Colorado Mountain Elopement Guide

If you are thinking about eloping in Colorado with out stressing about the details and still have an epic elopement with beautiful scenery where you can just be in the moment, you are in the right place. Colorado is a great elopement destination. We have the mountain scenery, so many fun active things to do and delicious local restaurants and breweries. In Colorado you can even self solemnize and can have your dog as your witness. Here is my guide on eloping in Colorado including picking the right location for you, selecting the time of year, getting your marriage license. I have photographed many beautiful Colorado mountain elopements over the last 10 years and have established close relationships with the right vendors to make your day perfect. I am so happy to share my experience and expertise with you.

Locations

Picking the right location is one of the most important details for a Colorado Elopement. On our first call, we will lay out what the must-have items for your location are. Below are some of my favorite locations that span from Breckenridge, Vail, Estes Park, to Colorado Springs.

Click into each location and explore.

Mount Quandary

Hoosier Pass

Sapphire Point

Loveland Pass

Lake Dillon

Vail

Rocky Mountain National Park

Boulder

Garden of the Gods

Marriage License

One item you will need to bring is your marriage license. There is no waiting period in Colorado, so you can walk into the court house and leave with your marriage license. You do need to both bring a form of identification. The license is valid for 35 days after you receive it and has to be filed within 63. You can get your marriage license at the local Colorado County Clerk and Recorder Office.

Self Solemnization

In Colorado you can legally get married without an officiant and sign your own marriage license. Only a few other states allow this and it can give couples more freedom. If you go this route, we can work together to find a flow for your ceremony focusing around your vows. You do sign this license a little different, but don’t worry I will guide you through that process as well.

Witnesses

In Colorado, you do not need any witnesses to sign your marriage license. You can have zero, as many as you would like or your dogs paw print.

Vendors

Not all wedding vendors are elopement vendors. Many require minimum costs and can make finding the right elopement vendor tricky. Luckily we have worked with the same amazing vendors and can get all your details coordinated for you. This is especially helpful if you are not local, which many of our couples are not.

When you arrive to your ceremony site, all your details will be there waiting for you. Your cake will be set up a cute little wooden table on a cake stand that fits your style, along with clear plates, white napkins, and cutlery. Your flowers on a table next to it in a vase with a water with a towel to dry them off. Music you have chosen will be softly playing and you won’t have to worry about any of it.

Permits

One of the many perks of working together is you won’t have to worry about permits. Some locations listed do require permits and some do not. Permits can range is price and are not included in any package.

Permitted locations are great if you would feel more comfortable knowing exactly where you are going to get married and not having to worry about other people and couple’s using this location at the same time.

If you choose a non-permitted location, don’t worry, all the locations have many spots and are flexible. You can trust that will find the right spot for you on your day.

Weekday or Weekend

Both options work great in Colorado. Something to always think about, if a location is popular, weekdays are typically less populated.

Best time of Year

There isn’t a wrong time to elope in Colorado.

May - August has the best wild flowers and warmest weather.
September - October has beautiful fall colors starting in September depending on altitude.
October - April can make for gorgeous snow filled elopements

“Kristin made our dream wedding come true! She helped us pick out a location, made sure we had all the needed permits and made all the arrangements with other vendors. She was pivotal in making the day run smoothly. Then to top it all off, she delivered the most stunning photos of our wedding! She is seriously the absolute best.”
“Kristin was so amazing to work with!! I told her what kind of area I wanted for my elopement and she was spot on when she picked it!! Her energy was amazing during this whole process. Her communication was awesome too!! I just got my photos back and I'm beyond happy with them! I cannot recommend Elevated Elopements enough! .”
“Kristin was amazing from booking through the end of our elopement! She had the best energy which translated really well for all our photos. She helped direct our poses which I really appreciated (we can be awkward!). For the price, experience, and photo quality I absolutely would recommend her to all my friends and family; she's professional, reliable, fun, and dog-friendly! <3”