Let’s plan your Ouray elopement! In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about having a romantic adventure in the mountains. I’ll discuss why Ouray, Colorado, is one of the best elopement locations, logistics for costs and legalities, stunning ceremony locations, and where to stay.
Ouray is an adorable town in the San Juan Mountains and one of my favorite mountain elopement locations to photograph. It’s perfect for adventurous couples looking for a quintessential elopement location. It’s known as the Switzerland of America because of its stunning mountain scenery with 13,000-foot mountain peaks.
Why elope in Ouray?
Ouray is one of Colorado’s best elopement locations because it’s a quaint mountain town known for outdoor activities, picturesque views, and a charming downtown area.
If you want a location that’s more relaxed and off-the-beaten-path than the more popular nearby city of Telluride, Ouray is ideal.
Ouray is also famous for off-roading jeep tours. There are also year-round hot springs and beautiful San Juan Mountains scenery.
Getting a Marriage License in Ouray
Colorado is one of the easiest states to get married. You can legally marry yourself, meaning you don’t need an officiant or witnesses.
For a legal marriage in Ouray, you’ll need to apply for and get your license from the Ouray County Clerk’s Office. You can get married immediately after, and the license is valid for 35 days (at the time of writing this in October 2023). See updated information here.
To keep things even simpler, you can handle the legalities in your home state, then go to Ouray for your elopement adventure and photos.
Ouray Elopement Cost
It usually costs between $3,000 to $10,000 to elope in Ouray. The total cost depends on the time of year, how long your elopement is, where you stay, and how far you’re traveling. With so many options, you can plan your elopement around just about any budget.
Where to Elope in Ouray
Ouray has many incredible spots to exchange your vows and explore for adventurous elopement photos. From Jeep and hiking trails to mountain and waterfall backdrops, the opportunities are endless. There are also stunning places for an intimate wedding.
As a Leave No Trace aware elopement photographer, it’s important to me to keep special locations on the low down to prevent overpopulation and ensure that your wedding day remains intimate.
I love working with couples to find the perfect spot, whether you’re looking for popular locations or hidden gems. Here are a few ideas for where couples can elope in Ouray:
Cascade Falls Park
Cascade Falls Park takes you on a moderate short hike to a waterfall. It’s pet-friendly, perfect for couples who want their dog to join their elopement. The park is also conveniently located close to downtown Ouray if you want to hang out in town for food, drinks, and more photos.
Box Cañon Falls Park
Explore trails and an 85-foot waterfall at Box Cañon Falls Park, which is also close to the downtown area. The park has many cool features to explore, including tunnels, wildlife, and bridges.
Spontaenous 4×4 Locations
There are many Jeeping tour adventures in Ouray that many couples love doing for their elopement. This lets you experience epic mountain peaks, Alpine Lakes, and other incredible scenery and photo ops without having to hike all day.
For an unforgettable spontaneous ceremony spot, choose your favorite view while on your Jeeping tour, make a pit stop, and say, “I do.”
Ouray Wedding Venues for an Intimate Ceremony
If you’re interested in having a few guests join you for your Ouray elopement, there are some gorgeous venues.
How to Get to Ouray
Ouray is in Southwestern Colorado, about a five-and-a-half hour drive from Denver. If you’re in Denver or want to fly into the Denver International Airport, you can drive along 285 Highway to 50 Highway for one of the most scenic mountain drives in Colorado. Otherwise, you can take I-70 E.
If you want to fly into an airport closer to Ouray, Durango’s airport is about a two-hour drive, and Montrose Regional Airport is about an hour.
If you’re renting a car, consider renting a Jeep to explore Ouray. Or you can rent one or take a Jeep tour once you get to Ouray.
When to Elope in Ouray
Fall is the best time to elope in Ouray because it’s just after the busy season, the weather is nice, and the fall colors are vibrant.
While summer is also gorgeous, you can expect crowds and warmer weather.
Winter and spring are snowy but beautiful. It’s the perfect time of year if you like snow sports, but some locations aren’t easy to access when there’s heavy snow.
Where to Stay in Ouray
Ouray has many unique places to stay that are ideal for a romantic getaway with your love.
From cozy cabins and charming inns and lodges with hot springs and adventurous campsites, there’s something for everyone.
Here are some of the best places to stay for your elopement in Ouray:
- Airbnb vacation rentals
- The Clipper Inn Bed & Breakfast
- Ouray Riverside Resort (hotels, cabins, and RV park)
- Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs
- 4J+1+1 Campground
Other Tips for Your Ouray Elopement
It’s easy to have an epic elopement experience in Ouray, Colorado. Here are some helpful tips to ensure you have the best day ever!
- Choose the right location: Ouray has many stunning outdoor locations and indoor places, too. Imagine your ideal scenery and what kind of adventures you hope to enjoy.
