Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs
Wedding Guide & Elopement Packages
Garden of the Gods is a stunning park located on the west side of Colorado Springs. When you visit, you’ll be able to see some of Colorado’s most striking red rock formations, and take in beautiful views of Pikes Peak, and the surrounding foothills.
Getting there
To get to Garden of the Gods, you’ll take the Garden of the Gods Road exit off of I-25, then take 30th Street south to the eastern park entrance. There are several parking lots at different landmarks throughout the park (take a peek at this map to help you plan your visit). Trails and rock formations are labeled as you drive the one way loop route.
Restrooms are only available at the Main Visitor Center, Rock Ledge Historic Site, and the Main Parking Lot (P2 on the driving loop). So, plan accordingly!
Wedding permit? …nope!
If you are planning to host a ceremony with less than 50 people, you can have a ceremony at one of the approved park wedding sites for free. Yep, we said FREE.
No reservation or permit is required to have a wedding at Garden of the Gods. You can just show up! But, with that comes some cons as well. There are often multiple weddings happening every day in the park, and since no one can make reservations, you can’t guarantee your location is open at the time you arrive with your guests. You also can’t reserve parking spots, or bring in any decorations or structures.
Group sizes
The park requires that ceremonies be small and brief. Each location approved for weddings has a guest limit (up to 50 guests), but realistically if you have a group larger than 15-20 people, parking and space for everyone to stand is going to be an issue. It’s also courteous to other people getting married to keep it short and move on to other areas of the park when you’re done.
Public Access
The park is open to the public, and no areas can be reserved. That means people are perfectly welcome to walk through your ceremony site, take a selfie with the view, and move on. If that’s not something you want on your wedding day, Garden of the Gods might not be the best elopement spot for you! Parking spots also can’t be reserved (and that includes standing in the parking spots while you’re waiting for Uncle Joe to FINALLY get there). Most of the parking areas are small, with no more than 2-3 spaces open at any given time.
Dogs in Garden of the Gods Park
Good news!! Unlike National Parks, Garden of the Gods allows your dog to come with you to your wedding ceremony. They must be on a 6’ leash and the park asks that you clean up after your pet. There are trash cans located at most trailheads and parking lots.
Photography permit?
Photographers also don’t need a permit if you have hired them to take photos of your elopement in Garden of the Gods. Drones are not allowed in Garden of the Gods unless specific written approval has been given by the park in advance.
Colorado Micro-Wedding & Elopement Packages
Starting at $1,200
—Officiant (starting at $275)
—Photography (starting at $450)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $400)
Everything you need for a beautiful and stress-free small wedding!
All-Inclusive | 100% Customizable | 0 - 80 Guests
Vendors | Venues | Marriage License | Permits | Dining | Lodging
Wedding Sites in Garden of the Gods Park
The park only allows ceremonies in a few specific locations. You can find out more information on the city website, but we’ve summarized details about the different sites below! Check out this map of the locations to give you a sense of how far each of the spots is from parking, and other viewpoints in the park.
High Point - 50 people allowed (we suggest no more than 20)
This is our favorite site in the park for wedding ceremonies. The parking lot is right next to some of the most beautiful views in all of Colorado. There are multiple flat areas nearby for wedding guests to stand while you say your vows, and it is easy to find a spot that’s tucked away for more privacy (and we know how to find the best ones). However, this is one of the busiest overlooks in the park. The parking lot is often full, and there may be multiple elopements happening simultaneously!
While the parking lot and sidewalk is paved, the areas you’ll need to walk on to access our favorite ceremony sites are not, so we don’t consider this area accessible. There’s no seating at this site, and there are no restrooms.
Three Graces Plaza - 25 people allowed
If you’re up for a slightly further walk, Three Graces might be a great fit for your ceremony. You’ll park at lot P7 then walk about a quarter mile on paved paths to get to the plaza. The site is sandwiched between two tall rock formations, with a view north to the Kissing Camels. This area is more private, and less busy than High Point. You may still have people walk past, but there are fewer people just parking to take a selfie with the view.
The paths are paved up to the ceremony site, but the site itself is in between the rock formations, so it’s not fully accessible. There aren’t restrooms at the trailhead or in the parking lot.
