In today’s culture, many are choosing alternative routes to marriage or non-traditional celebrations as elopements and micro-weddings are gaining popularity. The shift from traditional wedding extravaganzas is adapting to more intimate celebrations and locations as well as celebrating the couple and their uniqueness, rather than inviting all of your parents’ friends out of obligation. When Ken and I got married, 10 years ago (literally, June 28th) we had a small destination wedding in Key West, FL with a party the following month in my hometown to celebrate. My friends and family were surprised, since many predicted I’d elope, being more interested in the honeymoon/travel side of the wedding than the traditional ceremony & reception part. We were in Key West, at the beautiful Pier House Resort and Spa, so it was a destination wedding and honeymoon all in one long weekend.
Why Get Married in Colorado?
Colorado is becoming a popular state for elopements and micro-weddings (very small wedding, 10-12 guests) due to the combination of beautiful scenery, alpine location and adventurous activities Colorado has to offer. Let’s be honest, wedding photos and videos will always be amazing with Colorado as the backdrop. In addition, Colorado has very simple laws regarding marriage. What attracts many is that Colorado does not require any officiant or witness, called “self-solemnization” and simple marriage license requirements. There is no waiting period for the marriage license, so you can get your license and get married all on the same day, although that is not recommended. You do need to use the license within 30 days and submit it for recording within 63 days, signed (otherwise you’re not legally married). Colorado even has virtual appointments with the Office of the Clerk and Recorder to make marriage as accessible as possible in Colorado.
Many people still have an officiant for their ceremony and it does make being the couple marrying a little easier by having someone organize and structure the wedding. However, many couples are attracted to the idea of getting married while having an adventure like hiking to a secret location, marrying on top of a mountain or even climbing a cliff. Whatever you can dream up, Colorado can offer… except tropical! Use Colorado and its beautiful scenic locations as the backdrop to your nuptials, whether it’s just the two of you or an intimate group of friends and family. These same settings and locations are great for proposals and vow renewal ceremonies too.
First, before considering all Colorado locations consider your wedding vision. Do you want a true mountain resort, with views from the side of the mountain or more of a view of mountains in the background? Consider locations that overlook mountain vistas, in a mountain chain or national park for great backgrounds. It makes the accessibility easier, the travel distance less and the photos beautiful from every direction. Does the couple have a specific mountain town or location that is special to them in mind? Another consideration, planning a private elopement just for two really can make any location you can hike, climb or drive to an option. Alternatively, a destination or micro wedding might demand a location with facilities or shelter at a minimum to preserve nature. Please remember, in Colorado we promote leaving no trace so that our beautiful forests will be here for generations to come.
Weather and season considerations are the biggest piece of having a Colorado elopement or wedding. No season is off limits, but locations are drastically different around the state and at different altitudes. Colorado weather conditions are not to be ignored! There is a saying about Colorado, “The winter brings people to Colorado, but the summer keeps them coming back!” When people think of Colorado, they think of skiing in the winter and snow-capped mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park, but summer and early fall are the most popular times of year to elope in Colorado. The Colorado winters are long and the spring weather makes for lots of muddy trails and stormy afternoons. The first summer we visited Colorado as a family we were in Vail at the end of June and our Florida kids got to see their first snow fall! It is typical to have snow through May, so if that is not part of your vision you will want to plan for July and August. Summer is when the daylight is longest and the epic sunsets are late in the evening with a beautifully long golden hour. Be sure to talk to your photographer about the best times of day for photos in your exact location, sometimes mountain towns are dark earlier than sunset due to geography and location. Summer is by far the most beautiful season that Colorado has to offer its brides and grooms.
Fall is also one of the most popular times of year due to the changing leaves and gorgeous golden glow of the aspen trees. Fall is typically early, September through the first week of October is peak leaf season. Northern Colorado, Estes Park/RMNP and Steamboat Springs see the first leaves of the season and peak is around September 15-25th, the Denver Metro area and the I70 corridor of mountain towns (Winter Park, Breckenridge, Vail) typically see peak colors from September 18th-30th. Fall is also a good time to book many Colorado resorts and venues, since it is between summer vacation and ski season. Choosing a wedding date that is during the week or even a brunch wedding is another way to save, while having your dream location or time of day. Winter is a popular time for weddings in Colorado, but even more considerations need to be made for snowy weather, road closures and location. I encourage couples who want a snowy, white wedding scene to choose a location closer to Denver. Denver can easily dig itself out of snowy weather and is back up and running quickly. All the mountain landscapes in the background of pictures will have snowy peaks, but hopefully not blizzard conditions forcing everyone to hunker down. If you choose winter, be sure to book flights days before your wedding to accommodate any flight delays.
