Eloping With Guests
How Guest Count Affects Your Colorado Elopement Location Options
Colorado has very strict permitting rules for the purpose of land preservation and the enjoyment of other visitors. So while it might seem like you can just pull over at any location to get married with all of your guests, that is not the case. The number of guests that you choose to invite to your elopement will impact the location options available for you. In general, the fewer guests you have, the more options you will have.
Why Does Guest Count Affect Our Location Options?
Being able to enjoy the outdoors is a privilege that we never want to take for granted, and we do our best to preserve that experience for others right now and in the generations to come. For that reason, we try our best to adhere to a set of principles called Leave No Trace. There are seven main principles, but when it comes to eloping in a sustainable way, we’ve outlined the most important 3 below.
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Travel on Durable Surfaces
When choosing locations for your elopement, it’s important to consider the impact it will have. Sticking to the trail and having your guests gather only on hard surfaces (such as dirt, sand, or rock) will help ensure that we don’t harm the vegetation.
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Plan Ahead + Prepare
Research your locations carefully before choosing a location. Are you and all of your guests capable and comfortable getting to the location? Can you get the proper permits for your elopement in this location? A beautiful view is not worth putting the well-being of you or your guests in jeopardy or risking being forced to leave your elopement location by a ranger.
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Be Considerate of Others
Unless your elopement is taking place on private property, you will come across others on your elopement day. Often, we do not have exclusive use of any public, outdoor space, so it is important to be friendly and share the space with others.
What Kinds Of Options Will We Have?
Your location options will depend on your guest count, the time of year you choose to elope in, the region of Colorado you want to stay in, as well as your specific elopement vision. You will have gorgeous options regardless of your guest count! We have done all of the research for you and can recommend beautiful guest-friendly spaces all across the mountains of Colorado. And if you’re still determined to hike, it’s much easier to follow Leave No Trace principles when it’s just the four of us. So while we may have to stick to a designated location for your ceremony, we can still spend part of your elopement day deep in the wilderness! The goal of this guide is to show you some of your options for different guest ranges and inspire you to plan an elopement that you are beyond excited for.
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Elopements with 9+ Guests
Ceremony + Celebratory Meal Locations
If you are planning on having more than 9 or so guests, you will need to rent out a space that can host your events and your guest count. Listed below are some examples of the most common kinds of ceremony and celebratory spaces that our couples choose. Note that all price ranges are an estimate and will vary based on your wedding date, guest count, and the region within Colorado.
Upon booking, we send each couple a customized list of location recommendations. This typically includes location ideas for the ceremony, celebratory meal, and adventure. Unless the couple has a very specific vision, the list of location recommendations often includes options from multiple categories below. That allows you to have a wide variety of location options that fit your vision!
Ceremony-Only Sites
These are popular ceremony options for our couples because they are often easily accessible, and more affordable. Most of these are located in public places, so you won’t have total privacy, but we find that people are usually very respectful when they see a ceremony taking place. For many of these sites, you will choose a 1 to 3-hour timeslot for your ceremony. Within your timeslot, any furniture set-up (if permitted), the ceremony, group photos, any celebrations afterward, as well as furniture removal must occur. Most often, receptions and meals are not permitted at these sites.
Price Range: $120 - $5,000 and up
Average Spent by Our Couples: $750
Uses: Ceremony
Event-Friendly Rentals
These are home rentals (found on sites such as Vrbo) that allow events. The largest benefit of having your elopement at an event-friendly rental is the convenience. You and your guests will spend less time traveling between locations, and the space can double as your accommodation. Colorado is full of amazing homes, some with backyards or decks that are perfect for a ceremony or a meal catered by a private chef. Others are on a large piece of property, so you can hike out to your ceremony spot. Others even have areas built on the property specifically designed with weddings in mind. These are great for couples wanting privacy for their elopement day as the rental will not be accessible to the public.
Price Range: $700 - $4,000 and up per night, some of these rentals may charge an additional event fee and have multi-night rental minimums
Uses: Ceremony and/or Reception (depending on the rental you choose)
Small Venues
If you’re looking for a space that can accommodate a larger guest count, will give you privacy, the space to host your entire elopement day (many have spaces for getting ready, a ceremony, and a reception), to have furniture included in your rental, and sometimes even an on-site coordinator to help with set-up, then a small venue may be perfect for you. Most small venues come with half-day or full-day rentals, which allows you to slow down and not feel rushed. The small venues we recommend celebrate the outdoors and feel intimate for your elopement.
