty of options for accommodations, and you’ll be close to DIA. However, it’s also the most crowded in terms of tourists, hikers, and other people who might stumble in on your vows, there’s often timed entry permits and reservations, and you’ll need to secure a permit for most places in order to have a ceremony.

Central Colorado

This area of Colorado is the eastern side of the mountains, which situated in the mountains between the foothills and the continental divide, which is the highest point in the country and a dividing line in the mountains where weather patterns change. Since this is east of the continental divide, there’s significantly less snow, so there are very few ski resorts in this area. You’ll find places like Conifer, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain national Park, and the Sand Dunes in this area. Most of the places in this section of Colorado are very busy in the summer, but close down in the winter because there’s less activities and no skiing.

The Western Slope

The Western slope is the westernmost part of the state, west of the continental divide. This is where all your classic iconic Colorado scenes come from, and where most of Colorado’s ski resorts are located, LIKE Breckenridge, Aspen, Telluride, and Crested Butte. This area is the furthest from DIA, but the drive is totally worth it and beautiful along the way. There’s other regional airports in places like Montrose, Durango, and Aspen that will get you closer to these towns if you want to fly into them instead. This part of Colorado is usually a bit more expensive, more difficult to get to, and has less services like wedding vendors, but this is typically the area I recommend most to my couples and is home to the most beautiful elopement locations in Colorado.

Colorado Elopement Locations

Aspen

Aspen is a pretty notorious town for both being very beautiful and also very expensive. This will be the priciest elopement location in Colorado, but it’s also the most luxurious and has access to very beautiful nature. There are tons of wildflowers around Aspen, beautiful drives, and lovely hikes in the area. The Maroon Bells are an iconic site that I highly recommend to visit- if you want to elope there, you need to make arrangements well in advance and be ready to reserve the amphitheater as soon as it becomes available, because it’s a highly competitive process. If you have time, Marble is a town not too far from Aspen that’s a great day trip for some amazing BBQ and a trip to Crystal Mill.

Check out this Aspen elopement I shot here

Crested Butte

One of my favorite Colorado elopement locations is Crested Butte. It’s a quaint town tucked away deep in the mountains that is overflowing with wildflowers galore. It has unfortunately become more popular in recent years and more expensive, which bums me out, but it’s still less busy than most other tourist hot spots in Colorado. The town is filled with hanging flower baskets on candy colored buildings, cute little mining huts, good restaurants, and gorgeous mountains. There aren’t as many hiking trails, but there are a couple roads that lead to great ceremony locations. The best time to visit is for wildflowers in July, or for aspens turning at the end of September.

If you want to know more about having a Crested Butte elopement, check out this guide here

Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park

I grew up visiting Rocky a lot since I lived in Northern Colorado, and it’s one of the most well known parts of Colorado. I worked at a summer camp nearby and was an outdoor education instructor here, so I’m super familiar with the area. There’s tons of hiking trails, accommodations, and wildlife in the park and in town. The biggest drawback about this area, undoubtedly, is the crowds. This is far and away the most visited are of Colorado, requires a permit, and has a timed entry system for multiple different areas of the park. If you want to elope here, you need to plan ahead by at least a year, and keep in mind there will likely be a lot of traffic and other tourists who might walk in on you saying your vows.

If you want to see a wedding I shot in Rocky and Estes, click here

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great San Dunes National Park is one of the coolest locations and totally unlike anything else in Colorado. In the middle of the mountains, you’ll find a huge mass of sand that’s made it’s way into this little corner of Colorado. Being in the landscape is otherworldly and fascinating. The area surrounding the dunes is a bit odd, with lots of locals who believe in UFOs and janky tourist traps, but the park itself it mesmerizing. It can get a bit busy in the summer or on weekends, but the best time to visit is in May before the sand gets too hot. Even at its busiest, it isn’t difficult to walk off somewhere and be totally alone.

