Everything you need to know about planning an elopement in the park, and where could also explore going to instead.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the country. It boasts vast swaths of untouched wilderness and is home to some of the most spectacular wildlife you will ever see. And therefor, it has quickly become one of the most sought after locations to hold a small wedding or elopement.
Because of its massive popularity and people wanting to travel from all over the country to elope within the park. Nowadays, it’s really difficult to actually be able to elope in RMNP. There are a lot of rules and regulations, you have to apply as quickly as possible because the permits are incredibly limited and they go FAST. People begin applying a year before their desired date, and even then it can be a gamble.
Things to know:
– Only 60 permits per month are issued in May-October, and 40 per month from November to April.
– popular locations are busy and competitive- especially during peak season
– Restrictions such as limited number of guests allowed, No dogs allowed unfortunately
Overall, the restrictions make it wildly difficult to get the spot you may be seeing online from other people eloping in RNMP. Luckily, you can have a local guide like me to tell you where we can go instead of being within the national park. If you are absolutely set on a location within the park, you need to make sure you’re doing the following:
- Make sure you are applying more than a year ahead of your desired ceremony date.
- Applying for multiple dates/ locations is allowed, however each application costs $300 and is non-refundable.
- Have a couple of backup spots that you would be just as happy to have your ceremony at outside of the park.
So….
Where do you go instead? There are literally endless possibilities. The state of Colorado has over 16,000 square miles of mountain landscape to take advantage of! That is as large as the entire state of Wisconsin! So needless to say , there are literally hundreds of spots we can go to that will be just as breathtaking as a spot within RMNP. The sheer amount of gorgeous trails, overlooks, and scenic areas for us to explore is mind blowing. And being a native to Colorado, I have so many little hidden gems that are just begging to be explored.
Eloping in Colorado does not have to involve the hoops that are required to jump through in order to get a spot within the coveted Rocky Mountain National Park. We can find a spot that’s just as beautiful, secluded and epic feeling as any within the park. There are so many options in Colorado that aren’t the same old spots that everyone and their mom know about. Let’s find some spots that are unique and off the beaten path. Being Some locations we can go explore and have even more potential for the most special experience you can imagine include:
Boulder
Buena Vista
Leadville
Dillon
Grand Lake
Lets Start planning your Colorado elopement today and find a location that exceeds your expectations. One that makes your heart so full when you think back on it, and one that’s not like all of the others you see as you peruse the internet. Unlike all the other photos you see looking for ideas and vendors and plans for your day.
Let me take care of it all, lets chat!
