A step-by-step guide on how to elope in Colorado, with everything from how to find the right photographer for you, picking a date, choosing an epic location, booking your dream vendor team, getting your marriage license, and having the Colorado elopement of your dreams.
You want to elope in Colorado. I did the same thing, fourteen years ago. Since then, I’ve planned and photographed almost 300 elopements and micro weddings across the Rocky Mountains, and learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way that I’m excited to share with you here.
Why elope in Colorado?
As elopements have grown exponentially since I photographed my first one in 2017, Colorado has become a hot spot for couples who want to elope in the Rocky Mountains. While the stunning views are a big part of the appeal, Colorado also stands out from other mountain states like Montana, Idaho, and Washington in that we’re the only state where you can legally get married without an officiant or witnesses.
I’m obviously biased as a local photographer (I’ve never lived outside of Boulder County in the US), but I think Colorado is the perfect place to elope for down to earth couples who want an adventure in the mountains. With thousands of miles of hiking and off-roading trails, as well as incredible views right off the side of paved roads, you’re bound to find a landscape you love in Colorado. Nowhere else in the United States can you drive a car up to the 14,000ft summit of a mountain—and in Colorado you can drive up two! (Mount Blue Sky and Pikes Peak.)
Colorado is also a great destination in winter (my favorite time of year here). While New York and Michigan technically has more ski areas, I think we all can agree that Colorado’s 34 resorts which include famous mountains like Vail, Aspen, Steamboat, and Telluride, are straight up better. Ski and snowboarding elopements have been getting more popular in the past years, but you also have endless opportunities for winter recreation off the slopes, from snowshoeing or snowmobiling to renting a private snow cat or taking a sleigh ride through the woods.
How to legally elope in Colorado
Colorado is the only state where you don’t need an officiant or witnesses to legally wed. So if you’ve been dreaming about a private elopement for just the two of you, Colorado is the way to go!
Colorado allows you to self-solemnize your marriage, which means that you and your partner can legally marry yourselves by exchanging an intent to wed (aka your vows) and signing your own marriage license, without an ordained officiant to lead your ceremony.
What does this mean in practice? It means that you don’t have to hire an officiant for your ceremony, which opens up a whole new set of options for locations. Want to exchange your vows at an alpine lake at sunrise? You don’t need to pay someone for the whole four-hour hike just to lead a half hour ceremony. You can of course still hire an officiant if you want, and many couples do—especially when having a ceremony with guests—but it’s not required. Many of my couples who have guests at their elopement choose to invite a friend or family member to lead the ceremony, which often feels more personal than hiring a stranger.
You can get your marriage license from any county in Colorado, regardless of where you’ll actually be doing your ceremony. Every county has slightly different procedures for getting your license, but most allow you to submit an application online in advance, then make an appointment to pick up your license in person. Some of the smaller counties also allow walk-ins. As your photographer, I’ll send you all the relevant information for getting your license close to where you’re staying.
In order to get your marriage license in Colorado, you need to bring:
- ID (driver’s license or passport)
- Social security numbers
- $30 fee (payable in cash, check, or credit card)
There’s no waiting period on marriage licenses in Colorado, so you can get married the same day as you apply for your license. But if you’re traveling in from out of state, I highly recommend that you arrive in Colorado at least two days before you plan to elope, so that you can adjust to the altitude before your wedding day, and pick up the marriage license at least a day before your adventure. Waiting in line at a county clerk’s office is not the most romantic way to start your elopement.
You can get your license at any Colorado county clerk’s office, even if it’s not the same county as the one where you’re eloping. Most offices are open 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, but some counties have limited in-person hours, and others require you to make an appointment. You can’t apply for the marriage license online, but you can fill out parts of your application online, then complete it in person.
After your elopement, you can return the license by dropping it off in person where you got it, or mail it in to have it officially recorded, then they’ll mail you back the license for you to keep. If you’re planning on changing your name or applying for a green card, order a couple of extra copies of the license—they come in handy!
Your dog can sign your marriage license
One of my favorite quirks of eloping in Colorado is that your dog can sign your marriage license as your witness with their paw print. Since you don’t actually need witnesses here, the “witness signature” box on your marriage license is completely optional, and many couples choose to include their pet in this way. It’s not limited to dogs—I’ve also photographed a cat witness! Just grab a stamp pad and some wet wipes to make sure you don’t get ink all over your outfits after your pet has “signed” the license, or buy a clean touch inkpad like these. (Do a practice run on a blank piece of paper before your elopement!)
Arapahoe County, El Paso County, and the City and County of Denver no longer allow dogs to sign marriage licenses. To be safe, always ask the county where you apply for your license whether your dog can sign as your witness. The bigger the paw, the more likely it is to cover up important information on the license, and as such it could get rejected.
