You must at least be considering getting married, or eloping in Colorado, if you have stumbled upon this article. Before we continue, congratulations! Colorado elopements are exceptional and we are excited to help you plan yours.

Colorado Elopement Law and Regulations:

Now let's dive into the nitty gritty: First of all, what are the marriage laws in Colorado? To put it simply, Colorado makes it extremely easy for a couple to get married. In fact, Colorado allows couples to self-solemnize, which means that you don't even need to hire an officiant or bring other witnesses. The laws couldn't be more ideal for couples looking to elope in Colorado! In order to be married in Colorado all you have to officially do is go to the nearest county clerk's office and provide the $30 fee to obtain your marriage certificate, or marriage license. Some couples with pets actually sign the witness section of their marriage license with their pet's paw print! For the fine "print" check out this link: https://www.findlaw.com/state/colorado-law/colorado-marriage-laws.html

Here is a map of Colorado's counties and their corresponding Colorado county clerks websites: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Resources/CountyElectionOffices.html

Now that you know the law, the easy part, it's time to discuss the trickier parts. In our opinion the hardest thing about eloping in Colorado is finding the right location; hopefully, this guide can assist you in narrowing down your options.

Choosing the best Colorado elopement location for you:

Colorado's scenery is prolific and diverse from the eastern plains, across the Rocky Mountains, and out to the high desert and canyon country in the West, there are a lot of beautiful places to elope! What kind of scenery is most important to you? Or do you have historical ties to certain locations like Rocky Mountain National Park: https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm or The Great Sand Dunes: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm from past trips with your families? You can't go wrong with places like https://gardenofgods.com/ or Red Rocks park and Amphitheater: https://www.redrocksonline.com/ ; however, one thing that all of the above places tend to lack (unless you are willing to hoof it way off the beaten path) is peace and solitude - and might require a permit.

If you are like lots of our couples, being alone during your special day is probably pretty important. This is why we often recommend places that tend to be further away from the crowds. These locations can be tricky to get to and typically require a couple of prerequisite questions to be answered: Does your vehicle have 4-wheel drive, or are you willing to rent a 4x4 vehicle? Are you willing to hike, and if so, how far? If your answers to both of these questions are no, don't fret! There are still plenty of beautiful places in Colorado accessible via 2-wheel drive cars. For example: Red Mountain Pass: https://www.uncovercolorado.com/activities/red-mountain-pass/

To really narrow your location down you'll want to decide what your perfect background would be. Is it an alpine lake? Is it mountains? Is it both? Colorado elopement photographers can probably track down the right spot for you based on the answer to this question! However, there is one more serious consideration…

What is the best time of year to elope in Colorado?

Which time of year do you want to elope? Your choice of season will affect your photos, and your options, drastically! Of course, there is no wrong answer. Every season has its pros and cons, and we love all four of them! This decision can potentially affect different Colorado elopement packages due to changes in travel caused by winter road closures, 4x4 roads washing out from rain, or seasonal wildlife trail closures. Your adventure elopement photographers can help you make sure that no matter which season you prefer to elope in everything will be planned accordingly.

Here is a list of our favorite areas for Colorado Elopement Photography:

Purgatory Ski Resort and the surrounding region:

https://www.purgatory.ski/

Molas Pass:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/recarea/?recid=43070

The Alpine Loop:

https://www.colorado.com/byways/alpine-loop

The Great Sand Dunes:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60841-d9800243-Reviews-Great_Sand_Dunes_National_Park_and_Preserve-Mosca_Colorado.html

Silverton, CO and its surroundings:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverton,_Colorado

Telluride, CO:

https://www.telluride.com/

Rocky Mountain National Park:

https://www.rockymountainnationalpark.com/

Crested Butte, CO:

https://travelcrestedbutte.com/

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what you need to consider when planning your perfect adventure elopement! Your Colorado elopement photographers can help you narrow down your search and find the best location for your vision; we recommend finding your photographer first because they will know all of the answers to your questions and provide invaluable help while you are planning your special day. They are also invaluable for helping find other vendors you may need, such as floral, make-up, food, and beverages. Depending on your location choice, you may also need a permit, which your photographers can help you obtain.

If you think we might be the right team for your awesome plans click below to reach out to us!

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If you would like to see some more of our work check out our portfolio here, or scroll down to check out our last blog post of a truly epic mountain adventure elopement.