Colorado is one of the most magical places in the US. Its natural beauty, charming towns, and unique experiences make it one of the best places for a wedding. In this guide, I’ll discuss how to get married in Colorado.
Not only did I get married in Colorado, but I’ve also helped over a hundred couples plan and photograph their special day! Below, I’ll share how to legally get married, the best places for a wedding, and answers to common questions.
Why Get Married in Colorado
As a wedding and elopement photographer, Colorado is easily one of my favorite places to join couples for their weddings! Whether you’re a Colorado local or planning a destination wedding, there are so many amazing reasons to get married in Colorado.
- Beautiful locations – There are endless places in Colorado to get married, whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor venues. It’s easy to say, “I do,” in your dream setting with so many options, whether it’s in the mountains, next to a waterfall, or in a unique indoor location.
- Self-solemnization – Colorado is one of the only US states where you can self-solemnize your marriage. This means you can have a legal marriage without any witnesses or a wedding officiant, which is perfect if you want to have a just-us elopement.
- Pet-friendliness – There are countless outdoor wedding venues in Colorado, many of which let you bring your pet along. Colorado is one of the best places for a dog-friendly elopement or wedding, and because you can self-solemnize, many couples have their dog sign their marriage license.
- Budget-friendly – If you’re planning an affordable wedding, there are so many stunning places to get married or elope on a budget in Colorado. Crested Butte is my favorite place in Colorado for a free or low-cost ceremony and 360-degree mountain views!
- Fun experiences – With so many fun things to do in Colorado, it’s easy to make new memories to begin this next chapter with your love. Whether you like spending time outdoors, enjoying delicious food and drinks, or exploring cute downtown areas, there’s so much to see and do in Colorado.
What is required to get married in Colorado?
One of the best parts of getting married in Colorado is how easy it is, whether you’re a resident or not. You’ll apply online to get your marriage license, then go to any Colorado County Clerk’s Office to pay for and receive your license.
The marriage license application is for the entire state, so you can receive your license in any Colorado county, no matter where you’re having your wedding.
To get your Colorado marriage license, you’ll need the following documents:
- A valid form of identification (e.g., driver’s license, military ID, passport, etc.)
- Birth certificate if your ID doesn’t show your date of birth
- Proof of divorce or being widowed, if applicable
You can have your wedding within 1 to 35 days of receiving your marriage license. You may get married in front of a judge, through a religious ceremony, or self-solemnization.
Where to Get Married in Colorado
With so many unique options, you can have any type of wedding in Colorado – small, large, outdoors, or indoors. Exchange your vows in a quaint mountain town, an adventurous park, or a stunning indoor venue. The options are endless!
Boulder
Boulder is a city in the mountains in north central Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It’s the perfect place to get married in Colorado if you like a mix of nature and city life.
Whether you’re planning a Boulder elopement or wedding, there are so many options for a memorable experience.
Some of the best places in Boulder to get married are:
- Chautauqua Park – A historic, preserved park dating back to the late 1800s, ideal for a scenic outdoor wedding
- Eldorado Canyon State Park – A pet-friendly park surrounded by sandstone cliff, with many activities to enjoy, including picnicking, rock climbing, hiking, and winter sports
- Brainard Lake – A recreation area with over 20 hiking trails and an easily accessible lake for a lakeside wedding ceremony
- Halfway House – A small trail with an enclosed stone structure for an intimate wedding ceremony
- Lost Gulch Overlook – A stunning lookout point that you can easily get to, perfect for a sunrise or sunset wedding
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is in northern Colorado, along the Continental Divide. Its protected mountains, forests, and alpine tundra make it one of the best places for an outdoor wedding in Colorado.
I’ve joined several couples for their Rocky Mountain National Park wedding or elopement, and every experience is magical. The entire park is stunning, with 12 beautiful ceremony sites for up to 30 guests and endless places to take photos.
