Looking for a guide on how to elope in Colorado? You’re in the right place! If you’re considering an elopement, the mountains of Summit County and beyond have amazing views and locations for you to get married! You’ll want to follow along for tips on how to make your day great!
So you’re eloping in the rocky mountains of Colorado – congratulations!
While this is the chillest option of all the ways to get married, you inevitably will come upon some roadblocks in the process, as Colorado as many open wild areas and many areas closed for conservation or are being overused and overpopulated! Whether you are doing a microwedding or full elopement of just you and your partner, this guide will take some of the stress out of your day as you plan how you’re going to marry your love!
Step One: Pick a local Colorado Photographer who can help you plan the day!
- We photographers know a thing or two about a timeline. Even if you’re having just a “chill” day in the mountains, you’ll probably have a lot of questions such as: location scouting, when to get ready, travel time to location, if you can have other folks at the location, and of course, when is the best time for beautiful golden hour light? Hiring a photographer who has shot elopements and is familiar with the area will help guide you.
- A local photographer often has more insight into the best locations to get married based on where closures are or where there are overpopulated areas with too many folks. They also have a running list of low-cost permits for specific locations, like Sapphire Point, that offer easier access and sometimes even more exclusivity.
Step Two: Pick a “basecamp” in the area to house you, your partner, any animals, any friends or family who will be apart of your day.
- Whether it’s a place to get ready, a spot for you and your partner to relax, or somewhere to house a bunch of folks, having somewhere to primp and prep is essential! This rules out any getting stuck in traffic to the mountains on the day of (Hello Summit County I-70 traffic on Fridays!) and eases the stress of extra travel in general. There are so many rad spots in the rocky mountains to rent from (like these sweet A-Frames!) and continue the relaxing elopement weekend at!
Step Three: Details – flowers, food, and attire!
- Depending on what you’re going for, you have so many options here! The bulk cost of weddings tends to go towards flowers and food. But when you elope, it’s truly about you and what means the most to your and your partner. Shelby and Aaron chose to have a cookies and champagne picnic. Nothing crazy but meant more to them than a giant cake! And it still looked so rad!
- You can always choose between fake flowers or real ones. If you’re going real there are MANY options to consider, like Garden of Eden florals in Summit County or going to Trader Joe’s on your way up and creating your own bouquet! Fake flowers have also come a long way and make just as great of a bouquet! So you have plenty of options depending on your budget.
- No matter what your day looks like, photographs of your outfits will outlive it all. This is why spending time on making sure you feel amazing in what you’re wearing matters! This also includes the little details like your rings, shoes, and any other accessories you may want to have with you (hellooo hiking backpack!). Either way, putting an ounce of attention into the details of your attire are worth it!
Step 4: How Do You Decide on a Elopement Location?
- The list of elopement locations in Colorado is long and expansive – and for good reason, it’s beautiful in Colorado from the Rocky Mountains to the San Juan’s, you have plenty of options. What’s important is deciding what location works for you! Some things to decide:
- Do you want accessibility that is an easy walk? Do you want to hike in? Do you want to 4×4 in?
- Do you want mountains, lakes, trees? So many locations come with variations of all three!
- Will you have guests? Do you need space for guests to sit/stand? Do you need chairs?
- Many of these questions can be worked through with a simple call with your photographer. Generally, not every location can accommodate all needs, so having some sort of idea of these details is ultra important! Not to fear though, we got you covered!
No matter what you choose for your elopement, having a photography & videography team that is willing to help you plan and execute your day is essential! Reach out to us today so we can make your Elopement Dreams come true!