The final thing to consider in your wedding vision is accommodations, we have everything from camping to 5-star luxury resorts, but some places are more rustic than others. If you are considering accommodations for the wedding couple only, the sky’s the limit and their preferences can be all that matters. When considering small weddings, accessibility to the ceremony and reception locations, as well as transportation to Colorado and season should be considered. Offering three room block options at different price points, if you are looking at an expensive resort location for the wedding or reception, will allow more guests at a variety of budgets to attend. Denver is the hub of Colorado, but even though the airport says it’s in Denver, it is really located east of the city in Aurora, Colorado. Add more time for transportation to your wedding location and many flights come in very late at night to Denver. People often book an airport hotel for the night and rent a car from there to get into the mountains or at least the foothills. There are swanky options like the W airport hotel and Gaylord of the Rockies or reasonable chains and even inexpensive options just a few miles from the airport. Denver certainly has a list of high end hotels to offer like the Four Seasons, Westin, Le Meridien, etc. and lots of trendy boutique hotels like the Art Hotel, Ramble hotel, Brown Place and Kimpton Hotel Monaco are well known in Denver. Honestly, the city has really gone downhill and most couples come here to be in nature or the mountains and skip Denver completely. Finding comfortable accommodations west of Denver is often more rustic cabin rentals or chains of Hyatts and Hiltons. Don’t count out budget chains like Comfort Inn (Choice) and Holiday Inn (IHG), they really stretch the dollar and are typically nice accommodations to stay out west.
Location, Location, Location
If your wedding vision keeps you close to Denver, consider locations outside of downtown and include the whole Denver Metro area, especially areas west or south of the city. Mt. Falcon and Red Rocks are both located in Morrison, just west of Denver about 40 minutes. West Denver has a hike that will take you past castle ruins and a lookout tower too, forgetting you’re even near a city. There is a great view of Denver, Red Rocks and the mountains from Mount Falcon Trail that is only a 2.3-mile loop. Also in Morrison, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the iconic concert location is also an amazing spot to hike, bike or get married. There is a location for weddings behind the Trading Post and below the Amphitheatre is the perfect location for an intimate garden ceremony with the best views ever! I’ve seen this place set up for weddings and look at it longingly, such a beautiful spot in nature and yet an easy drive from Denver. A more traditional reception can be held at the Rock Room or Ship Rock Grill. If pictures on the Red Rock’s stage or eloping for two on stage are your dreams, it can come true…with permits and flexible dates!
Golden is a great option with beautiful backdrops of the Rocky Mountains and only 30 minutes from Denver. Table Top Mountain is another beautiful location for elopements and micro -weddings. Golden is a former gold rush town at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and truly is the gateway to the Rockies. Evergreen is tucked along Bear Creek in a narrow canyon next to Evergreen Lake. This rustic community is surrounded by natural beauty and is a real hidden gem in Denver’s backyard. When I was helping plan a wedding I found the Evergreen Red Barn wedding location and fell in love with it! This is a perfect location for all size weddings (up to 115 guests) and they have the perfect locations for pictures, ceremony, cocktail hour, ceremony and reception…time to party.
Boulder, Colorado is 45-minutes away and a beautiful drive from Denver. The flatiron mountains are a beautiful contrast in landscape, with the mighty Rocky Mountains in the Background. Lost Gulch and Chautauqua are two great spots to elope. Chautauqua is public and can get busy at times, but a short hike from the city. Lost gulch is only a few miles from Boulder and the perfect place for a sunset ceremony. Another great location to say “I do” is on top of Flagstaff Mountain with sweeping views of Boulder. The happy couple can enjoy a delicious meal in Boulder or if you’re hosting a small group of guests, Boulder has lots of reception and accommodation options.
The Loveland Pass has epic mountain views without a hike or long drive into the mountains. The Loveland Pass is a high mountain pass with an elevation of 11,990 feet and offers 360-degree mountain views of the Rocky Mountains. These picturesque mountain backgrounds are sure to make beautiful photos. This location falls along the continental divide and is accessible year-round, but still can experience road closures in the winter. A special use permit is required and many couples love this location for elopements and other small weddings.