A safe state for LGBTQIA+ elopements
Colorado is considered one of the safest places in the United States for LGBTQIA+ couples. In 2024, we voted to enshrine same-sex marriage into the state constitution, so even if (ugh don’t get me started) Obergefell v. Hodges should get overturned by the Supreme Court, you’ll always be legally married in Colorado. While there are still conservative parts of Colorado, it’s an overwhelmingly supportive place. As a queer elopement photographer myself, I make sure that all vendors and venues I recommend to my clients are vetted as inclusive.
Elopement planning checklist
1. Brainstorm
Before you book anything, really take the time to dream up your best day ever. Think about what you want the day to feel like; whether that’s hanging out around a campfire with your closest friends or escaping into the wilderness, just the two of you.
What do you two love doing together? If you’d never go hiking on vacation, there’s nothing saying you need to hike on your elopement day either. Maybe renting a boat to cruise around an alpine lake, skiing at your favorite resort, or spending the day glamping in the desert sounds more fun to you. Picture how you’re spending the whole day, and not just the moment you exchange your vows.
If you’re planning on including guests in your elopement, now’s a good time to work on a tentative guest list. The fewer guests you include, the more options you’ll have to choose from for your location. Try to keep your group size to under 15 people total, including yourselves and your photographer, if you imagine eloping in the wilderness without paying for a permit. Once your group size gets larger, you’ll likely need to book a ceremony site, vacation rental, or small venue.
2. Find your photographer
Your photographer will be more heavily involved with planning your elopement than any other vendors, so get them on board first! Start with searching Google for photographers, or browse hashtags like #coloradoelopement on Instagram. Look through a lot of website—enough to really get a feel for what kind of photos you do or don’t like. Then reach out to your favorite 1-3 photographers to schedule a call.
It’s super important to find a photographer you’re genuinely excited to spend the day with, so trust your gut feeling here! And don’t be afraid to contact multiple photographers—the person with the most instagram followers or who you found first on Google might not be the one you connect best with on a video call.
I also cannot emphasize enough how important it is to book someone who’s local, or at a minimum experienced in traveling to and working in Colorado. I frequently see locations close for everything from avalanche conditions to wildfires to late snow melt, so being able to quickly pull together a plan B or C is crucial.
3. Set a date for your elopement
You might already have a date or month in mind, but many of my couples are completely open on exactly when they elope when they first contact me. And I love that, because it helps me guide you towards a date where you’ll be able to have the kind of location and weather that you’re excited about.
I’m personally quite partial to winter elopements (I eloped in February myself), but Mid-June through mid-October are the most popular months to elope in Colorado. This is when you’ll have the most locations to choose from, as the trails and mountain passes are free of snow. Wildflowers are usually at their peak in July, and the aspens change color in late September—but the exact timing varies from year to year.
For the best experience on your big day, please consider a weekday elopement. It makes a big difference in traffic, trailhead parking, crowded trails, and even vendor availability. I have a whole post on why you should elope on a weekday here.
For a month-by-month breakdown with much more detail and example galleries, check out my post on the best time to elope in Colorado.
4. Choose your elopement location
Once you’ve booked your photographer, you should be working together on finding your dream location(s). For a full breakdown of every mountain town in Colorado and what makes them great, along with gallery examples from real elopements, check out my blog post on the best places to elope in Colorado.
If you want to start searching for locations on your own, make sure that you also research Special Use permits and fees, as these can be hard to find and are often buried in legalese on land management websites.
Most of us locals are protective of our favorite elopement locations, and don’t share specific trail names or details online for fear of them going viral. As a certified Leave No Trace Aware Photographer, it’s important to me that we leave these places as untouched by our impact as possible.
If you book me as your photographer, I’ll create a personalized location guide for you with all of my favorite places that fit exactly the experience that you want from your elopement.
5. Book your travel to Colorado
Once you’ve chosen an elopement location, it’s time to book your lodging and any other travel you need to get there. I’ll help you with recommendations on where to stay that’s both convenient for your elopement location(s) and that fits the vibe you want, whether that’s a boutique hotel in a cute mountain town or a backcountry cabin away from people.
Book your lodging early, as it’s rare for prices to drop on shorter notice here. Many mountain towns, especially during ski season and on weekends in summer, will start selling out of rooms and jacking up prices because they can get away with it.
If you’re flying into Denver International Airport, you’ll need a rental car almost no matter where you’re eloping. Spend a little extra and get a car with 4WD! If you’re traveling into the mountains, you won’t regret it.
6. Book your elopement vendor dream team
Once you’ve decided on a location, it’s time to book any other local vendors you need, like a hair and makeup artist, florist, off-roading tour guide, private chef, or cake baker.
You might think that wedding vendors and elopement vendors are the same thing, but many traditional wedding vendors have high minimum spends that can only be reached with a big guest list.
If your plans involve guests and a venue, you might also want a wedding planner who can coordinate rentals, set up the space, and coordinate everything on the day of your elopement.
