Cheap & Easy: Colorado Elopement Guide (2024)
I’ve personally planned over 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!
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
“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!
Of course, while the planning is much less for an elopement than a traditional wedding, you’ll still want to make sure you cover all your bases and at Colorado Microweddings, we’re happy to help you navigate through all of it!
“Why Should I Elope?”
Simple: traditional weddings are expensive, stressful, and logistically limiting.
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?”
Anyone can elope! No matter who you are and where you are, you can elope with your partner and make your wedding a memorable day. 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”.
“Should I elope?”
We truly believe that your wedding is your special day and it is up to you to decide what your priorities are.
If your priorties are epic photos and sharing an intimate moment with your partner, then an elopement might be a better fit. If your priorities are your families meeting, and celebrating with your friends, then a regular wedding might be best.
Or maybe you should create a hybrid wedding experience!
Many couples prefer the idea of a more intimate “elopement” style ceremony, but also like the idea of a more traditional reception—and you can do both! There are no rules against exchanging vows with just your parter on a remote beach, and then coming home to celebrate your wedding with all your friends and family at a local brewery.
I recommend sitting down with your fiance 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?
“How much does it cost to elope?”
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 8 people…
My planning fee $500
Park Permit (for ceremony) $50
Marriage License $35
Photographer (1 hour) $500
Officiant $300
Flowers $100ish
Hair & Makeup Stylist $300
Videographer $900
Dinner (for 8) $450ish
Full pricing for my “All-Inclusive Elopement Packages” can be found on this page!
Simple Elopement Guide
If you’re wondering how to elope in Colorado, we’ve put together this cheap and simple elopement guide to help you navigate through the process and lose the stress for the biggest day of your life.
1 - set a date!
June-October (at sunrise or sunset) is the best time to elope in Colorado. If possible, plan your micro-wedding sometime between Monday and Thursday to ensure you get the best rates and that you don’t have to fight through any crowds.
With that being said, we plan elopements all year round in Colorado. Elopements aren't really affected by bad weather like a regular wedding, so even if it rains or snows it honestly just makes for a unique picture-perfect moment!
2 - Choose your ideal elopement location.
The most popular elopement locations in Colorado are Estes Park, Breckenridge, and Denver. All of which include a variety of mountaintops, public parks, and overlooks that offer beautiful views for small wedding ceremonies.
We have 60+ locations that we help coordinate elopements at, but honestly, it’s hard to go wrong. The entire state of Colorado offers amazing views and beautiful scenery… which is all you really need for an elopement! Wanna mix it up? Check out the 5 most unique destinations to elope in Colorado right here!
3 - Decide on your micro-wedding vendors.
Technically, no vendors are required for an elopement, but most have a photographer and/or videographer to capture the day and an officiant to lead the ceremony (although, you can legally officiate your own wedding in Colorado). Many couples also add on a hair/makeup stylist and a florist.
4 - Prep the legal documents for your elopement.
You and your fiancé will need to go into a county clerk's office in Colorado on a weekday during business hours and apply for a marriage license. It takes about 20 minutes to get done. Colorado does not have a waiting period, does not require witnesses to sign the marriage license, and yes, Colorado allows your dog to sign the marriage license!
5 - Celebrate your elopement!
After your wedding ceremony, the world is your oyster! Do whatever your heart desires.
You can go to a local restaurant to have a celebratory dinner, set up a picnic with your partner, or just go home! If you have a larger group you can have a caterer in your backyard or pick up food from your favorite restaurant and enjoy at your rental home. In case your elopement party swells to 30 or more people, you can rent a space at a restaurant or club with an event space to carry on the celebrations with some privacy and maybe a bit of music!
If you are one of those who feel you want to have a slightly grander celebration, you can always throw a big reception party after your elopement. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that your wedding is all about you and your spouse. So make it adventurous, intimate, or one filled with activities — what matters at the end of the day is that you both are happy!
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
Let’s talk!
Feel free to call, text, or email me anytime :)
Iver Marjerison
Founder / Lead Planner
Iver@ColoradoMicroWeddings.com
720-598-2862
