small wedding at lily lake picnic area in rocky mountain national park at sunset

Lily Lake 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 Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Lily Lake is one of the most accessible and scenic ceremony locations in Rocky Mountain National Park, known for its calm lake reflections, surrounding pine forest, and easy, mostly flat access around the shoreline. Like all wedding locations inside Rocky Mountain National Park, Lily Lake has specific rules around permits, guest counts, ceremony timing, photography, and seasonal access. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how weddings actually work at Lily Lake so you can decide if it’s the right fit and plan your day without surprises.

Professional Opinion:
I’ve planned hundreds of weddings in RMNP over the years, and Lily Lake Picnic Area is one of my favorite spots for larger groups. It has beautiful mountain and lake views, and is very accessible. However, like most spots in the park, it lacks privacy and seating options.

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Iver@ColoradoMicroWeddings.com
720-598-2862

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married at Lily Lake

Lily Lake has two of the thirteen designated ceremony sites in Rocky Mountain National Park. Like all ceremony sites in the park, it requires an RMNP wedding permit.

Elevation: ~8,880
Max Group Size (Dock): 10 people total in your group—this includes all vendors!
Max Group Size (Picnic Area): 30 people total in your group—this includes all vendors!
Permit Fee: $300
Accessibility (Dock): Year Round, wheel chair accessible, adjacent to parking lot.
Accessibility (Picnic Area): Year Round, 4min walk from parking area.
Distance from Denver International Airport: Estimated 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Nearest Town: Estes Park
Pros: The “Dock” is the only handicap accessibly ceremony site in Rocky Mountain National Park. The “Picnic Area” sits just off the main trail, which allows you to get away from the crowds for the ceremony.
Cons: The “Dock” is adjacent to the parking area, and has constant and heavy foot traffic passing by it. The “Picnic Area” is a bit lacking in terms of dynamic mountain views.

Booking, Planning & Marriage license
First you’ll need to contact the park to check their availability and secure your date. Then, you just need to make a timeline, get the marriage license, and secure any needed vendors, like photographer, officiant, etc.

Jump to Booking & Planning

Lily Lake Dock vs Lily Lake Picnic
Lily Lake has two different designated wedding sites: “Lily Lake Picnic Area” (max 30 people) and “Lily Lake Dock” (max 10 people). Both sites require a wedding permit from RMNP. As a professional micro-wedding planner, I do NOT suggest the Lily Lake Dock, as it is located just off a popular parking area and tends to have a ton of people around. However, it is the only handicap accessible location in the park, so may be the best option for some groups. The Lily Lake Picnic Area is my top choice for larger groups, as it is set off the trail offering a bit of seclusion for the ceremony.

Jump to Wedding Sites

Best Month, Day & Time
The best time to get married at Lily Lake is mid June through mid October, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, at sunrise (when the park is the least busy). However, we do weddings at the park all year around, every day of the week, and sunset is also beautiful lighting for photos.

Jump to Best Month, Day & Time

Good to Know
The Lily Lake Dock is handicap accessible, the Picnic Area is not. Dogs are not allowed. Alcohol is allowed only at the picnic area. Amplified music is not allowed (acoustic is okay). Chairs and decorations are not allowed. There is no electrical outlets. There is designated parking, but it is not reserved. No throwing flowers or confetti. Lots more info…

Jump to FAQs

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

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Need Help Planning Your Lily Lake Wedding?

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I’ll work with you 1-on-1 to secure your park permit & fully plan your day.
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All-Inclusive Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding & Elopement Packages
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wedding at lily lake dock in rocky mountain national park

How-To Get Your RMNP Wedding Permit & Get Married at Lily Lake

Pick a date and time
Sunrise or sunset is always best for photos! Learn the best time to get married in Colorado.
Secure your RMNP wedding permit
You need to secure your permit directly from the park (click here), unless you’re working with a designated wedding planner (like me!). Rocky Mountain National Park requires a $300 special use permit for any weddings or other events in the park. Any vow exchange, ring exchange or anything that can be recognized as a ceremony (even without a photographer or officiant) requires this special use permit. Ceremonies are only allowed in sites designated by the park and each permit is for a 2 hour time slot. Dates for permits become available one year in advance. The National Park Service manages these permits all year round with dates from May-October selling out quickly.
Checkout our All-Inclusive Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Packages
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.
Finalize logistics and timeline
Leading up to the wedding, you’ll confirm arrival times, and plans for the day with your vendors and guests.
Get the 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. Larimer County has their own office in Estes Park. 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 Lily Lake. You’ll have the ceremony, sign the license, take photos, and then most groups simply head to a local restaurant to celebrate!