If you want to see a session I did at the Sand Dunes, click here

The San Juan Mountains: Telluride, Ouray, Silverton

The San Juan mountains are my favorite location to shoot. The mountains in this area are especially steep and rugged, similar to the alps of Switzerland. There’s tons of bright blue alpine lakes, miles and miles of Jeeping trails to remote eloping locations, cute little mountain towns, and loads of wildflowers. This is also the least busy with tourists. There have been many instances where my couples have been able to say their vows totally alone in the remote wilderness with just some marmots as their witnesses. This area can be a little difficult to get to, but any extra driving time is totally worth it.

If you want more info on how to elope in the San Juans, click here

My favorite small Colorado wedding venues

If you’re having a wedding of more than 15 people, you need to reserve a wedding venue in the San Juan Mountains. If you’d like to see a full list of various venues for elopements and micro weddings all over Colorado, check out my 100+ Small Wedding Venues in Colorado blog.

The best elopement accommodations in Colorado

Colorado Elopement Vendors

Your elopement can be as simple or complex as you want it. Maybe you just want a photographer and that’s it, or maybe you want to make it really special and go all out with hair and makeup, florals, food and the whole shebang. Whatever you choose with be all the more meaningful since it will be fully enjoyed by your and your partner together on your day. I put together a list of my favorite Colorado elopement vendors who I think are really worth investing in, and who will do their best to provide you with an experience that makes your day feel meaningful and intentional.

Photography

Of course my opinion is biased, but I think hiring an elopement photographer for your day is the most important part of a successful elopement. Hiring someone who’s local to Colorado, extremely familiar with the area, and capable of guiding you through the day is so important. You don’t know how many horror stories I’ve heard about bad photographers who don’t know what they’re doing from couples who’ve skimped on this aspect of their day. The amount of added stress in planning or the disappointment of not getting the photos you were wanting just isn’t worth it. I really think you should spare no expense when it comes to hiring someone who you feel comfortable with and who you’re confident can capture your day effectively. I’m passionate about giving couples the best possible experience and capturing those raw, real emotions in a place that means as much to you as it does to me. If you need help putting together your day and want someone you can trust with your memories, you can always reach out here.

Videography

I shoot films on super 8, but if you’re looking for a digital elopement video or if you just want a second person to be shooting, these are my favorite to work with and videographers with really stunning videos

Florists

I love florals. A big, beautiful bouquet, an archway to sand under, a little pocket square of flowers, I love it all. Florals are just a cute little touch to the day that help to make everything feel more official and special.

Hair and Makeup

Hair and makeup is one of the few things most of my couples will splurge on for their elopement. Not many people are great at doing their own makeup and hair (I know I’m not), plus it gives you time to just sit back and relax, knowing that a professional has your back. Several of these HMUAs are extra special in that they will see you anywhere in Colorado at any time- need someone to meet you at 3am before your sunrise ceremony? Done. Need someone who can meet you at the beginning on a hiking trail in the middle of nowhere? Done. All of these makeup artist have beautiful work and can make sure what you’re getting will withstand the adventures of your day.

Bakers

I’ve had quite a few couples who will get a small cake to cut with each other to celebrate their day while having a little picnic, and these are my favorite bakers who make the most beautiful, tasty cakes.

Planners

I help my couples quite a bit with the planning aspect of an elopement, but I’m not nearly as knowledgable on many aspects of planning as an actual planner, particularly when it comes to planning something a bit bigger, like a micro wedding. If you’re including other guests, want some design or styling help, or just need am ore in-depth hand on approach than what a photographer can offer, then these are the people to turn to.

How much does a Colorado elopement cost?

The cost of eloping in Colorado varies widely depending on how much you want to invest in the day. If you just want to go to the courthouse and pay the $35 fee, then that’s all you have to do, but most people want to do more than that to really commemorate the day and make it more meaningful. Take the time to consider what you value most and prioritize your budget around that. This is a typical range of what my couples will spend on their day from simple to more luxury.

Colorado Elopement Cost Breakdown