- Include loved ones (including pets): If you want to include family, friends, or pets, some elopement locations in Ouray can accommodate this.
- Personalize your vows: Take time to write meaningful vows you and your partner can share on your elopement day. They’re a special way to start this new chapter and can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like.
- Have an authentic day: Make your elopement memorable by sharing an authentic day together. Plan activities you enjoy while also being willing to be flexible and live in the moment.
- Dress accordingly: Make sure you dress appropriately for your experience. You might need hiking shoes and an outfit change for your ceremony. I share outfit inspiration with couples I work with.
Ouray Elopement Packages
As a Colorado-based elopement photographer, I love working with couples eloping in Ouray!
My elopement packages include full or multi-day adventure elopements and intimate weddings with:
- A phone or email consultation – whatever you prefer
- Location scouting to help you find your dream elopement spot
- Timeline planning to keep the process stress-free
- A 100-page elopement guide
- Vendor recommendations
- Custom online gallery with all edited high-resolution images
- 24-hour sneak peek photos
- Rights to printing
Let’s Plan Your Elopement
I hope you found this article helpful! Among the Pines Photography (that’s me!) works with adventurous couples to plan, execute, and capture the perfect elopement experience.
Are you ready to start planning your dream Ouray elopement?
kinsley + caden
“Brooke was the perfect choice for our wedding day! We had a micro wedding at Sapphire Point in August. I had never been to Sapphire Point and Brooke was so helpful suggesting vendors, picture locations, parking, marriage license info etc. She was so kind and helpful before and during the whole process and was a large part of why the day went so smooth. She does so much more than just show up and take pictures, Brooke will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect! The photos are gorgeous and I keep getting so many compliments! I truly cannot recommend her enough!”
"Brooke was a large part of why our day went so smooth and will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect!"
We chose Brooke to capture our Colorado elopement and she did exactly that and more. She made it easy to plan our day out with locations and timelines so that we could focus on ourselves. We decided last minute to change our afternoon/evening elopement to a 6am sunrise one so beat the heat of the day. Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise. She was kind and understood what we wanted in terms of our elopement and we are so grateful to have her capture the day. Our photos turned out beautiful and truly helped us relive the day. I would recommend Brooke to anyone wanting their special day photographed.
"Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise."
erica + stacy
kirstie + colin
Brooke not only photographed our mountain elopement beautifully, but she put so much thought into the details and knew all of the answers the questions I didn’t even know to ask. She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had. She even helped pick the perfect spot for us and advised us on the logistical details like securing a reservation at the mountain lake where we wanted our ceremony. She is SO easy to work with and very friendly and chill. My husband and I are super awkward in front of a camera but she made it so natural and easy - and the shots came out better than we could have imagined.
"She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had."
amanda + jace
Brooke is many things; talented, calm, flexible, experienced/ knowledgeable, patient, incredibly responsive, organized, resourceful in a pinch, supportive, creative, professional yet a blast to work with, and goes above & beyond w her clients. Our wedding was a spectacular dream and we couldn't be more grateful that she made that single day last forever. Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be. We couldn't recommend her more and we look forward to booking with her for all of our vow renewals, seasonal and family pictures for as long as she'll have us.
"Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be."
linden + brent
Working with Brooke was a dream come true! Before we even met, my husband Brent and I were impressed by her portfolio. After meeting, we were even more convinced that her photography skills and knowledge, and her fun and easygoing personality were exactly what we were looking for in an elopement photographer. Brooke was able to take our vision and facilitate everything so that it worked out beautifully, especially when it came to finding the perfect location (the incredible mountains surrounding Ouray). Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy. In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo.
"Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible."
lauren + branden
I can't begin to express my gratitude for the intimacy and beauty behind Brooke's photographs. In capturing our wedding day, she went above and beyond to document our story, our families, and the depths of our love in ways that I'll forever be grateful for. Brooke has an eye for not only capturing the adventure and magic of your love, but deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way. She is truly an artist and tells your story in an authentic and creative way for you to look back on for years to come. We are forever grateful to Brooke for spending the time to get to know us, our story, and capturing the memories that we'll relive for years to come.
"Brooke deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way."
heather + jedd
“If you're contemplating which photographer to go with, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHOOSE BROOKE!!!! She is so so so talented and was able to capture our elopement exactly how I pictured and wanted! We eloped in Ridgway, CO this past September and she was so helpful figuring out picture locations, recommendations of timeline for the day, and just made the whole day feel so smooth. She schedules multiple check ins, phone calls, etc., leading up to the big day to ensure everything is as you want it. Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever after just the first time of meeting."
"Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever."
christy + austin
Brooke is the absolute best. She truly went above and beyond for my fiancé and I to be able to get our engagement photos taken with the fall colors. Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos! Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
"Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever."
