What to know before eloping in Colorado this summer
Western Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in the US to elope, especially in Ouray or Telluride! Right now, as I write this, we are at the very beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, so I am going to address what we are doing to stay safe right now and what we will do in the summer time if the coronavirus is still an issue.
The Elope Telluride team is dedicated to everyone being as safe as possible while eloping here. I truly believe that weddings are going to start fading over the next year and elopements are going to grow, because with just two people eloping, it’s much easier to take the precautions necessary to not get infected or expose others in a large gathering. Besides the obvious hand-washing, things we are implementing are, taking two Jeeps (when possible) to separate us and the couple, keeping our distance as needed during the day, and disinfecting our gear and equipment. We are recommending that you keep it as simple as possible. The more things you include in your elopement, the more chances of getting the coronavirus. Please remember the reason you’re getting married and none of the other material things matter as much, which is why eloping has become so popular anyway.
As far as summertime goes, it doesn’t get more beautiful than western Colorado! (See our blog post “Tips for Planning Your Colorado Summer Elopement.”) We have the mountains that are magnificent and provide the most gorgeous backdrop imaginable for your elopement! Getting to your ceremony location is an adventure in itself. Whether you’re off-roading, hiking or taking a helicopter, the entire day will be full of adventure and amazing views!
We just finished a couple of winter elopements, and the difference between winter and summer is huge. In the winter you are very restricted on where you have access to, because many roads are closed and not plowed. There are honestly only a few spots that you can access to get married, whereas in the summer, you can pretty much go anywhere you want! Some of the locations are only accessible by hiking, but many can be reached simply by off-roading to them. When you off-road to your ceremony location, there is always a possibility of other people driving on the same road, so you may not be in complete solitude, but it will still be breathtaking! I find that most people out here are very respectful of an elopement ceremony.
If you are looking to be completely alone, then a small hike may be involved. For those who love hiking, we know some pretty amazing spots that only a local can show you. These are 4-5 mile long hikes that open up to some of the most sweeping mountain views you’ve ever seen in your life!
No matter what you are looking for, there is something here for everyone. Ouray, Colorado is considered the “adventure capital of the world” and we love photographing elopements there! There is so much to do here if you are the outdoorsy type. If however, you like a city feel where you can have wifi and all things modern, this may not be the best place for you to get married. Eloping here is meant for couples who love adventure and love being outside. If that’s you, then you need to click the button below and inquire with us to see if we are available for your date!
Summertime here is magical. The mountains look amazing, the wildflowers are showing off, the trails are ready to go off-roading on and the hikes will take your breath away!
Elope Telluride serves the “western slope” of Colorado and the charming mountain towns of Telluride, Ouray and Ridgway. There are so many mountain towns in this area, that we can’t limit it just to Telluride. Ridgway is where a ton of hiking is, Ouray has all the best off-roading you could ever dream of, and Telluride is the perfect mix of luxury and outdoor adventures. Montrose is another nearby location that has the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park which is rarely used for elopements, because people just don’t know about it! However, if you love sites like the Grand Canyon, then you will love the Black Canyon NP in Montrose! Click this link to find out more about it: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
For all of you that had weddings planned with your loved ones, our heart goes out to you. We understand how tough it is right now to get married with the Coronavirus going around. Some of you have already paid tens of thousands of dollars to get married and are now having to cancel it. We would love to help you out if we can. You definitely don’t need to have your grandmother around other people during this time, but we can take the pictures you’ve always dreamed of on your wedding day and turn them around fast so everyone else can enjoy them ASAP. We have created a Mini Elopement Package for a discounted price of $2000 for any two-person elopement in 2020. (edit: extended for 2021!)
For those of you planning to get married in summer, we are here for you to make it as easy as possible and we love taking care of the planning details so you don’t have to. There’s no need to stress over anything. We have got your back.