You’re eloping, which means you make really, really good life choices. Congratulations to you. Happy dances. Pats on the back. All that jazz. Now that you’ve adequately celebrated your brilliance, what’s next?

Finding the perfect location for your Colorado elopement might just be the second most important thing you do during this process – the first is getting engaged to your favorite person, of course! You’ve checked that first box. Now it’s time to check the second.

One of the most amazing things Colorado has to offer is the diversity in landscape and location options. Whether you’re looking for snow-capped mountains, and urban landscape, desert oasis or red rocks, there’s something for you. And the best part about eloping is that you can get married wherever and whenever you want. No wait lists for venue reservations or capacity issues, it’s just you and your hand-picked spot.

Narrowing it Down:

• First things first, spend some time thinking about the type of landscape that inspires awe in your heart. Are you truly at home near water? Do mountains make your soul sing? Does a hip, urban elopement feel more your style? Deciding on your general aesthetic and vibe will help get the ball rolling towards some more specific location options.
• Second, start to think about how you want your elopement to go. If we asked you to dream up your idea of a perfect day together, what would that look like? Are you ok with crowds, or is privacy and isolation a top priority? Will it be just the two of you, or are a handful of family and friends invited? Does anyone attending have any mobility concerns? Answering some of these questions will guide you towards locations that will be amenable to the activities and plans that feel really important to you as a couple.
• Legalities and permits are all really, really important when it comes to choosing your elopement spot. Many locations on federal land (like National Parks and Forests) and state land require an advanced permit for ceremony use, so make sure to give them a call and have all of your required paperwork filled out and filed.
• The seasons in Colorado are beautiful and can be relatively extreme, so weather takes the last spot on our “things to consider when narrowing down your location” list. If you’re eloping in June and you your heart set on snow, you’re going to want to search for some high alpine locations. If you’re eloping in December and you are hoping to have your ceremony in Rocky Mountain National Park you’ll need to know which parts of the park are open during the winter season.

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Some of Our Favorite Spots:

It can be helpful to have some specific location ideas and visual inspiration to start with when thinking about locations. Here are some of our favorite places we’ve helped couples find for their elopements:

Flying Dog Ranch in Carbondale, Colorado: We love that this spot has such beautiful mountain views and lush greenery. Oh, and a lake. That’s basically the scenery trifecta, right?!

Roxborough State Park: If you love red rocks, this park will not disappoint. The platform where some ceremonies occur is surrounded on all sides by these giant, beautiful rock formations. You just have to get a special activities agreement and then you’re good to go.

Vail, Colorado: When you ride a Gondola up to your ceremony site you can rest assured that the mountain views wont quit. We love Vail for the sweeping vistas and the beautiful colors in the sky. We also love that it’s only about 2 hours away from Denver.

Sunrise Amphitheater, Boulder: This beautiful little spot, managed by the city of Boulder, is perfect for couples who need a place that can accommodate some guests. It’s got a great ceremony space and some amazing views of the flat irons.

Union Station, Denver: This might be the most quintessential Denver landmark, and for good reason. Union Station is beautiful, and there are some amazing spots inside for post-ceremony drinks and mingling. There are also some top rated restaurants within walking distance for couples who are looking to have a nice meal after their elopement.

Telluride, Colorado: Oh Telluride, we totally understand why Tim McGraw sings about you. This exceptionally beautiful location has so much to offer – not the least of which is it’s relatively remote and off the beaten path. Telluride is the perfect location for those of you looking to escape for your elopement.

Winter Park, Colorado: Winter park is such a beautiful location for an elopement. The thing that we love about this little gem of a town is that it has a really unique laid back vibe. There are a TON of cabin rentals with beautiful back yards for a ceremony as well as the option to go up the mountain.

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We consider it part of our job to partner with our couples in choosing a location that is perfect for them. We can do some of the heavy lifting on researching permit requirements, too. If you need some extra help, we’re here for you! Shoot us an e-mail and let’s be friends.