Colorado Elopements in Breathtaking Outdoor Locations
With its abundant sunshine and spectacular Rocky Mountains, Colorado is an idyllic place for a simple and heartfelt outdoor mountain elopement. However, planning your Colorado elopement can feel overwhelming when you face the challenge of organizing all the details on your own. This is especially true if you’re planning your wedding from a distance. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to eloping in Colorado! Finding that perfectly secluded mountain venue, connecting with a photographer that knows Colorado, who specializes in elopements and whose style matches what you’re envisioning, and coordinating all the other countless details that go into making your wedding day amazing can be massively stressful and suck the life right outta ya!
All-Inclusive Elopement Packages in Colorado
Our topnotch local photographers will document every detail of your Colorado elopement.
That’s why I curate all-inclusive Colorado elopement packages. Problem solved! My name is Maureen Thomson and I’ve created elopement packages for Colorado that combine unparalleled professional wedding vendors, hands-on coordination, and access to secluded outdoor venues with breathtaking views. They are tailored to create an effortless, flawless small wedding experience in sunny Colorado. Since 2002, together with my photographer husband, Jeremy, I’ve perfected the art of planning elopements in Colorado and bringing couples’ wedding visions to reality.
How do you even begin to plan your Colorado elopement?
It’s okay–I get that question a lot. You’re probably traveling to elope in Colorado from another state or country and don’t have a clue about how to get started. How do you go about finding a gorgeous outdoor venue that won’t be mobbed with tourists? How do you ensure you’re booking the highest quality elopement wedding professionals? Where do you find that talented photographer that truly understands how important stunning wedding-day pictures are to the two of you? And what questions are you even supposed to ask? Blue Sky Colorado elopement packages cover every detail, so you don’t have to manage (or worry about! 😊) all the moving parts on your own.
If you’re ready to start planning your Colorado elopement, or you simply want to brainstorm options with me, send me an email and I’ll send you a custom proposal right away.
Outdoor elopement packages in Colorado for all four seasons.
How to find the best Colorado elopement package for you
Elopements have been my specialty since I started Blue Sky Elopements in 2002. I don’t aspire to be the best fit for every couple that wants to elope in Colorado. But there is a certain type of couple that generally finds Blue Sky to be a good fit for what they’re seeking.
My clients tend to be busy professionals who want three things: prompt and thorough communication; the highest quality services; and a secluded place to have a mountain wedding. They have no interest in DIYing their Colorado elopement or attempting to handle all the details on their own. If the following sounds like you, maybe we should talk!
- You want an outdoor elopement in Colorado with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. Yet you dislike being the center of attention and don’t want hordes of onlookers staring at you when you say “I do.“
- You have no desire to go cheap for your Colorado elopement. You may have shrunk your guest list, but you’re not going to sacrifice quality. There’s a huge difference between cutting costs and cutting corners!
- You’re super busy and have zero interest in overseeing all your wedding details. You want it handled by true professionals.
- You want the absolute best wedding photography to document your day. After all, all those people you didn’t invite to your wedding will want to see your photos!
- You don’t want to take on the exhausting process of wading through all the red tape to apply for a permit for your venue. (Blue Sky Elopements will handle all of that for you.)
How to elope in Colorado
Jeremy and I had our own Colorado elopement in 2007.
The biggest challenges most couples face when they decide to elope to Colorado are:
- Not knowing how to begin the process of finding the best place to elope in Colorado.
- They are having difficulty finding quality, Colorado-based wedding vendors that are willing to provide services for elopement weddings.
- They don’t live in Colorado and planning an elopement from out of the area feels overwhelming.
- They don’t have time to handle all the details inherent in planning a wedding.
That’s where Blue Sky Colorado elopement packages come in. In addition to handling all the details (and clueing you in to what you might not think to ask), I’ve cultivated a hand-picked list of experienced, Colorado-based photographers, officiants, florists, and hair and makeup artists. And my vendors guarantee to provide the same quality services as they offer to couples that book a 200 person wed-a-palooza! Jeremy and I have personally combed the entire state to offer you little-known and private Colorado elopement wedding venues so your intimate wedding will be as secluded as possible.
Your Guide to Eloping in Colorado
I try to make the process of eloping in Colorado as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Here’s how it works:
- Check out my Pricing Page to make sure we’re within your budget.
- Send me an inquiry and tell me what you’re envisioning for your Colorado elopement.
