How to Elope in Colorado: Updated for 2026
Wondering how to elope in Colorado? Then you’re in the right place. Hi, I’m Malachi & I’ve called this state home for nearly 10 years. I’ve spent countless days exploring its trails, scouting locations, & helping couples create elopement days that actually feel like them. This guide covers everything you need to know about eloping in Colorado in 2026.
One of the best things about getting married in Colorado (beyond it’s incredible scenery), is how straightforward the legal side of things is! You don’t need to be a resident, there’s no waiting period, & no officiant or witnesses are required to make your marriage legal. All of this essentially means you can elope with just the two of you.
That said, what most couples really want to know when planning their Colorado elopement is how to find the right locations, figuring out permits & nailing down the timing of their day. That’s where I come in. This guide walks you through the whole process from start to finish, including:
- Legal steps & marriage license info
- Advice for planning your elopement timeline
- Location & season considerations
- Vendors to consider
- Common mistakes to avoid
- …and more!
And, of course, if you have any questions, I’m always just an email away and would love to help you bring your Colorado elopement vision to life!
Let’s dive in!
Is it Legal to Elope in Colorado?
Before diving into the planning process, let’s do a quick overview of what you actually need to legally get married in Colorado. Thankfully, there really isn’t much to it.
All you need is a marriage license from a local courthouse. Colorado is one of the few states that allows self-solemnization, which means no officiant & no witnesses required. You can literally marry yourselves out in the middle of the mountains with no one else around & it’s completely legal!
The one thing to keep in mind with the marriage license is timing. You can pick up your license up to 35 days before your ceremony & you’ll need to return it within 63 days afterward in order for everything to be official. Pretty straightforward overall!
How to Elope in Colorado: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Decide How You Want to Spend Your Day
Before you start choosing a location, picking a date, or building out your timeline, it can be really helpful to take a step back and think about what you actually want your elopement day to feel like.
Maybe that looks like a long hike to a mountain summit, an off-roading adventure down a rugged backroad, a float down a river, or a slow morning followed by a picnic in a wildflower meadow. Maybe you want to spend the entire day outside, exploring as much of Colorado as you can. Or maybe you’d rather keep things simple, soak in the scenery, and have plenty of time to just be together.
There are no wrong answers here. Your elopement doesn’t have to look a certain way just because you’re getting married in Colorado. The beauty of an elopement is that you get to build a day around the two of you, and that starts with figuring out what actually feels like you.
Don’t Just Think About What You Want to Do, Consider How You Want Your Day to Feel
When you’re thinking about how you want your Colorado elopement to look, don’t just focus on what you want to do. Think about how you want to feel while you’re doing it. Do you want to feel adventurous and exhilarated? Peaceful and present? Free, playful, relaxed, or completely immersed in nature?
A few questions worth thinking about:
- Do you want a big adventure, or something a little more laid-back?
- Do you want to spend most of the day hiking and exploring, or would you rather have plenty of time to relax and take it all in?
- What amenities matter to you? Are you happy roughing it, or do you want access to a comfortable cabin, a nice meal, or a cozy place to stay?
- Is this just the two of you, or do you want to include a few close friends or family members?
- Do you picture yourselves watching the sunrise, chasing golden hour, or staying up late to stargaze?
- Are there activities you already love doing together that you could incorporate into your day?
- When you imagine looking back on your elopement years from now, what do you hope you remember most?
Once you have a better idea of how you want your day to feel, the rest of the planning process becomes so much easier. Your location, activities, timeline, and even the season you choose can all be built around creating that experience.
Step 2: Choose a Season & General Area
Once you’ve got a sense of the experience you’re after, the next step is narrowing down where & when you want to get married. Some couples reach out already having a date picked out, while others focus on the location first and then let the season follow. Either way, I’ll be there to help walk you through the process of finding a date and location that match your Colorado elopement vision perfectly!
Seasonal Considerations
Each season in Colorado brings something different.
If you’re dreaming of a high alpine backdrop with wildflowers & clear trails, summer is your sweet spot. Just keep afternoon thunderstorms in mind when building your timeline.
Fall, on the other hand, brings stunning color as the aspens turn gold, while winter is perfect if you want a snow-filled elopement day. The colder months are also a great time to visit the desert, as the temps tend to be more comfortable.
