A Step-By-Step Guide to Planning Your Colorado Elopement

So you’ve decided to elope and you’ve chosen Colorado!! YAY and CONGRATS!!! Colorado has soooo much to offer as far as scenery goes and pretty much just has it all! In this blog, I’m going to go over an easy step-by-step guide to plan your own Colorado elopement! Let’s get started! 

Step 1 – Narrow Down Where You Want Your Colorado Elopement

Most people come to Colorado for the mountains, which Colorado has a lot of. You could go the national park route and elope in the Rocky Mountain National Park, or you can try something a little less known! I recommend checking out Telluride, Ouray, or even Breckenridge!

 Although the Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful and I highly recommend visiting, it’s super busy and requires a lot of permits to get married there. There are only certain spots in the park that allow wedding ceremonies. This really limits the amazing scenery you have! You can learn more about the process and requirements of eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park here!

You can choose somewhere such as Breckenridge or Ouray which are still popular spots, but you can find hidden gems that are less populated. When choosing a location, you also have to consider accessibility. Are you having anyone tag along? If so, consider that they may not be able to hike 10 miles to get to your ceremony site!

Step 2 – Acquiring Permits For Your Colorado Elopement

 Depending on which location you choose, you may need a photography permit and a wedding permit to have your ceremony there! While some spots may not require this, your elopement photographer should be able to tell you what permits you’ll need or don’t need! 

Step 3 – Consider the Time of The Year 

 Summertime or fall is the best time for a Colorado elopement in my opinion. Unless you’re a skiing couple, the best time to go is summer/fall. This is because in the winter, some roads and trails may be closed for the season! As a result, this may make that epic spot you wanted not available.

Step 4 – Making It Official 

 Did you know in Colorado you can self-solemnize? Meaning you don’t need an officiant to be there to marry you! Just you, your partner, and the marriage license. This is great because if you have an officiant come, they may not be able to do the epic hike you planned for!

All you have to do is acquire the marriage license at a nearby county clerk’s office and turn it back in! Easy peasy! 

Step 5 – Hiring Your Colorado Elopement Photographer 

Your photographer might be one of the only vendors you have on your Colorado elopement day! Make sure you vibe with them and trust them! Above all, you want your day to be everything you’ve hoped for. Click here to inquire with me about photographing your elopement!

Step 6- Your Special Day is Here!

Next, you’ll have the best day of your life marrying your person in an epic place, along with some epic elopement photos with memories to last you a lifetime! 

Ellyn Elizabeth Images | Destination Elopement & Wedding Photographer

If you’re planning your own Colorado elopement, I hope that this step-by-step guide has helped! I highly recommend an intimate and adventurous elopement, as these are memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime! I love capturing adventurous couples’ special moments and I’m always down to travel to capture an amazing love story! Feel free to check out some more of my work here. If you like what you see, then let’s chat!