- I’ll personally send you a custom proposal along with a price quote.
- Set up a complimentary consultation call with me.
- Get started with me on our Location Consulting Services to find the perfect-for-you place to elope in Colorado.
- Once you choose your venue, confirm the elopement package you want from us. Then, I’ll assign your vendors.
- Complete and submit our online contract.
- Blue Sky’s personal coordinator, Heather Miller, and each of your wedding vendors will contact you in a day or two. Heather will oversee the entire process and be your go-to person up through the wedding day. And, of course, I’m always here if you need me, too.
- Elope in Colorado, and have the experience of a lifetime!
And yes, we’re honored to perform same-sex weddings in Colorado.
There are a ton of behind-the-scenes details we’ll be handling for you. But you won’t need to worry about those. Heather will also reach out to you during the planning process at the right time for you to complete some tasks (like giving us your preferences for flowers and hair and makeup). Throughout the entire process, Heather, Maureen, Jeremy and your wedding vendors will only be a call, text or email away if you have any questions.
Want to get started on an elopement in Colorado?
Yea! I can’t wait to hear more! Please send me an inquiry and I’ll take it from there. I generally respond within a couple hours–maybe a litle longer if it’s a weekend.
Where can you elope in Colorado?
Of course, you can go to the Colorado elopement locations that everyone has heard of, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods and Sapphire Point. However, these places tend to be very crowded with hikers, people walking their dogs, and photographers vying for a spot to get that one-in-a-million shot. You can secure a permit for some of these elopement sites, but a wedding permit does not give you exclusive use of the site, nor does it allow you to ask members of the public to leave if they are milling about in the space where you want to be married. A permit simply allows you to have your wedding at the site.
We offer elopement packages in Colorado year-round.
So, while we’re happy to perform your wedding at any of the above Colorado elopement venues, there are many, many more lesser-known options for you that are equally–if not more–beautiful. (And substantially less crowded!) And no, they don’t require a hike to access (although we’re happy to do that too, if you prefer to have a Colorado adventure elopement). Many sites are on public lands and therefore free to use.
If you prefer a more exclusive intimate wedding experience, I also work with several private elopement venues in Colorado.
Colorado areas served by Blue Sky Elopements
Blue Sky Elopements specializes in outdoor elopement venues in Colorado that feature jaw-dropping views and stunning natural backdrops. Most couples who elope in Colorado are seeking a mountain view, but I also offer elopement venues that feature alpine lakes, forests, streams, rivers, wildflower-strewn meadows, waterfalls, and Colorado’s famous red rock formations.
Blue Sky Elopements serves the entire Front Range Area (Denver/Boulder and as far south as Colorado Springs) as well as the mountain communities of Breckenridge (by far the most popular place to elope in Colorado), Estes Park (including Rocky Mountain National Park, and further west to Vail, and the town and mountains of Telluride.
Colorado offers more than mountains for your elopement. We’ve got rivers, creeks, alpine lakes, waterfalls and gorgeous wooded areas, too.
Other Questions I Get About Eloping in Colorado
How much does it cost to elope in Colorado?
- There are many variables when it comes to the cost of your elopement package. Blue Sky’s elopement package pricing for Colorado starts at $3,250. You can get a general idea of pricing for your particular request by visiting our pricing page. However, for the most accurate price range for eloping in Colorado, please contact me for a custom proposal.
What’s the best time of year to elope in Colorado?
- Ah! The answer to that question is as varied as the couples I serve. Colorado is a four-season elopement state. Summers in the Rocky Mountains are cool; winter elopements are glorious; fall offers stunning yellow aspen trees. Spring can be tricky–it depends on your location. You should expect snow underfoot in the Colorado High Country from December through May. Therefore, many of our elopements in Colorado in spring are at lower elevations (like Denver and Colorado Springs). Perhaps the least desirable month to elope in Colorado is November–especially early November. Unless we have an earlier snowfall, early November can be a bit brown and lifeless.
Is there an optimal time to elope in Colorado to get the best color from the aspens?
- Many couples elope in Colorado in the fall in order to take advantage of our brilliant yellow aspen trees. Timing on that is a little tricky to predict as it depends on a bunch of meteorological conditions that I am not qualified to discuss. It also depends on where in Colorado you choose to get married. The higher the elevation, the earlier the aspen leaves change color. Generally speaking, aspens start turning a glorious yellow in the Colorado High Country in mid-September. That trickles down to the Denver area by mid- to late-October.