If you want to have a traditional ceremony at the park, you’ll need to plan in advance since there are limited permits. You can apply for your permit up to a year in advance.
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in the state and is about an hour south of Denver. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, with mountain scenery, massive rock formations, waterfalls, and lush forests.
There are many beautiful places to get married or elope in Colorado Springs, including:
- Pikes Peak – One of the highest summits in the Rocky Mountains, which you can hike, drive, or take a Jeep tour to
- Hillside Gardens – An indoor and outdoor wedding venue in the mountains
- Paint Mines Interpretive Park – A hidden gem park with unique rock formations and various hiking trails
- Garden of the Gods – A park and National Natural Landmark with huge red rock formations and several easily accessible places to have your ceremony
Ouray
If you want to have a romantic mountain getaway for your wedding, Ouray is the perfect destination. Ouray is in southwest Colorado, and it’s one of my favorite mountain towns.
Ouray is off the beaten path but has plenty to see and do, from outdoor adventures to a cute Downtown area. There are also year-round hot springs and stunning San Juan Mountains views.
There are many amazing places to have a Ouray wedding, including:
- Cascade Falls Park – A pet-friendly park with a short hike to a waterfall
- Adventurous 4×4 locations – A Jeep tour adventure can take you to a unique place for your wedding and cool photos
- Beaumont Hotel & Spa – A charming boutique hotel in Downtown Ouray
Crested Butte
Crested Butte is also in southwest Colorado. It has endless mountain scenery, colorful wildflowers during summer, and fun activities year-round.
There are also many incredible places for a Crested Butte elopement or wedding ceremony, including:
- Town Ranch – A beautiful outdoor venue surrounded by mountain views with a ceremony and reception for up to 200 guests
- Ten Peaks – A gorgeous ski resort with on-site accommodations and on-site catering for your reception
- Gunnison National Forest – A unique area ideal for an adventurous elopement
There are also many hidden gems that photographers like myself like to keep secret to prevent overpopulation. Contact me to find your perfect spot!
How to Get Married in Colorado: FAQs
Learn more about getting married in Colorado with answers to common questions.
Can you get married the same day you get your marriage license in Colorado?
In Colorado, you can get married as soon as you get your marriage license. Simply go to any local County Clerk’s Office to pay for and receive your license. Then, you have up to 35 days to have your wedding.
Do you need an appointment to get married at the courthouse in Colorado?
Most courthouses in Colorado require an appointment to get married. You can search the local courthouse online to learn more about booking your appointment.
One of the most stress-free and affordable ways to get married in Colorado is to have a courthouse wedding. Then, you can explore the area with your love and take photos together. Contact Among the Pines Photography (that’s me!) for help planning and capturing your perfect wedding day.
How much does an average wedding cost in Colorado?
The average cost of a wedding in Colorado is $25,625. However, the cost of getting married in Colorado can vary greatly, depending on location, time of year, and guest count.
Whether you want to have an affordable elopement or splurge on a fancy wedding, the options are endless.
When’s the best time to get married in Colorado?
The best time to get married in Colorado depends on the experience you’re looking for, whether a winter wonderland, intimate spring, warm summer, or colorful fall wedding.
My favorite time of year for a Colorado wedding is fall because the weather cools off, the crowds die down, and nothing beats the colorful mountainsides with the golden aspen leaves. That said, there are incredible options for a wedding any time of year!
Plan Your Colorado Wedding
I hope you found this article on how to get married in Colorado helpful! I love working with couples to plan their dream wedding or elopement in Colorado. Not only can I take pictures to capture the special moments of your big day, but I also help with the planning process.
My wedding and elopement packages include:
- Initial phone consultation
- Location scouting
- Timeline Planning
- Vendor recommendations
- Access to all-inclusive wedding planning resources
- Custom online gallery with all edited high-resolution images
- 48-hour sneak peek photos
- Rights to printing
- My travel to anywhere in the US
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."
