Where To Elope in Colorado

Winter Elopement in Estes Park Colorado

Hi, I'm Alisha!

I’m Alisha, Leesh, and lovingly known as Loco Leesh (she/her). I wear many hats as your elopement photographer. I’m also here to be your guide, planner, resource, best friend and hype woman. I'm here to laugh, cry, and occasionally dance alongside you. I'm also a barefoot hippie veteran. Betcha never saw that coming! What really sets my soul on fire is connecting with people on a deeply personal level *My Pisces is showing*. I’m here to tell you that you have permission to DREAM BIG on what you think your wedding day should look like. Because your crazy love deserves to be captured in an authentic way. 

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July 23, 2021

Summer Elopement in Aspen Coloraod

The Best Places To Elope In Colorado

Oh Colorado, how could so much diverse beauty be wrapped up into one state? I love this place so much I put together a Where To Elope In Colorado guide. I might be biased when I say that Colorado is one of the BEST places in the world to elope.

The Rocky Mountains offer numerous terrains and landscapes to adventure around and get married on. You have the choice of hopping in the car and driving or roughing it up a 14er to your dream elopement. The list of epic locations is endless. The Rocky Mountains are in Denver’s backyard. There are 52 mountains that are over 14,000 ft (we lovingly call them 14ers). Four National Parks: Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of Gunnison, and Mesa Verde. We boast over 340 days of sunshine a year, beat that Florida! No matter where you want to elope there’s plenty of places to elope in Colorado.

As a state with a collective love of all things outdoors, there are many opportunities to adventure on your elopement day. Hiking, camping, rafting, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, and even sandboarding. You don’t have to be some crazy mountain pioneer to experience these things. This blog post is meant to help inspire your adventure wedding in Colorado or help you narrow down a certain region in the Centennial State. With so many beautiful places to choose from you might ask yourself, where the heck do I even start? Well here you go, let’s figure out where to elope in Colorado for your dream day!

Regions of Colorado

  • The Great Plains Region (Eastern Colorado)
  • The Rocky Mountain Region
  • The Front Range Region
  • Colorado Plateau Region

Notable Landmarks & National Parks

  • Colorado National Monument
  • Gunnison National Park
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Great Sand Dunes National Park
  • Mesa Verde National Park
  • Rifle Falls State Park
  • Chimney Rock National Monument
  • Garden of the Gods
Great Sand Dunes National Park Elopement

Alamosa

Okay so not *technically* Alamosa…But Great Sand Dunes National Park is the best, enough said. It’s like eloping in Morroco without leaving the U.S. Zapata Falls is close by too!

Aspen

Aspen..*insert Dumb & Dumber quote here* It is a magical place that is equally gorgeous in all seasons. If you want a colorful fall elopement, get hitched with Maroon Bells in the background. If you elope in the summer Devil’s Punch Bowl is great for jumping into after saying your vows

Breckenridge

Sapphire Point Overlook is a well-known elopement spot in the area. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean that it’ll be crowded. You can reserve a spot with a permit to have an intimate elopement. Lake Dillion is a great backdrop for your elopement too.

Boulder

You can’t do Boulder without the backdrop of the Flatirons in Chautauqua Park. In the summertime, the wildflowers come out to play. A little up further on the road is Lost Gulch Lookout which paints a beautiful panorama of the Rocky Mountains in the background.

If you’re looking for more of a hike, Lake Isabelle is a 3.5 mile trek. 

Buena Vista

Did you know you can hike four 14ers in one day? Yup, it’s possible. The Decalibron is monumental without putting in too much of a strenuous effort. (Update: because of poor trail etiquette the mountains are closed as it is private land. Hopefully, people will Leave Not Trace and respect the land so it opens back up!) Cottonwood hot springs are close by and great to jump in after doing some mountain trekking.

Cañon City

The Royal Gorge Train and Royal Gorge Bridge are the most desired spots to visit in the area. Take a helicopter tour or hop on a train to celebrate your elopement with a first-class dinner, then stop by Royal Gorge Region Hot Springs or Desert Reef Hotsprings to end your day.

Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods are easily accessible and iconic spots. You can elope in front of vibrant red rocks or one of the tallest mountains in all of Colorado. Nearby in Calhan is the Paint Mines, a unique spot in the middle of nowhere that makes you feel like you’re in outer space.

Cortez

Just 10 minutes from Cortez is Mesa Verde National Park. Visit the Cliff Palace Pueblos and exchange vows at Park Point Overlook. If you’re feeling extra cool and a hint of dorky, you could get married in 4 different states at once, the 4 corners are close by too.

Crested Butte

Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of Colorado. Need I say more? Which makes it a great backdrop for middle of the summer elopements. It also has one of the best ski resorts in the state.

Winter Elopement in Estes Park Colorado

Estes Park

Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. There are so many views to be in awe of. Take a drive through Trail Ridge. You can head over Trail Ridge and explore Grandby or stay in Estes and experience one of the best mountain towns in the state (my humble opinion of course).

Ft. Collins

Where mountains meet farm town. Ft. Collins has great views from the foothills and plenty of awesome hikes. Horsetooth Reservoir is a 5-minute ride that requires no hike and all the rewards of an epic view. A Horsetooth reservoir elopement will be one for the books.

Gateway

Psst, want to know a secret? You can get all the Utah national park vibes without the crazy crowds. Gateway is on the edge of Western colorado before the Utah border.  

Glenwood Springs

Hanging Lake is a coveted tourist destination near Glenwood Springs. It’s gotten so crowded in the past few years that they’re going by a reservation system. Which is great for those who want an intimate experience. Glenwood Springs provides its relaxing hot springs and thrilling Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

Grand Junction 

I feel like no one considers Grand Junction as a place to elope in Colorado, I’m here to tell you to reconsider. Colorado National Monument is in Grand Junction’s backyard.

Grand Mesa is a great place to explore.

Gunnison

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will make your jaw drop with the canyons and views. Blue Mesa Reservoir is a long stretching reservoir that you can boat on and camp near. 

Rifle

Rifle Falls State Park looks like a mini version of Plitvice Lake National Park in Croatia. The best part about it, (besides the mesmerizing waterfall) is that it’s a .5 mile walk to see. Looking for more water? Harvey Gap and Rifle Gap State Park each have their own vast reservoirs to elope in or on, whatever floats your literal boat. 

Ouray

The Million Dollar Highway can be quite the thrill as you drive through the “Switzerland of America.” Ouray is a beautiful small mountain town that’s a gateway to the San Juan Mountains. Let’s take a jeep tour and elope on one of the many gorgeous mountain passes. I say, elope in Ouray. (nice rhyming huh?)

Palisade

Ever tried a Palisade peach? They give Georgia a run for their money. Palisade apparently has some fertile land. It’s Colorado’s wine country. You could elope with wild horses at the Little Books Cliff Wild Horse Sanctuary. Or elope in a vineyard, Wine Country Inn.

Steamboat Springs

Rabbit Ears Pass boasts some of the most beautiful wildflowers during the summer. There are plenty of hiking elopements to do. No matter if it’s hot or cold out, Strawberry Park Hot Springs is a definite place to visit.

Sapphire Point Elopement Colorado

Telluride

San Sophia Overlook is one of the most epic ski resorts to elope on in all of Colorado. In the summer the deck overlooks the town of Telluride down below. Just outside of town is Bridal Veils Falls (best to do it in the early summer, that’s when the falls are most prominent).

Mount Sneffels via Blue Lakes Trail is an unreal place to elope if you’re ready to hike a bit.

Twin Lakes

Near Leadville and Buena Vista, it’s an adorable mountain town to visit. Elope at Twin Lakes with a backdrop of mountains in the background.

Vail

White River National Forest runs around Vail. McCullough Gulch Trail is a great place to elope at. Boreas Pass is best for witnessing Colorado’s iconic fall colors. Into glamping? Eloping at the Collective Retreats would be pretty freakin’ awesome.