Colorado’s aspens are gorgeous in autumn.
How does Blue Sky help with planning my Colorado elopement?
- We don’t just “help” with planning. We handle every aspect of planning and coordination of your elopement in Colorado from Day One to the wedding day. There’s too much to list here, but I’ll hit the highlights: helping you find a secluded place to exchange vows, securing any needed permits, assigning and coordinating all your wedding vendors, handling all vendor payments, answering all of your questions throughout the process, getting your preferences for flowers and then ordering them for you, setting up appointments for bridal hair and makeup, giving you dining recommendations, and providing guidance on how to obtain your marriage license. Three weeks before your wedding, you’ll have a final wrap up call with Heather to review the process and answer any final questions you have. Then, she’ll create a detailed day-of-wedding timeline and send it over to you, the venue, and all your vendors. She’ll also give you detailed turn by turn directions so you can easily get from your lodging to your ceremony site. Shortly before the wedding, we start watching the weather for you so we can intervene in case any nasty forecasts are on the horizon. The day before the wedding, Heather contacts the florist to make sure your flower order is ready. Then on the morning of your wedding day, she will check in with every vendor to make sure they’re good to go. After hearing from each vendor, she’ll text you a “thumbs up” so you can relax and enjoy the day. And of course, Heather is available to you by phone and text throughout your wedding day in case you need her for anything. And none of the above takes into consideration how invaluable a personal coordinator can be in the event that something goes wrong before or on your wedding day. Heather is there for you in case of unforeseen glitches. As you can see, we leave nothing to chance.
You can self-solemnize your wedding in Colorado.
How are our vendors assigned? Do you give us a list to choose from?
- This question comes up a lot. I understand that it can be scary to plan a wedding from afar and simply go on blind trust that your vendors are going to be fabulous, and your photos stunning. Some couples think they have more control when they can choose their actual vendors from a list. We don’t do it that way, and here’s why. Couples that book our services don’t want the hassle of researching, interviewing and vetting individual vendors. If you want to go that route, that’s perfectly fine, but you don’t need us in that case. We’ve utilized our professional expertise to do all of that for you. Then we put together a carefully curated list of the absolute best vendors to meet your needs. Please see our gallery of Colorado elopement photos at the bottom of this page. I think you’ll agree that they are all magnificent even though they were shot by different photographers. Jeremy recruits all of our vendors, and for photographers, he insists they adhere to his standards in shooting, editing and processing your images. He also reviews all of your images before you ever see them. Additionally, we don’t have a ton of vendors in each area. Because our standards are so high, we may have one or two providers of each service offered. We’re more about quality than quantity.
How much photography time do I need in my elopement package?
- Our minimum photo time is 90 minutes. That is for couple-only elopements. Anything less than that and we can’t fully tell the story of your day. Add guests and the time will increase to 2 hours for 1-15 guests and 2.5 hours for 16-30 guests. Many couples add more photography time to capture them getting ready, cutting their cake and toasting, or featuring them in around-town photos. Adventure elopements in Colorado (hiking, snowmobiling, or our elope on the slopes) require more photography time. We can also document your entire wedding day in photos if that’s what you want. Just let me know.
Do you offer black and white photos?
- Yep! Just tell your photographer that you want all of some of your images in black and white and they will do that for you at no additional charge.
When do we get our photos?
- Your photos will be delivered to you digitally within 30 days of your wedding. Images are fully edited, in high resolution (not thumbnails) and you have full usage rights (i.e. there is no watermark on them and you don’t have to order images from us).
What’s the best time of day to get the best photos?
- Unless you’re a morning person and want a sunrise elopement (which we’re happy to do), most couples want to take advantage of the golden hour for photography, which is the last two hours leading up to sunset. I’ll advise you on the best time of day once you choose your date and venue.
Eloping in Colorado is idyllic at any time of year.
How far in advance do I need to book an elopement package in Colorado?
- Most of our couples book their Colorado elopement package with us between 6-18 months in advance. Any more time than that and we can’t guarantee pricing that far out. Anything less than three months means we need to hustle to make it happen. It’s doable at that point (assuming we have openings for your date), but since we’re all about giving you a stress-free Colorado elopement, we don’t want you to feel like you have to rush. If you absolutely must elope in Colorado and your only have a few weeks notice, check out our last-minute elopements for Colorado and see if that will work for you.