Lily Lake Picnic Area Rules

—Max group size is 30

—Max amount of vehicles 10

—Alcohol only allowed in the campground area

—-Dogs not allowed

—-Designated parking onsite, but NOT reserved

—-There is no electricity

—-No throwing flowers, confetti, etc.

Lily Lake Dock Wedding Rules

—Max group size is 10

—Max amount of vehicles 3

—Alcohol not allowed

—-Dogs not allowed

—-Designated parking onsite, but NOT reserved

—-There is no electricity

—-No throwing flowers, confetti, etc.

Best Day, Time, and Month

The best option is to get married at Lily Lake at sunrise or two hours before sunset, on a Monday or Tuesday, sometime between mid-June and mid-October.

What’s the Best Month to Get Married at Lily Lake?

Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful all year round, and we do weddings there all year round. Personal preference matters. Generally speaking, mid-June through mid-October is "peak" wedding season in Colorado for good weather and conditions, but Estes Park is very busy during this time, so plan to book lodging and dining in advance. If you want a winter wonderland, February–March would be best, but keep in mind Estes Park has no ski resorts, so winters are very slow up there, with many businesses closing—which is great if you're looking to have fewer people around!

January–April = Good for winter/snow weddings—Estes Park very slow.
Mid-June–mid-October = Good for non-winter weddings—Estes Park very busy.
May = Often muddy—but you beat the summer traffic!
Late September & early October = Fall colors—not so much at 3M, but in the area.

What’s the Best Time of Day to Get Married at Lily Lake?

Lily Lake has very little natural shade, so the best option for photo lighting is to opt for true sunrise, or two hours before sunset, simply Google “Sunset Estes Park [your date]” to see the time.

What’s the Best Day of the Week to Get Married at Lily Lake?

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

Lily Lake Wedding FAQs

What is the best place to get married in RMNP?

For groups with less than 15 guests, 3M curve is the best spot to get married in Rocky Mountain National Park, due to it’s dynamic mountain views, relative privacy, and accessibility. For larger groups, the best spot is Lily Lake Picnic Area, or Moraine Park Amphitheater. Click here for my full Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding & Elopement Guide.

Do you need a permit to get married at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park?

Yes. A Special Use Permit from Rocky Mountain National Park is required for weddings and elopements at Lily Lake. The permit must be approved before your ceremony takes place.

How much does a Rocky Mountain National Park wedding permit cost?

The administrative fee for a Rocky Mountain National Park wedding permit is $300.

How far in advance can you apply for a Lily Lake wedding permit?

Wedding permit applications are accepted up to one year in advance of your desired wedding month. Applications begin processing on the first day of that month.

How many guests are allowed at a Lily Lake wedding?

Lily Lake allows small ceremonies only. The group size limit is typically up to 10 people total, including the couple, guests, officiant, and photographer.

Is Lily Lake a private wedding location?

No. Lily Lake remains open to the public during your ceremony. Other visitors may be walking the trail, fishing, or enjoying the lake while your wedding is taking place.

Want a private ceremony site?
Checkout The Rocky Mountain Wedding & Elopement Park

Where do ceremonies take place at Lily Lake?

Ceremonies take place near the shoreline in designated areas. You cannot reserve a specific spot around the lake, and ceremonies must not block the trail or restrict public access.

Are chairs or decorations allowed at Lily Lake weddings?

No. Chairs, arches, decorations, signs, or furniture are not allowed at Lily Lake. Ceremonies must remain simple and leave no trace.

Are dogs allowed at Lily Lake weddings?

No. Dogs are not allowed at Lily Lake or on the surrounding trail, even for wedding ceremonies. This rule is strictly enforced within Rocky Mountain National Park.

Can we bring an arch or floral installation to Lily Lake?

No. Wedding arches, floral installations, and decorative structures are not permitted at Lily Lake.

Do vendors need separate permits for a Lily Lake wedding?

No. Your wedding permit covers your officiant and photographer. Vendors do not need individual permits, but all vendor activity must comply with park rules.

Can we take photos elsewhere in RMNP after our Lily Lake ceremony?

Yes. Once your wedding permit is approved, it allows you to take photos elsewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park on the same day, as long as you follow all park rules and access regulations.

Are drones allowed at Lily Lake weddings?

No. Drones are prohibited anywhere in Rocky Mountain National Park, including during wedding ceremonies and photo sessions.

Do we need a park entrance pass in addition to the wedding permit?

Yes. All vehicles entering Rocky Mountain National Park must have a valid park entrance pass or annual pass, even if you have a wedding permit.

More Info on RMNP’s Official Site

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