If you’ve been researching the best places to elope, you’ve probably come across Colorado several times (if not more). This is for great reason! Colorado is easily one of the most incredible places to exchange vows. In this guide, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about when and where to have a magical Colorado elopement.
Why Elope in Colorado
I can think of a thousand reasons why couples choose to elope in Colorado. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but there are also countless elopement locations, making it easy for any couple to find the perfect one.
From massive national parks and beautiful alpine lakes to amazing weather and exciting adventures, there’s something for everyone! In fact, I’ve worked with many couples to plan (and photograph) the perfect Colorado elopement. Each experience has been one for the books!
Did I mention it’s also super easy to get married in Colorado? It’s one of the only states where you can legally marry yourself, meaning you don’t need witnesses or an officiant. All you have to do is get your marriage license from any Colorado County Clerk’s office, which is also pretty effortless. You can even have your ceremony the same day you apply for your marriage license. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
When to Have a Colorado Elopement
The awesome thing about eloping in Colorado is that all 4 seasons are beautiful and offer a unique experience. Best of all, Colorado boasts about 300 days of sunshine per year, so you can almost always count on pleasant weather!
Here’s what you can expect for your elopement, depending on the time of year…
Winter
While I recommend a winter elopement only if you’re used to snowy conditions, Colorado can be a stunning place for a winter wonderland wedding. You’re in for a treat with snow-capped mountains and exciting winter honeymoon adventures. You can also expect affordable accommodations, calm trails, and crisp mountain air during winter.
Spring
If you’re interested in eloping during the quiet season but want more pleasant weather, spring is the way to go. It’s an excellent time to have your ceremony in a peaceful destination. Because it’s the shoulder season, it’s less crowded and more affordable. Keep in mind that it takes some time for the snow to melt. So, if you still want to see a bit of snow, elope in early spring and if you prefer more greenery, wait until late spring.
Summer
Summers in Colorado are pretty popular. The days are long, the lake waters are perfect for swimming, and the trails are green. This is also when wildflowers are at their prettiest – I’m talking GORGEOUS! Even better, the weather is warm but not too hot and mornings are especially lovely.
Fall
If you ask me, fall in Colorado is the best time of year! The colorful fall foliage makes for gorgeous elopement scenery, and the weather is just right. I recommend planning your elopement for the end of September or early October for the best of its autumn season.
To help you decide which season is right for you, check out this chart that shows what you can expect each month weather-wise:
| Month | Average Low | Average High | Average Precipitation |
| January | 16°F | 47°F | 0.64 in. |
| February | 18°F | 49°F | 0.73 in. |
| March | 25°F | 56°F | 1.88 in. |
| April | 33°F | 62°F | 2.20 in. |
| May | 42°F | 72°F | 2.56 in. |
| June | 50°F | 81°F | 2.05 in. |
| July | 56°F | 88°F | 1.68 in. |
| August | 54°F | 86°F | 2.01 in. |
| September | 44°F | 78°F | 1.13 in. |
| October | 33°F | 66°F | 1.43 in. |
| November | 23°F | 54°F | 1.09 in. |
| December | 16°F | 46°F | 0.83 in. |
Where to Have a Colorado Elopement
Now for the fun part – where to say “I do!” As I mentioned, Colorado has endless locations for you to elope. However, here are some of my absolute favorites. And I’ll also share the best times of year for eloping in each destination.
Rocky Mountain National Park: Ample Landscapes and Hiking
Best time of year: year-round, especially in winter
Located in northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park spans over 415 square miles. It boasts stunning landscapes, from shining lakes and cascading waterfalls to significant mountain peaks and vast meadows. With more than 300 miles of hiking trails to wander through, there are tons of elopement spots to choose from and ample photo ops.
Telluride: A Quiet Mountain Town
Best time of year: year-round
If a cozy mountain town sounds up your alley, a Telluride elopement might be exactly what you’re looking for. Located in the Rocky Mountains, Telluride offers plenty for couples to see and do, including strolling past colorful Victorian homes, visiting art galleries, and enjoying delicious restaurants. And what about eloping? Bridal Veil Falls, a 365-foot waterfall in Telluride, is one of my favorite places for a Colorado elopement!
