Telluride Elopement Photographer

Small weddings + Elopements + Adventure sessions in Telluride, Colorado

Imagine Your Telluride elopement, told the way it actually felt.

If you’re dreaming of a day spent wandering wildflower meadows, overlooking sweeping vistas, and saying your vows in solitude at the base of rugged mountain peaks, a Telluride elopement is exactly what you’re looking for. Telluride is a tiny, picturesque mountain town nestled in a box canyon of the San Juans and has some of the most stunning scenery in the country.

Whether you want a day full of adventure driving or hiking up a bumpy mountain trail, or a day spent in a secluded cabin with a privately catered dinner, your Telluride elopement can be whatever you want to make it.

Let's Elope

Hey There!

I’m Katie Dawn, your Telluride elopement photographer

And I’m just so excited you’re deciding to elope in Telluride. I think Telluride is the most beautiful town in the United States- it has multiple waterfalls right in town, Jeeping trails all over the mountains, blue alpine lakes at the base of craggy peaks, and a plethora of some of the most beautiful mountain cabins and chalets situated in remote wilderness, perfect for hosting your secluded, meaningful elopement day.

I was born and raised in Colorado, and have been visiting places like Telluride since I was a little kid. I’ve spent my life swimming in freezing lakes, hiking to waterfalls, driving bumpy mountain passes, and now I get to show my couples all my favorite spots. I love helping my couples find gorgeous scenes to say their vows and recommending the best vendors to put their day together. I can’t wait to help you plan and capture your meaningful, intentional day in the mountains of Telluride.

Contact Me

I help plan elopements for couples who are chasing feeling over performance

I’m here for the couples who want wind in their hair, dirt on their hemlines, and photos that show you how it felt to elope with just the two of you in the wilderness.

I’m here for unconventional souls who want genuine, imperfect, and unforgettable memories.

I walk my couples through the planning process from start to finish to create a seamless elopement day. We’ll talk about the best, most secluded locations in Telluride to say your vows, the prettiest cabins to stay and get ready in, where you can eat and what activities you can do, and everything in between to make your say special and unique to you.

Let's plan

Step 1

We find your dream elopement location

This is the biggest part. I give all my couples a detailed location guide with photos and information to help you decide where you want to elope, whether it’s someplace close to town and easy to drive up to, or somewhere that’s more of a trek, we’ll find what fits you for your day. I specifically try to find my couples places that are not only stunning backdrops, but also somewhere they can be alone and truly feel like they’re someplace special that feels like their own for the day.

Step 2

We plan the Little details

After we’ve done the bulk of the work figuring out your backdrop, we can talk about the other parts that will make everything come together to make your day special. We’ll create a timeline that works with the best lighting for photos, I’ll recommend all my favorite vendors that will make your day feel like magic, and we’ll plan the activities you want to include that will really make the day feel like you. There’s tons to do in Telluride, we’ll find something that will make your day uniquely yours.

Step 3

You live your elopement day

The hard part’s done, you get to just enjoy your day and bask in the nature of Telluride with the love of your life, and I’ll be handling all the logistics. We’ll spend the day hiking, driving, adventuring however you feel, taking in the view, and taking things at a slow pace where you’ll actually remember your elopement day. I’ll be taking photos that already feel like memories, and you’ll leave with moments you can relive over and over again.

Let's get planning.

How to plan an elopement in Telluride

If you want a more in-depth guide to planning your Telluride elopement, check out my guide here

Pick a location:

There’s tons of stunning views where you can say your vows without anyone around, its just a matter if whether you want to hike, Jeep, or walk up to the spot. Most hikes in the area are pretty long and steep, but there’s still a view with gorgeous destinations that are under 4 miles. I often recommend renting a Jeep or at least a high clearance 4x4 vehicle for the day, because even some of the locations that aren’t crazy mountain roads can be a pretty bumpy ride.

