There’s something so magical about Colorado in the winter! However, eloping in winter is a bit harder than eloping in summer. There are road closures, a chance of snow storms, and an early sunset, but that shouldn’t stop you from planning your adventurous Colorado Winter Elopement!
In fact, that’s why we wrote this blog post. Everything you need to know about planning a Colorado winter elopement is right here, take it from the locals!
Table of Contents
Top 3 reasons to elope in Colorado during winter
3 reasons to consider summer instead
How much does it cost to plan a winter elopement in Colorado
Hire a local Colorado Elopement Photographer
Choosing your Colorado Winter elopement location
Weather and picking a date
Finding lodging for your winter elopement in Colorado
Colorado winter elopement activities
Colorado winter elopement attire: what to wear
How to prepare for your winter elopement in Colorado
Checklist for planning your winter elopement
Ready to start planning?
The top 3 reasons to elope in Colorado during winter
Now imagine this: you are getting ready in a cozy cabin, then getting beers in a cute local brewery, before going snowmobiling to your ceremony location. You say your vows surrounded by pristine white snow: it’s an epic winter wonderland. It’s truly like those Hallmark movies!
Since you’re here, you’re probably thinking about planning a Colorado Winter elopement, so here are our top three reasons to elope in winter.
Winter in Colorado is less busy
Unless you are in a Ski Town like Breckenridge or Aspen, winter in Colorado is generally less busy than summer. With less crowds, it’s easier to find trails with no one around; just you and the mountains!
You can include epic winter activities
If you love skiing, why not include that as part of your elopement. You could also include dog-sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and chucking snowballs at your fiancé! Winter in Colorado is for both the cozy and the adventurous.
Take a longer vacation
Unlike summer, you may get extra time-off from work due to the holidays. That way you can add extra days to your winter elopement without having to worry about getting back to work.
And 3 reasons why you might want to consider summer instead
The cold and unpredictable weather
If you’re wanting a warm elopement, Winter in Colorado won’t be the best option for you. Our winter lasts from November until April, but we’ll go into the details below. You could have sunny days & temperatures in the 40s, but there could also be winter storms with lows of -10 and winds of 30mph! (yikes!) Colorado weather is unpredictable, especially in Winter. So, it’s best to be prepared.
Higher-priced accommodations in the Ski Towns
During peak ski season (December to March) many of the lodging options may have higher prices if they are located within the ski towns. If you travel a bit further out, though, you may find some lodging options offering discounts during Winter and you will feel so much closer to nature!
Inaccessible locations
Mountain passes, like the famous Trail Ridge Road, are closed from mid-October to early June. Many of the gorgeous alpine lakes and mountain passes are closed during Winter. Some of the best hikes in Summer can get SO much longer by a couple of miles if you are starting them from the Winter trailheads. So if you want easily accessible mountain passes, we’d recommend choosing summer or fall instead.
How much does it cost to plan a winter elopement in Colorado?
Elopements are typically much cheaper than weddings, though this is not why most couples elope: elopements are a way to spend money on the things that matter to you!
Elopements typically range from $10,000 to $30,000 depending on where you elope, travel costs, photography, videography, attire, lodging, and any fun activities you include.
You don’t have to worry about venues, which typically cost $6,000 to $15,000 just on their own, or food for 100s of people. Instead, you can put that money towards traveling to an epic location like Colorado!
Winter elopements tend to be on par with summer elopements in terms of costs. While you may save money on lodging, you may spend more on winter activities like skiing. Costs for permits, photography, and videography don’t change with the seasons, but flights may be more expensive during the holidays and quite a bit cheaper during non-holiday weeks.
Marriage License
A marriage license is the only thing you need in Colorado to make your elopement official. No officiant or witnesses needed, and we love that! The cost for a marriage license varies between $30 and $50.
Locations
Typically, in a wedding, your venue is the most expensive item, but in an elopement, most locations are free or have minimal costs. For example, Rocky Mountain National Park ceremony permits cost $300 and there are some reservable sites & intimate venues that cost around $2000.
Vendors, activities, and experiences
Depending on what vendors you choose & what kind of experience you are looking for, vendors may make up a majority of your wedding cost. Unlike traditional weddings where you may hire a planner, many elopement photographers double as elopement planners (like us!).
There’s a huge range of activities you can include in your day, ranging from free activities like hiking, to luxury once-in-a-lifetime experiences like a winter hot air balloon ride or helicopter tour.