And while spring can be beautiful, it can take a bit more careful planning, since snow tends to linger longer at higher elevations.
Narrowing Down Your Colorado Elopement Location
Beyond the season, there are a few things worth thinking through when narrowing down your location.
Start with the kind of scenery & experience you’re after. Colorado has a huge variety to choose from, including mountain peaks, alpine lakes, & desert landscapes that feel a lot more like Moab than the Rockies. Knowing what draws you in visually makes it a lot easier to narrow things down.
Accessibility is another big one. If you’re including guests, especially those with mobility considerations, a location that’s easy to reach by car is worth prioritizing. Some spots are incredible but require a high clearance vehicle, so make sure you’ve got the right setup before committing.
Lastly, think about how much privacy matters to you. More accessible locations tend to be busier & well-known areas like Rocky Mountain National Park naturally draw a lot of visitors. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a quiet moment, but it does take a little more planning.
If you’re interested in learning more about where you can elopement, check out this guide to 6 of the best places to elope in Colorado.
And if you’re still not sure where to start, that’s completely fine. A lot of couples come to me with just a general idea & we figure out the rest together. Narrowing down the season & location is actually one of my favorite parts of the planning process!
Step 3: Secure Your Marriage License & Any Required Permits
Obtaining Your Marriage License
Getting a marriage license in Colorado is really straightforward. You’ll head to a county courthouse, pay the $30 fee, & you’re good to go. There’s no waiting period, so you can pick it up & get married that same day if you want! A marriage license is valid as long as you pick it up no more than 35 days before your ceremony & drop it off within 63 days. You can visit the Montrose County marriage & civil union webpage for more info.
Witness & Officiant Requirements
Colorado is one of the easiest states in the country to elope in because there are zero witness or officiant requirements. It’s one of the few states where you can self-solemnize, meaning you can marry yourselves.
Most county clerks will even give you a printout, walking you through how to fill everything out, so it’s pretty foolproof. Your kids or even your dog can sign the marriage license, which makes for a super fun & memorable keepsake.
For a full breakdown of the legal side of things, check out my blog on the legal requirements for eloping in Colorado.
Securing any Necessary Location Permits
Colorado is full of incredible public land, & knowing what permits are required for your chosen location is an important part of the planning process.
Most National Park Service-managed lands require a permit to elope, so you’ll want to visit the wedding & ceremony page for whichever park you’re considering. That said, less-visited parks like Black Canyon of the Gunnison tend to be more relaxed about enforcement in my experience, especially if it’s just the two of you.
Forest Service & BLM lands are a lot more flexible & generally don’t require permits for smaller groups, which is one of the reasons I love pointing couples toward western Colorado. & if you’re considering a municipal open space in a city like Denver or Boulder, always check whether a permit is required for photography or ceremonies before making plans.
Sustainability & Leave No Trace
No matter where you elope in Colorado, I recommend getting familiar with the principles of leave no trace. These principles help protect the environment and involve packing out all trash, sticking to established trails, avoiding sensitive areas, & leaving the land better than you found it. It also means being thoughtful about things like florals & choosing options that are native to Colorado or won’t pose an invasive species risk. You can learn more about Leave No Trace & Sustainability here.
Step 4: Book Vendors for Your Colorado Elopement
Once you’ve got a time & place locked in, it’s time to start booking vendors!
My recommendation is to book your photographer first, especially if you have someone specific in mind or you’re planning to elope during peak season. It’s the best way to make sure your first choice is actually available. If you’re working with a wedding planner, I’d get them booked early too, since they can help with a lot of the moving pieces from there.
One tip I think is really important is to keep your vendors in the loop about what your day actually looks like. If you’re taking your bouquet on a long hike, tell your florist so they can steer you toward flowers that’ll hold up. If there’s a chance it’ll be windy or you might work up a sweat, let your hair & makeup artist know so they can prep accordingly. The more your vendors understand about the experience you’re planning, the better they can show up for you on the day.
Step 5: Plan Travel, Lodging, & Rental Car Logistics Needed to Elope in Colorado
When you get to this stage of planning your Colorado elopement, it starts feeling really real! This is the stage where you sort out travel & all the other logistics needed to make it happen.
