How to Elope in Colorado

While some of these other things aren't required for your wedding elopement,
they may make things a little easier for you on your wedding day.

• Officiant

  - In Colorado, an officiant isn't a requirement for you to get married. That's not to say they can't be extremly helpful for those couples who arent sure what to even do on their wedding day. They can help you narrow in on what tradtions are important to you and what to say and do. Bringing them out into the mountains can be a challenge depending on the timing, I but I know a few that are always up for an adventure.



• Hair and Makeup

  - Having your hair done by a licensed hair stylist can help ease your to-do list on the day. You can relax knowing you will look your best and ease into the day.

I interviewed Katie of Fern and Bloom in Denver and she had some great insight I want to share with you.

• What are some (unique) ways I can I add flowers to my elopement day and keep things simple still?

  - Using seasonal and when possible locally grown blooms insure logevitiy. Consider keeping it simple a bouquet can tucked into a backpack, floral crowns are always a fun artistic option.



• What inspires you as a floral designer?

  - Seasonality and texture.



• How to hike with a bouquet?

  - We recommend keeping the flowers in a shallow water source, use longlasting hearty flowers. Tuck them into a hiking backpack and off you go... We can provide a lightweght vase and wrapping material to keep them covered and supported.



• Why do you use locally sourced flowers?

  - It's important to us to source from other small business and farmers. Keeping a our local ecomony supported and lighting the carbon footprint the flowers have to travel. We also find the quality and longevity of the blooms are unmatched.



• Can I pick up my flowers? Do you have a physical location?

  - Yes We offer instore pick up only for our elopement packages. Our shop is located in the Northwest Denver neighborhood of Berkley. Very close to both I-25 and I-70 interstates.

This can be a challenge when you first start planning your wedding elopement.
What the heck do we wear? Do I wear our wedding dress during the hike? Do we change somewhere in the mountains?
What kind of shoes should I bring?

• Wedding Attire

  - The short answer for when to wear your wedding attire is to use your best judgement with your comfort and the location we chose. I can tell you that it can be rather challenging to hike without being able to see your feet. It depends on what you're wearing honestly. Many couples will opt to change once we get to our "main" destination. There are portable changing tents you can bring. They're super light weight and work well.



• Shoes

  - Shoes are a major concern. While we most likely won't be doing crazy rock climbing we will be on rough and uneven trails. That being said if you want some nice or super cute shoes, bring them to change in but wear good soled shoes for the bulk of the walking around. I don't feature feet much anyhow. You've chosen to get married in the mountains, so lean into that. You don't need crazy hiking boots, but dress shoes and heels aren't going to cut it.



• Sunscreen

  - You don't have to pack sunscreen but you should wear it. We are at higher altitudes where there is more UV light exposure and there's less atmosphere to diffuse it. You will burn and not even feel it.

Writing your own vows can seem hard to know what to write or even how to start. I have created this Vow Writing Guide with several tips and a guide to follow. This is not the way to write them.
You can always break the "rules" and do what feels best for the two of you.

My officiant friend, Phil Gallagher had this to say...

• What are vows?

  Vows are the portion of the ceremony when the couple make promises to one another, and these can be done in a variety of ways. Traditionally, vows are performed in a "repeat-after-me" fashion and there are numerous wordings. For a more modern and intimate vibe, the couple can personally write and speak their vows to one another with no prompted phrases. And again, there are countless ways to approach writing your own vows.



• What are some ways we can make our vows more personal?

  The best way to make your vows more intimate is to use your creativity and decide/write your own wording and that goes for both repeat-after-me and personal vows. Specifics are key. Being specific to your unique story allows the actual content of the vows to communicate your personality and feel more like you. Another thing you can do is to opt for sharing personal vows privately then reciting more traditional vows publicly. This way you have a very personal and private moment on what can be a very "public" day.



• Where do we start when creating a ceremony when it's just the two of us?

  This all depends on your particular DNA. Some couples tend to be very "hands-on" and love to have everything nailed down far in advance while other couples are less concerned overall and feel comfortable with details coming together quickly closer to the day-of. Regardless, I highly suggest that your entire ceremony be completed and ready to go at least two weeks in advance... unless you've decided to get married in a two week window.



• What kinds of things should we be thinking of when writing/structuring our vows?

  When it comes to coming up with a plan for vows there are a few good things to always consider together. It's a great idea to make sure that you and your partner will be vowing somewhat similar things in complimentary styles. So you could create a small template that you each will use. Maybe you like the word "vow" or you prefer the word "promise." Perhaps you could both end your vows by saying "thank you for marrying me" or another way that would help tie them together. You could even agree to begin the same and end the same and in between take your creative freedom to write three or four unique sentences. Another great idea is to come up with a "word count." You want a limit, trust me.



• Should we write our vows together? How do we keep some of them a surprise, but still cohesive?