The takeaway: the cost of an elopement, whether summer or winter, will depend on what YOU value on your elopement day, so you get to dictate what is most important!
Hire a local Colorado Elopement Photographer
When you are planning your elopement, we recommend booking an elopement photographer first.
A Colorado elopement photographer – hey that’s us! – will help with finding epic winter locations, helping you narrow down the best time of year, offer local expertise, help you plan an epic day, and recommend local & trusted vendors. You’ll want to book someone that’s experienced in adventure elopements, and hiring a specialized local elopement photographer means they know how to navigate winter weather here in Colorado and will be prepared for any circumstance.
You’ve never eloped before, but we’ve helped plan countless winter elopements and know all the best ways to make it a fun and stress-free experience, so don’t worry, we’ll help! You can check out our packages and ways we can help make this an amazing adventure here.
Choosing your Colorado winter elopement location
The second step in planning your epic Colorado winter elopement is picking a location. Colorado has no shortage of winter wonderland mountain back-drops, but there’s also some great not-as-cold desert locations too.
When thinking about your winter elopement location, we find it super helpful to visualize where you want to say your vows and what scenery surrounds you. But, it’s also helpful to think about what kind of weather you want & what activities you want to include in your day. Do you want a snowy winter wonderland with epic mountains close by & hot springs to soak in? Or maybe you want somewhere with a warmer temperature & desert vibes?
Below, you’ll find some of our favorite spots in Colorado for a perfect winter elopement.
Breckenridge
Honestly, Breckenridge is our favorite spot for Colorado winter elopements. It’s accessible, a short drive from Denver, and boasts epic snowy mountains and a gorgeous downtown. Downtown Breckenridge can definitely be busy as it is a ski town, but if you go further from ski trails and into the wilderness, you’ll find quiet & serene mountain views. Breckenridge also hosts an annual snow carving competition, as well as Ullr Fest: a viking themed festival during Winter!
Our favorite spots: Sapphire Point, Loveland Pass, and backcountry trails.
Closest Airport: Denver International
Rocky Mountain National Park
We may be a bit biased since we live so close to Rocky Mountain National Park, but it’s such a stunning winter elopement location. It’s also easily accessible and an easy drive from Denver. Rocky Mountain National Park does have set ceremony locations, but there is some good news: they’re all accessible during winter & the roads are regularly plowed. Permits cost $300.
Some of our favorite winter day trips have been to Rocky Mountain National Park; we’ve seen red foxes, coyote pups, elk, white stoats, and countless other animals when the park is quiet. You can read here for more about eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Closest town: Estes Park on the east side, or Grand Lake on the West (Note: You can’t drive from one to the other in the park during winter as the connecting roads are closed)
Closest Airport: Denver International
Telluride
Telluride sits in the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado and is a magical ski town that truly feels like a winter wonderland! It may be harder to get to, especially in winter, but you’ll be in for a treat with snowy 14,000ft mountain peaks in every direction. With no shortage of luxury accommodations and epic old town streets to discover, Telluride makes for a great elopement destination. Plus, there’s so much to do in Telluride: skiing, dog-sledding, soaking in the hot springs, and ice-climbing, just to name a few.
Our favorite spots: Alta lakes and Bridal Veil Falls
Closest Airport: Telluride Regional Airport
Great Sand Dunes National Park:
Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in the southern part of Colorado. As you can tell by the name, it boasts absolutely gorgeous sand dunes. In winter, these dunes may be covered with snow, which means you can enjoy some fun winter activities!
Closest Town: Mosca
Closest Airport: San Luis Valley Airport
Dinosaur National Monument
Nestled between Utah & Colorado, Dinosaur National Monument is definitely an overlooked elopement location. With gorgeous canyons and colorful rock formations, this National Monument is an epic place for an elopement in winter! Permits cost $100 to elope in this location, but it is so worth it. While early winter may still get cold and snowy here, late winter tends to warm up pretty fast compared to the rest of Colorado. Plus, you can see dinosaur fossils (how fun!)
Closest Town: Vernal
Closest Airport: Vernal Airport
Garden of the Gods
If you’re looking for red rocks without traveling all the way to Utah or Nevada, Garden of the Gods is a magical park in the heart of Colorado Springs. Since it is situated in the middle of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods only has snow if there is a snowstorm, which makes it a very accessible location. Temperatures here are typically in the 40s (as opposed to around the 20s in other parts of Colorado) during the daytime in winter. This makes it a perfect place for your Colorado winter elopement if you want slightly warmer temperatures.
