How to Have a Garden of the Gods Wedding

Do red rock formations against a beautiful mountain backdrop sound like the perfect setting for your wedding? This guide will give you all the info you need to pull off an amazing Garden of the Gods Wedding. We will go over all the rules, ceremony site options, and best places to include in your day. Literally everything you need to know to get married in this beautiful park. 

Reasons to Have a Garden of the Gods Wedding

• It’s free! Can you believe that you can have these world famous views as your wedding site for FREE?? 
• It’s unique landscape. I just love that you can have these Southwest desert vibes with a 14,000 ft mountain right behind it. The red rocks are so gorgeous and look amazing no matter the weather.
• It’s accessible. This is especially great for intimate weddings with over 25 people. There is a good amount of parking throughout the park and has options that are wheelchair accessible. 
• It’s in an amazing city. Colorado Springs is a great destination for an intimate wedding. There is something for everyone to do and has amazing places to stay and celebrate. Garden of the Gods is only a 15 minute drive from Downtown Colorado Springs and even closer to Manitou Springs if you want to be right at the base of Pikes Peak.
• It’s gorgeous year-round. If you are lucky enough for it to snow on or right before your wedding day in Garden of the Gods, you are in for a treat. Red rocks and white snow is unbelievably amazing. Due to its desert like vegetation, Garden of the Gods really doesn’t look too different from season to season, making it the perfect place to have an off-season wedding to get more privacy. 

How to Get Married in Garden of the Gods

Like anywhere, there are rules to getting married in Garden of the Gods. However, it’s super simple and reasonable. Garden of the Gods does not require you have a permit or reservation to have a wedding in the park. So. Simple. However, you do need to keep the ceremony brief (like no more than 30 minutes) and you can’t have decorations, chairs, or props. This is also only for the ceremony.

If you plan to have a reception, it will need to be off-site or a picnic style reception at the Scotsman or South Springs Canyon picnic areas. However, if you aren’t spending money on your ceremony site, there are some really cool places in Colorado Springs that will do a private dinner. I’ll tell you about it later on.

While getting married in Garden of the Gods is free, you do have to hold your wedding in certain parts of the park. In the next section, I’ll go through each of them. While your ceremony has to be in one of these spots, you can go to other places for photos. Which is nice for the two of you to have some time together and be surrounded by incredible views. 

There is no alcohol allowed in the park. Womp womp. If you are wanting to spray some champagne or have a beer, it will have to be somewhere else. 

You must follow Leave No Trace principles and stay off the vegetation, not throw rice or confetti, and they specifically mention you can’t release birds. NO BIRDS PEOPLE! You also can’t block off areas of the park or parking lots. This is a park free to the public and you need to respect other visitors who are, in fact, allowed to be there. 

Garden of the Gods Wedding Sites

Garden of the Gods has designated areas where wedding ceremonies are allowed to be held. All of them allow up to 25 guests, and there are 3 places that allow up to 50. Remember to include your photographer and any other vendors in the guest count! There isn’t a limit to the number of cars allowed, however try to condense to as few cars as possible. 

Jaycee Plaza Wedding Site

This is a great option for a scenic spot with lots of space to fit weddings with over 25 people. I like this spot because it’s a little off the main trail and while other visitors are allowed to be there, there really isn’t a reason to go in that part. It’s more natural for visitors to just continue on the main trail, especially once they see there is a wedding taking place. 

Jaycee Plaza is also right but some of the largest rocks in the park and is still very accessible. A great choice for a Garden of the Gods wedding.

High Point Wedding Site

This ceremony site is gorgeous and has the coolest rock formation that looks back in the line of red rocks that make up the main part of the park. High Point also has amazing views of Pikes Peak. Another huge plus is that there is a large parking lot right next to it. 

The one drawback is that it is a busy area and not a lot of places to be other than this specific spot. When I shoot there, I almost always see another photographer there with a couple or a family. However, this site allows for up to 50 people so in theory, if you are taking up a large portion of the parking lot it might not be as busy. 

I also like that this spot is close to another area I love to shoot that is much less busy.