Price Range: $800 - $5,000 and up
Average Spent by Our Couples: $2,000
Uses: Ceremony and Reception
Picnic Areas + Group Campgrounds
These are perfect for couples who are looking for a more casual, outdoor elopement. Often, picnic areas can be rented for a half-day or full-day, depending on your plans. Campground rentals vary, but often have check-in and check-out hours similar to a hotel, so you may want to go with a 2-night rental. For picnic areas and campgrounds, you will have exclusive use of your rented space, but there may be other people nearby.
Price Range: $150 - $1,000+
Average Spent by Our Couples: $700
Uses: Ceremony and/or Reception (it will depend on the site you choose)
Restaurants
If you would like to have lunch or dinner after your elopement, but don’t want to rent a space for it, consider going to a restaurant. Depending on your guest count, many restaurants will allow you to reserve a private room or patio area for your elopement. Some may also allow you to bring in your own cake or outside decor.
Price Range: Varies
Uses: Reception
Want a sneak peek at some of the location options available in Colorado?
Check out our list of 120+ elopement and small wedding venues, ceremony sites, and event-friendly rentals!
Incorporating Adventure Into Your Elopement With Guests
Most of the couples who book with us crave time in the wilderness, where they can enjoy some privacy and incredible views. For this reason, we plan an adventure for just the four of us (and maybe your dog) either before or after the ceremony. This allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the outdoors, and do some hiking or off-roading! If you’re set on saying your vows in a remote area, consider having a private vow exchange and then return to your guests for a second ceremony in a permitted site.
Pre or Post-Elopement Adventure
Every couple who works with us will go on an adventure during their elopement day. The word “adventure” means something different to each couple. The adventure part of your day is all about enjoying your time in the outdoors. Here are some of the activities our couples have done on their elopement day, but don’t feel limited to just these!
Hiking
Off-Roading
Picnicking
Kayaking
Relaxing in a Hammock
Reading Letters from Family
Leaf Peeping
Ghost Town Exploring
Watching the Sunrise or Sunset
Stargazing
We suggest that every couple spends at least two hours adventuring on their elopement day. This allows you to slow down and really take in the moment. This is also the time of day that we will capture some of our favorite photos. And if you’re willing to spend more than two hours adventuring, that’s even better! We can visit multiple locations, or get to locations that are more remote and less crowded.
Price Range: $0 - $200+ (depending on the location)
Private Vow Exchange
Many of our couples who elope with guests choose to have a private vow exchange in addition to a ceremony. A private vow exchange is when a couple reads the personal vows they’ve written in private, just the two of them, and then has a more traditional ceremony afterward with their guests. At the ceremony with your family, you can read more traditional vows, or you can re-read your personal vows.
In our experience, this is often the best option for couples who are torn between wanting a truly private experience but also want their guests to be involved. It can also be a great way to have the experience of saying your vows completely surrounded by nature because 2-person ceremonies have a lot more location options.
Price Range: $0 - $200+ (depending on the location)
Check Out Some Colorado Elopements With 9+ Guests
Elopements with 1-8 Guests
Ceremony + Celebratory Meal Locations
While many of our couples with smaller guest counts still choose to have their ceremony at permitted sites or event-friendly rentals, there is often more flexibility in ceremony locations. Couples with smaller guest counts will have a limited number of non-designated ceremony sites on public lands to choose from. Listed below are some examples of the most common kinds of ceremony and celebratory spaces that our couples with 1-8 guests can choose. Note that all price ranges are an estimate and will vary based on your wedding date, guest count, and the region within Colorado.
Upon booking, we send each couple a customized list of location recommendations. This typically includes location ideas for the ceremony, celebratory meal, and adventure. Unless the couple has a very specific vision, the list of location recommendations often includes options from multiple categories below. That allows you to have a wide variety of location options that fit your vision!
Rented or Reserved Locations
Couples eloping with 1-10 guests can choose from any of the same locations as couples eloping with more guests (listed in the section above). In fact, many of our couples with smaller guest counts opt for locations that fall into these categories.
Ceremony-Only Sites
Event-Friendly Rentals
Small Venues
Picnic Areas
Campgrounds
Restaurants
The benefits of renting or reserving your elopement locations include ease of access, accessibility for guests, the ability in some locations to bring in chairs or decor, the promise of privacy in some locations, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that all elopement locations are reserved and won’t be occupied by other groups or visitors.
Price Range: $120 - $5,000+ (depending on the location)
Average Spent by Our Couples: $500-$1,000
Non-Reservable Spaces on Public Land
These locations are great for couples who want to spend their elopement day immersed in nature. The couples who choose these locations are often drawn to being off the beaten path, hiking with their guests, or even exploring on an off-road trail. These kinds of locations aren’t guaranteed in all areas. Your guest count will greatly affect your location options, with smaller groups having more options.
