If you’re planning a Garden of the Gods elopement, look no further! As a Colorado elopement photographer, this is easily one of my favorite locations in Colorado for an elopement or wedding. Below, I’ll share my top planning tips, elopement packages, and answers to common questions to help you have your ideal wedding day.
Can you elope in the Garden of the Gods?
Yes, Garden of the Gods is one of the best places in Colorado to elope. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but there are also no fees or permits required to get married here. There are also many beautiful areas to have your ceremony.
Why Elope at Garden of the Gods
There are many reasons I love capturing wedding ceremonies and adventures at Garden of the Gods:
- Picture-perfect scenery – The setting is unlike any other, with unique rock formations and sweeping mountain views. Its natural beauty is so breathtaking, it’s been named a National Natural Landmark.
- Gorgeous ceremony sites – There are many beautiful locations to explore and six main sites in the park to exchange your elopement vows.
- Easily accessible – Garden of the Gods is conveniently located in Colorado Springs. While it’s a great place to explore and hike, there are many beautiful areas that are easily accessible.
- Adventurous experience – If you’re up for an adventure, you can go hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing.
- Budget-friendly – If you’re planning an affordable elopement, this is the perfect spot. There are no fees to elope and the scenery is free and makes for beautiful decor.
Garden of the Gods Elopement Locations
There are six main locations for an elopement ceremony at Garden of the Gods. They’re all first come, first served basis, so it’s helpful to have a couple in mind in case your first choice is taken when you arrive.
If you’re not inviting guests and simply want to explore the park, find an intimate spot to exchange your vows, and take photos, there are tons of areas to choose from.
We’ll explore the established ceremony locations below.
Jaycee Plaza
Jaycee Plaza is ideal for couples looking for the most accessible location for easy access or to have a few guests join. It’s close to the main parking area and is a flat area that’s easy to get to and navigate. That said, there’s a lot of foot traffic, making it less private than other areas.
While there are impressive red rock formations around Jaycee Plaza, there aren’t sweeping mountain views like you can see throughout most areas of the park.
Three Graces Plaza
Three Graces Plaza is also fairly accessible. It’s backed by towering red rock formations offering a stunning backdrop. You can also climb around the rocks for a fun experience and unique photo ops.
High Point Overlook
High Point Overlook is one of the most popular Garden of the Gods elopement locations. There’s a parking lot nearby for accessibility. It’s also surrounded by red rocks and picturesque views of the mountains.
Although there is space for guests to join you at High Point Overlook, there’s no room for seating.
Sentinel Plaza
Sentinel Plaza is near several hiking trails, so it’s an excellent area for an adventurous elopement experience. That said, there’s often foot traffic nearby, depending on when you have your elopement. Regardless, it’s a gorgeous spot to exchange your vows.
Scotsman Picnic Area
The Scotsman Picnic Area is in the center of the park and a great option if you’re looking for seating at your ceremony location. Although the area isn’t backed by red rocks, you can find lush greenery most of the year and nature trails nearby.
South Spring Canyon Picnic Area
Similar to the Scotsman, South Spring Canyon Area is surrounded by greenery. It’s one of the more secluded areas of the park and offers beautiful mountain scenery.
Tips for Your Garden of the Gods Elopement
Having a dream elopement ceremony at the Garden of the Gods is easy. Here are some helpful tips to ensure you have the best experience ever.
Choose the Perfect Ceremony Location
No matter which location you exchange your vows out, you can’t go wrong. They’re all stunning!
You can’t reserve your elopement location upfront, so I recommend choosing two or three. This allows you to be flexible on your elopement day since the park can get busy. .
Instead of getting married at a designated spot, you can also explore the park on your elopement day and find any spot for your ceremony. This can allow you to truly appreciate its beauty and take advantage of various photo ops.
Want to chat about finding your dream location?
Consider When to Have Your Elopement
Carefully timing your elopement is essential. Garden of the Gods is easily one of Colorado’s most breathtaking locations and about four million people visit each year.