South Spring Canyon Wedding Site

Honestly, I would only suggest this spot if you are having a small wedding with 15 people or less and are wanting privacy. This site allows for up to 50, but you’d have to be in the picnic area and it’s just not that scenic in my opinion. There are definitely better Garden of the Gods wedding spots.

Garden of the Gods Ceremony Sites for Micro Weddings of up to 25 people

If you are having a more intimate wedding, you can choose from any of the ceremony sites listed above, but you also have a few more options. 

Sentinal Plaza Wedding Site

I really like this area. The rock formations are really cool, it’s accessible for wheelchairs, and you can even climb these rocks if you have a permit. What a cool idea for an adventure wedding! This is a busy spot as well, I would suggest having the ceremony right by the rocks so that other people wouldn’t be in the background.

Three Graces Plaza Wedding Site

This might be my favorite of the ceremony sites for a Garden of the Gods wedding. You are just right in the rocks and it’s so cool. It is a busy spot, but I think you people would give you space during your ceremony.

Where to Have a Micro Wedding Reception in Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods does not allow you to hold receptions in the park unless you have them at the Scotsman Picnic or South Spring Canyon Picnic areas. I personally think there are better options. Especially now that you’ve gotten your iconic wedding site for free, allow me to give you some ideas to host an amazing celebration afterwards in Colorado Springs.

Kinship Landing Greenhouse Wedding Reception

I LOVE this option. Especially if you and your guests are staying at the hotel. You can rent out the greenhouse or even the outdoor patio and get amazing options for food and drinks from Homa Cafe. It makes things so easy and it’s such a pretty space with lots of natural light and plants everywhere.

Almagre Wedding Reception at the Bar

While this is a wedding venue, they do allow you to rent out the bar area for private events. It’s very trendy and a perfect place to host an intimate gathering.

Airbnb Backyard Wedding Reception

Before you decide on this, you have to clear this with the owner. I also only suggest this for smaller micro weddings. I love this option for making it feel more intimate and cozy. There is just something about being at a house that makes things feel more relaxing. You can hire a private chef and have a super intimate and delicious celebration.

Micro Wedding or Elopement Styled Picnic

I think this option is so fun and luxurious. Imagine walking up to a beautifully designed and comfy picnic in the woods. You guys. My Colorado Springs micro wedding packages make this easier than ever with a planning consult included to help you explore your options to elevate your elopement or wedding.

Brewery Wedding Reception

I mean, who doesn’t love craft beer? This is one of the best parts of Colorado Springs. I love this option for a unique, laid back wedding reception. Some of my favorites that have a really cool environment are FH Beerworks, The Barrel or Wildcat Room at Bristol Brewing, Local Relic, Goat Patch, and Pikes Peak.

Garden of the Gods Elopement Locations

If you are Eloping in Garden of the Gods, you don’t need to have your ceremony in one of the designated areas. Here’s the thing about Garden of the Gods, it’s a popular place. BUT if you are eloping, you have more flexibility for time of day and going to less crowded spots in this beautiful park. Here are some of my favorites:

• The Balanced Rock area, especially for a sunrise.
• Siamese Twins Trail
• Susan G Bretag Trail
• Palmer Trail
• Ridge Trail, Love this spot for sunsets

Garden of the Gods Wedding and Elopement Packages

Whether you’re eloping or having a micro wedding, my photography packages are designed to make your entire experience easy, stress free, and have an unforgettable day. Garden of the Gods is right down the road from where I live. I know it well and I know how to give you tips to have the best wedding day. Because I live in and love Colorado Springs, I have Colorado Springs Elopement and Micro Wedding packages that include even more than my other packages. With these packages you get everything that comes with my normal photography and planning, but you also get luxury florals from Amber Mustain Floral Design, a design and planning consultation consultation with a local elopement planner Wandering with Claire, and a gift box with Colorado Springs goodies.

Something unique about my Colorado Springs elopement and micro wedding packages is that I have options to also help plan the design. I’ve teamed up with the best vendors in Colorado Springs to elevate your elopement experience. From locations, timeline, and activity ideas to style planning, design, and florals. We make it SO easy and dreamy to have a magical wedding day in Garden of the Gods.

Meet your Garden of the God’s Elopement Photographer