The 4 Best Places to Elope in Colorado | Colorado Elopements

If you’ve ever been to Colorado or have really ever seen *any* photos of it, you know that it’s one of the most beautiful states out there. Meaning it has ENDLESS stunning locations for any outdoor-lover’s adventure elopement. Toooo many to choose from. That’s why I wanted to give you the 4 best places to elope in Colorado, from my experience with my past couples!

best places to elope




If you’re looking for the best locations for your Colorado elopement, here are the ones I’ll be going through for ya:

  • Breckenridge

  • Rocky Mountain National Park (obviously!)

  • Crested Butte

  • The Telluride/Silverton area




Let’s dive right into a few of Colorado’s most beautiful spots for any type of Colorado elopement or intimate wedding!




A disclaimer

Real quick, I want to let you know that I’m not going to be giving you the *exact* locations I know of - simply because I’ve spent a LOT of hours location-scouting + doing research for my elopement couples. So if you’re dying to find out some more specific spots to consider for your elopement, reach out here & let’s become besties! ;)

best places to elope


Breckenridge

The basics

Breckenridge is a lil’ mountain town that sits at the base of the Rockies’ Tenmile range, at an elevation of 9,600 feet. It’s about 80 miles west of Denver and 100 miles northeast of Aspen, making it a super accessible location that isn’t too far of a trek from major Colorado cities!

best places to elope


I love suggesting Breckenridge for Colorado elopements because of how many easy spots it’s got that don’t require lots of hiking! Many of the locations are also dog-friendly, quick to get to, and there are TONS of options + a variety of landscapes. 


Location options

Let’s get into 3 of the best location options to consider for a Breckenridge elopement!


Sapphire Point Overlook

This is easily one of the most beautiful locations that you have to check out in Breckenridge! It’s on Swan Mountain Road and has the most insane views of the Dillon Reservoir + the Tenmile and Gore mountain ranges.

Sapphire Point is able to accommodate up to 35 people for small events (hint hint: elopement/intimate wedding ceremonies!), so if you want a spot where you can invite your closest loved ones, this might be the one for you!


Dillon Ice Castles

If you’ve ever seen photos of ice castles in Colorado, you were probably looking at the Dillon Ice Castles!! They’re typically open from around December through February, so it’s definitely the spot for a couple dreaming up the most EPIC winter elopement. Winter in Colorado is a cooold time, so if you want to tie the knot during the coldest part of the year, might as well do your couples portraits at some dope ice castles right?!

The cutest little town

Breckenridge is the best place to take a trip to because of how awesome the little town is for anybody visiting! There are tons of restaurants and yummy breweries, activities like sledding + tubing in the winter, horse riding tours, ice caves, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, and more. Seriously, there are SO many activities available for anybody who loves the outdoors, being near the mountains, and spending time in nature!

Alpine Lakes

Last but not least, Breckenridge has tons of alpine lakes nearby and hiking trails for the nature-lovers out there. You can check out some moderate hiking trails in the area here!


Accessibility

Again, one of the reasons I love Breckenridge is because of how accessible it is! It’s easy to travel to + is open year-round. Summer in Breckenridge is from June to August, fall is September and October, and winter + spring are November through May. And in all of those seasons, there are plenty of opportunities for fun things to do around town! 


Here’s a great guide to the Top 10 Things to Do in Breckenridge!


Where to stay in Breckenridge

Another thing I love about Breckenridge? How many Airbnb’s are available for you to stay in!



Here are a few top-rated Airbnb’s in the area that you should definitely check out for your elopement. They’re the perfect places for you to get ready in, and come back to for some relaxation after saying your vows!


And if you’d prefer a lodge or ski resort, you won’t have trouble finding those in Breckenridge either!


Rocky Mountain National Park


The basics

If you’re a big lover of national parks like I am, or know anything about Colorado, you’re probably familiar with Rocky Mountain National Park! It’s about 110 miles north of Breckenridge, 65 miles northwest of Denver, and 170 miles north of Aspen. Pretty much north of most parts of Colorado!

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The park has over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, gorgeous mountain views - really everything you could ask for for a dreamy mountain elopement or intimate mountain wedding. 


Permits, passes, & fees

Since it is a national park, you’re a bit more limited on where you can legally get married. I’m a big believer in making sure you get the correct permits + passes wherever you go, in order to help leave the least impact possible on the park you visit + Leave No Trace on the land!

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Currently in RMNP (through October 2021), everyone who enters the park will need both a Timed Entry Permit AND an entrance pass. You’ll need to make a reservation for your visit and purchase a daily entrance pass, which costs $25 per day, per vehicle. Or if you’re like me and visit the park often (hello fellow Colorado lovers!!), I’d definitely consider looking into the $70 annual entrance pass!


Weddings at Rocky Mountain National Park

Because RMNP has become so dang popular for weddings and elopements, unfortunately, permits are much more scarce than they used to be. For 2021, RMNP only gave out 250 total wedding permits for the whole year, and they just started accepting permit applications in May for 2022 weddings.

You can apply one year in advance for your wedding permit - e.g. if you want to elope in August 2022, you can apply in August 2021. 


Here are the most recently updated permit limits for different seasons in the park:

  • May through October: max of 60 permits issued per month

  • November through April: max of 40 permits issued per month

All permits are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, which means you really do need to plan ahead of time!

Another thing to note is that the maximum guest size for weddings in RMNP is 30 guests unless the limit is smaller at a specific park site. 

Getting Your RMNP Wedding Permit


Here’s the process you’ll need to go through to get the Special Use Permit you’ll need, according to the National Park Service’s website!