Mountain Passes to Elope On

  • Loveland Pass
  • Guanella Pass
  • Independence Pass
  • Corkscrew Pass
  • Boreas Pass
  • Rabbit Ears Pass

Mountain to Elope On In Colorado

  • Pikes Peak
  • Mount Evans
  • Long’s Peak
  • Hoosier Ridge
  • Capital Peak
  • Mount Elbert
  • Pyramid Peak (at Crater Lake)
  • Sangre De Cristo Mountains (at Stout Lake)
Loveland Pass Elopement Colorado

Different Seasons to Elope in Colorado 

Fall

The changing of colors and cooler weather are a huge plus for Colorado fall elopements. The summer crowds have dwindled and you have the freedom to roam.

Winter

It might be considered off-season in some ways, but slope season is in full effect. Colorado has a cold but gorgeous winter landscape. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean the sun doesn’t shine! If you’re a lover of outdoor winter sports this season might be ideal for you to elope in. Many mountain passes are closed, but a lot of the slopes are open for business.

Spring

Everything is coming to life, flowers begin to bloom, and more hikes become accessible.

Summer

This season hails some of the best weather but often the busiest times. There’s plenty of daylight. Peak wildflower season in Colorado runs from the middle of June to August. 

The Coolest Places to Stay in Colorado

Dillon Colorado Elopement

What You Could Do During a Colorado Elopement

  • Hike
  • White Water Raft
  • Kayak
  • ATV
  • Mountain Bike
  • Take a Gondola to the top of a mountain
  • Dip in some natural hot springs
  • Ride in a helicopter
  • Take a Jeep tour on a rugged mountain road
  • Take a train through a canyon
  • Horseback riding
  • Fish
  • Snowshoe
  • Ski/Snowboard

How to Elope Legally in Colorado

Of course, I’m no legal expert or fit to give that kind of advice…BUT another awesome thing about Colorado is that you can self-solemnize. That means you and you don’t need an officiant, you can marry yourselves! Fun fact, your dog can be a witness and “sign” your marriage license. 

Here’s the sitch on how to legally get married in Colorado:

  1. Go to the country clerk’s office in the county you’re getting married in. Bring a photo ID and cash (it costs $30 to get a license). You might have to make an appointment depending on the location.
  2. Sign and complete the marriage license. Since Colorado is a self solemnizing state, you do not need a judge, officiant, or witness to sign. But there is an option for a witness if you want your pooch’s pawprints on your license!
  3. File your license (make sure to make copies of it before you do). Bring it back to the county clerk’s office or mail it in within 63 days of signing. It must also be signed within 35 days of purchasing.

Consider Permits

With some of these locations in National Parks or other hot spots in the state, you might need a permit to elope there. Lucky for you, my elopement packages cover this expense and I take care of the application process for you!

Need some more inspiration for Colorado Elopement Locations? Check out the blogs below:

San Sophia Overlook Telluride Elopement

Colorful Colorado Packages

My Colorado packages start at $3,300 and include:

  • Options of 4-Hour, 6-Hour, and 8-Hour Packages
  • 100+ Page Elopement Planning Guide
  • Unlimited Guidance & Consultation Calls
  • Custom Timeline
  • All Travel Fees and Expenses-Minus something extra like a helicopter ride 😉
  • Vendor Recommendations
  • Permits Assistance and Location Scouting of The Best Locations in Colorado
  • Upgrade to 1:1 Vow Writing Consulting (pst did I mention I have a background in copywriting?)
  • Discounted Photo Album Design Services (with creative and romantic storytelling of your gorgeous elopement)
  • Gallery Slideshow
  • 500+ Culled and Edited High-Resolution Photos
  • Digital Gallery with Printing Rights
  • Surprise Gift From Me

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    “She really puts her heart and soul into this.”

    My husband and I decided to elope after feeling a little overwhelmed with the idea of planning a wedding. , Alisha pitched a lot of ideas based on what we were imagining and they were so killer so it was so hard to pick. She can really zero in on what a couple is all about and plan from there. And all her ideas were incredibly creative and original. On the day of our elopement we were so relaxed. Alisha picked out all the locations including our vow ceremony spot which was beautiful, private and romantic. We literally laughed the whole time and kept repeating "I'm so happy we did this." After the desert ceremony in Death Valley she drove to Vegas with us, waited for us to change into our cool Vegas attire, and carted us all over the strip and downtown to take more fun photos. The photography is beyond remarkable. I mean COME ON. I've never seen more beautiful photos in my entire life. We're so happy to have them to enjoy forever, so so SO worth it. She really puts her heart and soul into this. It actually makes me tear up...We love you Alisha.

