If you’re looking to elope in Denver, I’m going to go ahead and assume you’re looking to spend time in the city, because if you wanted to take advantage of the mountains, you’d want to head somewhere like the San Juan Mountains, Aspen, or Crested Butte. If you’re less into the nature vibe and are looking for more of an alternative city look in Colorado, Denver is the only place to find it.

Denver definitely isn’t the biggest or busiest city, but you can find some beautiful hotels, skyline views, and classic city architecture to take photos around as well as some yummy food spots and cute bars for drinks. Most tourist towns in the mountains will be pretty limited as far as food and drink, vendors, accommodations, and accessibility for travel ,but if you want some place that’s just going to be easy and give you the city vibes that you’re looking for, then Denver is the place for you.

Table of Contents

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

Why Elope In Denver?

Relaxed Marriage Laws

Colorado has some of the most relaxed marriage laws in the country. The license fee is only $35, there is no waiting period, no witnesses needed, and no officiant needed- you can marry yourselves! And because there’s no witnesses needed, you can even have your dog sign your marriage license! You will need to make an appointment with the county clerks office to pick up your license, sign it within 35 days, and return it within 63 days of signing. Once that’s all done, you’re married!

LGBTQ+ Friendly State

Unfortunately in these times, the threat of losing marital rights is very real for some. It’s very likely that in the future some states will revoke the right to marry or even deem previous marriages illegitimate, so it’s important to try to plan for the future by getting a license from a state that will likely still view gay marriage as legitimate. Colorado has a gay governor and has legalized gay marriage since 2014. While in the past Colorado has had voting and polling more on the conservative side, demographics have changed drastically, and state and federal elections are consistently on the progressive end as far as human right go. It’s unlikely marital rights will be at stake within the state’s constitution any time soon.

Lots of Vendors

Since Denver is the capital and has the highest population in the state, all the vendors you could hope for reside here. Most eloping couples don’t need a ton of vendors involved in their day, but sometimes your needs when eloping are a little different than those of a big wedding, and it can be hard to find someone to accommodate that in a small mountain town. That isn’t an issue in Denver, and all the best and most capable hairstylists, florists, planners, and little venues will be available in the area.

Easily Accessible

Denver is home to one of the world’s largest airports, and constantly has flights coming in from airports all over the country. You can fly into DIA and rent a car into town, or ride the train into Union Station to get to downtown. Denver is also centrally located for other areas on the front range you might want to stay, like Boulder, Colorado Springs, or Fort Collins.

How to elope in Denver

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 legalities

Denver Parks and Rec doesn’t require a permit for their parks (Cheesman, City, and Washington Parks) if you have less than 5 people present (including the two of you + any vendors). If you want to have more than 5 people present, you will need to apply for a special use permit or rent a venue. Most places in Denver will require a permit, like Union Station, Denver Art Museum, and Byron White Courthouse. If you aren’t sure if a place needs a permit, ask your photographer, search the area with “special use permit” or contact the local agency that oversees the area to ask.

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! The hard part has already been taken care of, so just take in every moment of your day.

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. There’s no waiting period, you don’t have to hire an officiant, you don’t have to hire witnesses, and you can self solemnize, which means you can marry yourself! You can write your own sentimental vows meant just for the two of you, sign your license, and just like that, you’re married! You can even have your kids or your dog sign as witnesses if you’d like.

What you need to do:

Make an appointment with a county clerk’s office- any county clerk’s office
Apply in person
Pick up your license and sign it within 35 days
Return the license within 63 days of signing

What you’ll need to bring:

A valid ID
Your SSN
$35 for the license fee

What you’ll need to know:

The date you’re getting married
Where you’re marrying (city, county, etc.)
The exact location and date of your previous divorce or spouse’s death (if applicable)
City and state where the parents of both parties were born

Denver 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 Denver

Summer: June-August

Summer in Colorado is great, but it can get extremely hot and dry toward the end. I’d avoid planning a wedding in August, personally, as the temps are still pretty high, but June is a lovely temperate month in Colorado. In July things are usually still green, but temperatures are starting to climb. Temperatures can still stay pretty warm through September, so if you want more temperate weather, aim for late September or early October instead.

Fall: September-early October

Fall is a nice time in Colorado- the weather is usually pretty sunny and there are very few clouds in the month of September. By late October its starting to get chilly and the first snow of the season has often already come. Snow often ruins the fall colors, but if you want to try to catch some golden trees, the second and third week of October is usually when they’re at their peak.

Winter: November-March

Winter is not the winter wonderland in Denver that people believe it to be. It’s still cold and everything is brown, but there’s not often snow on the ground unless it’s right after a winter storm. There might be 5 or 6 good snows a year where the ground is completely covered, but it melts by the next day. There can sometimes be a few warmer days in the 60s, but it’s typically freezing temperatures at night.

Spring: March-early June

Spring is a very mixed bag in Colorado, but the Front Range is typically more pleasant than the mountains. It can and does snow regularly in the month of March, and it isn’t uncommon for it to snow in May every once in a while, either. The trees don’t get blooms or leaves until at least April, but more likely in early May. Weather is not consistently warm until May, and nighttime will be freezing in early spring. If you want to have pleasant weather and warmer temperatures with green grass, aim for May at the very earliest, and keep in mind the weather can always change on a dime.

Denver Elopement Activity Ideas

Wander the Denver Art Museum
Attend a concert at Red Rrocks
Have a picnic in the park where you munch on a charcuterie, cut a cake, or pop some champagne
Have some drinks at Ramble Hotel/Death&Co., Williams&Graham
Get some food at Uncle Ramen
Sit and sip coffee at one of the many coffee shops in town, like Amethyst Coffee, Sweet Bloom, or Nowhere Coffee
Customize your own Cowboy hat at Gem Hats
Make your own Jewelry at Stryker Studio
Get matching tattoos at one of the many local shops in town
Visit the Denver Botanic Gardens
Take photos around Union Station

Where To Elope In Denver

Denver elopement locations

Byron White Courthouse
Denver County Courthouse
Cheesman Park Pavilion
Union Station
Red Rocks
City Park
Washington Park
Lost Gulch (Boulder)
Chataqua Park (Boulder)

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 Denver

Denver 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 will be all the more meaningful since it will be fully enjoyed by you 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 Denver elopement cost?

The cost of eloping in Denver 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.

Denver Elopement Cost Breakdown