Average Cost of a Small Wedding in Colorado & How to Budget

With iconic mountainscapes, scenic views, and year-round beauty, Colorado is among the most stunning places to get married in the U.S. But before you choose this destination for your nuptials, you’ll want to look into the average cost of a wedding in Colorado.

On average, weddings in Colorado are roughly $34,000.¹ However, if you’re planning a family-only elopement or an intimate wedding with 50 or fewer guests, your costs will be well below the average.

We’ll discuss the cost of a small Colorado wedding and the many variables to consider, such as venue, vendors, guest count, and season.

Understanding the Cost of a Small Wedding in Colorado

How much does it cost to get married in Colorado if you keep things small? We hate to give you the answer you probably keep hearing, but it depends.

What does it depend on, exactly? Factors affecting the cost of a small wedding in Colorado include:

• Venue
• Photography and videography
• Florals, décor, and other essentials
• Coordinator, DJ, officiant, etc.

Here’s an example of how it might break down for a 15-person wedding in Colorado:

• Venue: $1,200
• Reception food and drinks: $2,500
• Flowers and other décor: $1,200
• Photographer and videographer: $2,000
• Coordinator, DJ, and officiant: $1,600
• Total: $8,500

We’ll go over these in more detail below.

Colorado Wedding Venue Costs

Wedding venue costs in Colorado range by location, the venue’s proximity to cities and airports, guest capacity, time of year, park permits, and other variables.

Here are a handful of popular places to get married in the Centennial State—from mountain view resorts to urban settings to nature lookouts—what their booking prices start at, and how many guests they can accommodate.

Bear in mind these are starting prices—several factors can add to the wedding cost, such as how many hours you need the venue. Also, some locations may be used for wedding ceremonies or elopements, while others can accommodate small receptions.

You can explore these venues and more with all-inclusive elopement packages in Colorado.

Photography and Videography

Hiring a wedding photographer for an hour to capture an elopement may only run you $200 or $300. But if you’re having a gathering with 15 to 20 people—including a wedding ceremony and small reception to follow—your wedding photography costs might be more like $800 to capture the entire event.¹⁰

Then, if you’d like to have a videographer as well, you might be adding anywhere from $200 to $500 more per hour.¹¹

Photographers and videographers may charge different fees for printed images, online galleries, high-resolution photos, unlimited downloads, editing, or expedited access to your photos or wedding video.

Florals, Décor, and Other Essentials

The cost of wedding florals can be pretty low if you’re only doing, say, one bridal bouquet for an elopement. But if you’re adding flowers for a wedding party or using them as décor for the ceremony or reception tables, the price can quickly add up.

Other décor and wedding essentials may include renting reception chairs and tablecloths or paying the venue’s setup and cleanup fees.

You might be able to bring your own alcohol for the reception, though some venues may charge a stocking or corkage fee per bottle. Since traditional wedding cakes can be pricey, a growing trend is to save money by doing cupcakes, donuts, cookies, or just multiple smaller cakes instead.

Coordinator, DJ, Officiant, etc.

In addition to a photographer and possibly a videographer, you may need to hire an officiant for the wedding ceremony, a DJ or instrumentalist, and a bartender.

Depending on the size of your wedding and what’s involved, you might also need a coordinator. This person can handle matters like location permits and insurance and help getting a Colorado marriage license. They can also coordinate other vendors, such as hair and makeup and florals.

Tips to Save on Your Colorado Wedding

Many things can make the price of a wedding skyrocket, but there are also lots of ways to cut down on costs.

