If you want to elope in Colorado, you’re truly in for an unforgettable treat. Eloping in Colorado offers a really unique mix of intimacy, adventure (if you want it!), and breathtaking natural scenery. With options like whispering vows next to calm alpine lake waters or with views of the Rocky Mountains behind you, Colorado’s diverse landscape provides an incredible landscape no matter what your elopement vibe is.
As a Denver photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to capture images of raw emotions and stunning backdrops all throughout Colorado. I’m truly committed to providing valuable and heartfelt coverage of your elopement with my unique local perspective.
In this post, my goal is to share both how and where to elope in Colorado, and by the end of this post, you’ll know where you want your own love story documented. Keep reading to learn more!
How to Elope in Colorado
First things first, let’s address one of the most important questions before you even decide that eloping is the best option for you – how do you elope in Colorado?
You’ll want to get your marriage license from one of the state clerk offices throughout the state. Since I’m located in Denver, I’ll share some info for receiving your marriage license here!
First, you’ll want to complete the application. Yes, the offices do recommend doing this prior to scheduling your appointment.
After it’s filled out, schedule an in-person appointment on their website if you want to go in-person, or schedule an online appointment if you’d rather attend online. Online ones, as you might imagine, do tend to book up a bit quicker, but can provide you a bit more flexibility.
Once booked, you’ll want to make sure you meet the marriage license requirements. Some things to know: your license has to be used within 35 days of receiving it and the ceremony has to happen within the state of Colorado. There’s also a $30 fee to get the license.
You will be asked questions like when you are getting married, where you’ll be getting married, and city and state of where your parents were born, so make sure you have that information handy.
Once you attend your appointment, you’ll get your marriage license, and then you’ll have to sign it once your ceremony is complete and send it back so that it can be recorded. Make sure you send it back within 63 days of getting married or there are extra fees!
One of the incredibly unique things about Colorado is that no witnesses are required in the state with self-solemnization. You don’t even need an officiant. This means that you can have a truly intimate experience with just you, your partner, and your photographer if you’d like. You can even have your dog or cat actually be your witness in Colorado if you want!
Best Places to Elope in Colorado
Now that you know how to elope in Colorado, let’s talk about where to elope! (And yes, this is the fun part.)
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Denver
For the first location, let’s keep it in the Denver area… Red Rocks Park & Ampitheatre is one of the top spots to say “I Do” around the Mile High City. There’s a spot right behind the Red Rocks Trading Post that you can book to exchange vows which overlooks the nearby Red Rocks. The capacity of this venue is up to 150, but it’s still perfect for a micro-elopement if you want something more intimate, too.
Maroon Bells, Aspen
When you think of Colorado, you’re probably thinking of the postcard-worthy view at Maroon Bells out in Aspen. This is another one of the treasured elopement locations in Colorado, and reservations for the ampitheater here must be made online with the US Forest Service.
You can make your reservation up to a year in advance. Though that seems kind of far out for an elopement, when you see the peaks and glimmering water here, you’ll realize it’s worth the wait. For a real incredible view, consider eloping at Maroon Bells in fall.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
This list of best Colorado elopement locations would not be complete without mentioning Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky is only a little under 2 hours from LoDo and is seriously beautiful year-round, and even though it’s one of the US’s busier national parks, it’s easy to feel like you’re in solitude in some of the park’s little pockets.
Reservations here can be made one year in advance. Plan wisely because 60 permits are given monthly from May through October, and 40 are given monthly from November through April. Your wedding group can not exceed 30 people, but if you’re looking for an intimate elopement location, you can’t go wrong with eloping here.
Sunrise Amphitheater, Boulder
For those wanting a classic mountain aesthetic without going far from Denver, look no further than Sunrise Amphiteater. Weddings and elopements here usually happen between May and October, and because it’s a fairly popular spot, you’ll definitely want to book early.
The view here overlooks the beautiful town of Boulder, and there’s so many great restaurants on Pearl Street you can stop at after eloping.
Sapphire Point, Breckenridge
For those wanting to venture out a bit further from Denver, Breckenridge’s Sapphire Point is another one of those “quintessential” Colorado views. The second you see it, you’ll realize why so many people want to elope in Colorado!
This is a perfect place for a smaller elopement, as the maximum capacity is 35 people. Note that this is one of the places that can get pretty busy, so it’s usually better to try to plan your elopement at Sapphire Point either during the week or the offseason if you can.
Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver
Another great place right within Denver for an elopement is at the Denver Botanic Gardens. This is one of the most visited places within the Mile High City and for good reason. You can say “I Do” surrounded by some beautiful greenery if you elope during the warmer months of the year.
One of the best things about Denver’s botanical gardens is that they are fairly central in the city and it does feel like a bit of an oasis compared to other options on this list.
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs
Did you know you can also elope at Garden of the Gods? Just a short drive from Denver in Colorado Springs, you’ll find this popular red rock landscape. If ceremonies are small (like an elopement!) then you can easily get married right within the park.
There are some rules, like no alcoholic beverages, no receptions, no blocking off areas, etc., but if it’s just the two of you and your photographer (aka me) then this is totally a doable spot to elope. You can learn more about eloping at Garden of the Gods here.
Lookout Mountain, Golden
While many visitors flock to Boulder because of Chatauqua Park, Golden is truly a bit of a hidden gem still, making it a great spot to exchange vows for couples who want great views. Lookout Mountain provides utterly breathtaking landscape views of the area, and for those who aren’t afraid of heights, it really is magical.
What makes Lookout Mountain so great is that it is extremely intimate because there are not as many people here compared to other mountainous areas around Denver.
16th Street Clocktower, Denver
You really can’t get more central than LoDo’s own 16th Street Clocktower. This venue is so incredibly unique with guests being able to see the inside of the clock from the venue. It really is one-of-a-kind for those who want a bit more of a glitzy or upscale elopement.
Elopements and micro-weddings at 16th Street Clocktower can host up to 30 guests and includes a champagne toast with unforgettable views.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Alamosa
Last but not least, I just had to include at least one more of Colorado’s iconic parks: Great Sand Dunes National Park! Situated in southern Colorado near Alamosa, this park has epic large dunes and is beautiful year round.
Similar to other parks, you do have to apply ahead of time for a wedding and ceremony permit and keep in mind that they don’t allow more than two weddings per day.
Are You Ready for a Colorado Elopement?
Eloping in Colorado is really an unforgettable experience, especially because of the beauty and diversity of the state’s landscapes. Whether you want something luxe in central Denver or you want to experience the beautiful mountain views (with or without a hike), Colorado really does have it all.
And if you’re still looking for a photographer to capture your big day, I’d love to learn more about your love story. Click here to get in touch!
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