small wedding in boulder colorado at chautauqua mountain park

Chautauqua Park Wedding & Elopement Guide for 2026

Hey there! My name’s Iver Marjerison.
I’m a Colorado micro-wedding planner, and over the years I’ve helped plan hundreds of small weddings and elopements across the state. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting married at Chautauqua Park.

Chautauqua Park is one of the most iconic small wedding and elopement locations in Boulder, known for its Flatirons backdrop, open meadow setting, and historic character. Because it’s a public park with heavy daily use, weddings here operate under specific permit rules, guest limits, and timing considerations. This guide breaks down how weddings and elopements actually work at Chautauqua Park — including permits, ceremony logistics, best times of day, crowd considerations, and the real pros and cons couples should understand before choosing this location.

Professional Opinion:
I’ve planned hundreds of weddings at Chautauqua Park over the years, and it’s definitely a great place for a small wedding! However, as of 2026, the park has become very strict about not allowing groups to go “off the trails.” This means your wedding ceremony has to take place on the trails, which can be uncomfortable if it’s a busy day with people walking through.

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Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married at Chautauqua Park

Chautauqua Park is a public park located on the edge of Boulder, Colorado, and overseen by the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. They allow small groups of up to 12 people to have weddings without a reservation or wedding permit.

Elevation: ~5,710
Max Group Size: 12 people total in your group—this includes all vendors!
Permit Fee: No wedding permit required (photographer needs a $25 permit)
Accessibility: All year around
Distance from Denver International Airport: Estimated 1 hour
Nearest Town: Boulder
Pros: It has beautiful mountain views, and does not require a wedding permit, making it a very simple and affordable option for small weddings
Cons: This park can be PACKED with people, and you are required to stay on the trails to do the ceremony. If you want any level of privacy—aim for sunrise.

Planning & Marriage License
Getting married at Chautauqua Park is fairly simple, just make a timeline, get the marriage license, and secure any needed vendors, like photographer, officiant, etc. Most importantly - make sure your photographer has their OSMP permit.

Jump to How-To Get Married

Ceremony Sites
Chautauqua Park has two different areas where weddings can be held. The “Trails” refers to the hiking trails in the park, which have the best views for photos. As long as your photographer has a Boulder Open Space & Mountain Park permit, groups of up to 12 people can have a simple wedding ceremony on the trails. Larger groups (up to 50 people) can use the “Lawn” area without a permit, but the views are limited.

Jump to Ceremony Sites

Best Day, Month, and Time
The best option is a Tuesday or Wednesday, Mid June through Mid October, at sunrise. This is for optimal lighting, and when the park is least busy. However, we do weddings here all year around, and sunset is also very nice for lighting!

Jump to Best Month, Day & Time

Good to Know
Chautauqua Park is not handicap accessible. Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash. Alcohol is not allowed. Music is not allowed. Chairs and decorations are not allowed. Lots more info…

Jump to FAQs

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I’ve got planning guides, packages, and resources for all the best small wedding and elopement locations across Colorado.

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How-to Plan a Wedding at Chautauqua Park

Pick a date and time
Sunrise is the only time to get any level of privacy! But sunset is also nice lighting for photos. Learn the best time to get married in Colorado.
Hire your vendors
After the venue is booked, you can coordinate your officiant, photographer, and any additional vendors, making sure they comply with venue guidelines. Click here to learn about our All-Inclusive Chautauqua Park Elopement Packages.
OSMP photography permit
If you’re using the Chautauqua Park “Trails.” Make sure your photographer has their permit. Info here.
Finalize logistics and timeline
Leading up to the wedding, you’ll confirm arrival times, and plans for the day with your vendors and guests.
Obtain your Colorado marriage license
Colorado makes getting a marriage license simple! You and your fiance simply need to go into a Colorado County Clerk during business hours to pick up the license. Boulder County has their own office, but they are difficult to work with. I suggest finding another County Clerk nearby. Here’s my full Colorado Marriage License Guide.
Get Married!
On the day of the wedding, you and your guests will meet your wedding vendors at Chautauqua Park. You’ll have the ceremony, sign the license, take photos (definitely drive up to Lost Gulch Overlook for some of the photos!), and then most groups simply head to a local restaurant to celebrate!

small wedding being set up at the chautauqua park lawn in boulder colorado — Chautauqua Park “Lawn” site. All other photos on this page are the “Trails”.

The Chautauqua Park Wedding Sites & Rules

The Trails
Max capacity 12 people
This is the most popular wedding area for small weddings and elopements. Keep in mind, you are not allowed to go off the trails, so I professionally do not suggest this option for groups with 6+ guests. Additionally, this area does NOT allow seating, or decorations of any kind. There is no wedding permit required, but the photographer is required to have an OSMP permit. Info here.