  You can certainly write them together or keep them a complete surprise. Just make sure you do what will make you feel the most comfortable on the day of your wedding. If keeping them a surprise, just be sure to come up with a plan like I already mentioned. It would also be a good idea to send them from separate emails to your officiant to help nudge you closer to the middle if needed.



• What do most couples not think of when creating a ceremony for themselves?

  Write or print a fresh copy of your vows for the day of. I've personally witnessed plenty of people that struggled to read their own handwriting.
  
  Another thing to be aware of is how "unofficial" things can feel with less people and no guests spectating. It's always a good idea to create a beginning and an ending to help trigger those moments. Perhaps at the beginning you play some music and at the end you share a champagne toast.
  
  And finally, if you're going to sign the license directly after your Elopement, remember to bring a pen and clipboard. And just a heads up, some offices only allow black ink.

Outside of bringing your wedding attire and some helpful necessities, here is a packing list of things you can bring on your elopement to make it more personal and incorporate some traditions. Keep in mind... you call the shots and can do whatever you want. Don't forget that is why you are eloping in the first place. These are merely ideas.

• Vow Books

  - These are nice, if for nothing else, than you aren't looking at your phones while exchanging vows. They are also great for when you forget to download your vows and the spot we go to is beyond cell service. Eggghhhhh. They don't have to be anything fancy if you don't want, but it looks better than your phone in photos. Also its a great little memorial piece as well.



• Rings

  - Rings are a long standing tradition to present and exchange with your partner. They can be simple or ornate. Just as long as they are you and what you intend for them to represent.



• Music

  - Bringing a little bluetooth speaker can be fun for your ceremony. It's also great for your first dance as a married couple in the forest. Just make sure to download the songs before as we will most likely be outside service.



• Socks

  - Leave an extra pair of clean/fresh socks in the car to change into when we are done. You will thank me later.



• Jacket

  - It's a good idea to pack a light jacket or rain poncho in your bag as well. This all depends greatly on the season, obviously, but wearing layers in the mountains is good as it tends to get colder at higher altitudes and when the sun goes down.



• Headlamps

  - These little suckers are amazing! You don't need to get a Petzl brand but I have these are they are built well. You can get them with AAA batteries or a rechargable lithium cell. The ones with a low light red or green mode are great as they last insanely long and it's not a stark brightness when hiking. Strobe mode is fun when running towards someone. Hahahahahah.



• Water

  - It really doesn't matter how you carry water, but you need to bring some. You get dehyrated quicker when physically exerting yourself and that gets compounded at higher altitudes. Camelbak's are great but, they're several brands are out there that roughly work the same. They make it very easy to have 70 ounces of water on you and your hands free.



• Snacks

  - When I am hiking I really love Clif bars as they aren't loaded with sugar and they are a good medium size. Outside of that Bananas are amazing to help prevent cramping (along with water) and apples are awesome for energy. Make them easy to carry and pack.

What the heck to we do during our elopement? The short answer is Whatever You Want.
There are no limits or even anything that is required of you on your day. You want to write vows to each other? Ok.
You want a very enthusiastic high-five? Ok.

The thing is to narrow down on what it means for you to marry someone? What means the most to you and your partner.
What would be fun to do on your wedding day?

• Getting Ready

  - This may seem rather trivial to capture, especially when doing it together. I can assure you it is really great to have to share the story of your day. Where you stayed, what it was like. Were you nervous? Cool as can be? I assure you, your future kids will love to see these. We can also have a little first look which can be a fun moment before heading out. I can also capture all the little details you have as well at this point.



• Wedding Ceremony

  - We can do this first thing of the day, the last or somewhere in between when it feels right. It will really come down to the location, the timing of the day, and what feels right to you two. You can write your own vows if you wish. You can recite favorite song lyrics, traditional prayers, poems, you name it. It can be hard to know where to start. I have created some ceremony frameworks for you to pull from. You can mix and match what feels right and add to it. They are merely a jumping off point for you.



• Hiking

  - Not required, but I enjoy it if you do. Some locations may require walking but generally, I look for the spots that aren't too strenuous and, with good shoes, you will do fine. I want to make your day fun most of all.



• Gift Exchange

  - Exchanging gifts or letters can be great. You can pair this with a first look. Even if you happen to be getting ready together it can be a fun moment to have.



• Picnic

  - Setting aside a little time for a snack but making it fun and special is great. If we're doing a sunrise elopement having a little picnic can be great to have some coffee and breakfast. Just a little boost to keep ya going. Or on the flipside... why not a tasty bite as you both watch the sun go down.



• Campfire and smores

  - I can't think of a more cozy way to suggle up together in a blanket and have some fun roasting marshmellow.



• Cake

  - It's a good idea to pack a light jacket or rain poncho in your bag as well. This all depends greatly on the season, obviously, but wearing layers in the mountains is good as it tends to get colder at higher altitudes and when the sun goes down.