Closest town: Colorado Springs
Closest Airport: Colorado Springs Airport
Those epic, wild spots in the midst of the mountains
You’re in luck! One of the first things we help every one of our couples with is picking a location. We know some local hidden gems & epic backcountry locations, where the only sound you’ll hear are your footsteps along the snow or birds chirping in the pine trees.
We absolutely love including location recommendations & planning in all of our Colorado elopement packages.
Weather and picking a date for your Colorado winter elopement
Like we mentioned above, the weather in Colorado can be unpredictable and can vary from one day to the next. When choosing a date, we recommend being flexible and booking at least 4 days in your town of choice for your elopement. This way, if there is a winter storm, you can easily switch dates – this is why we always leave two days around your elopement date free, just in case we need to swap to a back-up date!
December to March is what we call “true winter” in the mountains, but winter really lasts from November to April in places like Breckenridge or Aspen. March is our snowiest month & January is the coldest. Winter storms can happen anywhere between October & April, typically. But, Colorado does have, on average, 300 days of sunshine each year, so you’ll also likely have many sunny winter days.
April & May are also mud-season; this is where you’ll have snow higher up on the mountain passes but snow-melt lower down, making the trails muddy. April & May also bring closures to some ski towns like Breckenridge. We’ve found many places including our favorite breweries are closed many days of the week or have super short hours.
Finding lodging for your winter elopement in Colorado
Winter isn’t just for fun snow adventures, it’s also a time to cozy up in a cabin with a fire! Accommodations in winter can range from being more expensive in ski towns due to ski season, to having great deals in non-ski towns. If you’re eloping in Winter, you definitely want to book up your lodging once you have a location nailed down.
Staying at a Ski Resort vs Airbnb
Like we mentioned above, ski resorts do tend to be more expensive in winter, but they also give you immediate access to the slopes. So, if you’re wanting to ski or snowboard, either during your elopement or during your time in Colorado, Ski Resorts do offer great accessibility. However, Airbnbs and VRBOs offer something that hotels and resorts do not: a great location if the weather turns bad.
Backcountry lodges
Colorado is home to so many amazing backcountry lodges! These range from small huts and A-frames to luxury cabins. Backcountry lodges are, as the name implies, in the backcountry, so they take some hiking, jeeping, or skiing to get to. This gives you comfort in the backcountry, so you don’t have to camp, and provides you with a unique experience!
When deciding on lodging, decide what sort of vibe you’re going for and if you want some fun amenities like a hot tub or fireplace.
Below are some of our all-time favorite winter accommodations:
Crested Butte: Modern Wood Cabin
Ouray: Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge
Silverton: Campfire Ranch Red Mountain Pass
Colorado Winter Elopement activities
Colorado really is the place to be for a winter elopement. There’s so many amazing elopement activities you can include in your day! Do you want an all-day winter adventure with dog-sledding, ice-skating, and snowshoeing to your ceremony location? Or maybe you want a fun laid back day filled with snowball fights, soaking in the hot springs, a fun snow hike to your ceremony location, and a catered Airbnb dinner. There are endless possibilities when it comes to planning your winter elopement, so dream big!
Below, you’ll find some of our favorite winter elopement activities, just to help you get started in brainstorming your own winter elopement here in Colorado!
Soaking in your Airbnb’s hot tub
Skiing or snowboarding
- Snowshoeing
- Snowmobiling to your ceremony location
- Dog-sledding
- Soaking in the hot springs (it’s extra magical in winter)
- Reading or cozying up by the fire
- Roast some smores (my favorite, yum!)
- Going on a sleigh-ride
- Ice skating
- Sledding
- Going on a winter drive (this is a favorite if you’re visiting Rocky Mountain National Park)
- Brewery Tour
- Hiking
- Heli-Skiing
Colorado winter elopement attire: what to wear
Layers
If there’s one thing you want for your Colorado winter elopement, it’s layers. With the correct attire, you’ll be warm enough to adventure around in the snow, even if it looks like Hoth out there!
Base Layers:
All of our winter elopements have had one thing in common: base layers. If you’re into skiing or snowboarding, I’m sure you know all about this! Base layers typically are made of a lightweight, breathable layer that wicks away sweat. Think thermal underwear, breathable winter leggings, or a moisture-wicking synthetic shirt. These can all be hidden under your elopement attire.