Breckenridge: Winter Wonderland Elopement
Best time of year: year-round, especially in winter
If you’re dreaming of a winter wonderland elopement, Breckenridge can make those dreams a reality! This mountain town in central Colorado is home to world-class ski resorts, an unmatched mountain panorama, and exciting adventures.
San Juan Mountains: Breathtaking Scenery
Best time of year: year-round
If an adventure elopement is what you’re looking for, the San Juan Mountains is the place for it. This rugged mountain range in southwestern Colorado has gorgeous blue alpine lakes, wildflowers during summer, and craggy volcanic peaks.
Sand Dunes National Park: Tallest Dunes in North America
Best time of year: year-round
Head south to Great Sand Dunes National Park, where you can find the tallest dunes in North America. These fascinating dunes make for a unique elopement backdrop! Couples who enjoy hiking love the trails that lead to forests, wetlands, and alpine lakes.
Loveland Pass: Adventurous Mountain Pass
Best time of year: summer, spring, fall
This mountain pass just outside of Denver offers an adventurous experience as you wind past stunning mountain views. It also offers many viewpoints and stop-offs, making for great spots to exchange your vows.
Boulder: City Life with Nature
Best time of year: year-round
Boulder offers the perfect mix of city and nature. Boulder could be your dream elopement destination if you and your love enjoy an excellent food and drink scene and outdoor activities. Surrounded by the Flatirons and the Rocky Mountains, Boulder’s scenery is unmatched and makes for special elopement backdrops.
Lost Gulch Overlook: A Sunset Elopement
Best time of year: summer and fall
Just outside of Boulder is the Lost Gulch Overlook. This elopement location is ideal for the semi-adventurous couple. It offers an easy hike to a lookout point with dramatic mountain views. A sunset elopement is absolutely incredible here!
Garden of the Gods: Colorado Springs Paradise
Best time of year: year-round
One of my absolute favorite elopement sessions took place at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Its massive red rocks are unlike anything you’ve seen and make for one of the most memorable experiences. Although this is an extremely popular destination, there are excellent times to visit for a quiet, intimate elopement.
This is just the start of the remarkable Colorado elopement locations. If you have something specific in mind or want more ideas, feel free to contact me. I’m an elopement photographer who absolutely loves to brainstorm elopement destinations!
FAQ
Have a few more questions as you plan your elopement? I’ve got the answers!
How can I legally elope in Colorado?
To legally elope in Colorado, all you have to do is head to one of these Colorado County Clerk offices and do a few simple things. Show your ID with your date of birth and pay a $30 marriage license fee. Divorced and widowed applicants also need to provide information regarding this (dates and locations).
Do I need a permit to elope in Colorado?
Some elopement locations in Colorado require a permit. You should be able to do a quick search to determine if your location of choice requires one. Fortunately, permit prices are usually relatively low, ranging from $50 to a few hundred.
Some awesome locations that don’t require a permit include Garden of the Gods, some inns in Breckinridge, and viewpoints along the Loveland Pass.
When’s the best time to have a Colorado elopement?
To be honest, fall is my favorite time for a Colorado elopement. The weather is lovely, and the fall colors are gorgeous! With that said, Colorado is amazing for elopements all year long.
How much does it cost to elope in Colorado?
Whether you have a budget of $1,000 or $10,000, you can make it happen in Colorado! The cool part about eloping in Colorado is that endless locations allow you to pick what works best for you.
Many factors play a role in how much your elopement will cost, including time of year, length of trip, elopement location, and vendors.
Let’s Plan Your Colorado Elopement
With unmatched elopement locations any time of year, it’s easy to want to run off to Colorado and exchange your vows. If you’re ready to make it happen and need some guidance, I’d love to help!
Among the Pines (aka me) is an adventure elopement photographer that can help you turn your dream day into a reality. I assist with the entire planning process, from helping you choose your vendors to finding the perfect elopement location.
CHLOE + CONNER
Brooke is professional, prepared, and provides all the peace of mind that a bride needs on her wedding day. Because of our conversations leading up to the day, I had no doubt that she would capture every important moment and more. Throughout the day, she was present and helpful, but never overbearing or controlling. She beautifully captured the moments that happened naturally & her experience allowed for insight and ideas that I wouldn't have thought to ask for but that I'll now cherish forever! She is flexible, understanding, and patient, and looking back, we can't imagine our day without her. If you are looking for someone to capture your wedding day, or just any day, Brooke is your girl. She goes above and beyond to serve her clients, and she is absolutely gifted at what she does.
"SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SERVE HER CLIENTS, and she is absolutely gifted at what she does."
Linden + Brent
In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo. Brooke made both of us feel so at ease, from our individual sessions before we had our first look, to strolling through downtown Ouray, to our ceremony and in the scenic spots we visited afterwards. Her talent is beyond compare and we are absolutely thrilled with our gallery of photos we will treasure forever. We give Brooke our highest recommendation and can’t wait to work with her again!
"Throughout the entire planning process, Brooke was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy."
Emily + Nick
Brooke is hands down the most talented photographer I have ever met in my entire life. I gave her my inspiration and she took it and made it into something entirely unique and beautiful. Brooke was able to work with my budget and offer me options. Along with all of this, she was always there to communicate with me from ideas to concerns. The day of never goes as planned, she was thrown curveball after curveball and dodged them all with ease. The photos we received memorialized the best day of our lives and we are forever grateful for the beautiful artwork she created.
"we are forever grateful for the beautiful artwork she created."
ERICA & ZACH
Brooke was booked to do our wedding June 6th. However, the virus hit and we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to have our wedding in June so we decided to go ahead and get married with just our parents there. I called Brooke and told her our plans and literally we were getting married in a week and she was so quick to say yes and capture our day for us. She helped make our day very special. She was super fun and made Zach and I feel very comfortable. I got my pictures back and I felt so overjoyed to see the happiness and love I felt on that day. Even though we didn’t have our wedding like we planned, it was still very special and Brooke was a big hand in that. She truly captured some very special memories that I will have for the rest of my life.
"SHE TRULY CAPTURED SOME VERY SPECIAL MEMORIES THAT I WILL HAVE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE."
Our wedding was in Kentucky in September. Brooke not only traveled for us but made a custom package for us because we had a unique situation. She took pictures the day before, and just seemed to be in the right place at the right time. She met with me before the wedding and we communicated a few times up to the wedding about my specific requests, and she hit the nail on the head. I am so very thankful for Brooke's story-telling, organic nature. She captured our wedding for exactly what it was and what I will remember it to be...full of joy, laughter, love and hope for the future!
"I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR BROOKE'S storytelling, organic nature."
JENNA + JOSH
KRYSTAL & BRANDON
She’s professional, creative, organized, kind, and just a blast to be around. She made my husband comfortable instantly in front of a camera so she’s a miracle worker too. We can’t stop staring at our photos! So many people keep telling us how amazing they are!
"YOU WON'T FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER BETTER rounded than brooke!"
Jessica & Robby
Brooke has a true talent. She is able to tap into and capture moments you didn’t even realize were happening. Absolutely 100% recommend Brooke and her beautiful pictures. We booked her services for our engagement pictures and then immediately realized we needed to have her for our wedding also. I’m already preemptively dreaming of the anniversary shoot I want!
"Brooke will make you feel comfortable and like a friend - she will take your ideas and inspiration and produce something better than you thought."
Rori + Eli
Brooke truly listened to what we wanted as a couple, our hopes, and took time to understand our "vibe," which came through in her work she delivered.
I can't thank Brooke enough for her amazing work - seriously the BEST decision we made and brings me to tears each time I look at these beautiful, photographic memories we'll have forever.
ALYSSA & HUNTER
Not only is Brooke an amazing photographer, but she is so fun and easy to work with! She made the whole process feel natural and comfortable for someone who typically feels awkward and weird while getting pictures taken! I love all of the pictures and I highly recommend Brooke as a photographer!
"SHE MADE THE WHOLE PROCESS FEEL natural & Comfortable."
ALI & KYLE
That's exactly what Brooke does, she captures a story. No words needed. You can see it and feel it. You can remember the exact moment and how you feel for that person and see how they feel about you. Her intuitive eye has only gotten sharper. I can’t wait to see what other adventures await for her to capture.
"SHE CAPTURES A STORY, NO WORDS NEEDED. you can see it and feel it."
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. Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos!