I will of course help my couples with specific recommendations for what you need—and as mentioned earlier, all my referrals are vetted as LGBTQIA+ inclusive businesses.
7. Purchase your elopement attire and gear
Really think about how you’ll be spending your elopement day before purchasing your wedding attire. Will you be comfortable wearing this outfit for 8-12 hours straight? Can you sit down on a picnic blanket—and get back up again? Will you be warm enough if we’re outside before sunrise or after sunset?
If we’re hiking at all, you’ll need footwear with good tread. Keeping your feet warm, dry, and comfortable goes a long way towards enjoying nature no matter the weather.
Colorado weather is unpredictable. Even if it’s 90-100° in Denver in summer, it can get down to the low 40°s at high elevations, and wind chill can make it feel colder. Always bring a jacket or other layers to stay warm. You can also get nude fleece-lined leggings to go under your dress.
Wondering what gear you’ll need to elope in Colorado? I’ve put together a big post with all my favorite elopement gear, from hiking boots and backpacks to headlamps and winter traction.
8. Plan your ceremony, details, and activities
Whether you’re eloping alone or with guests, your ceremony is the most important part of your elopement day. Spend some time brainstorming ideas for how to make it special. Agree on how long your vows should be so they’re not disproportionately different. Incorporate your favorite music, or a reading, or an inside joke that’ll make your partner crack up. I have a full guide on how to plan your ceremony and write your vows that I share with all my couples.
What foods and beverages would make the day special for you? I’ve seen couples eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches they made that morning, go wild at the Whole Foods cheese counter for a charcuterie picnic, and hire a private chef to cook a seven course meal at their vacation rental. Your tastebuds (and budget) are the only limits here.
Wondering what you’re doing to do all day? I have a guide to elopement activities here. Don’t forget about vow books and any other little details that can help make the day feel personalized to you. I have a whole guide to elopement details here.
9. It’s your elopement day!
This is what we’re here for. You’re done planning, it’s time to elope!
I know it can feel overwhelming to have a whole planning checklist laid out like this, but I want you to think about the process as if you’re planning your dream vacation to Colorado—and you just happen to be getting married while you’re here.
And if we’re working together, I’ll (virtually) hold your hand through the whole thing, so that you can focus on making the day your own rather than stressing about whether you’re forgetting something important.
What’s the cost of eloping in Colorado?
The only required cost to elope in Colorado is the $30 fee for the marriage license. Anything beyond that is up to you!
Some couples want a simple elopement package with photographer, officiant, and florist all included in one price, and this is by far the cheapest way to go. But you don’t have much control over the vendors you end up working with when going that route, as these big companies often depend on cold-messaging local vendors to hire contractors at $100/hour. You’ll get a more personalized experience by booking your vendors individually, so that you can get exactly who you want. Start with a photographer, and I’ll help with recommendations for any other vendors you need.
But I’m sure you’d like some real examples, so that you can plan out your own elopement budget. I’m going to show two different examples of different price points, without including travel costs for getting to Colorado since those vary too much depending on where you’re based. I’m also not including the cost of attire, as there’s such a huge range on how much you can spend here. Neither of these examples include any costs related to inviting guests, which can add up quickly with accommodations, meals, drinks, and permit fees or venue rentals.
NOTE: These budgets are only meant as examples based on my experience with local vendors, and are in no way meant as an actual quote on specific services. As with a traditional wedding, you can spend as much or little as you want.
Luxury elopement budget
$30 – Marriage license
$3,500 – 3 nights at a high-end resort
$11,000 – Photographer for 12 hours
$900 – Private chef
$1200 – Half-day Jeep tour
$850 – Bouquet and boutonniere + florals for dinner
$1150 – Hair and makeup on location
Total elopement price: ~ $18,630
Affordable elopement budget
$30 – Marriage license
$650 – 3 nights at a simple cabin
$5,500 – Photographer for 4 hours
$200 – Restaurant dinner & drinks
$250 – Bouquet and boutonniere
$300 – Hair and makeup at salon
Total elopement price: ~ $6,930
To put these numbers into perspective, the average cost of a wedding in Colorado is around $32,000, and the average cost of a reception venue is around $8,000. Why not skip all that, and instead spend a fraction of the price on a day that’s truly unique and meaningful to you?
Looking for Colorado elopement collections? You can see my full elopement photography prices here. Wondering how much time you need with your photographer? I have a post on elopement timelines here.
Colorado elopement galleries
Want to see what all this planning looks like in action? Check out the highlight galleries from some of the 280+ elopements I’ve photographed in the Colorado mountains over the past nine years. But remember, part of the joy of eloping is that you get to customize the whole experience and make it your own, rather than copying exactly what someone else has already done!
Think I might be the right elopement photographer for you?
If you’re interested in having me help you plan and capture your elopement in the Colorado mountains, I’d love to get to know you better. Check out my elopement pricing, then contact me to schedule a video call so we can make sure we’re a good fit!