Jaycee Plaza/Chuckwagon Pavilion - 50 people allowed
This site is a short walk on paved paths from the main parking lot. If you have a larger group, the P2 lot is the only one that has parking for a larger number of guests. The site itself is a round paved area with small rock walls right under the Kissing Camels formation. It’s really breathtaking to stand at the base of the massive red wall, especially when it’s catching the morning light at sunrise. It’s fully accessible, has restrooms, and there are accessible parking spaces.
Sentinel Plaza/Central Gardens - 25 people allowed (we suggest no more than 10)
Central Gardens at Garden of the Gods
If you walk a little further down the main path past Jaycee Plaza, there is a smaller paved area where you can stand right up against the rocks! That’s Sentinel Plaza. If you’re truly following the rules and not obstructing the trail for other people, you can really only get ten guests in this spot. It’s much smaller than Jaycee, but it feels very intimate and we can’t overstate how cool it is to stand right in the rock formation!
It’s further from parking than Jaycee, but it can also be accessed from the dedicated accessible parking lot at P4.
Scotsman Picnic Area - 25 people allowed (we suggest no more than 15)
If you’re fine being a little further from the rock formations and the main area of the park, this picnic area is really pretty. It has its own parking lot, and paved paths to several picnic tables. You can find a nice spot on any of the nearby trails for your ceremony.
South Spring Canyon Area - 50 people allowed (we suggest no more than 25 due to parking)
Spring Canyon South Picnic Area
This area is similar to the Scotsman Picnic Ground, but faces west so you get better views of the mountains rather than the rock formations. It also has some picnic tables scattered throughout, and a big parking lot. Access to the southern part of the park is easier from here, so if you want to visit the Siamese Twins for your photos, this is a great jumping off point!
Elopement Rules in Garden of the Gods
These rules are in place for all weddings and elopements in Garden of the Gods. It’s a beautiful park that thousands of people enjoy every year, so let’s keep it that way. You can see more about the park and how to best enjoy it on their website, but these are the rules you’ll need to follow while you’re there.
No receptions except in designated (reserved) picnic areas
No alcohol
No blocking areas or parking spots
No tables, tents, arches, decorations, or trellises
Do not throw confetti, rice, birdseed, etc.
Wedding must be at one of the approved wedding sites, and not exceed their capacity recommendations
Best Photo Locations in Garden of the Gods
High Point Overlook - Less than ¼ Mile Walk - P9
This is also our favorite ceremony location! There’s the most breathtaking views of the main rock formations from this area, as well as stunning views of Pikes Peak. You can’t go wrong with any direction, and it’s gorgeous at sunrise and sunset. Since this area is so busy, we recommend sunrise on weekends, or choosing a weekday evening for your elopement.
Three Sister’s Plaza - ¼ Mile Walk - P7
Another one of the wedding sites, this location is for you if you want to feel like you’re right in the middle of a rock canyon. You also get some great views to the north, but it’s not as great as High Point for the 360 epic landscape.
Easter Rock - ¼ Mile Walk - P8
If you want a less visited photo op, this spot is perfect! It’s a little quieter and has it’s own dedicated parking area. You’ll be walking on narrow hiking trails rather than wide paths, and it’s more rocky. At the top, you get views of the rock formations to the north, and beautiful views to the west of the mountains.
Giant’s Footprints - ¼ Mile Walk - P11
Like Easter Rock, this area is much quieter, and more of a hike than a walk! Once you get to the top of the area, you’ll get stunning views east towards the main rock formations in the park like the Kissing Camels, but you can still see the mountains to the east as well!
Siamese Twins - ½ Mile Walk - P14
One of the coolest rock formations in the park, but you’ll take a longer uphill loop-style hike to get there. Be ready to get your boots on and hike up your dress for this one. Once you’re there, the twins make for a cool, otherworldly backdrop with epic views out to the foothills.
“Mesa Overlook” - ¼ Mile
This is one of our favorite “secret spots” and gives you views out over the top of the park with the Kissing Camels right in front of Pikes Peak. Layers on layers of epic landscape and stunning scenery!!