  • Check availability by emailing romo_fees_permits@nps.gov

  • Complete this application + submit it via email

  • Once your application has been accepted, pay the non-refundable application fee of $300 

  • When you receive your permit, you’ll review, sign, & return the permit via email

  • You must bring your permit to your ceremony at the park on your date!

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Location options

Here’s a full list of locations + sites at Rocky Mountain National Park that permit weddings, along with the details of each (guest limits, parking limits, specific guidelines/restrictions, etc.).

Some of my personal favorite types of locations in the park include:

  • Alpine lakes

  • Forested areas

  • Deep mountain valleys

  • Wildflower fields

  • Cliffside on mountain tops

  • Mountain overlooks

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I’ve got a full guide to eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park - check it out here for more location info!

Accessibility

RMNP is open year-round, but that definitely is weather permitting. Know that most sites in the park are much more secluded in the winter + on weekdays. Less crowds = the best!

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You’ll want to make sure to do your research ahead of time on locations to see which ones are closed in the winter and check current road + trail statuses on the NPS website. 



Where to stay near RMNP

Here are a few awesome, highly rated Airbnb’s near RMNP & Estes Park to check out for your elopement trip!

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Packing list

You gotta remember to bring all the important stuff, so here’s a quick packing list to make sure you don’t forget anything!

  • your wedding permit

  • national park pass or cash for entry

  • water and extra water

  • protein and granola bars

  • extra snacks

  • extra gas/full tank of gas

  • sunscreen

  • sunglasses

  • hiking poles

  • bug spray/bear spray

  • emergency first aid kit

  • wireless extra phone charger

  • download an offline map of the park

  • spikes for your shoes in case of ice or snow

  • flashlights

  • toilet paper/ plastic bag/wet wipes

  • rain jacket/umbrella

  • extra socks/shoes

A full guide on How to Elope in RMNP

If you’re looking for even MORE info on eloping in RMNP because you’re feelin’ drawn to the park, check out this resource ASAP!

How to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park


Crested Butte



The basics

Crested Butte is a small town in the western part of Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains. It’s much more of a trek from major cities, about 200 miles from Denver and 160 from Colorado Springs. But trust me, it’s SO stunning and worth it! Truly a little secluded mountain paradise. There’s a reason it’s called the wildflower capital of Colorado ;)

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And a big perk of Crested Butte is a longer trip from major parts of Colorado: less people travel there! This means more secluded areas for us + less crowds to navigate around for your elopement.


Perfect for hikers

One reason Crested Butte is perfect for adventure elopements: there are SO many hiking opportunities!!

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If you walk, drive, or bike just a few minutes out of the town, you’ll find epic mountain views, wildflowers, and alpine meadows galore. Check out these Top 6 Easy Crested Butte Hikes Close to Town!


If you’ll be driving anywhere around to get to hikes, 4-wheel drive is also highly recommended, especially in the winter!

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And there aren’t just hikes for avid outdoor lovers + experienced hikers - there are hikes available for all ages and fitness levels. So if you’re bringing a few friends or family members on your elopement with you, they’ll be able to hike with you even if they aren’t as experienced as you! (Or, if you yourselves aren’t experienced hikers but still want to find stunning views, you can get the best of both worlds here!)



Where to stay in Crested Butte 

If you’ll be staying in Crested Butte during your elopement trip, I highly recommend going camping!! Hotels & Airbnb’s are limited in the area, plus camping is such a fun way to spend even more time in nature.

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Here’s an awesome guide to camping in Crested Butte to help you find the best campsite for your trip!

Telluride/Silverton


The basics

Last but definitely not least, we’ve got the Telluride/Silverton area! Want to feel like you’re in Switzerland without actually having to take the long flights + pay lots of money for an international trip? Then the San Juan Mountains are the perfect place for you ;)

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The Telluride/Silverton area is about 360 miles southwest of Denver, 200 miles south of Aspen. So it’s another area that’s a little bit of a longer trek, but every single mile of driving will be worth it!!


Adventurous elopement ideas

If you’re adventurous at heart (which let’s be honest, you probably are at least a little since you’re wanting to elope in Colorado), THIS IS YOUR PLACE. 



Let’s take a helicopter tour up to the mountain tops that nobody else can get to by hiking. Or maybe let’s take a 4-wheeler up to alpine blue crystal lakes that you’ll have all to yourselves. We could also stop in a hot spring for a little R&R along the side of the road overlooking the mountains once you’re done sayin’ your vows.

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There are tons of opportunities for skiing. Snowboarding. Hiking. Everything you could dream of in the mountains! And you’ve got the cutest little town with all the European vibes, far away from everything, that allows you kinda just be in your own world.

It’s the perfect area for adventure seekers who want to climb, drive up cliffs, or take helicopter rides and elope on a 14,000-foot mountain without having to *actually* hike it. The dreammmm.

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A gorgeous Telluride venue: the San Sophia Overlook

If you’re looking for an amazing “actual” venue in Telluride, look no further than the breathtaking San Sophia Overlook! It’s steps away from the gondola at the Telluride Ski Resort that overlooks Telluride & Wilson Peak. 

Having your elopement at a ski resort also gives you an endless amount of things to do for the week and weekend. It’s the perfect mix of epic mountain elopement & an elegant wedding venue all in one! With a wedding deck for the ceremony and grass for all your guests’ chairs, the epic mountains in the background will have everyone’s jaws on the floor.


Where to stay in Telluride

Here are a few great lodging options in the Telluride & Silverton area to check out for your elopement!



Ready to elope in Colorado?! Hell yeah! Reach out here & let’s start planning your dream Colorado elopement!

elopement photography, destination elopementHailey Piercebest places to elope