Lake Dillion is over an hour from Denver and 15 miles north of Breckenridge. If your wedding vision includes water activities or skiing, Dillion is the place to go. Lake Dillion is a reservoir and serves the Denver residents, so swimming is not permitted. However, there are tons of options to get out on the water in a boat, kayak or SUP on this glassy lake. There are beautiful pathways around the perimeter of the lake with the most beautiful views. Bikers and walkers both love this trail and would make fantastic picture backdrops. The area is close to Sapphire Point Overlook, which is the only ceremony site for micro-weddings in the area. This is one of hubby and my favorite spots to come out for a quick date night away for weekend getaway, especially in fall. There is a new Marriott Homewood Suites with a fantastic rooftop bar and restaurant. I highly recommend planning a reservation here an hour before sunset or if you stay at the hotel pop up to the lounge to spend golden hour with drinks in the beautiful mountain backdrop. On a chilly night, the fireplaces and your love will keep you warm.
Just outside of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods is a stunning park with sculptural red rock formations and mountain views of Pikes Peak. Part of the Red Rock formation of mountains in the area create a beauty to this location that truly is spiritual and a great place to elope. It is free to elope in the park with no required permits for their 6 elopement ceremony spots. Each with their own gorgeous photo opportunities in this designated National Natural Landmark. Dogs are allowed at Garden of the Gods, so if you want your furry friend by your side, this is a great option. Cave of the Winds and Manitou Cliff Dwellings are located nearby, with boutique and Bed & Breakfast accommodations. Colorado Springs is only a 15-minute drive and provides every type of reception and accommodation option possible.
Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park is the town that gives access to the two largest entrances of the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). It is not a typical ski town, skiers would go to nearby Eldora or Winter Park unless interested in cross country skiing, which can be done at Hidden Valley and throughout RMNP. Accommodations in Estes Park are often vacation rentals, cabins, bed and breakfast, chalet or mountain lodges unless you have the budget for the Stanley Hotel! The Stanley hotel is best known for the inspiration behind Stephen King’s best seller, “The Shining” and was the starring hotel in the movie version. The Stanley Hotel is a big, beautiful Georgian Revival-style hotel that sits above Estes Park in a stately manor. The hotel has expanded over the years, including more accommodations and areas of residences. Nothing can beat how beautiful this hotel looks at Christmas time, all lit for the holidays. There are many hotel tours from historic, haunted and even whisky tours. But this hotel comes at a premium, for rooms and event space.
The Appenzell Inn is a traditional German hotel that features alpine 2+ bedroom apartments with kitchens and a great hot tub location. If you’re considering a reunion or want all your wedding guests to stay in one large cabin together, the YMCA cabins (locations at Estes Park and Granby) are a great choice to fit any size group. I do warn that the food at the YMCA is not up to the location, accommodation and activity standards of the property, so either plan to cook or make reservations in town. Additionally, cabins and vacation rentals dot the forest landscape and allow a bit more room, a fantastic view and often a hot tub to enjoy.
Many roads in RMNP start closing by the beginning of November and often earlier if snow storms hit in October. This also happened during our first year living in Colorado. We moved at the end of July with our Florida cars, an SUV with front-wheel drive and a Charger. We hoped to get to Christmas before needing snow tires, but a freak October storm humbled us quickly. I could now be the spokesperson for Blizzak snow tires and hubby traded in his Charger for a Durango. When adventuring in the snow or renting a car from the airport, your vehicle might require 4-wheel drive, snow tires or chains. It’s not all sunny, glamping in Colorado! If you have your heart set on a specific location, such as Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, be sure you have access and that the roads will be passable. Popular places like this will also need extra permits, not just a facility use permit. Many of these spots need additional photography permits and contracts in place. Extra work, but also worth it for that perfect alpine lake-side venue with the mountains behind you and your intimate wedding taking center focus.
