Colorado Elopement Guide
Table of Contents:
What is an elopement?
An elopement is an intimate wedding ceremony that puts your relationship at the heart of day. It’s a day that encompasses everything that you and your partner love. The best thing about an elopement is you can do anything that day that you can dream up!
How many people are still considered an elopement?
Historically elopements were just you and your partner. I have had larger elopements but to still be able to have access to most places it needs to stay under 10 people total, and that includes me, your videographer and any other vendors. You can still have the flexibility with under ten people to get a permit for most Colorado outdoor locations you can dream up.
What vendors do most elopements have?
Photographer - That’s me! Documenting a little part of your love story together!
Florist - Flowers just make everything seem special!
Hair & Makeup Stylist - Feel your very best on your big day!
Lodging - Make it a vacation with a special stay.
Chef - Eating yummy food is just part of an incredible day.
All the extras:
Wilderness Guide - Some places in Colorado just need a little extra guidance like climbing!
Videographer - When you want to hear it all over again!
Officiant - Have all the ceremony things taken care of for you!
Wedding Cake - Dessert is a must-have for some, like my hubby!
Wedding Planner - When you really want to be hands-off, they’ll take care of everything. Especially useful if you want to have an outdoor lounge area for dinner.
Bar Services - Perfect for special cocktails or barista!
Reception Venue - If you want to have a small get-together after your elopement.
Colorado Marriage License Process
How To Get Your Colorado Marriage Application?
When you get to Colorado, stop by any county clerk office to fill out your marriage application and receive your license. It doesn’t have to be in the county you are getting married in. You just have to get married in Colorado within 35 days and get it back to them, in person or by mail within 63 days.
How Much Does A Colorado License Cost?
It costs $30 to process your marriage license and make it official.
Paperwork & Information
You’ll need valid IDs, Social Security numbers, and current addresses. You will also need your parents' maiden names and birthplaces if you have that knowledge.
Self-Solemnizing In Colorado
Self-solemnizing or self-uniting, there is no need to have a judge or officiant to make it legal. You can just marry yourselves! Yay for Colorado making it simple.
Witnesses & Signatures
If you choose to self unite you do not need to have any witnesses sign your marriage license. Even though they are not required you can have your family, friends, or pets sign as your witnesses on the official document. Jax, my golden retriever signed ours!!
For even more information on Self-Uniting check this out!
Where to elope in Colorado?
Dunton Hot Springs
Looking for a luxurious mountain cabin feel that takes you back in time to a little village of cabins surrounding a hot spring? This is the perfect place for fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. A very remote lux resort for adventurous couples who love hot springs and beautiful meadows.
Telluride
Want all the amenities of a big city in the mountains, Telluride might be the perfect spot for you! It’s not a big city but between the town and the mountain village resort you can find just about everything you need right there. From top chefs to massage therapists there all right in town! This is the perfect place for hunting for waterfalls on 4x4 roads to find a perfect spot to say, “I do!.”
Rocky Mountain National Park
Dreaming of an outdoor wedding ceremony in the mountains surrounded by nature? RMNP is full of wonderful views, great hiking trails and elk! Reserve your ceremony location far in advance because they fill up quickly. I love 3M Curve so check out that spot! Explore the park all day long before or after your cemony! Make sure to spend sunrise or sunset on Trail Ridge Road, it’s amazing! Check out my full guide on Rocky Mountain National Park. https://www.ashleighmillerweddings.com/blog/rocky-mountain-national-park-wedding-elopement-guide
Silverton
Hidden in the middle of the San Juan Mountains it’s the perfect place for hiking elopements. You are surrounded by epic hikes and there’s a awesome boutique hotel experience in town. It’s a magical place to visit and getting there on the Million Dollar Highway is an adventure in it of itself!
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Wanna feel like you are in an egyptian quest, the Great Sand Dunes National Park might be perfect for you. You must love sand, like a lot, cause it gets everywhere! It’s a beautiful place to get married because the landscape is truly wild! Hiking on the dunes and sledding down them is so much fun, it would be stellar to say your vows there!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
This hidden gem is so surprising! You drive up and are on a plateau then you finally see it, the Black Canyon! It’s spectacular and way larger than you’d expect! The cliffs are very dramatic! The Black Canyon would be a perfect spot to say your vows because it’s so beautiful and vast!
Lake Dillon
If you are drawn towards water then Lake Dillon would be a great place to elope with your favorite person in the world! There’s a variety of places around the lake to get married that would suit any couple. You can get married on a sail boat, on the shoreline or at Sapphire Point above it all. The 360 mountain views are beautiful and accessible year round! A perfect spot to get married!
Maroon Bells
An elopement location out of a story book, okay so it really might be in a storybook, it’s the most iconic spot in Colorado. It’s a hard one to reserve but if you have the time, it’s totally worth the wait. The iconic triangular Maroon Bells tower over the lake and look spectacular in the summer and fall. It’s a dreamy place to get married!
Breckenridge
This is the perfect place to get married for couples who have never been to Colorado before. There’s tons of accessible locations to say your vows in the mountains. There’s also a bunch of things to do in town from skiing to shopping. It’s a beautiful and quaint but bustling mountain town that I just love!