Do most places to elope in Colorado require a permit?
- Fortunately, no. Most places to elope in Colorado are permit-free, especially if it’s just the two of you, or you only have a handful of guests. Generally, the only public places to elope in Colorado that require a paid permit are those affiliated with the parks system (Rocky Mountain National Park, Sapphire Point Overlook, etc.). Private sites, of course, usually charge a fee. If the site you choose requires a permit, we will roll that cost into your Blue Sky Colorado Elopements package and we will obtain the permit for you. There is no charge for this service.
Can I have guests?
- Yes. We work with weddings of up to 30 guests.
We have older parents and/or guests that can’t walk that far. Do your sites require a hike?
- Most of our sites are easily accessible. For our location consulting services, each site info sheet indicates the length of the walk to get there. I always chat with couples about their guests’ mobility levels before I suggest a site. Of course, if it’s just the two of you and you want a hiking adventure elopement, we can do that too. The trick is to match the site to the abilities of everyone in attendance.
Our Colorado elopement photographers will ensure you get gorgeous images to document your day.
Can I bring a marriage license from my home state?
- No. If you are eloping in Colorado, you need a Colorado marriage license. They cost $30. You must get the license together in person prior to the wedding day. Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office and most of them are not open on weekends. You can go to any county office; it doesn’t necessarily have to be the county in which you’re getting married.
Do I need witnesses to elope in Colorado?
- No. There is a space on the Colorado marriage license for witnesses to sign, but it’s totally optional.
I want have my kids sign the license as witnesses. Is that possible?
- Yes. And if they are too little to write their name, we can use an inkpad and get their thumbprint as their signature.
Can my dog witness the marriage license in Colorado?
- Yep! You can have your dog, cat, guinea pig or stuffed teddy bear make their mark on your marriage license here. We do it with an ink pad (and a willing pup). Colorado is a very dog-friendly state, so finding a place to elope in Colorado that allows pets is easy. We just have to avoid places like Rocky Mountain National Park and some of the private venues that don’t allow dogs.
Of course we can have your very special witness “sign” the marriage license.
Can we self-solemnize our wedding?
- Colorado does allow couples to self-solemnize their vows (i.e. you don’t necessarily need an officiant). Yes, we work with couples that wish to self-solemnize at their wedding. However, bear in mind that our officiants do more than recite a few words and make it legal. They serve as informal coordinators for the ceremony and they know how to work seamlessly with our photographers to ensure you get the best ceremony photos. Subsequently, we think self-solemnizing is better for Colorado elopements without guests. But if it’s something you feel strongly about and you do plan to have guests, let’s talk about. Ultimately, it’s your call, but I want you to know all the pros and cons before deciding.
The sun setting over the Colorado Rocky Mountains is breathtaking.
Can I elope in Colorado and set up chairs or an arch?
- It depends on the site. If you’re simply getting married on public lands that aren’t reserved, then no–setting up chairs isn’t possible. If, however, you’re willing to reserve a private site, then we’ll connect you with a rental company that will provide arches, chairs or rustic benches for your guests to be seated during the ceremony. There are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to renting chairs for your Colorado elopement. Elopement wedding ceremonies are short–generally between 12-15 minutes–so you may not find it to be worth the expense of renting chairs or an arch. Chair rental can be quite expensive, especially given the short time you need them. Even though you may only need a few chairs, the rental company still has to provide delivery, set up and tear down services. The easiest and least expensive way to reserve chairs for your Colorado elopement is to have us connect you with a venue that provides chairs themselves (meaning, you don’t have to go through a third-party company). Generally, venues charge $3 to $4 per chair with no setup fee.
Do you have any indoor sites?
- Most couples come to Colorado to elope outdoors amid our glorious Rocky Mountains. So we specialize in secluded outdoor sites with breathtaking mountain backdrops. However, having done this since 2002, it’s virtually impossible not to stumble across venues such as small chapels, covered gazebos and pavilions, and private sites that offer an indoor option. So it’s likely we can help you with covered and enclosed sites as well.
Yes, we do offer black and white photos of your Colorado elopement.
We’ll capture stunning photos of your wedding no matter the time of year.
How can I help you with your Colorado elopement?
Shoot me an email and let me know how I can help.
