How to Elope in "Switzerland of America" - Ouray, CO
The Switzerland of America
Are you trying to figure out where to elope? Maybe somewhere with Switzerland vibes, but closer to home and less expensive?
There’s a tiny mountain town in southwest Colorado that is nicknamed “The Switzerland of America” because of its jagged, snow-capped peaks and green, Sound-of-Music hills. It’s called Ouray Colorado and it’s a remote but gorgeous small town nestled in the San Juan Mountains (part of the Rockies).
And yes… although our name is Elope Telluride, we photograph elopements anywhere in western CO, including Ouray.
Ouray’s (pronounced “your-RAY” like hooray) 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.
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 the Switzerland of America!
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. (Yep, just like Switzerland.) We know quite a few that don’t even require hiking… And we can drive you in Bruiser to anywhere you want to go! 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.
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. (Hello, Switzerland vibes!)
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!
Warmer months (July-Sept.) 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-June. If you want to elope with gorgeous fall colors, Ouray has some of the best fall colors in the country. 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 the Switzerland of America! 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. Here, you can see our Ouray elopement packages.