Pick up your license:

Colorado is one of the easiest states to get married in, which is why so many people elope here (also it’s beautiful, obvi). You can self solemnize, which means that all you have to do to get married in Telluride is pick up your marriage license from the county clerk’s office, sign it, and return it. No officiants, no witnesses, just you and your love and your signatures (plus your pet’s paw print if you’d like!).

Do something fun:

You can just say your vows and then be done with the day, but its so much more fun and memorable to incorporate a fun local activity into your day. Telluride is known for its skiing, but there’s so much to do beyond that. You can traverse Jeeping trails to breathtaking views, soak in hot springs, hike some of the most beautiful mountains in the country, leaf peep in the fall, climb the via ferrata, and come home to sit by the fire. What activities will be options will depend highly on the time of year, so be sure whatever you want to do is actually available and open when you visit.

Best time of Year to elope in Telluride

Summer: Late June-August

Wildflowers that grow up to your hips, blue alpine lakes, lush green landscapes, and open roads and trails everywhere. Summer is the best month for Jeeping and hiking. Later in the summer is when it’s best to visit waterfalls, because they’ve calmed down a bit, and July is the best month for wildflowers and thawed lakes. There are usually afternoon showers in the summer, which can throw a small wrench in things, but they normally only last 15-30 minutes or so- just don’t get caught above treeline if there’s lightning. The snow on most Jeeping trails and many high alpine hiking trails doesn’t melt until the end of June or early July, depending on how much snow there was that winter.

Fall: September-early October

Fall in Telluride is a sight to see. The mountains glow with golden veins of aspen trees all over the peaks. Depending on how late in the fall you choose, some Jeeping trails may close, but for the most part everything is still pretty accessible unless there’s snow. The weather is the most reliably sunny in September, and rarely snows or rains. The last week of September and the first week of October are the best times to catch the fall colors, and usually the most snow you see is just a light dusting at the top of the peaks.

Winter: November-March

Winter has a lot less accessibility than summer and fall, but if you love the snow and skiing, then Telluride is the perfect place for you. There’s usually not much snow until January/February, so if you’re looking for a winter wonderland, that’s the best time to schedule for. Hiking to most locations or Jeeping isn’t an option in the winter, but there are activities like snowshoeing, skiing, sleigh rides, and snowmobiling you can do instead if you still want to incorporate an adventure to your day.

Spring: April-early June

Can’t say I recommend spring at all, sorry! Spring in Colorado has really unpredictable weather, gray skies, muddy trails, and nothing is green until at least early-mid June. Most trails and roads that are unpaved are inaccessible until late June (sometimes even later if there’s a lot of snowfall). The ski runs close in March, usually, and the remaining snow is very slushy. I no longer photograph spring weddings in the mountains, and recommend my couples schedule for a different time of year.

Where to elope in Telluride

Telluride has tons of public land you can explore, and there’s so many beautiful hiking and Jeeping trails that lead deep into the mountains to secluded views and scenic meadows. I have a detailed location guide I send all my couples that goes over everywhere you can elope in Telluride. My full day elopement packages give my couples the chance to explore 2-3 different locations so you can really experience the wilderness around Telluride in all its glory.

These are a few of my favorite places to bring my couples:

Last Dollar Road
Trout Lake
Hiking trails
Bridal Vail Falls
Cornet Creek Falls
Alta Lakes
Jeeping Trails

Venues in Telluride

If you have a group over 15, you’re verging into micro wedding territory now, and you’re going to have to rent a venue or VRBO of some kind to host your guests for your ceremony.

These are my personal favorite venues in the area:

Best accommodations in Telluride for your elopement

Having a beautiful space to get ready for your elopement day and to retire to after a long day of running around the mountains adds a little cherry on top of an already lovely experience. There are really beautiful luxury accommodations and unique spaces all over Telluride, but these are my personal favorites:

Telluride Elopement Packages

All my packages are meant for a day full of adventures, so they start at 4 hours and range to multi-day experiences. All packages include planning and location assistance as well as a full gallery of images. My packages are all inclusive, there’s no hidden fees or additional travel costs. Get in touch to get a full pricing guide and to set up a free consult to talk about your dream elopement.