How to Elope in Telluride
How to Elope in Telluride, Colorado
Are you thinking about eloping, but not sure where to start? I’m sure you’ve heard how beautiful Colorado is….and we have to say that we agree :) Photographing adventure elopements in Colorado is the best job ever! We are Joe & Rhonda Hendricks, and we founded Elope Telluride after traveling full-time in our Airstream and falling in love with southwest Colorado. We moved our family, along with our established wedding photography business & combined it with our love of landscape photography. Elopements are the perfect marriage (pun intended) of these two photographic passions. We LOVE elopements because it allows our couples to break free from traditional wedding “norms” and do things their way. Have an intimate, intentional exchange of vows in a breathtaking mountain setting.
Maybe you’ve found this page, but have never heard of Telluride, Colorado! It’s an absolutely beautiful ski town in the San Juan Mountains in western CO. (The San Juans are part of the larger Rocky Mountain range.) If you love both luxury and outdoor recreation, Telluride is the perfect place to elope. It’s known for being an affluent ski town, but it’s so much more than that! Nestled in a scenic canyon, Telluride has hiking, mountain biking, off-road trails, day spas, and lots of shopping and dining! By looking at the photos, you’ll see why it’s also very popular for weddings. The sprawling Telluride Ski Resort (“TelSki”) has been named the #1 ski resort in North America for the last 6 years. It’s an amazing honeymoon activity if you have a winter elopement. The free gondola is the main mode of public transportation in town; it connects downtown with Mountain Village, the epicenter of TelSki and much of the town’s lodging. The fall colors in Telluride are unmatched, and eloping among the golden Aspen trees is an experience like no other.
Here are a few more things to know about getting married in Telluride. We want to be as helpful as possible to tell you all about how to elope in Telluride!
Obtaining a marriage license in San Miguel County is pretty easy. (Edit: Due to COVID-19, you must have an appointment.) See their website for the hours of operation, and what you need to bring. The cost is $30 and you can even get the license on the same day as your ceremony. In the state of Colorado, you can self-solemnize your vows, which means you aren’t required to have an officiant marry you. Also, witnesses are not required in CO, although your dog can “sign” their paw print as your witness!
Telluride has multiple gorgeous ceremony backdrops like mountain vistas, scenic overlooks, waterfalls and ski slopes. We know a couple of elopement spots that don’t even require hiking. Our exclusive Telluride Location Guide is included with all of our photography packages. It will show you photos of ceremony site options, tell you which ones need permits, which require a 4WD and more. Several ceremony spots require a permit, which is usually between $250-350. It can be more if you have guests at your elopement, which is one reason we encourage couples to celebrate with family at a later time. Click here to read our blog post about having guests at your ceremony.
When deciding which month to elope, weather can play a big factor, and we’ll talk about that a little further down. The best months for romantic, snowy elopements are December through March. Summer is in full swing June-August and it’s the busiest time of year for tourists. Waterfalls are flowing in summer, off-road Jeeping is epic, and mountain wildflowers bloom July and August. If you want to elope among the fall colors, Telluride is one the best places in the U.S.! Fall colors peak late Sept.-early Oct. and we can help you find a scenic spot to exchange vows.
Now a little more about the weather… the most important thing to know about Colorado weather is that it can be erratic. It can snow in May, and summertime afternoon thunderstorms are common. It may be warm in the lower elevations, but chilly & windy 30 minutes up the mountain. On the flip side, the winter days usually aren’t as cold as people think they will be! Telluride has more days of sunshine than the national average (242 vs. 205). These sunny “Bluebird Days” make the air feel significantly warmer, even if there’s snow on the ground. If you’re snowshoeing or skiing, you’ll be surprised to also be sweating! We always keep an eye on the weather to advise you before your elopement, to help you make the best choices and be prepared for what to pack.
OK let’s talk locations! Warm months (June-September) will give you the most options for ceremony locations because the “back roads” which lead to the high altitude spots are closed for snow October-May. Whether you want to hike 10 miles to an alpine lake on your wedding day, or hike 0.0 miles to a “drive to” ceremony spot, we’ve got you covered! Our Location Guide is super handy for that. Winter elopements are also gorgeous in Telluride! Ceremony locations are limited due to road closures, but we have a couple of easily accessible winter elopement locations that will give you amazing views. Snowmobiling to your elopement location is a popular thing to do also, and makes for some epic adventure photos!
Telluride is a remote town, not near any large cities. We suggest flying into the Montrose Regional Airport (1.5 hours away) or Grand Junction Regional (2.5 hrs. away). It is a 6.5 hour drive from Denver. Telluride has lots of hotels and rental properties (click here for local options). If you want to elope in Telluride, we definitely recommend renting a Jeep while you’re here. Many of our best elopement locations require a 4WD to get to them. Not only will it let you drive to an epic ceremony location, but you can go on adventures in the mountains on the other days you’re here!
We know you may still have more specific questions about eloping here, but we hope this blog post helps you get a “feel” for this charming mountain town! Click here to contact us with any questions about eloping in Telluride. You can see our Telluride elopement packages here.