How to Elope in Ouray, Colorado
Ouray, Colorado Elopement Guide
So you’re engaged and thinking about eloping? I’m sure you’ve heard how beautiful Colorado is….and I 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. And yes… although our name is Elope Telluride, we photograph elopements anywhere in western CO, including Ouray.
Many of you landing on this page maybe have never even heard of Ouray (pronounced “your-RAY” like hooray!) It is a remote but gorgeous small town nestled in the San Juan Mountains in western Colorado. (The San Juan range is part of the larger Rocky Mountain range.) Ouray is located in what’s called a “box canyon” which means the town is surrounded by tall, jagged mountains. It’s what gives the town the nickname “The Switzerland of America.” Click here to see Emily & Tommy’s real life 12,000-foot Ouray elopement.
Ouray’s other moniker is “The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Colorado!” This is because it is an off-roading mecca, a hiker’s paradise, and has many mountain biking trails nearby. There are also charming shops, delicious local cuisine, a distillery and breweries too. So many things to do in Ouray on your honeymoon! For a more low-key outdoor recreation experience, some of our favorites are off-roading the Alpine Loop in summer, chasing waterfalls, soaking in the hot springs or boating or SUP at nearby Ridgway State Park. You can also take a scenic drive south on the famous “Million Dollar Highway” to Silverton or Durango. Along the way are trailheads to hike to turquoise alpine lakes like nothing you’ve ever seen. In winter, there’s still plenty of outdoor activities like snowshoeing, cross-county skiing, and ice climbing at the world famous Ouray Ice Park. (There are no ski slopes in Ouray.) Note: some activities, businesses and hotels close for the winter, so always ask.
Here are a few more things to know about eloping in Ouray. We want to be as helpful as possible to tell you all about how to elope in Ouray!
Obtaining a marriage license in Ouray County is pretty easy. Go to the county clerk’s office and make sure both of you have your driver’s license or passport. The cost is $30 and you can 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!
One of our favorite things about eloping in Ouray, is that there is a huge variety of backdrops like waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and lakes. We know quite a few that don’t even require hiking. Our exclusive Ouray Location Guide is included with all of our photography packages. It will show you photos ceremony site options, tell you which ones need permits, which require a 4WD and more. Several ceremony places near Ouray 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 date and place. Click here to read our blog post about having family & friends at your ceremony.
Ouray is a pretty remote town, which is why it’s so charming and beautiful. We suggest flying into the Montrose Regional Airport (45 min. away) or Grand Junction Regional (2 hrs. away). It is 5.5 hour drive from Denver. Ouray has a lot of lodging options between hotels and short term rentals (i.e. Air Bnb). A few hotels in Ouray even have their own private hot springs for their guests! If you are eloping in Ouray, we strongly recommend renting a Jeep for your trip. Many of our most popular elopement locations in Ouray require a 4WD to get to them. Not only will it let you drive to an epic high alpine ceremony location, but you can go on adventures in the mountains on the other days you’re here!
When thinking about which month to elope, the most important thing to keep in mind about Colorado weather is that it can be erratic. It can snow in May, and summertime afternoon rain showers are common. Summer nights can get cold, and the top of a mountain pass can be very windy and chilly. We get a lot of sunshine, which makes winter days actually feel pretty mild (winter gets a bad rap…it’s gorgeous!) That said, we always keep an eye on the weather to advise you before your elopement!
Warm months (June-August) will give you the most options for ceremony locations because the “back roads” which lead to the epic ceremony spots are closed from snow October-May. If you want to elope with gorgeous fall colors, Ouray has some of the very best fall colors in the entire state. Although the exact days are hard to predict, the usual peak in Ouray is the last week in September and the first week in October. Winter elopements are also beautiful in this area! Ceremony locations are more limited due to road closures, but we have a couple of easily accessible winter elopement locations that will give you amazing views of snow-capped mountains!
We know you may still have more specific questions about eloping her, 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 Ouray. You can see our Ouray elopement packages here.
