As one of the best states for gorgeous mountain scenery, Colorado is ideal for a mountain elopement. In this article, I’m sharing everything you need to know about having the perfect Colorado mountain elopement.
As a Colorado elopement photographer and local, I love working with couples dreaming of an authentic and incredible wedding experience. Not only is Colorado beautiful, but there are endless options, and it’s one of the easiest places to legally marry.
Let’s look at how to elope in the mountains, incredible locations, and tips for planning your elopement.
Can you get married in the mountains in Colorado?
You can absolutely get married in the Colorado mountains. With so many incredible mountain locations and the ability to legally marry yourselves, it’s almost too easy!
Colorado has it all, whether you want to get married on a mountaintop, in front of the mountains, or surrounded by diverse landscapes.
You can also self-solemnize in Colorado, so you don’t have to have any witnesses or an officiant to legally tie the knot.
Where can I elope in the mountains in Colorado?
Whether you’re looking for a quaint mountain town, an adventurous experience, or an intimate wedding venue, there’s something for any couple dreaming of a Colorado mountain elopement.
Here’s a rundown of my favorite places to elope in the mountains. I’ll share more details and resources for each one below.
- Brainard Lake Recreation Area
- Crested Butte
- San Juan Mountains
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Boulder
- Hidden gems in the Colorado mountains
Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Location: Ward, Colorado, about 1.5 hours from Denver
The Brainard Lake Recreation Area has become one of my all-time favorite elopement locations. High mountain peaks, gorgeous lakes, and alpine forests surround this stunning area.
I love capturing elopements at Lake Isabelle and Brainard Lake, both in the recreation area and offering picture-perfect scenery.
Brainard Lake is accessible and especially ideal if you’re having a couple of guests, while Lake Isabelle is perfect for adventurous couples who enjoy hiking.
Crested Butte
Location: Gunnison County, Colorado
Crested Butte is the perfect location if you’re dreaming of eloping in a quaint Colorado mountain town.
I loved Crested Butte’s never-ending mountain views and secluded vibe. There are so many amazing locations throughout Crested Butte for your elopement, it’s easy to get away from crowds and have an intimate experience with your love.
Whether you’re hoping for an adventurous elopement day or want to stick around for a fun honeymoon, Crested Butte has many activities – from skiing and hiking to camping and kayaking.
San Juan Mountains
Location: Southwestern Colorado
Whether you’re looking for a laid-back Colorado mountain elopement experience or something more adventurous, the San Juan Mountains have it all.
I’ve worked with several elopement couples in this area and love how unique their weddings were!
There are a few gorgeous areas throughout the San Juan Mountains to elope:
- Telluride: a quiet, historic mountain town with unmatched scenery
- Ouray: a stunning location with incredible jeep tour opportunities
- Silverton: a fun place to enjoy exciting activities and a vibrant downtown area
Rocky Mountain National Park
Location: Northern Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park is easily one of the best Colorado elopement locations. It’s massive at over 400 square miles, with endless beautiful backdrops and massive mountain peaks.
Whether you enjoy hiking, chasing waterfalls, or hanging out with wildlife, there’s so much for any couple to enjoy at Rocky Mountain National Park. The best part? There are countless photo ops and locations for your wedding portraits.
Boulder
Location: Slightly north of Denver, Colorado
Boulder is the ideal place to elope in the mountains if you’re looking for city life, too. It’s surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and Flatirons for stunning mountain scenery. The food and drink scene is also incredible, with many opportunities to celebrate your special day.
A couple of elopement locations I love in Boulder are Lost Gulch Overlook and Chautauqua Park.
Lost Gulch Overlook is just outside the city, where you can take a relatively easy hike to a breathtaking lookout point with amazing mountain views, especially at sunset! Chautauqua Park is also beautiful and showcases gorgeous wildflowers during summer.
Hidden Gems in the Colorado Mountains
Colorado is filled with magical mountain locations, and I love working with couples looking for an intimate experience. If you’re interested in eloping off the beaten path in Colorado, contact Among the Pines Photography (that’s me!) to find your perfect location.
How much does it cost to elope in Colorado?
A Colorado elopement can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. Elopement costs vary, depending on elopement locations, time of year, length of your trip, and vendors. The best part about eloping in Colorado is that you can make it fit almost any budget.
If you’re working with a budget, there are free places to elope in Colorado, including some locations like Loveland Pass.
Planning Your Colorado Mountain Elopement
To make your elopement dreams a reality, knowing how to elope in Colorado is important.
Here are some of my best tips for planning an elopement:
- Book a photographer
- Choose when and where to elope
- Book your travel
- Get your marriage license
- Decide what to wear
- Enjoy your elopement experience
Book a Photographer
I usually recommend booking your photographer early in your planning process because an elopement photographer can also help you plan.
Not only do I capture all the special moments of an elopement day, but I also help couples find the perfect location, choose vendors, and decide what to wear.
Choose When and Where to Elope
With so many options, deciding when and where to elope is often the most challenging aspect.
Here are some tips for choosing when and where to tie the knot:
- Determine how far you want to go from home
- Imagine the activities you want to enjoy
- Decide what kind of scenery and weather you’re hoping for
- Specify how many guests you want, if any
Book Your Travel
Once you have your location and timeline figured out, it’s time to book your travel.
If you’re flying, there are several large airports in Colorado, including Denver International Airport (DEN), Durango–La Plata County Airport (DRO), and Colorado Springs Airport (COS).
There are also many hotels and vacation rentals throughout Colorado.
Get Your Marriage License
Colorado is one of the easiest states to get married. Simply go to a Colorado County Clerk’s Office and apply for your license. If you’re widowed or divorced, you’ll need to provide information regarding this.
After you apply for your license, you can get married as soon as that same day.
You also don’t need a witness or officiant to marry in Colorado. Some couples I work with even have their dog witness for them!
Decide What to Wear
What you wear can make or break your Colorado mountain elopement experience.
Comfort is key, especially if you’re having an adventure elopement. Be mindful of the area you’re exploring and the weather. It’s best to dress for comfort and bring a change of clothes for your ceremony and pictures.
You can always ask your photographer for clothing advice based on your elopement location and the time. I share a Pinterest outfit inspiration board with couples I work with to help them plan their outfits.
Enjoy Your Elopement Experience
The best part of all is enjoying your elopement experience! Elopements are most memorable when you stay authentic to what you and your partner love most and incorporate meaningful moments.
Your elopement experience can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. On my elopement day, my husband and I enjoyed a few of our favorite things – a sunrise hike, having coffee, and hammocking.
Here are a few other ideas for enjoying your elopement day:
- Share personalized vows
- Have a first look
- Hire a private chef
- Celebrate with a first dance
Let’s Plan Your Colorado Mountain Elopement
I hope this Colorado mountain elopement guide inspired you to plan your dream day. If you’d like help making your elopement experience perfect, I’m here for you!
Among the Pines Photography (aka me!) helps adventurous couples every step of the way, from planning your big day to capturing all the special moments.
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."