Where to Fly
The best airport depends on where you’re planning to elope. If you’re heading to the Front Range, Breckenridge, or Vail, Denver International Airport is your easiest option. Flights are plentiful & generally pretty affordable.
If you’re visiting the San Juans or the Colorado Desert, flying into Montrose Regional Airport or Grand Junction Regional Airport will save you a lot of driving time.
Lodging & Rental Car Considerations
For lodging, I recommend locking in your elopement location first & then finding somewhere to stay nearby. It minimizes driving time (which can take longer when navigating mountain roads), and allow you to spend more of your day adventuring or simply enjoying your time together.
For rental cars, one of my biggest tips is to think about whether any off-roading is part of your plan. If so, make sure your rental policy actually allows it. A good workaround is renting a standard car for most of the trip & adding a Jeep rental just for the days you need it.
Step 6: Build Out the Rest of Your Colorado Elopement
This is one of the most fun parts of the whole planning process. It’s when everything starts to take shape & your day actually begins to feel that much more real.
What to Include in Your Colorado Elopement Day
One of the best things about eloping is that it has no set format. That said, having a good timeline makes a big difference in keeping everything flowing smoothly & your day feeling relaxed rather than rushed. Most couples include some version of:
- Getting ready, whether at an Airbnb, a trailhead, or a campsite
- A ceremony in a beautiful location
- A fun adventure activity
- Portraits
- A still moment to just be present & take it all in
A quick note on guests: even if you’re including people in your day, I always recommend carving out time for just the two of you. That might look like having guests join for the ceremony & a picnic, then heading off on your own adventure to close things out.
To learn more about what an elopement day (or days) can actually look like, check out my elopement timeline blog!
Activities to Add to Your Elopement Day
When it comes to choosing your elopement activities, you really can do just about whatever you want. Colorado is incredible for all kinds of outdoor adventures, including:
- Hiking
- Off-roading
- Paddleboarding
- Mountain biking
- Skiing & snowboarding
- Picnicking in a meadow
- Riding a mountain gondola
- Viewing wildflowers
- Horsebackriding
- …and that’s just the start!
One thing worth pointing out is that outside of the major metro areas & well-known towns like Aspen or Telluride, Colorado isn’t big on nightlife. So if that’s important to you, just plan accordingly!
Step 7: Elope in Colorado & Soak it All In!
This is the part you’ve been waiting for. After all the planning, dreaming, and decision-making, your Colorado elopement day is finally here! And now is the time to let yourself be there for it.
You don’t need to worry about whether every moment is going according to plan or whether you’re doing enough. You’ve already put so much thought into creating a day that feels like the two of you, so give yourself permission to slow down, take a deep breath, and actually experience it.
Take the time to look around. Notice the way the light hits the mountains. Laugh when things don’t go exactly as expected. Stop for a snack when you’re hungry. Hold hands while you’re walking down the trail. Let yourselves get a little lost in the moment. The little things will become part of the story, too and are often the ones that make your elopement feel like yours.
And if you’re looking for more ways to make your day feel personal, check out my guide to elopement ideas & how to make your elopement special for even more inspiration!
Common Mistakes When Eloping in Colorado
Colorado is a wild & rugged place & it’s easy to underestimate just how much that affects your planning. Here are some of the most common mistakes I see couples make.
Underestimating Elevation
The first is underestimating elevation. A lot of Colorado sits above a mile high, & towns like Telluride are pushing 9,000 feet. If you’re coming from sea level or lower elevations, build in a few days to acclimate before your big day, especially if you’re planning anything physically demanding.
Not Accounting for Seasonal Changes
The second is misreading the seasons. The mountains don’t fully melt out until mid-June at the earliest, & wildflowers follow later than most people expect. If you’re planning around specific scenery, make sure you’ve done your research on timing for that specific area & elevation.
Overpacking Your Timeline
Third, don’t overpack your timeline. Weather, winding mountain roads, trail conditions, and simply taking the time to enjoy the places you’ve traveled to can all add a little extra time to your day. Building in plenty of breathing room allows you to move at a relaxed pace, soak in the experience, and enjoy this day you’ve spent so much time planning.