    — HEATHER & COLIN

    “Hire her. You
    won't regret it.”

    Our first experience working with Alisha was on an elopement styled shoot. I knew from that day on she was going to be the photographer to capture our wedding day. Alisha said "yes" to absolutely every crazy idea and vision I had for our wedding day. She literally hiked miles and woke up before the sun to make it happen. Alisha is completely in her element when photographing, she knows how direct a shoot without being bossy, she captures every angle without being in the way and doesn't make you feel like you're even behind the camera. Alisha pours her entire self into every shoot she does, she doesn't stop until everything is perfect. It put me at ease knowing Alisha was paying such close attention to detail when it came to the location scouting and capturing every single photo imaginable. Working with Alisha was a breeze, she's communicative, fast and detail oriented. Not to mention, an incredible photographer. We were blown away when we got our wedding gallery within a month of our wedding, with over 700 beautiful photos. Our families cried happy tears all over again reliving those memories. If you're wondering, "is it worth it?" The answer is 100% ABSOLUTELY yes, hire Alisha, you won't regret it.

    — Katie & Kevin

    “I do not think any other photographer would have been able to do that for us.”

    Choosing Alisha for our elopement photographer was the absolute best decision we could have made. Bryan and I had a pretty short timeline of only a few weeks until our wedding day so I was not sure if Alisha could make it work, but she went out of her way to travel and make all of the behind the scenes arrangements in advance. She made everything so easy for us leading up to the day helping with park permits, scouting out photo locations, making vendor recommendations, and suggesting fun ideas for the day. As two people who do not feel natural in front of a camera, she made us laugh, have fun, and get out of our shells in a way we could not have expected. From start to finish, our experience with Alisha was so genuine and natural. She is just a joy and a light to be around. On top of that, we were truly blown away when we received our wedding photo gallery. You can feel the emotion, beauty, and love in every single image. Because she took the time to get to know us on a personal level and really understand us as a couple leading up to the wedding, the photos showcase who we are in a real and honest way, and I do not think any other photographer would have been able to do that for us.

    — MIRANDA & BRYAN

    “Incredibly talented, creative, caring, and personable.”

    My fiancé and I could not feel more fortunate to have crossed paths with Alisha while searching for a photographer for our engagement shoot. Let me tell you, this girl is a GEM. I talked to at least 50 photographers during my search and Alisha is the only one that I felt truly cared about what we wanted. We met up at sunrise on the day of our shoot and I can truly say that it was a flawless experience! My fiancé and I were exhausted and nervous, but immediately upon meeting Alisha, we felt comfortable and excited. Her positive energy is contagious. I tend to be awkward and never know what to do with my hands, but she was so patient and guided us every step of the way, giving us prompts and making us laugh the entire time. It felt like we were leaving the shoot with a new friend. WE ARE OBSESSED WITH OUR PHOTOS. In short, Alisha 10000000% exceeded my very high expectations. She’s incredibly talented, creative, caring and personable. You can tell she has a huge heart and is passionate about what she does. 

    — LAUREN & NIK

    I will continue to use her and her talents for life!!

    Alisha is the best photographer and person you’ll ever work with! She has such a fun and calming manner about her. Her system is down to a t. And very personalized as well. I found her through a friend but loved her because her art and photos weren’t so posed and perfect. She captured such perfect moments and seemed like she had 10 photographers! I can’t believe the photos she got of our wedding and all the special moments I got to see that I otherwise would have never known happened! My husband can not recommend her enough! And will continue to use her and her talents for life!!

    — SYD & JAKE

    “Book her now.”

