If you are planning to elope in Colorado, then you are in the right place! In my Ultimate Crested Butte Elopement Guide, you will find details about why you should elope in CB, the best time of year, locations, and how to elope here legally.
Just in case you’re not familiar with it, Crested Butte is a mountain town about 4 hours west of Denver in a high valley of the Colorado Rockies. It’s home to colorful wildflowers, stunning mountain views, and beautiful alpine lakes. It’s any mountain lover’s dream! Crested Butte is one of my favorite places in Colorado, which is saying something as a Colorado elopement photographer!
Keep reading for all the information you need to know when planning your Crested Butte elopement!
Crested Butte is one of the best places to elope in Colorado. It’s the wildflower capital of Colorado and is surrounded by wilderness adventures! This beautiful year-round destination always offers stunning scenery and a wide range of activities.
The town itself is a really adorable mountain town with a welcoming community. Some of the other mountain towns, like Vail, Aspen, or Telluride, can have a more high-end luxury vibe to them. But not Crested Butte! It’s a quaint, homey vibe that feels exactly how you should feel in a beautiful mountain town. Not to mention, it is a lot more affordable than its bougie neighbors.
Due to its remote location (it’s over 4 hours away from Denver), you’re more likely to have fewer crowds and seclusion in the places. In fact, some of the locations are very off the grid and require a 4×4 vehicle to even get there!
The best time of year to elope in Crested Butte is in the summer, from July to August. That’s when most of the snow should be melted at higher elevations, and the wildflowers should be in full bloom!
But Crested Butte is beautiful year-round! If you are looking for those beautiful yellow and orange leaves, typically, the fall foliage peaks in mid-September to early October. Shortly after, the snow sets in, and winter begins! If you want to elope in the winter in Crested Butte, be prepared for a lot of snow, unpredictable weather, and most of the locations being inaccessible (at least by vehicle). The snow can make for a beautiful backdrop, though, if that’s the vibe you are going for!
When it comes to where to elope in Crested Butte, there are honestly an endless amount of options to choose from. Whether that’s longer hikes with endless views or walk-up locations to incredible alpine lakes. Below are some of my personal favorite places for a Crested Butte elopement!
Similar to National Parks needing permits to get married, the CB Land Trust requires a reservation for their ceremony locations. But something fun about the CB Land Trust locations is that the fee is a donation to the land trust. They cost $2,000 to reserve – $500 of that cost is a refundable security deposit and the other $1,500 is the donation.
Mountain Passes have variety of options along the passes! Whether that’s scenic pull offs, hiking trails, or just on the road itself.
Alpine Lakes are probably some of the most popular Colorado elopement locations, and for a good reason! They are BEAUTIFUL!
Please remember to always Leave No Trace on your elopement day. It’s important to protect nature and preserve these locations for years to come! You can learn more about the LNT principles here.
If you hire me as your elopement photographer, I’ll share all the details about these locations and even a few more hidden gems I save just for my clients! You can inquire with me here to hire me to photograph your intimate day.
While my favorite thing to talk about is all the dreamy places to elope in Crested Butte, it’s important to discuss the legal parts too! You want to make sure the legal part of your marriage is taken care of in advance so you can enjoy your elopement day. Keep reading for more specific details about how to legally elope in Crested Butte!
Permits are based on the exact location, so it can vary a lot. Since Crested Butte doesn’t have any National Parks or State Parks, most of the land is run by the National Forest Service or CB Land Trust. A majority of the locations fall under the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests office or the Gunnison District office. The best way to find out if you need a permit get married in a location is to call the ranger district office for the area. But if you hire me, this is something I help all my couples with to make sure we’re good to go for the legal side of your elopement!
If you’re not already familiar, self-solemnization means that you can legally perform your wedding ceremony without needing an officiant or witness. Colorado is one of the only states that allow this (without additional rules or conditions)!
This allows so much more freedom when choosing an elopement location or planning your elopement day, because you have completely control! There’s no need to worry about an officiant being able to join you on a hike or go 4×4 roading to your ceremony spot. You can craft your own ceremony, saying your vows, and signing your marriage license. In fact, if you want your elopement can be fully private and just the two of you (execpt if you want a photographer or videographer) because you don’t even need a witness!
Even if you’re getting married in Crested Butte, you don’t have to get your marriage license in CB. You can get it in any county as long as it’s in Colorado! Colorado does not require you to wait a while after receiving your marriage license, like some states. This means that you can technically elope the same day you get your marriage license. Although I would recommend getting it a few days in advance to alleviate any added stress to your elopement day!
However, since information can change, be sure to check out the Crested Butte county website for the most updated information!
Crested Butte does not have many mainstream chain hotels and accommodations, but it does have many unique Airbnbs and homes to rent! Below are some of my favorites that would be perfect for your Crested Butte elopement.
If you plan to spend a portion of your event at the rental property, be sure to reach out to the host before booking to make sure it’s okay. Sometimes, they have rules against any kind of special event or party. It’s better to be on the safe side!
Starting at $3697
I would absolutely LOVE to photograph your Crested Butte elopement! If you’re new here – hey there, I’m Rachel! I’m an elopement and micro wedding photographer based in the beautiful state of Colorado. Having traveled and photographed love stories across the country and all over Colorado – I can tell you that the beauty and atmosphere of Crested Butte is like no other mountain town. You’ve likely decided to elope because you desire a more intimate, intentional and stress-free day. I want to help make your experience as meaningful and easy going as possible.
In all of my elopement packages I provide:
Documenting stories of love and connection makes my heart beat hardest, and it would be an honor to photograph yours. To me, this is much more than taking your photo, I am here to put your experience at the forefront and allow you the space to let loose and feel genuinely you. Let’s create something magical together that will preserve your milestone in an authentic and celebratory way that will last years to come.