Planning Tips for your Elopement
What to Wear
Because Garden of the Gods is mostly red sandstone and rocky terrain, be prepared for some dust, and maybe don’t rock those open toed stilettos. A lower wedge or blocky heel will save you, and shoes with traction (not those slick dress shoes) will help you get to the cooler spots for photos!
Best Season for your Elopement
Spring - in Garden of the Gods is gorgeous, and is our favorite time of the year there. The foliage is all bright green and contrasts the red rocks beautifully. It’s also not as hot as the mid-summer months, but the rain can be a little unpredictable. We do still sometimes get snow in April and May in Colorado!
Summer - is beautiful in the park, but be prepared for some heat and monsoon rainstorms. While the storms are short, they can roll up on you fast and put down a lot of water. It can be quite hot in the summer afternoons, so consider a sunrise ceremony to avoid the heat.
Fall - you can’t really go wrong with any season, because fall is beautiful as well. The weather tends to be a little milder than summer, and the afternoon thunderstorms aren’t as common. You will start to feel the cold as soon as the sun goes down, so be prepared with some extra layers if you’re wanting those gorgeous sunset photos!
Winter - We love winter in Garden of the Gods! The snow on the red rocks is absolutely breathtaking, and it makes the mountain views even better. But, it does get cold, and it might even be actively snowing! Dress warm, and plan on taking some warm up breaks in the car during your photos.
What time of day to have your Elopement
Sunrise - in the park is beautiful, and we can’t express enough how nice it can be to have the park to yourself at some of the more high traffic locations like High Point Overlook. In fact, sunrise is the best time for a ceremony there on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Kissing Camels formation is also beautiful when the light catches it from the east in the mornings.
Sunset - and Golden Hour are the best for your elopement, especially if you have guests. Good luck getting them up with you for your sunrise ceremony! But, we don’t recommend any of the more popular ceremony sites at sunset during the warmer months on the weekends. Stick to a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday for your elopement.
Prepare for Colorado Weather
We get wild weather in Colorado. The location of Colorado Springs right at the base of the foothills means weather rolls in fast and can change on a dime. We’ve started a ceremony off in the sunshine, then finished it in torrential rain. So what do you do to prepare for the weather for your Garden of the Gods elopement? First off, clear umbrellas will be your best friend! Grab them off of Amazon, and get enough for everyone in your wedding party (or one per couple).
It can also be quite windy at High Point Overlook in the afternoons. Hairstyles that keep your hair tucked back away from your face are best. Keep in mind that you are outside, and you’ll be taking your posed family portraits without shelter. So every hair may not be perfectly in place. But, hey, that’s the fun of an adventure elopement, right?
If your elopement is in the winter, it might be 50 degrees and sunny, or it could be 10 degrees with a -20 degree windchill! Be ready to add some layers to your elopement outfits. Check out REI Co-Op for some affordable options if you don’t already have layers! Oh, and please wear boots. No one needs frostbitten toes on their wedding day.
Elevation & Altitude Sickness
This is a PSA for most areas of Colorado, but the elevation of Garden of the Gods is 6,400 feet. Some people may experience altitude sickness traveling from sea level, especially older guests. People can have very different levels of altitude tolerance, so while you feel fine, there may be a guest or two who struggle more than others. Canned oxygen can be found at most gas stations nearby, and helps a lot.
Getting Married in Colorado
Great news, you don’t need an officiant to get legally married in Garden of the Gods, or anywhere in Colorado. You can either self solemnize, or have an officiant perform your ceremony. You’ll need to get a Colorado marriage license, and El Paso County is the closest Clerk & Recorder to Garden of the Gods.
Getting your marriage license in El Paso County
You can apply online for your marriage license, but you still have to pick up the license in person once you get to Colorado. You’ll need a form of photo ID and your social security number to get your license. Once you have it, you can sign it during your elopement with your officiant, or by yourselves if you are self solemnizing.
Colorado Micro-Wedding & Elopement Packages
Starting at $1,200
—Officiant (starting at $275)
—Photography (starting at $450)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $400)
Everything you need for a beautiful and stress-free small wedding!
All-Inclusive | 100% Customizable | 0 - 80 Guests
Vendors | Venues | Marriage License | Permits | Dining | Lodging
