Winter is a gorgeous and romantic time to elope in western Colorado! Don’t let the thought of cold weather and snow deter you. Although there are occasional snowstorms, winter is pretty mild here and it’s not a frozen Arctic tundra! Far from it! The evergreens are dusted with white powder, and the blue skies and sunshine are epic. (Western CO actually has more days of sunshine than the national average!) The warmth of the sun on your skin while standing atop snow is magical! The two of you getting married, snowy peaks surrounding you, the fog of your breath floating in the air as you exchange vows… you will never forget this moment with the love of your life.

(Don’t miss our Winter Elopement Guide for ideas & tips on how to elope in winter!)

Eloping in the winter can be less crowded also. It’s a stunning winter wonderland. You will have pictures that everyone else will wish they had on their wedding day! Eloping in the middle of the snow is a dream, and all that white on the ground reflects the light on your face and gives you that glow that is impossible to get at any other time of the year! We work our tails off to capture the most amazing photos, and to make your elopement 100% stress free. These are pictures you will frame and show off on your wall forever!

Vendors are often not as busy in the winter time. (By the way, there will be snow on the ground Nov.-April, so these are the best months in our area.) There are still weddings taking place, but nothing compared to the fall and summer! That means you will have a better chance of having a choice of what vendor you want to go with. At Elope Telluride, we have a great relationship with professional vendors and we can steer you in the right direction. All of our packages include access to our preferred vendor list.

All the things to do here in winter are totally different than summer also. Snow skiing is the obvious sport, and Telluride Ski Resort has been named the #1 ski resort in North America for the past 6 years. But what if that’s not your thing? There are lots of other outdoor recreation activities that don’t exert as much energy if relaxing is more your style. Here are a few ideas for a more low-key experience:

• Ouray (and Ridgway) are famous for their hot springs, and some hotels have private springs just for their guests. Soak the day away in the soothing water, or treat yourself after a long day of snowshoeing or skiing.

• Sleigh rides (yes, in a legit horse-drawn sleigh) are a one-of-a-kind honeymoon activity. You can also schedule it as a post-elopement celebration like Leigh & Cody below! There are a handful of ranches in the area that offer sleigh rides. 

• If you can hike, you can snowshoe. It's an easy exercise with minimal equipment, and you can experience beautiful scenery! Many trails in the area are still open during winter, but do research first and never venture past any roped off areas - no matter where you are. 

• Snowmobiling is a SUPER fun winter activity, and also a great way to access secluded ceremony locations in the winter. Imagine driving through the snow to your elopement, and then exploring the mountains and taking photos together! We can create an elopement package for you that includes snowmobile rental to/from your ceremony location. It’s also a great idea for those honeymoon days!

• Cross-country skiing, sledding and snow tubing are some other adventurous things to do on a winter honeymoon.

Elope Telluride photographs elopements in the mountain towns of Telluride, Ouray and Ridgway in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. If you like our photos but aren’t familiar with these towns, that’s OK! We have a helpful blog post describing each town’s vibe (click here) and at our consultation we’ll talk more about the best location for what you’re envisioning.  

Here are a few more adorable photos from our winter elopements and engagement sessions!