    Alisha is the consummate photographer that you want capturing your special day. We used her (twice!) for engagement photos and she was the first we asked to be our wedding photographer. From the moment we engaged her for the big day, she was all about us. From a welcome care package that frankly knew us almost better than we knew us, to her wedding guides, assistance in finding other vendors, and of course her amazing skill behind the camera Alisha was the perfect choice for our wedding photography. On the day of the big event she took great photos and had creative ideas for shoots in and around the venue. She’s given us keepsakes that we are thrilled to treasure forever and proud to frame and hang on the wall. Book her now.

    — COLTON & YVETTE

    “She gave us the best photos EVER!”

    We absolutely love Alisha! She gave us the best photos EVER! She planned everything to the smallest detail. It was so easy and she made sure we had everything we were looking for. My husband and I even flew back to get wedding photos done! Alisha braved the cold winter for us. We are so thankful to have memories in the best photos ever. I can’t say enough about her. Not only is she an AMAZING photographer but such a good person! We will definitely be having plenty more sessions in our lifetime :)

    — danielle & Xavier

    “Alisha is easily one of the best humans I’ve ever met”

    Where do I even start!? Alisha was an absolute dream to work with!!! She was so flexible with us and our last-minute cancellation due to covid. We had originally planned to meet her in Vegas for our anniversary shoot in March and we ended up canceling our trip a week out due to the virus. She was so understanding and even offered to refund our deposit. We knew we still absolutely wanted to shoot with her so we scheduled another trip to Colorado this time and she met us there for an amazing sunrise shoot at Great Sand Dunes Natl Park. The whole experience was incredible and Alisha was so amazing and personable, we felt like we had left and made a new friend! She sent us sooo many sneak peeks just a few days after the shoot and Then probably 100 more photos a few weeks later. They were absolutely stunning. She is easily one of the best humans I’ve ever met and not to mention an extremely talented photographer with a clear passion for her clients and her work! We can’t wait to shoot with her again!

    — MIA & FERMIN

    “I cannot wait to
    book her again”

    I have never done a couples shoot but I fell in love with Alisha's work on social media. I was beyond ecstatic when I found out she was traveling to Minnesota. Where do I begin? From the moment I spoke with Alisha, she easily made me feel comfortable and confident. She responded back to my questions and concerns within a timely manner and was easily accessible. Her talent and passion for photography is truly admirable! It’s so evident that she genuinely cares about each and every couple that she works with. Alisha has a gift for detail and seeing things differently than everyone else. She took some breathtaking pictures that will always have a special place in my heart! Alisha doesn't just take photographs, she creates beautiful works of art that don’t just capture smiles but our souls, and to be a part of her art is an absolute honor. Not only is her work stunning, but she is a great person to be around. She is professional, patient and outgoing and I cannot wait to book with her again! Thanks for the memories, laughs and for creating such an enjoyable experience.

    — Miriam & Jaime

    “She made everything perfect! 10/10 recommend”

    Alisha was super professional and friendly throughout the entire process of our engagement shoot. I was super indecisive on where to have our shoot and she gave me multiple choices. She even went to the spot before hand to scope it out for us. My fiancé hates getting pictures taken but he loved natural and fun our experience was. Alisha made us our own playlist to listen to throughout the shoot which made both of us feel super comfortable. We ended having our shoot in Breckenridge and made a weekend out of it. Honestly, one of the most rememberable and amazing weekends we could ask for. Alisha communicated with us throughout everything and was SO fast getting our sneak peak photos and album to us. She even sent us a little gift that we appreciated SO SO much. I would highly recommend Alisha for any photography session whether its an adventure shoot or a wedding. She made everything perfect! 10/10 recommend :)

    — GRACE & JAKE

    “Alisha is the absolute
    best photographer!!”

    Alisha is the absolute best photographer!! We did our engagement photos with her and she made my fiance and I feel so comfortable. We had never gotten professional pictures taken so were a bit nervous beforehand but Alisha made us feel so comfortable and the photos came out AMAZING. I literally scroll through all of them a few times a week because of how much I love them and how they capture our love for each other so beautifully. I highly recommend using Alisha as your photographer!

    — NATALIE & JAKE