My Favorite Places to Get Married in Colorado
I consider myself incredibly lucky to be a wedding photographer in a state as gorgeous as Colorado. Our unique and diverse landscapes, the towns and cities that are bursting with character, our remarkably simple marriage laws, and the seemingly endless picturesque settings all make Colorado one of THE best states to get married in! Knowing this, I thought it’d be fun to take a broad look at some of my favorite places for weddings and elopements throughout Colorado. This should help couples who are on the fence about choosing Colorado as the site for their destination wedding as you'll get to see just a few of the spectacular spaces that we have to offer here!
San Juan Mountains
First on my list are the San Juan Mountains, and they’re first up for a very personal reason! That’s right, I actually got married in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and it was legitimately the best day ever!! The epic landscape of these mountains has always left me speechless, but now they’ll forever hold an extra special place in my heart! Whether you plan on eloping or having a more traditional wedding here in Colorado, the San Juan Mountains are an excellent choice for your celebration. The views here are strikingly gorgeous, and there are also plenty of amazing venues to choose from for larger celebrations! I actually have an entire guide for planning an elopement here if you’d like a closer look at these incredible mountains.
Some of My Favorite Spots in the San Juan Mountains
Gold Mountain Ranch
Looking out from the mountains, over the town of Ouray, is the fantastic wedding venue Gold Mountain Ranch! I love this intimate wedding venue SO much. They have some of the best views in all of Colorado, a lovely outdoor patio for your reception, and they even have an on-site honeymoon suite for you to use as a getting ready space and to spend the night in after your wedding! If you’re planning a more intimate wedding of up to 40 guests in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, then there really is no better place to get married than Gold Mountain Ranch!
Ouray
One of my favorite towns in the San Juan Mountains, Ouray is full of charm and character! The town acts as the perfect home base for anyone looking to elope in the San Juan Mountains. No matter which season you plan to elope, there is plenty to see and do in Ouray. The town also has an abundance of lodging options, so you can easily have guests attend your celebration as well!
Telluride
Another favorite town of mine is Telluride! While the town may be known for its abundance of amazing ski slopes, there is plenty to see and do here outside of the winter months as well. With plenty of events, outdoor activities to join, and delicious restaurants to check out, you’ll have your hands full outside of your elopement celebration with a stay in Telluride! Bre and Jodie had their elopement here, and it was an all around phenomenal experience. I highly recommend you check out their blog for a closer look at what an elopement can look like in the city of Telluride!
Silverton
The last town on my list in the San Juan Mountains, Silverton, shares much of the same appeal as both Telluride and Ouray! This town is nestled under some of the beautiful peaks of the San Juan Mountains, and is a wonderful basecamp for your elopement adventures. With activities like horseback riding, OHV rentals, endless hiking trails, and more, Silverton has something for everyone to enjoy! The town also has a ton of great restaurants, cute shops, and year round activities to take part in between your adventures!
Summit County
West of Denver is the next location on my list, Summit County! Summit county is home to some of the most popular tourist towns in Colorado, and also a TON of my favorite locations to elope or get married at! There’s a lot to love about Summit County, both for couples looking to elope and those looking for a more traditional wedding celebration. The area is incredibly easy to travel to thanks to the close proximity to Denver and the i70 interstate. There are a ton of activities to take part in outside of your wedding, endless lodging options, and even more incredible views to enjoy!!
Some of My Favorite Spots in Summit County
Loveland Pass
One of my favorite elopement locations all throughout Colorado, Loveland Pass offers the jaw dropping mountain views you’d expect when you visit the state. What you may not expect though is just HOW beautiful it really is! Check out Deanna and Pauly’s elopement to get a glimpse at just some of the breathtaking mountain views and epic landscapes that you can enjoy if you celebrate your elopement here!!
Arapahoe Basin
Another phenomenal and picturesque area of Summit County is the Arapahoe Basin. This ski resort also acts as an epic setting for a Colorado elopement, and for couples with a more traditional celebration in mind there’s also the wonderful Black Mountain Lodge here! This venue is beautiful, large enough to host up to 200 guests, and features both indoor and outdoor spaces for you and your guests to enjoy on the day of your wedding! Just imagine getting married looking out over the landscapes of Colorado while all of your friends and family are there at your side!!
