Colorado Small Wedding & Elopement Guide (2026)

Hey there! My name’s Iver Marjerison.
I’ve personally planned 500+ small-weddings in Colorado, and am happy tell you—it can be very simple!

When you think of a wedding, you probably think of a big to-do with lots of decor, mountains of food, scores of extended relatives, and flowing bottles of champagne.  And while many couples get excited at the thought of all that grandeur, there are many who prefer a much more intimate setting that focuses more on celebrating love than celebrating how much they can spend on a party. Imagine, running away to a remote location surrounded by mountains on one side, forest on the other side, and the sunset as your backdrop while you look at your better half and say your ‘I dos’.  You can have all this — without the stress of managing 200 guests — by eloping with your partner!

What is an Elopement?

There’s really no set definition, but basically, an elopement is a small wedding ceremony that involves just the couple — or a few close friends and family. An elopement is also referred to as a “mini-mony”, micro-wedding, or tiny wedding. They’re all the same thing — an intimate gathering with no set rules! Most couples do a simple ceremony at the top of a mountain, or in a backyard, and then head to a local restaurant for a casual dinner reception.

Why Should I Elope in Colorado?

Simple: traditional weddings are expensive, stressful, and logistically limiting. Colorado offers a simple destination to have a beautiful and affordable small wedding—and get awesome photos! Eloping helps you set aside all these worries, get the most out of your budget, and enjoy your wedding to the fullest. Plus, since you don’t have to worry about the logistics of feeding and entertaining 200 guests, you can get more creative with your day! How about a helicopter/dog-sled ride to the top of a mountain? More info on our Adventure Wedding page.

Who can Elope in Colorado?

Anyone can elope in Colorado! Regardless of what state you’re from. While every state is a bit different, Colorado makes the legal aspects of getting married incredibly simple. To get a marriage license, you don’t need to be a resident of Colorado, there is no waiting period, no witnesses required, no blood-tests, and you don’t even need an officiant! For more info, checkout my other article: “How to Get Legally Married in Colorado”.

The Best Month to Elope in Colorado

Mid-June thru Mid-October is the best time to elope in Colorado for no-snow conditions. If you want a winter wedding, plan for January or February. With that being said, we plan elopements all year round in Colorado. The “shoulder seasons” like May and November are the slowest months, and can have more random weather, but they are a great time to get good deals on travel!

The Best Time of Day to Elope in Colorado

For an outdoor wedding, you always want to do sunrise, or two hours before sunset. This gives the best natural lighting for photos. If photos aren’t a priority, you can have a wedding anytime! If your doing an indoor wedding the timing is much more flexible, and anytime during the day works.

The Best Day of the Week to Elope in Colorado

Generally speaking, Tuesday or Wednesday is the best day of the week to elope in Colorado. This is simply because elopements are often on public land or in national parks where crowds get busy on the weekends. By working with a Monday-Thursday you may also get better rates with vendors, venues, and on travel. Of course, weekends are the most common time to elope in Colorado—and also a good option!

The Best Place to Elope in Colorado

Denver, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Estes Park are the best areas to elope in Colorado. Denver has some nice city parks, Breckenridge has Sapphire Point, Colorado Springs has Garden of the Gods, Boulder has Chautauqua Park, and Estes Park has the iconic Rocky Mountain National Park. All of these are the most popular locations to elope in Colorado—but there’s also many other awesome places! Wanna get weird? - Check out the 5 most unique destinations to elope in Colorado right here! 

How Many Guests Can I Elope With?

There are no set rules, but generally an elopement has 6 or less guests. With a group this small, it’s easy to find a free-to-use park or mountain overlook for the ceremony. Anything larger than that, is more of a “micro-wedding” and tends to be more comfortable using a designated ceremony site that offers privacy and seating—but this can still make for a simple, beautiful, and affordable wedding day!

Do I Need a Permit to Elope in Colorado

Many popular elopement locations in Colorado are on public land, and don’t require a permit to elope. However, every park, location, and venue are different. Always be sure to read local rules and regulations on group sizes, photography usage, and event permits.

Should I Elope in Colorado?

I recommend sitting down with your partner and answering the following questions to help give you an idea of your priorities and options…
1) How many people would we invite to our elopement?
2) What is our budget for an elopement, would would the day look like?
3) How many people would we invite to our regular wedding?
4) What is our budget for a regular wedding, and what would the day look like?
5) What are the things we care most about having on our wedding day?

If you decide you wanna do something simple… an elopement could be the move!

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Colorado?

Generally an elopement in Colorado ranges from $1,000 - $9,000. It’s really hard to give an exact number without knowing what the couple is looking for. Some couples spend $8,000 on a photographer alone, others have their sister take the photos on her iPhone.

Here’s a sample budget for a wedding I recently planned for a group of 6 people…

My planning fee $500
Venue - free (top of a mountain!)
Marriage License - $35
Photographer (1.5 hours) - $650
Officiant - $300
Flowers - $100ish
Hair & Makeup Stylist - $350
Videographer - $900
Dinner (for 8) - $450ish

Colorado Micro-Wedding & Elopement Packages
Starting at $1,300

—Officiant (starting at $300)
—Photography (starting at $500)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $500)

Everything you need for a beautiful and stress-free small wedding!
All-Inclusive | 100% Customizable | 0 - 40ish Guests
Vendors | Venues | Marriage License | Permits | Dining | Lodging
Colorado MicroWeddings… Colorado’s Elopement Company since 2018!

How to Elope in Colorado

Let’s keep this super simple…

Step 1 - Choose a Date and Location
It’s really as simple as that, find a date that works for you, and find a location that you like!

Step 2 - Hire Vendors
Technically this is all optional, but hiring a photographer and officiant is fairly common. Many couple also get flowers and find a hair and makeup stylist.

Step 3 - Get the Marriage License
Regardless of where you’re from, you’ll need to go to a county clerk in Colorado to get the license. This is super simple! You’ll need to make an appointment and go in with your partner during business hours. The license will cost $35. I have a detailed guide breaking down the steps: “How to Get Legally Married in Colorado.”

Step 4 - Get Married!
On the day of the wedding, you’ll meet up with your wedding vendors at the ceremony site. You’ll exchange vows, kiss, sign the license and then head off to celebrate! Most couples simply head to a local restaurant for the “reception,” but others bring in a private chef to their rental home, or rent out the rooftop of a local brewery!