Best Places to Elope in Colorado

My Top 10 Picks for the Best Places to Elope in Colorado

Between photographing elopements and adventuring all across Colorado, here are my top picks for the best places to elope! Colorado offers so much diversity in landscapes making it the perfect state to have an adventurous wedding day that is accommodating for everyone. Whether you decide to hike, drive a mountain pass, or find a secluded airbnb, I’ve got you covered. 

1. Telluride
2. Crested Butte
3. Great Sand Dunes National Park
4. Garden of the Gods
5. Breckenridge
6. Indian Peak Wilderness
7. Maroon Bells
8. Ouray
9. Durango
10. Rocky Mountain National Park

Picking the Best Place to Elope

Before we dive in. Let me break down the different regions for you. We’ve got Northern Colorado which will be the locations closest to Denver. Central Colorado that will give quite a mix of terrain. What I like to call the Ski town region with endless options for hikes and things to do. And my personal favorite, the San Juan Region in Southwest Colorado. 

Northern Colorado Elopement Locations

First up, Northern Colorado. What I love about the elopement locations in this region is their accessibility from Denver. A lot of eloping couples are flying into DIA and don’t want to drive long hours to get to a different part of the state. There are so many great places to have an adventurous elopement day with breathtaking views.

In this region, you could elope in places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder, Indian Peak Wilderness or even the top of a 14 thousand foot mountain. Boulder and Estes Park are super fun towns to visit and have access to some of the best hikes and views in the state.

Favorite places to elope

Some of my favorites include Dream Lake, Sky Pond, Lake Isabelle, and if you’re up for a multi-day backpacking elopement let’s do Cascade Creek Trail to Crater Lake for some of Colorado’s most unique mountains. 

Not wanting to hike on your elopement day? No problem! This region has some incredible mountain passes with breathtaking views and no sweat involved! My favorites are Trail Ridge Road, Flagstaff Mountain, Guanella Pass, or you can ever drive to the top of a 14er on the road to Mount Evans. 

Colorado Ski Town Elopement Locations

Ski Towns! This region is great for eloping because there is so much to do in these areas. I like to advise couples to think about their trip as a whole and not just their elopement or wedding day. These areas have tons of places to hike, bike, paddle-board, kayak, ski, you name it! Not to mention all the fun restaurants, craft breweries, and distilleries. If you are looking for a laid back feel, stay in Breckenridge, Frisco, Winter Park, or Leadville. If you want to boujee it up, Aspen, Vail and Beaver Creek are going to be more your style.

Envisioning a winter wonderland? You could even elope slope-side as you ski or snowboard some of the country’s best mountains. Don’t worry, I’m totally down to come along on my snowboard and capture the fun!

Between all the epic mountain passes and gorgeous hikes, it’s easy to find the right adventure for every couple. Because there is so much to do, this area is the most popular region and one of the best places to elope in Colorado.

Where to elope

Some of my favorite spots include the Maroon Bells in Aspen, Sapphire Point in Dillon, Loveland Pass, and Berthoud Pass. There are so many lesser known places that offer more privacy that I love to share with couples who elope with me. One last thing, these areas are still reasonably close to Denver for all the bonus points!

Central Colorado Elopement Locations

Next up, Central Colorado. Probably the most diverse part of the state. Here, we’ve got places like the Great Sand Dunes National Park, Garden of the Gods, Crested Butte, and the Collegiate Peak region. From desert to red rock to lush wildflower mountain-sides, I’ve got a lot to cover for this region.

Crested Butte Elopements

Let’s start with Crested Butte. Yes, this is also a ski town, just more isolated than the others. This is one of my favorite mountain towns, especially in the Summer. There are so many gorgeous mountains in all directions, plus they are known for the insane amount of wildflowers that begin to bloom in mid-July through early August. The town itself is really cute, has good food, and just makes an incredible place for an elopement trip. While the Summer is incredible, Crested Butte also has a lot of Fall color and it is one of the top places I recommend to couples wanting to elope in the Fall. There are lots of hiking elopement options as well as drive-able locations like Kebler Pass. Therefore, Crested Butte makes a seriously amazing place to elope.