There are 12 dedicated ceremony sites to choose from within Rocky Mountain National Park to have a unique or traditional ceremony. Some are larger, with room for a few guests with facilities and parking, and others are better suited for elopement. The stunning evergreens dotting the pristine snowy mountains or home to fields of summer wildflowers with alpine lakes and big blue skies should put Rocky Mountain National Park on the list of considerations. Imagine those photos! A micro-wedding or elopement in RMNP can also be a completely private event and look anyway you like as a couple. Want to hike before dawn to a beautiful location and say I do at sunrise and toast with mimosas? Do you see you and your partner standing at the edge of a private alpine lake sharing your private vows before a honeymoon of skiing? What about riding a horse out to a beautiful sunset location in RMNP to say your “I do’s” privately? These are all possible and more if you decide to get married in RMNP. Be aware of guest limits (30 is the max at any location) and long waiting periods for your permit. Also, know that the land you are permitted to use is still public land and hikers, bikers and visitors can still use the space. People are thoughtful and considerate, however they could be in your photos or walking behind you during your ceremony since it is not private land.
Elope & Honeymoon All in One
A big draw to Colorado is all of the outdoor activities the Colorado winters and summers offer. A variety of nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts love Colorado and would want to spend their honeymoon here anyway. Why not “marry” the wedding and honeymoon together by eloping or having a micro-wedding in the great outdoors of Colorado. Most areas offer all or most of these popular activities, except for skiing and snowboarding which will be a big focus in part two, where mountain towns are featured. Camping and RVing are popular outdoor activities and summer and fall are the perfect time to enjoy them in Colorado. Hiking seems to be the state pastime and there is every kind of trail from family friendly and stroller approved to cardiac arrest inducing hikes that should be left to the professionals. I’m all about a good hike, but you lose me with the mountain climbing, but this is the pace to do it and experience it if you’re into adventure. Biking and horseback riding is another great way to experience the great outdoors and everyone seems to have their favorite. I love riding, so do two of my kids. We experience the Colorado seasons on the trails, while hubby and son #2 prefer the air conditioned car!
Ironically, we all like off-roading or riding OHV meaning “off-highway vehicle” and it can mean many different things from ATV’s, four-wheelers, dirt bikes or even snow machines (which are a lot of fun in winter). Other great thrills for adventure seekers in Colorado are kayaking, paddle boarding, river rafting or tubing. In the late spring and early summer the snow melts from the mountains and the runoff fills our rivers making tubing and rafting a lot of fun, but in some mighty cold water! Snowshoeing, snow tubing, sledding and ice skating are all popular winter activities that can be enjoyed in many locations all around the state. For the real extremists, skydiving, paragliding and hot air ballooning can all give you an aerial filled view of the beautiful Colorado landscape.
The most diverse elopement opportunity in Colorado is at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Home to the tallest dunes in North America, the Great Sand Dunes attract hikers, backpackers and dune riders. What about saying your vows while sandboarding or sand sledding? If that isn’t your style, many couples love taking wedding photos at Great Sand Dunes, what a unique backdrop? There are less stressful activities like swimming, surfing and sandcastle building at Medano Creek. This area of the state is also an International Dark Sky Park to observe the stars at night with minimal light pollution. Hikers can do a full moon hike without a flashlight. That’s another unique way to elope in Colorado…but pictures might be hard in that situation.
Colorado is not only for people who love adventure and the great outdoors, there are also many luxury travel opportunities for visitors. There are tons of spas all over Colorado, some in the most luxurious resorts. Other spa options are more rustic and affordable, but often come with some of the best mountain scenery. Colorado has a hot springs culture throughout the state. Some hot springs are historic and simple establishments, while others are immaculate facilities aimed at health and wellness. The best hot springs are found in Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, Pagosa Springs, Ouray and a few smaller spots scattered around the Buena Vista area. The hot springs are a great way to relax and rejuvenate as a new couple after your elopement or a fun option to share with bridesmaids as an alternative to a bridal shower. Another great way to relax in Colorado and take in some views is by visiting rooftop bars and restaurants around Colorado. The vantage point allows visitors to see and photograph the mountain landscape in a whole new way. There are numerous vineyards that offer wine tasting around Colorado, many with their own outdoor patios with great views. Wine tasting is a great way to spend some time enjoying our great state while kicking back and relaxing.
The most important things when planning a Colorado wedding is time of year and location, plus what is your dream location going to look like at that time of year? What size wedding you are planning and what kind of facilities or accessibility are required? If you are looking for help planning and booking your proposal, elopement, destination wedding or anniversary trip to any area of Colorado, contact me for free quotes at WanderlustwithLaura.agent@gmail.com. Next week, we look at elopements and small weddings in the mountain towns of Colorado and how to make your dream ski or mountain wedding a reality.
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