Breckenridge
A scenic and popular tourist town in Summit County, Breckenridge can be both a home base for your adventures and the location for your wedding or elopement itself! With year round activities in abundance, plenty of lodging and restaurant options, and a variety of wedding venues to choose from, Breckenridge is the full package when it comes to weddings and elopements in Colorado!
Dillon
Found on the Dillon Reservoir, the town of Dillon is another amazing option for both weddings and elopements alike! The town itself is beautiful, and has plenty to do in and around it. They’re especially keen on their water activities here thanks to the easy access to the reservoir, but there’s plenty more to do year round as well! There are also a ton of elopement and wedding locations, like the stunning Sapphire Point which Mavany and Mike chose to celebrate their wedding at!
Frisco
On the southwest side of the Dillon Reservoir is the lovely little town of Frisco, Colorado! I adore Frisco for a variety of reasons. The charming town provides a sense of calm and relaxation, while the area and activities surrounding the town all scream adventure and excitement! There is an abundance of beauty to explore and enjoy throughout Frisco, making it a great option for your wedding or elopement. Check out Morgan and Anthony’s engagement session to see a little bit of the beauty this space has to offer in the winter!!
Crested Butte
Heading further west is where we’ll find the town of Crested Butte, the next area of Colorado we’ll be taking a look at! As you may know Colorado is beautiful year round, and Crested Butte really is the perfect example of this. The fall colors here are phenomenal, the wildflowers that bloom in the summer and spring are breathtaking, and the winters here are epic and perfect for anyone looking for some winter wonderland vibes for their big day! A few of my favorite wedding venues in the state can be found here, but it’s also a wonderful place to elope at!
Some of My Favorite Spots in Crested Butte
Mountain Wedding Garden
A true highlight wedding venue of Colorado, Mountain Wedding Garden is a space that every couple should consider getting married at! There is SO much that I love about this venue, from the epic views, to their affordable rates, and especially their DIY approach to weddings, the venue has a LOT going for it! So much so that I actually wrote an entire feature piece on it which you should definitely check out!!
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
The ski resort at Crested Butte also features an out of this world wedding venue that couples should have on their radar! This venue is a great option for couples looking to have a more traditional wedding in the Crested Butte area without having to worry about the DIY aspects of a location like Mountain Wedding Garden. With great amenities, epic views, and helpful staff to ensure everything runs smoothly on your day, it’s easy to see why this venue is on the list today!!
Eloping
Couples looking to elope in Crested Butte have practically infinite choices! There are frankly too many to cover here in this blog, and that’s a good thing!! The Crested Butte area is incredibly popular for tourism, but with the abundance of spaces to choose from for your elopement celebrations you can rest assured that you’ll get to fully enjoy your elopement festivities here!
Estes Park
The next area I wanted to take a look at is none other than Estes Park! Northwest of Denver, and just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, the town of Estes Park is an outstanding option for both weddings and elopements alike. With venues like SkyView, Della Terra, The Landing at Estes Park, and Taharaa Mountain Lodge, there are a ton of amazing spaces to choose from no matter what setting you’re looking to have your wedding in. For those looking to elope, Estes Park itself is a great option as you can see from Ashley and Stephen’s day, or if you really want to get adventurous you can head to Rocky Mountain National Park! That’s an entirely different beast though, so if that interests you I recommend checking out my RMNP elopement guide!!
Denver Foothills
While it may be one of the most accessible areas in Colorado to get married in, the Denver Foothills sacrifice nothing in terms of mountainous beauty! There are SO many fantastic and stunning wedding venues to choose from here, and they’re all incredibly close to Denver making them wonderfully accessible for you and your loved ones. If planning a destination wedding stresses you out, choosing to have it in the Denver Foothills will greatly reduce any of the stress you feel when it comes to planning. The venue options here give you endless freedom of choice as well, whether you want something rustic, modern, historic, or something else entirely, you can find it in the foothills!!
Some of My Favorite Spots in the Denver Foothills
An Array of Charming Towns and Cities
There are quite a few lovely towns throughout the Denver Foothills that can act as the home base for your adventures. Filled with delicious restaurants, tons of shops, and their own unique attractions such as the Coors brewery in Golden, there’s something for everyone in the towns of the foothills. My personal favorite towns are Littleton, Morrison, Golden, Boulder, and Larkspur. Each has their own charm and appeal, and they also work perfectly as locations for your elopement! Just take Patience and Christian’s celebration in Boulder for example!!