Choosing a Location Based on Photos Only
Finally, don’t choose a location based on photos alone. A spot might look incredible online, but that photo doesn’t always tell you what it takes to actually get there. Some locations have complicated permit requirements, limited access, seasonal road closures, or require a longer hike than you might expect.
Before you fall in love with a location, take a little time to think through the full experience of getting there and spending your day there. As a local Colorado elopement photographer, this is one of the things I’m always happy to help you navigate when we start planning together. I’ll help you look beyond the pretty photos and make sure the location actually makes sense for the kind of elopement experience you want to have.
Why Work With a Local Colorado Elopement Photographer?
When it comes to eloping in Colorado, working with a local photographer (like me!) can make a really big difference.
Local experience is something you simply can’t replicate. I’m out here almost every day of the year experiencing the weather, the elevation, the hidden gems, & the not-so-hidden ones firsthand. That means I can guide you toward a location that’s actually right for your day, not just a pretty spot that’s popular on Instagram.
A local photographer also brings permit knowledge & logistical awareness that someone from outside the area just won’t have. I know what processes are required for specific locations & can help make sure nothing catches you off guard. I also have vendor recommendations tailored to different regions & different kinds of elopement days, so you’re not starting from scratch on that front either.
Lastly, when something unexpected comes up & it sometimes does, whether that’s weather or a closed mountain road, a local photographer can pivot quickly. Knowing the land means knowing the backup plan, & that’s a pretty valuable thing to have in your corner on your elopement day.
How to Elope in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need witnesses to elope in Colorado?
Nope! Colorado is one of the few states that allows self-solemnization, meaning you & your partner can marry yourselves without an officiant or witnesses present. Just let the county clerk know you’re self-solemnizing when you pick up your marriage license & they’ll walk you through the whole thing. Easy peasy!
Can you just show up & elope in Colorado?
Technically, yes, but it depends on where you’re planning to go. Forest Service & BLM lands don’t require permits for smaller groups, which makes a spontaneous elopement pretty doable. National Parks are stricter & typically require a special use permit, so those take a little more advance planning.
How much does it cost to elope in Colorado?
The range is wide, anywhere from a $5,000 to $15,000 to elope in Colorado, depending on how many vendors & guests you’re including & the kind of experience you want.
Photography typically runs in the $3,000 to $8,000 range. While that can feel like a lot for some, I’d encourage you to think of it as an investment. It’s one of the few things you actually get to keep after your day, a way to hold onto all the feelings & moments that made it special!
Guests are another big cost driver since you’ll need to account for things like food & potentially lodging. Travel & lodging can also vary a lot depending on whether you’re flying or driving & whether you’re staying in a luxury Airbnb or camping. If it’s just the two of you, eloping can feel a lot more affordable.
How far in advance should you plan a Colorado elopement?
I’ve had couples reach out just two days before, so last-minute is absolutely doable. That said, planning around a year to 18 months out gives you the most options. The earlier you reach out, the more time we have to nail down things like locations, vendors, & lodging together.
Can you elope in Colorado in winter?
Absolutely! Snow is almost guaranteed in the mountains, which is beautiful if you’re after that snow globe feel. Weather can be unpredictable, though, so plan accordingly. If you want something a little milder, Colorado’s desert region near the Utah border is a great winter option. Comfortable temps & stunning scenery without the weather uncertainty.
And that’s a wrap on how to elope in Colorado!
Colorado really is an incredible place to elope. Between the breathtaking mountain landscapes, endless opportunities for adventure, and the freedom to create a day that feels completely your own, it’s a place where you can build an elopement around the experience you actually want to have.
Whether you’re dreaming of hiking to a mountain lake, exploring a remote stretch of wilderness, celebrating with a few of your favorite people, or keeping things simple with just the two of you, Colorado gives you lots of room to make your wedding day your own.
The most important thing is to remember that your elopement doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Choose the places, people, and experiences that feel meaningful to you, and you’ll end up with a day that’s far more memorable than simply checking all the traditional wedding boxes.
I hope this guide gave you a helpful place to start. And if you’re ready to start dreaming up your own Colorado elopement, I’d love to help you bring it to life!