The Lawn
Max capacity 50 people
This is a sprawling grassy lawn located just off the side of the park, it tends to be PACKED with people, the mountain views are limited, and weddings are first-come-first-serve so expect other groups to be around. With that being said, it’s one of the only places in Colorado where a group this big can get married for free. They do let you set up your own chairs and decorate if you’d like, and after the ceremony, you can go up the trails for portraits if your photographer has their OSMP permit. Info here.

Sunrise Amphitheater
Max capacity 150
Not technically part of Chautauqua Park, this ceremony site is just up the road and a great spot for weddings! It has built in seating, dynamic mountain views, and is fully private. Check out my Sunrise Amphitheater Wedding & Elopement Guide.

Best Month, Day & Time

The best option is to get married at Chautauqua Park early in the morning on a Monday or Tuesday, sometime between mid-June and mid-October.

What’s the Best Month?

Chautauqua Park is beautiful all year around, and we do weddings there all year around. Personal preference matters. Generally speaking, mid-June through mid-October is “Peak” wedding season in Colorado for the good weather and conditions, but this is also the busiest time of year at Chautauqua Park, so expect more people around. Snow is never guaranteed at this location, but if you are looking for snow, aim for February or March.

What’s the Best Time of Day?

Chautauqua Park has very little natural shade, so the best option for photo lighting is to opt for right at sunrise, or a couple hours before sunset. Keep in mind the sunsets about an hour early at Chautauqua Park! Simply Google “Sunset Boulder [your date]” to see the time.

What’s the Best Day of the Week?

The best day of the week to elope at Chautauqua Park is Tuesday or Wednesday, which are the least busy days in the park—it’s always nice to beat the crowds!

Chautauqua Park Wedding FAQs

What is the best time of day to get married at Chautauqua Park?

Sunrise is the best time for a wedding or elopement at Chautauqua Park. Early mornings offer the best lighting for photos and significantly fewer people on the trails. Sunset can also be beautiful, but it’s one of the busiest times of day, especially in summer and fall, and couples should expect heavy foot traffic.

Where are the best places to take photos?

If you are getting married at Chautauqua Park, be sure to drive up the road to Lost Gulch Overlook for additional photos! Check out my Lost Gulch Overlook Elopement Guide.

Is Chautauqua Park a private wedding location?

No. Chautauqua Park is a very popular public park in Boulder and is often busy throughout the day. Weddings and elopements here take place in shared public spaces, and privacy cannot be guaranteed.

Do you need a permit to get married at Chautauqua Park?

A wedding permit is not required for small ceremonies at Chautauqua Park. However, your photographer must have an active OSMP (Open Space and Mountain Parks) permit in order to legally photograph a ceremony on the trails.

How many people are allowed at a Chautauqua Park wedding?

Trails: Up to 12 people total (including the couple, photographer, and officiant)
Lawn area: Up to 50 people
Larger groups should plan to use the Lawn rather than the trails.

Is Chautauqua Park wheelchair accessible?

No. While the Lawn area is relatively flat, most ceremony locations at Chautauqua Park — especially along the trails — are not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain, gravel paths, and elevation changes.

Are decorations allowed at Chautauqua Park?

Decorations are allowed on the Lawn area, but not permitted on the trails. Any décor must be minimal and cannot block pathways or interfere with public use of the park.

Are chairs allowed for ceremonies?

Chairs are allowed on the Lawn, but not allowed on the trails. Trail ceremonies must remain very simple and leave no trace.

What is the best time of year to get married at Chautauqua Park?

Mid-June through mid-October is peak wedding season in Colorado and the most popular time for Chautauqua Park weddings due to mild weather and accessible trails. That said, Chautauqua Park is beautiful year-round, and spring, fall, and even winter ceremonies can work well with the right expectations.

When does Chautauqua Park typically have snow?

Snow in the Boulder area is variable and can come and go throughout winter. February and March tend to have the highest chance of snow, but conditions change quickly and snow can melt within days.

Can we reserve a specific spot or trail for our ceremony?

No. Chautauqua Park does not allow reservations for specific ceremony spots or hiking trails. All ceremonies take place in shared public spaces and are first come, first served.

Are dogs allowed at Chautauqua Park weddings?

Yes. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash and follow all park rules. Couples should be aware that dogs must remain under control at all times due to heavy foot traffic.

Is music allowed during the ceremony?

No. Amplified music and speakers are not allowed, and music is generally discouraged, especially on the trails. Ceremonies should remain quiet and low-impact to avoid disrupting other park visitors.

Is parking available for guests?

Parking at Chautauqua Park is not guaranteed and often fills up quickly, especially on weekends and during peak seasons. Guests should plan to arrive early, carpool when possible, or be prepared to park farther away and walk in.

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