Elope in Estes Park

Since you will need your marriage license in hand for your elopement ceremony, we suggest that you add an extra day to the beginning of your visit to Estes Park so you can sort out your paperwork ahead of time. This way you can spend the day of your elopement focusing on the really important stuff. You can get a Colorado marriage license at any county clerk’s office in the state, regardless of the county that you plan to officially elope in. County clerk’s offices are usually open between 8 am and 4:30 pm during the week and you don’t need an appointment. We recommend that you complete certain sections of your marriage license online beforehand so all you really need to do during your appointment is confirm the details on your forms.

Be sure that you and your partner bring your social security numbers, one form of identification per person, and $30. Note that you will need to use your marriage license less than 35 days after it is issued or it expires. After your elopement, either bring the license back to the office where you got it or mail it back so it can be officially recorded.

If you want to elope in RMNP, we highly recommend that you book our services as soon as possible so we can secure your permit. Rocky Mountain National Park is extremely popular for visitors and, specifically, for elopements. Popular venues book up quickly.

To find your perfect elopement venue, visit our venue finder. 

As a general rule, start planning your Estes Park elopement as far in advance as you can. Rocky Mountain National Park is a very popular elopement location and permits for ceremony spots within the park are very limited. Do some research on the specific sights available for elopements in the park to decide which vistas speak to you and consider what types of activities and weather would make you the happiest. To increase the likelihood of your dream elopement becoming a reality, consider planning your elopement for a weekday and avoid holidays. And it’s not a bad idea to have a few options in mind for both your desired elopement date and site.

All of our packages include your permit to Rocky Mountain National Park, meaning we will apply on your behalf. We’ve been performing ceremonies in RMNP for 6 years so we have a great relationship with the park! Please note that it IS extremely competitive and they only offer so many permits annually so we advise you book Simply Eloped services a year in advance of your ceremony so that when permits open up we can apply immediately! If any additional guests drive in separately to join your elopement, the fee per car is $30 per day.

For custom pricing for your Estes Park elopement, visit our quote builder .

One of the best things about the Estes Park region is that you can access many of the surrounding locations all year! The entire lower half of the park and all of its designated ceremony sights stay open year-round but note that the road to Trail Ridge Road is usually only open to vehicles from Memorial Day through the middle of October. Keep in mind that it can snow in the mountains as early as the end of September and the snow can stick around until as late as the middle of June.

If you are considering an autumn elopement in Estes Park, remember that Estes Park shares land with the local elk population. During “Elkfest”, the annual elk mating season, the amorous wildlife tend to be more vocal and more visible as they search for mates. As always, give any wildlife you may encounter a wide berth and plenty of respect. However, we love Colorado elopements of any season – every in the flurry of a snowstorm!

If you’re eloping anywhere in Colorado, we always recommend bringing layers, a waterproof jacket, and a good pair of gloves. The temperature here can change at a moment’s notice and it tends to be colder up in the mountains at higher elevations than it is in the nearby town, so dress accordingly.

If you want to wear a wedding dress for your elopement, you can either change into your special outfit once you’ve hiked up to your chosen site or look for a dress or suit that won’t be too restrictive and can get dirty. If you choose to hike in a dress, you can’t go wrong with a pair of leggings or tights under your dress for added warmth.

Absolutely! We’re all about the remote alpine lakes or deep forest ceremonies. Our adventure package is called our Wildflower Package and includes 4 hours of photography, a personalized ceremony with an officiant, your permit, a team of vendors willing to hike in and out, a Personal Elopement Planner and more! Reach out to us if you’re interested!