Here are some things to think about when choosing to have your ceremony at a non-reservable site:
Can everyone in your group safely and comfortably get to the location?
A majority of the locations that we suggest to our couples involve hiking or off-roading to access. Is everyone in your group capable of hiking at high altitudes? Is everyone in your group comfortable driving on off-road trails?
Can we follow Leave No Trace Principles?
It is important not to cause any environmental damage during your elopement day. When finding locations to recommend to our couples, we are on the lookout for large areas of dirt or rock that can comfortably fit you, your guests, as well as give us enough space to properly capture everything.
Are you okay with foregoing all furniture or decor?
Most of these locations do not allow any sort of set-up for ceremonies or picnics. This means that you are not able to bring in any chairs, ceremony arches, tables, or decor.
Are you comfortable sharing the space with other visitors?
These locations are not reservable. There may be other visitors in the area or in the space you chose for your ceremony.
Are your guests open to non-traditional timing?
One of the best ways to avoid crowds is to be out when most people aren’t. This often means avoiding mid-day and getting up for sunrise or staying out until sunset.
Are we able to get a permit for your group size in the location?
Price Range: $0 - $1,500+ (depending on the location)
Average Spent by Our Couples: $750
Uses: Ceremony and/or Causal Picnic
Incorporating Adventure Into Your Elopement With Guests
Most of the couples who book with us crave time for just the two of them in the wilderness, where they can enjoy some privacy and incredible views. For this reason, we plan an adventure for just the four of us (and maybe your dog) either before or after the ceremony. This allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the outdoors, and do some hiking or off-roading! If you’re set on saying your vows in a remote area but don’t think a hike is a good fit for your guests, consider having a private vow exchange and then return to your guests for a second ceremony in a permitted site.
Pre or Post-Elopement Adventure
Every couple who works with us will go on an adventure during their elopement day. The word “adventure” means something different to each couple. The adventure part of your day is all about enjoying your time in the outdoors. Here are some of the activities our couples have done on their elopement day, but don’t feel limited to just these!
Hiking
Off-Roading
Picnicking
Kayaking
Relaxing in a Hammock
Reading Letters from Family
Leaf Peeping
Ghost Town Exploring
Watching the Sunrise or Sunset
Stargazing
We suggest that every couple spends at least two hours adventuring on their elopement day. This allows you to slow down and really take in the moment. This is also the time of day that we will capture some of our favorite photos. And if you’re willing to spend more than two hours adventuring, that’s even better! We can visit multiple locations, or get to locations that are more remote and less crowded.
Price Range: $0 - $200+ (depending on the location)
Private Vow Exchange
Many of our couples who elope with guests choose to have a private vow exchange in addition to a ceremony. A private vow exchange is when a couple reads the personal vows they’ve written in private, just the two of them, and then has a more traditional ceremony afterward with their guests. At the ceremony with your family, you can read more traditional vows, or you can re-read your personal vows.
In our experience, this is often the best option for couples who are torn between wanting a truly private experience but also want their guests to be involved. It can also be a great way to have the experience of saying your vows completely surrounded by nature because 2-person ceremonies have a lot more location options.
Price Range: $0 - $200+ (depending on the location)
Check Out Some Colorado Elopements With 1-8 Guests
Elopements with 0 Guests
Ceremony + Adventure + Celebratory Meal Locations
Colorado has very strict permitting rules for the purpose of land preservation and the enjoyment of other visitors. So while it might seem like you can just pull over at any location to get married, that is not always the case. Couples without guests will have the most locations to choose from for their elopement. They have the ability to choose a reservable site or an event-friendly rental, in addition to a wide range of non-reservable locations on public lands.
Even with a smaller group size of 4 people (the couple and us), it is still important to be aware of Leave No Trace Principles.
Eloping without any guests will give you the most flexibility when choosing your locations!
Rented or Reserved Locations
Couples eloping without any guests can choose from any of the rented or reserved locations available to couples eloping with more guests (listed in the section above).
Ceremony-Only Sites
Event-Friendly Rentals
Small Venues
Picnic Areas
Campgrounds
Restaurants
Non-Reservable Spaces on Public Land
Couples eloping without any guests can choose from any of the non-designated locations available to couples eloping with more guests (listed in the section above) in addition to some that are only available when you have 0 guests. As always, we will follow Leave No Trace Principles and recommend locations that allow us to cause as little impact on the environment as possible.
Hiking Trails
Overlooks
Day Use Areas
Off-Road Trails
Check Out Some Colorado Elopements With 0 Guests