Here are a few tips and ideas to save on your Colorado wedding:

• Choose an outdoor venue. Outdoor wedding venues in Colorado are typically less expensive than indoor locations. Those located in national parks and scenic lookouts often start at just a few hundred dollars, and in some cases, you might only need to get a permit.
• Keep it small. One of the most impactful ways to save money on a wedding is to keep it as small as possible with family and potentially a few close friends. Some couples opt to elope with just the two of them.
• Forgo a wedding party. Small weddings often skip a traditional party and have a ceremony with only the couple and the officiant standing up front. This can save money on florals and photography—and possibly extras like hair and makeup.
• Keep it short and sweet. Venues and vendors often charge by the hour. You can cut wedding costs by having a brief ceremony followed by a cheers among loved ones.
• Have a loved one officiate. You might consider having a dear friend or family member officiate your wedding—just make sure they get ordained in the state of Colorado ahead of time.
• Get a wedding cake alternative. As noted, wedding cakes are notoriously expensive. If you’re having a small wedding, you might consider doing an alternative sweet, such as a cookie bar, donuts, or cupcakes.
• DIY the details. There’s no shortage of ideas for making your own place settings, centerpieces, wedding favors, and other decorative details. If you’re up for it, this can really help you trim down on costs.
• Partner with a comprehensive coordinator like Simply Eloped. We’re dedicated to helping cost-conscious couples save money on their weddings while still making it feel like the most magical day. And we offer financing with 0% installment payment plans.

Simply Eloped makes it easy to have an affordable wedding without compromising quality or making your special day feel any less, well…special.

Our budget-friendly elopement packages start at $850, with options involving just you, your significant other, and an officiant. If you want something slightly more elaborate but still intimate, you can choose a package that includes a personalized ceremony with guests, a few hours of photography, location permits, and coordination with multiple vendors.

See our blog for more tips on budgeting for your wedding.

Start Planning Your Colorado Wedding With Simply Eloped

Simply Eloped has helped upwards of 13,000 couples get married over the past eight years, with 2,700 and counting in Colorado alone. Our highly rated elopement packages help brides and grooms-to-be save money on their big days while focusing on what’s most important to them.

Access to 100+ Wedding Service Providers and Venues in Colorado

We work with over 100 service providers throughout Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, and Aspen.

Simply Eloped can also help you book a venue in one of the state’s most breathtaking locales, whether it’s a lookout, a lakeside setting, or a mountain cliffside. You can get married in Colorado any time of year and enjoy the shimmering sunshine or the backdrop of snowy peaks.

Get Wedding Planning Assistance While Saving Money

With nationally renowned vendors and our experienced team of coordinators, Simply Eloped is here to help you plan a ceremony (and anything else you’d like to add) well below the average cost of a wedding in Colorado.

Not only are our services affordable, but thanks to our best-in-class technology, planning your special day is easier than ever. Couples get a personalized dashboard with all their elopement planning details, easy links to book discounted hotels, and a wedding webpage to share with attendees.

Get a quote today for your small Colorado wedding, or explore customized packages to create a plan that meets your exact needs, vision, and budget.

Sources:

1. The Knot. How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost, According to Data? https://www.theknot.com/content/average-wedding-cost
2. Larsen photo. Sunrise Amphitheater in Boulder. https://larsenphoto.co/sunrise-amphitheater-wedding-guide/
3. Alex Medvick. The Best Guide to Eloping at Lost Gulch Overlook. https://alexmedvick.com/the-best-guide-to-eloping-at-lost-gulch-overlook/
4. Weddinwire. Chautauqua Dining Hall. https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/chautauqua-dining-hall-boulder/31ebb4f294775384.html
5. National Park Service. Weddings & Other Ceremonies. https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/weddings.htm
6. Garden of Gods. Weddings at Garden of the Gods. https://gardenofgods.com/events/weddings/
7. Wedding Photojournalist Association. Aspen Weddings at Ashcroft Ghost Town. https://www.wpja.com/top-wedding-venue-photography/ashcroft-ghost-town-aspen
8. El Paso Couty. Fox run gazebo: outdoor wedding venue. https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/fox-run-regional-park/fox-run-gazebo-outdoor-wedding-venue/
9. Recreation. Sapphire Point Overlook. https://www.recreation.gov/venues/VR22273
10. Miss Millers Photography. How much does a wedding photographer cost in Colorado? https://www.missmillersphotography.com/blog/how-much-does-a-wedding-photographer-cost-in-colorado
11. Airtasker. How much does it cost to hire a wedding videographer? https://www.airtasker.com/us/costs/wedding-videographer/wedding-videographer-cost/

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.