The Manor House
The first wedding venue of the Denver Foothills I want to cover is none other than The Manor House! This venue has been a favorite of mine for a while now, and it’s easy to see why!! From the wonderful mountain views, to the spacious interior that’s perfect for a night of celebration, this wedding venue is an easy top choice for couples deciding where to get married in Colorado. For a more in depth look at The Manor House take a look at my venue feature!
The Woodlands
Woodlands Colorado is a wedding venue in the southwest Denver Foothills. Its name comes from the fact that the venue feels completely secluded in the mountainous woodlands that surround it! This beautiful and private setting, combined with the venue’s amazing amenities and modern beauty come together to create a space that’s SO easy to picture yourself celebrating your wedding in. Marissa and Shawn’s wedding is the perfect example of how special a wedding day here can be!!
Mountain View Ranch
Another wedding venue who’s name speaks for itself, Mountain View Ranch is a gorgeous ranch wedding venue with some insane mountain views to enjoy! With multiple reception spaces to choose from, a private outdoor setting, and some of the best views in the Denver Foothills at your fingertips, Mountain View Ranch is a wedding venue I love recommending to my couples! Check out Christine and Devon’s reception here to get a glimpse of this one of a kind space!!
Footprints at Fossil Trace
Part of the Fossil Trace Golf Club in Golden, Colorado, Footprints is the perfect wedding venue for couples looking to maximize their comfort while still enjoying the mountain views! The golf course provides wide open space for you to take portrait photos with the beautiful mountains as your backdrop. Meanwhile, the indoor reception space of the venue provides the best for you and your guests in terms of service, comfort, setting, catering, and more!
Spruce Mountain Ranch
Finally we have Spruce Mountain Ranch in Larkspur, Colorado! Featuring two separate venue locations, Spruce Mountain Ranch offers couples the chance to enjoy the wide open ranch space for their wedding while looking out towards the mountains looming in the distance. It’s a remarkable setting to say your I do’s, made all the more special by the venue’s commitment to provide the best experience possible for every one of their couples!!
Chaffee County
The sixth and final area we’ll be taking a look at today is Chaffee County! Just south of Summit County, Chaffee is honestly one of my all time favorite areas of Colorado! You’re still relatively close to Denver, but there’s enough separation to give you space from the crowds of tourists! This area is a great option for couples looking for a unique experience as they decide to get married in Colorado. There are SO many awesome wedding venues here, and even more opportunities for one of a kind elopements! One of my favorite things my couples have taken part in is using a service like RMAR to bring their elopement experience to the next level in terms of adventure! The people at RMAR run a fantastic operation, and I will forever be recommending my elopement couples to consider booking them for their day!!
Some of My Favorite Spots in Chaffee County
Buena Vista
A cute and historic town of Colorado, Buena Vista is a phenomenal option for couples whether they’re planning a wedding or elopement! Buena Vista acts as a great home base for any elopement, giving you a comfortable place to stay with easy access to a wide array of adventurous locations. It’s also home to epic wedding venues like the Surf Hotel for anyone looking for a larger celebration.
The Barn at Sunset Ranch
Speaking of locations just outside of Buena Vista, The Barn at Sunset Ranch is a favorite wedding venue of mine that’s just a short drive from town! The views here are absolutely out of this world, and the barn itself offers a chic, yet rustic setting for you and your loved ones to dance the night away inside. Take a look at my full venue feature to see why so many couples choose to get married at this wedding venue in Colorado!!
Steamplant
Last up on our list is none other than Steamplant, which is an amazing wedding venue in Salida, Colorado. Epic mountain views, a wonderfully spacious venue, and a plethora of included amenities only begin to scratch the surface of what this venue has to offer! It’s a wonderful space in a town that has a ton of character and portrait opportunities, making this venue an all around fantastic option!!
And there we have it, a look at some of my favorite places where couples can get married in Colorado! There are of course PLENTY of other locations not on this list, especially as I like to keep some of my best elopement locations a secret so that they don’t become too popular. If you’d like to book me to document your wedding or elopement be sure to send an inquiry through my contact page and we can start the planning process together today!!