Colorado Town Elopement Guides
Check out these Wedding and Elopement Guides for an in depth look at these destinations for your elopement!
Best time of Year to Elope in Colorado
What activity do you want to do for your elopement?
Choosing what time of year you want to get married in totally has to do with what activity you want to do during your elopement day! You can’t go skiing in summer or sailing in winter, ya know?!?!
Eloping in Spring
Springtime is very snowy in Colorado, it’s March - May, so the rest of the country is getting spring flowers and green, most of Colorado is still under snow. If you're looking for springtime feels during spring I would recommend hiking in rocky areas like Red Rocks, Great Sand Dunes National Park or Black Canyon. March is one of the best months to have a ski elopement in Colorado because it’s less crowded and the chance of great snow is high!
Eloping in Summer
Summer is the best in Colorado mountains, it’s June - August. The temps are warm but not too hot in the mountains. It’s the perfect time to have a hiking or sailing elopement in the mountains. Most of the snow has melted and all of the mountain passes and 4x4 roads are open by July and highly recommended for adventure elopements. Some of my favorite spots in the summer are Maroon Bells, Breckenridge, Rocky Mountain National Park and San Juan Mountains. I love the variety of adventure you can have in the summertime for a Colorado elopement.
Eloping in Fall
Fall is so beautiful surrounded by Aspen leaves, it’s during September - November. The leaves change by altitude and start changing mid September up in the mountains are usually gone by mid-October. It’s the perfect time for hiking or via ferrata elopements. It’s the perfect time of year for snuggling, fires and hot tubs!
Eloping in Winter
Winter is the perfect time for snowy elopements, it’s December - February. The high mountain peaks will look a little snowy in December but there’s usually not enough snow for really fun snowsports till January. Later in the season is the perfect time for dog sledding, sleigh rides and backcountry skiing elopements in the Colorado winter.
What time of day should you say your vows?
The best time to say your vows for an elopement is during golden hour! Saying your vows in the romantic light just after dawn or just before sunset is the best time of day. The light is magical and what better time to say your vows than then.
Adventure Elopement Activities
Hiking
By far the most popular adventure elopement activity! You can make it as short or far as you would like. For elopements, I suggest about 1 mile per hour because it’s important to take it slow, take in the views and stop for photos!
Dogsledding
A really fun winter elopement adventure idea for couples who love dogs! It’s a fun and exciting way to say your vows in the snow! No real skills are required and you can go as fast or slow as you want.
Via Ferrata
This is perfect for climbers who really want to get married on the wall! Via Ferratas are fun and safe way to get out on the wall. You can say your vows on the wall or have it be part of the processional to the ceremony spot!
Skiing
Dream of saying your vows in ski boots on the mountain? I know of some secluded hikes on the mountain runs that would be perfect for saying your vows at! Then afterward we’ll ski down the slope to a warm fire and hot coco!
Sailing
The wind in your sails? Then why not get married on a boat!?! The water is so calming and provides the best views of the mountains. This is a wonderful spot to say your vows or for your big send off after your ceremony.
Colorado Elopement Packages
When you book Ashleigh with a Colorado Elopement Photography Package you get a photographer who wants to document you and your partner as you are on your day. I’ll help guide you with all my knowledge throughout the years to have an awesome day together, getting married!
PHOTOGRAPHY STORY COVERAGE
Your vow adventure story is documented in a way that will take you right back to the day you said your vows to each other.
CUSTOM LOCATION SUGGESTIONS
I will suggest the most amazing locations that you’ll love to adventure to on your wedding day.
PERSONALIZED PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE
Don’t you worry, it’s a very laid-back timeline to make sure we do all the fun things you want to do on your wedding day! So if you want to ski a few runs or jump in the alpine lake we have all the time in the world you can do that.
VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS
I know it can be tough figuring out who to call, I’ll give you a list of recommendations to connect with to find that perfect floral or giant pop tart you wanted.
ONLINE GALLERY DELIVERED ON YOUR ONE-MONTH ANNIVERSARY
Knowing when your photos are going to be ready is critical to avoiding car crashes! I know if you get those images on your phone driving down the highway it’s going to be super difficult not to look! Setting aside a date night to look at your images is just perfect on your one-month anniversary, the best way to celebrate marriage for a month!
HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL IMAGES
Your images are delivered on an online gallery to your inbox on your one-month anniversary. They are yours to download as many times as you want and you can purchase awesome prints and products in the shop.
INCLUDES TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN COLORADO
Enjoying this state that I call home is just part of it! I want to share my love of Colorado with you!
Want Ashleigh to help you elope in Colorado?
Eloping is a wonderfully intimate experience to start your marriage together. I really enjoy getting to know my couples throughout the process of getting married and following their stories well beyond the wedding day. Each couple’s love story is special and worth documenting!
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Hello! I’m your photo -grapher & Guide, Ashleigh!
Ashleigh Miller Elopement and Wedding Photography can’t wait to hear your story!
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