Colorado Elopement Packages

The Ultimate Guide to: Vendors, Venues, and Planning

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?

An “Elopement” is simply a small wedding, there are no rules as to what seperates it from a “micro-wedding” or a traditional wedding. Do whatever you want, invite whoever you want, and call it whatever you want!

An “elopement” in the past referred to the whimsical nature of the wedding itself, often times being last minute, or a secret. This is no longer the case! Modern elopements are often times planned in advance, made known to friends and family, and can even incorporate some traditional elements, such as having guests present, or doing a small reception afterwards.

What Does an Elopement Look Like?

I’ve planned about 1,500 small weddings in Colorado, and basically they fall into four categories:

“Just Making it Legal”
These kind of couples are just looking to handle the legal part. They simply go into the County Clerk, fill out the license, file it on the spot, and that’s it!

“Elopement”
This is generally for groups with 0-30 guests, they go to a nice park or mountain overlook, do a short ceremony (lead by a friend or officiant), take some photos, sign the license, then head to a local restaurant for dinner… simple as that!

“Micro-Wedding”
This is generally for groups with 30-60 guests who want to incorporate a more a traditional reception into their day. They still generally do the ceremony at a local park or overlook, but afterwards will head to a private space that has accommodations for a dance floor, cake cutting, etc. This may be the private space at a restaurant or brewery, a rental home, or it may be a designated event venue.

“Regular Wedding With Less People)
This is generally for groups with 60+ guests, essentially they are most comfortable using an actual wedding venue and doing most of the normal core elements of the day, but simply doing it with less people to create a more intimate experience, or simply save money.

How Do You Get Eloped in Colorado?

Again, there are no rules! Your day can look like whatever you want, but here is the simple version:

Step 1 - Go in person to a Colorado Clerk & Recorder’s Office to obtain the marriage license ($35)
Step 2 - Find a beautiful location (optional)
Step 3 - Exchange vows with the help of an officiant, friend, or on your own! (optional)
Step 4 - Take some photos to remember the day (optional)
Step 5 - Sign the marriage license with your partner (witnesses and officiant are not legally required)
Step 6 - Return the marriage license in person or via mail to the County Clerk.
Step 7 - Head to a nice dinner to celebrate!

…Or you can hire me to put together all the pieces for you! :)

How Much Does an Elopement Cost in Colorado?

“Eloping” in Colorado can be as simple as walking into the County Clerk and signing the license ($35), or you can hire a planner like Colorado Micro-Weddings with packages starting at $1,200 that include: photography, officiant, flowers, and a beautiful mountaintop! There are also photographers who specialize in full-day adventure weddings that can range anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000+ or you can DIY the day by finding your own location and vendors, with prices ranging radically between $1,000 - $10,000+.

Can Anyone Elope in Colorado?

Every state in America recognizes the marriage licenses of every other state, meaning you don’t have to be a resident of Colorado to get legally married there! There are some restrictions related to recent divorce, blood relatives, and non-citizens, contact a Colorado Clerk and Recorder to get details on the legal requirements.

When is the Best Time to Elope in Colorado?

Generally speaking the best weather in Colorado is Mid-June to Mid-October, with optimal weather for an outdoor wedding falling in September. With that being said, Colorado boasts “300 days of sunshine a year” and is a beautiful destination year around! If you want a winter wedding, expect beautiful winter conditions January - April (I generally steer people around from Mid March as that is when we get hit with the most winter storms).

Where are the Best Places to Elope in Colorado?

With countless parks, mountain trails, gardens, and lakes, Colorado has a massive variety of beautiful elopement locations! Breckenridge, Denver, Estes Park, and Boulder are the most popular towns, here are some of the most popular elopement locations in Colorado:

• Maroon Bells Amphitheater

• Rocky Mountain Wedding Park

• Sunrise Amphitheater

• Chautauqua Park

• Rocky Mountain National Park

• Garden of the Gods

• My Spots! - As a micro-wedding planner based in Colorado I have a guide with over 60 different locations that work great for small weddings. Contact me for more info! (click here)

Is Denver is Good Place to Elope?

Denver is a great place to have an elopement! This is the biggest city in Denver, and while it’s called the “Mile High City” keep in mind that it is not quite in the mountains. If you are looking for a mountain style elopement, Denver isn’t the best bet, but if you want more of a city vibe it has some great elopement options like: City Parks, Libraries, Museums, Botanic Gardens, Breweries, and more!

Is Breckenridge a Good Place to Elope?

Breckenridge is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and is home to some of the best ski resorts in the world. This makes it a great place for an elopement, or small wedding, with plenty of overlooks, trails, and mountaintops to get great views and epic photos! However, keep in mind that many of the popular locations like “Sapphire Point” book months in advance and can be very crowded with tourists.

Is Colorado Springs a Good Place to Elope?

Similar to Denver, Colorado Springs is not quite “in” the mountains, so it does have more of a city feel. However, on the western edge of the city you do have the famous “Garden of the Gods” with beautiful red rock features and a view of the Rocky Mountains in the background. Garden of the Gods offers nice photo opportunities, but the park has also gotten very crowded with weddings and groups over the years, making privacy a big issue.

Is Estes Park a Good Place to Elope?

Estes Park is home to the world famous Rocky Mountain National Park, and is the most popular destination for small weddings in Colorado. While the park is incredibly beautiful, the popularity makes it both expensive and crowded, plus the park only issues a limited amount of wedding permits each year, making it a difficult place to elope.

Is Boulder a Good Place to Elope?

Boulder is a beautiful town known for its art, food, and hiking trails. On the Western edge of town is Chautauqua park, with the famous “Lost Gulch Overlook” just up the road. This is an incredibly popular destination for small weddings, and while it offers beautiful views, keep in mind public locations like this can be very crowded with people.

Are Witnesses Required in Colorado?

Nope! Witnesses are not required to sign the marriage license in Colorado. There are two lines though, which can be signed by your witnesses if you’d like, or you can have dog put his paw print! That’s right, dogs are allowed to legally “sign” the marriage license in Colorado.

Is a Wedding Officiant or Judge Required in Colorado?

Nope! Colorado allows couples to legally sign the marriage license on their own, also known as “Self-Solemnize”, meaning the only legal requirement is for the two parties entering into marriage to sign the license —not witnesses or officiant required.

Read to start planning?

I offer everything-you-need elopement packages for beautiful and affordable small weddings!

—Officiant (starting at $300)
—Photography (starting at $500)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $500)
…Venue, Dining, Marriage License Guidance…and more!