Legal Requirements For Eloping In Colorado

So you’re planning on eloping in Colorado? Congratulations! As a team of Colorado local elopement and wedding photographers for hundreds of elopements over the past decade, please allow us to be the first to tell you you won’t regret your decision. We are firm believers that eloping in Colorado is one of the most beautiful, romantic, and drama-free ways to begin your life together as a married couple!

While there isn’t nearly as much planning needed for an elopement versus the big traditional wedding, there are some key factors to keep in mind. Chief among them are the legal requirements you will be subjected to by the state of Colorado and many of the venues spread throughout the state. To help cut down on all of the tedious research needed to ensure your ceremony is 100% on the up and up, I’ve assembled the biggest legal requirements for eloping in Colorado to help make the logistic and “not-so-romantic” part of this process just a bit easier. 

Hiring An Officiant Is Optional

Since you have chosen to elope, I can imagine that it is safe to say having your ceremony intimate and private is very important to you. I completely get that! This is why it is so cool that in Colorado you do not legally have to have an officiant perform your ceremony. It’s called self solemnization! That’s right; you can actually marry yourselves in complete privacy at a venue of your choosing. In fact, while some of our couples make their elopement photographer the only other person present at the ceremony, others who insist on complete intimacy for the ceremony will even book our Colorado Photographer Squad for a day-after photo session. Just imagine how romantic it would be for the two of you to hike hand-in-hand to one of Colorado’s stunning vistas and exchange your vows without a single other thing or person to distract you from one another. Now that is pure romance! We also completely understand that writing your ceremony or your vows can be really daunting and we love connecting our couples with officiants who can help you write your elopement ceremony, your vows, or ordain your ceremony!

Choosing An Elopement Location That Meets Your Needs And Dreams

Certain elopement venues throughout the state have their own sets of rules or even laws that you will be expected to abide by. For example, if you choose to elope in one of our National Parks in Colorado you will be expected to follow the leave no trace laws to protect the natural habitat of that park. Furthermore, some venues will have strict rules about how many people can be present for your ceremony, if you do decide to invite a few along for your elopement. Some parks are now limiting the number of couples that will be granted permits or permission to get married there and it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is so important that you don’t fall head-over-heels-in-love with a venue that will not allow you to execute your vision for the perfect elopement so it is important to do your homework.

Get Help From our Colorado Photographer Squad Concierge

In my experience, navigating the local laws, permits, and regulations surrounding weddings in Colorado can be one of the most challenging parts of planning your elopement here. That is why, a team of Colorado elopement photographers, we have actually included help in navigating the legal portion of your elopement as part of our services. Obviously, you will have far less need for other vendors and our couples have told us that this can make the planning process simpler. Especially, if you don’t already live here in Colorado. So if you hire our team as your elopement photographer, we will be more than glad to assist you in navigating our laws. Otherwise, I do recommend hiring a planner or coordinator that will do the same so you can focus on what’s important; each other.