The best time for a Garden of the Gods elopement is a weekday during summer. There are fewer crowds during the week. And from June through August, the warm sun shining on the red rocks is gorgeous.
Fall and spring are also great times to get married, and you can enjoy generally nice weather. I would avoid a winter wedding since snowy rocks can make it difficult to navigate.
Bring Your Pet
If you’re a dog lover like me, Garden of the Gods is the perfect place for a pet-friendly elopement. Pets are welcome throughout the park as long as they’re leashed.
Since there are so many locations, you can spend the day exploring with your dog or access a convenient location that doesn’t require much walking if needed.
Keep Your Guest List Short
If you’re planning an elopement with just you and your love, that’s amazing! I love a just-us elopement experience.
However, if you’re hoping to invite loved ones, I recommend keeping your guest list to 15 people or less. While some sites say you can have up to 50 people, this isn’t practical. Parking at Garden of the Gods is limited. It’s also not easy to access a location that comfortably accommodates too many people.
Go for Minimalism
Although the Garden of the Gods doesn’t allow you to bring in any decor, the picture-perfect scenery is all you need! While you can’t bring decorations or props into the park, chairs are allowed for the elderly or those with a disability.
Add your own touch to your Garden of the Gods elopement without decorations with:
- Clothing and accessories
- A flower bouquet
- Signage
- Vow books
Plan a Reception
If you want to celebrate with loved ones after your elopement ceremony, you can either have a picnic at one of the picnic areas in the park or go somewhere nearby.
I recommend having a reception outside of the park for more space. Downtown Colorado Springs is just a short drive away, and there are several restaurants and bars to have a celebration.
Other Things to Know
Here are a few other essential tips and things to know about your wedding day at Garden of the Gods:
- Leave No Trace: The park follows the Leave No Trace principles to conserve nature. Be sure to dispose of all waste, leave what you find, respect wildlife, and be considerate of others.
- Altitude changes: The park is at a high elevation, so it’s essential to hydrate before and during your elopement.
- Weather: Since Colorado’s weather can be unpredictable, I recommend packing a jacket and umbrella.
- Officiant: One of the best parts of getting married in Colorado is how easy it is with self-solemnization. While you don’t have to have an officiant, I’m ordained and can officiate for you if we work together.
- Marriage license: If you’re planning on legally getting married in Colorado, you can go to a County Clerk’s office with your photo ID and complete the paperwork. If you’re from out of state, you can also do the legal stuff at home to keep things super simple.
- Where to stay: Colorado Springs has many charming hotels and vacation rentals to choose from for your stay.
Garden of the Gods Elopement: FAQs
Make the most of your elopement experience with answers to common questions below.
Do I need a permit to get married at the Garden of the Gods?
You don’t need a permit to get married at Garden of the Gods. It’s truly one of the easiest places and most affordable places to elope.
How much is it to get married at Garden of the Gods?
It doesn’t cost anything to have a ceremony at Garden of the Gods. The only costs to consider are photography, activities, attire, and travel if you’re from out of town.
How long is a Garden of the Gods elopement?
Your elopement can be as short or long as you’d like. While there are many areas you can easily access for a quick elopement, there are also many areas to explore if you want to spend a few hours or the day.
Garden of the Gods Elopement Packages
I love joining couples eloping at Garden of the Gods and have various packages to fit your needs and budget. I offer planning support and photography for multi-day, full-day, and mini elopements.
Each photography package includes:
- An initial phone consultation
- Photography (hours vary depending on package)
- Location scouting, timeline planning, client guides, & vendor recommendations
- A value-packed 100-page Elopement Guide
- Custom online gallery with all edited high-resolution images
- Sneak peek photos
- Rights to printing
Let’s Plan Your Elopement
I hope you found this article helpful and are excited about having the best Garden of the Gods elopement experience! It’s truly a beautiful place to get married with just your partner or a few loved ones.
If you’re ready to start planning and would like my support, let’s chat! I can help you choose the best location, plan your timeline, and answer any questions you may have.
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."
