Tips for Couples Preparing for a Destination Wedding in Colorado

As a Colorado wedding photographer I have a TON of couples who reach out to me every year to help them plan their destination wedding or elopement here in this fabulous state! It’s not too surprising either, as there are SO many reasons why Colorado is one of the best states to get married in!! It’s always such a treat to help these couples come up with a plan for the wedding day of their dreams, but as you can probably guess there’s quite a bit of preparation that goes into making these dreams a reality. Of course there’s a lot of planning that goes into the wedding, but what’s often overlooked is some of the preparation that's needed for the trip itself! That’s why today we’re looking at some of my top travel tips for couples to keep in mind as they plan their destination wedding here in Colorado!!

Bride and Groom embrace and kiss while standing in a beautiful wildflower field with the Colorado Mountains in the background during their wedding portraits for their Destination Wedding in Colorado.

How to Prep for a Destination Wedding in Colorado

Colorado is an amazing state for a destination wedding for a variety of reasons, but there are some things you’ll definitely want to keep in mind as you plan your trip! We’ll be breaking this article up into 3 sections: what to bring for your wedding trip, how to handle the elevation of Colorado, and resources for planning the wedding itself. Taking all three of these areas into consideration is the best way to set yourselves up for success when it comes to your destination wedding in Colorado!!

Bride in a lace dress tilts her head up to kiss the groom as they hold hands while standing in a grassy field with a blue silhouette of mountains in the background.

What to Bring for Your Destination Wedding in Colorado

Separate from what you need to pack for your wedding day itself, there are a TON of things you need to keep in mind when packing for your trip to Colorado in order to make it THE best experience possible!

LAYERS

Layers are ESSENTIAL and a must have on your packing list for your destination wedding in Colorado! Yes, even for those summer weddings!! The weather here in Colorado can change at the drop of a hat, especially in the mountains where temperatures drastically fluctuate between night and day. Even during the summer months it can get pretty chilly up in the mountains, so if you intend on hiking and spending time in the mountains you best pack your layers! There’s no better way to quickly adjust to rapidly changing weather than to have extra layers to pop on or off during your travels to Colorado. I always recommend wool, fleece, and waterproof rain layers for any time of year, and of course your best snow jackets if you're coming in the winter!

Some Good Shoes/Boots

If you plan on doing any hiking while you’re in Colorado for your destination wedding, which you should as our hiking trails are INSANE, you’ll definitely want to pack the appropriate footwear! Whether you opt for a nice pair of hiking boots, or just a good pair of athletic shoes with more support, make sure they’re broken in prior to your trip. Also, please avoid buying a new pair of hiking shoes the day you arrive in Colorado as it’s a guaranteed way to get some blisters!

Be sure to pack any additional footwear you may need as well. Whether that’s some nicer shoes for a night out in Denver, or some sandals or slip on shoes for when you’re out enjoying the lakes, rivers, or hot springs!!

Bride closes her eyes and rests her head on the Groom in a blue shirt's shoulder as he faces a silhouette of blue mountains in the background during their Destination Wedding portraits in Colorado.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is your best friend!! The last thing you want is to get a brutal sunburn the day before your destination wedding here in Colorado! The sun here can be incredibly harsh, especially in the warmer months. I recommend to always play it safe and lather up with much more sunscreen than you would usually use, you’ll thank me later! Whether you bring sunscreen with you, or you purchase some as soon as you get here, make sure you have some as soon as your trip begins so that you can keep yourselves from looking like lobsters on the day of your wedding!

Self Care Moisturizers

Please do not forget to pack along your chapstick and lotion for your destination wedding trip to Colorado! It is DRY here, which is why I always have an assortment of chapstick tubes in various locations through my house, car, purse, etc. It’s an awful feeling when you can tell a cracked lip is coming on and you have no chapstick to prevent it, and that feeling is made even worse if it’s the day before your wedding! Lotion is a lifesaver too, especially during the cold winter months where our hands dry out so easily. Pack along all of your self care tools to make sure that your body is happy and ready for your wedding day and throughout your adventures in Colorado!!

Guests seated on wooden benches look towards the bride and groom as they stand at the end of the aisle with the officiant between them in front of a beautiful floral Arch. In the background is a view of gorgeous mountains and clouds.

How to Handle the Colorado Elevation for Your Destination Wedding

Another huge factor to consider when traveling to Colorado for your destination wedding is the difference in elevation here. Altitude sickness is NO joke, and even having lived here my entire life I've experienced it in situations where I didn’t properly prepare! It is AWFUL, and something I desperately want you to avoid during your wedding travels!!

HYDRATE!!!

First and foremost, hydration is key! Seriously, you’ll want to hydrate way more than you think you need to. It’s the first step in combating altitude sickness and also one of the most important. If you struggle with drinking the recommended amount of water typically and the idea of extra hydration stresses you out, consider using hydrating electrolyte boosters like Liquid IV, Gatorlyte, LMNT, or one of the many others out there. I also strongly encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle with you for your travels to reduce any plastic waste! The water here is great, so there’s no need to buy bottled water!!