Colorado Desert Elopements

If you like desert and mountains, places like the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Garden of the Gods offer you a unique landscape with the best of both. At the sand dunes you can camp and see some of the best stars in the state…hello star photos! There is just something so cool about being on a mountain of sand and looking up to an epic mountain range all within the same view. Similarly, Garden of the Gods is nestled right at the base of Pikes Peak and has huge red rock formations and a Southwest feel. Both are accessible for those wanting to elope with a small group of your most important people. 

Buena Vista Elopements

Lastly, the Collegiate Peak region with towns like Buena Vista, Salida, and Twin Lakes. Love this area. You have Mt Princeton Hot Springs and various river activities. Good food and cute places to stay. This area is so fun and still has a Southwestern feel along with some of Colorado’s gorgeous 14ers. Not to mention some amazing mountain passes and alpine lakes that you can access in the Summer and Fall.

Best places to elope in Southwestern Colorado

The San Juan region is my favorite part of the state hands down. The mountains here are dramatic, colorful, jagged, and all around awe-inspiring. You seriously feel like you are in Europe, but without the jetlag. Because I’m so obsessed, I actually cut out at least a week every year to only shoot in this part of Colorado (cough cough, contact me for deets)! In this area, you can stay in super fun towns like Telluride, Durango, and Ouray. 

Telluride Elopements

What I love about Telluride is that you are boxed in with huge mountains all around. Because of this, the town itself has gorgeous views. It’s historic buildings are really cute and has lots of places to eat and drink (There… is my favorite). Not to mention all the amazing hiking with trailheads right in town. The gondola is free and open until midnight which is great if you are staying in Mountain Village, plus the views from the ride are breathtaking! The options are endless for epic places to elope here. Whether you want to hike, Jeep up an awesome mountain pass, or even find a drive-able location without any need for a high clearance vehicle. 

Durango, Ouray, and Silverton Elopements

Durango is a great place to elope with a fun downtown area with an old western feel. It sits at the other end of the infamous Million Dollar Highway winding through some of the most incredible mountains into Ouray. Speaking of which, Ouray is home to some of the most scenic mountain passes in Colorado with access to some freaking amazing hikes. An adventurer’s paradise and the perfect place for your elopement! You can even hire a professional driver if you don’t want feel comfortable navigating these insane mountain passes. 

Western Slope Elopements

Lastly, the Western Slope. Technically this refers to anything west of the Continental Divide, but I’m going to use it to refer to Colorado’s desert-like areas. The Grand Mesa, Glenwood Canyon (home to Hanging Lake) and Gateway would all give you those desert vibes for a unique Colorado elopement.

Choosing the best Colorado Elopement Package

Voila! Now you know the BEST places to elope in Colorado. What’s next? Finding the right elopement package to ensure the story of your epic wedding day is captured in all it’s glory. Your elopement day coverage can be so much more than a quick ceremony and a few pics. THIS IS THE DAY YOU GET MARRIED! Let’s make it an adventure.

My elopement packages are designed based around your experience, not a photoshoot. I’m there to help you build a day that’s exciting to the two of you, recommend the best locations and ideas, and document your day in a way that tells the full story. With the intimate nature of elopements and small weddings, these might be the only images from your day. Let’s make sure to capture what you want to remember and share for years to come. I even have add ons to help create an even more incredible experience like a fully designed picnic or table set up. SO dreamy!

Why invest in a full day elopement package

These packages range from 4 hours to multi-day adventures. For the best elopement day experience, I recommend going with my sunrise + sunset package. You get a double dose of the best light with a longer break in between. Full day elopements or more offer the most flexibility and laid back experience. I know that can sound excessive to someone wanting to keep it simple and chill, but you’ll find that when you have more time, you have more freedom in your day to relax and soak it in. While half day elopements are still incredible, they do feel a little more limited.

If you really want to elevate your experience, add on one of my elopement design packages. My design team will work with you to artistically style your day to tell your story and give you the dreamiest day ever. From help with the details to walking up to a luxury picnic and getting to completely relax while we take care of the details. Let’s make this the best date of your life!

This is your wedding day, having the time and space to relax, explore, and enjoy your time together without restrictions is worth it!

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