• Visit a Brewery/Distillery/Winery

  - There are a ton of breweries and wineries around Colorado. It's a great fun spot to stop and have lunch or take a break before continuing the adventure. Also a great place to get something to go for a toast.



• Toast

  - Bring a bottle of champagne, whiskey, or beer to toast. Pro Tip - if you're wanting to do a big champagne spray get some cheap stuff for the pictures and some fancy for celebrating. Veuve Clicquot is my favorite.



• 4x4 Ride

  - Let's go explore a 4x4 offroad trail. We can do that in a 4runner, UTV's or dirt bikes. I have lots of experience riding and there are some awesome trails all over Colorado to check out. It's a fun thing to do but also can get to up to some really incredible spots and views.



• Canoe/Kayak/Rafting/Paddleboarding

  - This is a relaxing and fun activity to do if we happen to have some water around and that's something you would enjoy.



• Facetime

  - Surprising family members or friends with a video call during your elopement day can be super fun. Also its a great way to have them there if they weren't able to make it.



• Mini Reception

  - Occasionally couples will come out with me in the mountains to get married and then afteward meet up with family to celebrate and have dinner.



• Surprises

  - I love planning and doing surprises for my wife. If you have an idea I would love help make it happen for your partner. I can also help you find something if you aren't sure what to do.



• Sunset Photos

  - I freaking love sunset photos. It is the most magical time of day and you just feel like you can't go wrong. It's all goregous. If this is something you want I will work very hard to help plan a location and timing to hit this for you.



• Star Photos / Light Painting

  - These are really fun. The best time for star photos is outside of the blue hour which is before and after surise and sunset times. That's when you get as little atmopheric glow. These are fun because you guys are in the dark and I am running around with flashes or flashlights playing with light while making long exposures.

Creating a timline isn't too difficult. You just need to start by deciding what you want to do and how you want the day to feel. Then you figure out where to do those things and how long they take. This is also the time to consider if you want sunset or sunrise photos.

• Getting Ready

  - Getting ready generally doesnt take that long. Or I should say, I don't need to capture it for 2 hours. Final touches on hair and makeup and not in your wedding attire yet is a good start point. Keep in mind, this might take place up on the mountain.



• Locations

  - I generally try to find one "hero" location that has lots of other great spots as well. I want to make sure it has variety for us.



• Ceremony

  - Ceremonies are generally around 10 to 15 minutes. There aren't any rules but this is common.



• Travel Times

  - This is key to building the timeline. Where are we starting and traveling to and the arrival times. Knowing this is cruicial to being able to make it to the perfect spot for when the sun peeks out or goes down. The sun waits for no one.



• Sunset / Sunrise

  - Both sunrise and sunset have different feels and advantages. There are also specific ways to be able to capture both and the best window of time for each as well. This can be a good start or ending point depending on location and activities planned.



• Buffer Time

  - This is a crucial thing to make time for. There's nothing worse that making it late and the sun is gone and we missed the sunset. Things happen all the time and having some padding here and there is great to not feel stressed and to make sure we capture everyting you want.



• Activities

  - Obviously, each activity we do will have some required time and setup time. Roughly having that in mind will help develop a rough guide for us to follow.



• Ending Location

  - Knowing the end location can help us build the timeline backwards to figure out the necessary length of day you will have and then we will find a good start point.

Short answer is NO.
If hiking is absolutely not something you enjoy, we don't have to. There' are many other locations that require it.

If you love hiking... I do too, let's do this!

Keep in mind, the level of "hiking" we generally do are walking on a trail that may be a little rocky and uneven. It will most certainly not be crazy bouldering and scary. I don't you to be sweaty and stressed out on your wedding day.

Now if you do want to go rock climbing, I can. I was on my high school climbing team.
It has been a while since, but I am sure it would all come back.

What the heck to we do during our elopement? The short answer is Whatever You Want.
There are no limits or even anything that is required of you on your day. You want to write vows to each other? Ok. You want a very enthusiastic high-five? Ok.

The thing is to narrow down on what it means for you to marry someone? What means the most to you and your partner. What would be fun to do on your wedding day?

• Not At All

  - You don't need to tell anyone if you don't want to. Lot's of people elope because they feel this is between the two of them and no one else. I completely understand and support you.



• Send annoucement cards with your photos

  - How fun would it be to receive a card with some amazing mountain photos and it says something like... "Guess what? We got married! and this is where/how we did it."



• Facetime

  - This is more of an in-the-moment thing, but calling family or friends at somepoint during the day can be really fun too.



• A mini reception

  - Have a little party once you get home, show off your photos and just relax and celebrate with your friends and family without all the fanfare. Some couples will even meet up with family and/or friends on the day that evening. It all comes down to what you want to do.