Fuel Yourselves

Along with staying hydrated, keeping yourselves fueled with food is a key part in avoiding altitude sickness during your trip to Colorado for your destination wedding! Calories are key, and you want to avoid being in a calorie deficit at all costs. Make sure that you’re eating filling breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, but also snacking throughout the day if you plan on doing any sort of activity. If you plan on hiking this is especially true! I always like to bring a mix of protein bars, dried fruit, and sometimes even small candy bars to give myself that extra bit of fuel to keep me going throughout the adventure!!

Groom in a white western shirt with a snake embroidered on the sleeve and cowboy hat leans into his husband in a black tux and brown cowboy hat as they pose for their Destination Wedding Portraits in Colorado.

Take it Slow to Start

This next one can be a bit tricky as I know how exciting it is to get to a new and amazing place like Colorado for a vacation, especially when it’s for your destination wedding! I’m telling you this now though, taking things easy the first two days can be the key to enjoying your trip without experiencing any altitude sickness. Give your bodies time to relax and adjust to the change in elevation, and ideally avoid any hiking for the first couple of days if you can. If possible, I recommend couples plan on enjoying Denver, or one of the other amazing towns and cities throughout Colorado for those first few days. Take some time checking out the local restaurants, breweries, shops, art districts, and more so that you can still make the absolute MOST of your time here in Colorado!!

Pace Yourselves with the Alcohol

This one can be another challenge for some as you’re going to want to start celebrating the second you get here! Trust me though, the alcohol WILL hit you harder and faster than you’re used to due to the altitude. This effect is made even more apparent the higher the elevation as well, so be sure to pace yourselves during your travels! Many of the mountain towns in Colorado also don’t have services like Uber or Lyft, so you’ll need to have a plan in place in order to travel safely if you intend on having a night out drinking.

Groom places his hand around his wife's neck as he pulls her in for a romantic kiss. They stand in the center of a wildflower field with tree covered mountains in the background.

Consider Some Extra O2

One final tip I can offer is for those who are feeling extra anxious about the altitude during their stay in Colorado for their destination wedding. Something past couples of mine have done is purchased oxygen canisters that are sold at gas stations throughout the state for an added boost to their O2 levels. I personally haven’t used them, but past clients have reported that they’ve really helped them to deal with the altitude!

Bride wraps her arms around groom in a blue shirts as they stand in a field with beautiful vies of mountains in the background.

Resources for Planning Your Destination Wedding in Colorado

Finally it’s time to talk about the big moment of preparation for your destination wedding in Colorado, the wedding itself! I’ve got a TON of resources on my blog to help with almost every part of your wedding day, so I won’t go into too much detail here, instead giving you the links to some of my past blogs for you to check out when you need them!

The Legalities

Planning out the legalities of your destination wedding in Colorado is a must for obvious reasons! From getting your marriage license, to understanding self solemnization and why it’s so awesome, check out everything you need to know about the legal aspect of your Colorado wedding here!!

Groom in a grey suit dips bride while they stand in the middle of a pavement aisle. Guests seated around them clap as bridesmaids and groomsmen begin to walk behind them.

Wedding Venues and Vendors

Another insanely important part of making your dream destination wedding in Colorado a reality is choosing the venue(s) and vendor team that will help to put that day together! Check out this article for more information on the different vendors you need and when to book them for your wedding. For a little inspiration and a peek at just a handful of the fantastic wedding venues here in Colorado check out this article of my 10 favorite mountain wedding venues!

Bride gets emotional as Groom reads his vows from a booklet during an intimate vow exchange at their destination Colorado wedding.

The Seasons

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Colorado is stunningly beautiful year round! This is one of the many reasons why so many couples choose to have their destination wedding here, as every season has something fantastic to offer here in Colorado!! Check out this article for more info on the pros and cons of each season to help guide your choice for when to have your wedding.

Bride in a white sweater looks to the side as Groom standing behind her kisses her cheek in this romantic black and white wedding portrait.

Self Care

Take care of yourselves during your wedding travels in Colorado! It’s something that’s too often and easily overlooked, which is why I put together this article with tips on how to take care of yourself when planning your destination wedding in Colorado.

Bride smiles as she places her hands on the grooms chest. They stand in front of a small pond with beautiful autumn trees in the background.

More Wedding Planning Tips

That’s a lot of information already, but trust me that is just the start of the resources I have available! For more articles to help you through the planning process of your destination wedding in Colorado head here to see everything in my wedding planning tips category!

Bride gets emotional as her veil flies behind her and she reads her vows to groom during their intimate destination wedding in Colorado.

That just about covers everything you need to know if you plan on traveling to Colorado for your destination wedding! This article isn’t meant to scare anyone with the amount of prep needed for a wedding here, but instead it’s meant to give you the tools to ensure that you have THE best time ever during your travels and wedding!! As long as you prepare correctly for the adventure you’ll be sure to have a phenomenal stay in Colorado, quirks and all!! Be sure to check out some of the other articles listed above for more planning tips, and if you’re ready to book me to document your day head to my contact page to send me an inquiry!