Outer Layers:
Over your elopement attire, you’ll want to wear an insulating jacket. This can just be for the hike & adventures, and you can easily take it off/on for your ceremony & photos. We recommend a puff-jacket, or a down jacket with a waterproof outer layer. On the days it’s not so cold, you could also opt for a trench coat, or a long Sherpa coat.
Dresses
How to choose the best style of wedding dress for your winter elopement: Opt for long sleeves & dresses with extra fabric, like the one above. These will help you stay warmer and allow for movement when hiking or doing a winter elopement activity. When trying on dresses, wear your winter base layers under, so you can check how easy it is to move around.
Fabric: Fabrics like Silk, Brocade, Faille, Satin, and Velvet are all heavier fabrics that are perfect for a winter elopement dress.
Layering: For dresses, wearing skin-colored winter leggings will keep you warm, and won’t show under most dresses. Some of our brides have also tucked their wedding dress into their leggings for hiking – talk about functionality! If you’re opting for a sleeveless dress, you may be a tad bit colder since it’s also harder to find base layers that are sleeveless. In this case, shapewear may keep your mid-section warmer.
Suits
How to choose the best style of suit for your winter elopement: You’ll want to opt for a suit that offers warmth and flexibility. If you plan on skiing, hiking, or doing any active winter activity, it’s best to test out how flexible your suit is while trying it on. If you already have your winter hiking boots, make sure the pants fit over your boots. Oh, and go with darker colors – like gray, sage, or black for better contrast against the snow.
Fabric: Fabrics like Wool, Flannel, Cashmere, and Tweed are great for winter suits.
Layering: Layering for suits is honestly easier than layering with dresses. You can hide all of your base layers, like long johns, under your suit pants & shirt.
Footwear for your Colorado Winter elopement
Boots: Hiking Boots or Snow Boots are a must. As a Colorado local, I stand by having a pair of quality snow boots. They’re waterproof, comfy, and do a great job keeping my toes warm. Having cold or wet toes suck!
Socks: You will want to wear wool socks like these Darn Tough socks. Wool socks will keep your feet warm and dry, even if you get snow in your boots – while cotton will make your feet stay wet & cold.
Snowshoes: So, while many trails can be packed down (meaning you won’t sink into the snow), some trails, especially after recent snow, may be tricky to navigate without snowshoes. Snowshoes will keep you from post-holing (sinking) into the snow, as they are designed to keep you on top of it. We typically only wear these if we know we are wanting to explore off the packed-down trail or if there has been a recent snow storm.
Micro-spikes/crampons: Micro-spikes and crampons are a different matter, though. We tend to take these on any winter hike we go on, since they keep you from slipping on wet snow or icy patches. Plus, they’re easy to store away in a backpack if you don’t need them.
How to prepare for your winter elopement in Colorado
Honestly, this is one of the most important aspects we’ll cover in this blog, so strap in and let’s get started!
Safety Precautions and planning for the weather
- We recommend staying informed on the current weather conditions more frequently than summer elopements. Blizzards and Winter Storms can happen at any time.
- Winter-time in Colorado also brings Avalanche danger. Check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center before heading out and make sure not to travel on slopes greater than 35 degrees. Do not travel near Avalanche terrain unless everyone has the proper training & safety equipment. This absolutely shouldn’t deter you from eloping during winter, we just want you to be fully prepared.
- Eloping during sunset is typically warmer and has better lighting than sunrise or midday. Sunset is also earlier in the winter, so you can have an earlier dinner too!
Eloping with guests
Many of our winter elopements tend to be with just the couple, but that doesn’t mean you can’t elope with guests! Eloping with guests in the winter does come with a few more hurdles, so here’s how to prepare your guests to join you on your Colorado elopement.
- Update your guests with the weather forecast
- If you can all stay in one Airbnb or close to each other, that would be best
- Prepare them for the cold and make sure they pack winter clothes
Backup plans
You should always have a back-up plan or two. These can include other outdoor elopement locations, like other nearby trails, an indoor location like a brewery, a different area of the state, or a different day. Even if you never use the back-up plans, you’ll be more at peace knowing there are options in case of weather, delays, or road closures. We want your day to be as stress-free as possible, so back-up plans can assure you that your elopement day will go off without a hitch!
Flights & airports
We think this is something that isn’t covered often, but if you want to fly into ski towns like Telluride, you’ll more than likely have to take a connecting flight. Ski Town airports tend to be pretty small compared to Denver International, and most don’t have many direct flights. However, airports like Montrose, Telluride, and Gunnison operate year-round.
Transportation & getting around
Transportation in Winter can be tricky, and it’s best to make sure you have a vehicle suited for the snow, ice, and other winter perils!
Opt for a 4WD vehicle: You’ll definitely want a 4WD or AWD (all-wheel drive) vehicle in case of snow or ice, as they provide much more traction than 2WD.
Tip: Make sure your vehicle has all-weather or snow tires, and if not: snowchains. We do have traction laws in Colorado, so make sure you follow them!
To get around the backcountry or more remote locations, rent a snowmobile: Vail Pass is a popular snowmobiling location and offers access to many more elopement locations that aren’t accessible with normal vehicles. Snowmobiling can also be a fun and unique activity to include in your elopement day.
Free shuttles in Ski towns: If you’re staying in a ski town like Vail, Crested Butte, or Breckenridge, there are free shuttles that take you to main street and to the ski slopes. They’re super useful if you’re staying in town and don’t want to rent a car for the whole trip.
Delays
If there’s one thing that’s constant throughout Colorado winter, it’s delays. They suck. A lot. But it’s a part of life here if you’re traveling to the mountains. Especially during winter storms, roads may close due to dangerous driving conditions. I-70, the main highway to many Ski Resorts including Aspen and Breckenridge, can close if there’s a winter storm.
Even if roads don’t close, expect delays: We always recommend getting to your location a few days early, if you’re in the mountains, to minimize the delays. Make sure to check the weather conditions before heading out.
Plan for a few days extra on either side of your elopement: Flights may also be delayed due to weather and other iffy conditions. That’s why having a buffer of a few days on either side of your elopement day is crucial.
Important tips for Winter elopements
- The air is dry here, especially in Winter. Coming from sea level, or somewhere humid like Florida, you’ll want to bring extra chapstick and make sure you stay extra hydrated. Give yourself a day or two to acclimate both to the altitude and the dry air (we moved from Florida and on our first night, Blake had a killer migraine!)
- Be prepared to be flexible & go with the flow. You could have bright blue sunny days or snow during your elopement, and if you plan for both, you’ll be golden.
- Book extra days for your Winter elopement, this way you can change dates or time of day for a more enjoyable elopement day if there is bad weather.
Essentials to pack
- Extra layers, even if you aren’t wearing them on the day. Keep extra layers in the car or your backpack, just in case.
- Snacks & extra water, especially if you’re hiking or doing an outdoor activity. You’ll want to make sure you are extra hydrated, and extra snacks are always good right?!
- Hand warmers – we don’t leave the house without these in winter. It can get bitterly cold and hand warmers help a lot.
- Sunscreen. Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean you won’t get sunburned. Yes, we learned this the hard way. In high altitude with white snow, it’s easy to burn, so wear some sunscreen.
- First aid kit. Always useful to have on any mountain adventure.
Checklist for planning your winter elopement in Colorado
- Decide on date
- Hire an experienced elopement photographer
- Decide on location
- Book lodging
- Book flights – we recommend always doing this after lodging, as sometimes dates/location may change based on available lodging
- Hire any other vendors you want: Hair and Makeup, Baker, Private Chef, Florist, Officiant, etc
- Book transportation/rental car
- Book any activities you want to do – dog-sledding, snowmobiling, etc
- Order & try-on wedding attire – remember to wear base layers to your fitting
- Order vow books & rings if you don’t already have them
- Order any other accessories, jackets, etc
- Pack for elopement trip – we always recommend putting as much in your carry-on as you can
- Get Marriage license
- Rent any gear you may need – if not bringing it with you, ie: snowshoes, skis, microspikes
- Check the weather before elopement day
Ready to stop dreaming & start planning?
Let’s do it!
There’s something so magical about saying your vows amongst the mountains & snow in the quiet solitude of winter – it’s why we love winter elopements! So, we hope this blog helped prepare for your own magical winter elopement in Colorado.
From epic backcountry locations to fun activity ideas, we have tons of ways to make your winter elopement in Colorado a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We’ll help you truly plan a day that feels genuine to you so that you can elope in your own wild way! Click here to reach out to us and start your winter adventure.
