How Much It Costs To Elope In Colorado
A Real & Comprehensive 2026 Budget Breakdown.
All photos by Colorado Photographer Squad. They do the photography for our packages.
Jess & Joey used our budget guidance to spend on the most meaningful services.
Colorado Elopement Cost: Quick Facts
Hi, I’m Officiant Lisa Hunter - I’ve been planning Colorado mountain elopements for more than a decade and for hundreds of couples, so I’ve got tons of intel on what couples prioritize, how much those things cost and the choices that make for a meaningful day. This guide gives you the overview of what you can or will spend, so that you can envision a realistic budget that fits you.
First, To Answer Your Top-Of-Mind Question:
A realistic Colorado elopement budget range in 2026 is $1,000 to $18,000 for the essential and optional services, but not including travel since that number is highly variable per couple.
Within that range and depending on the couple, average costs are the following, and we’ll go more in-depth with these later this guide:
$1,000 to $2,500
For the simplest of elopements with beginner vendors or companies that do mass amounts of elopements, allowing to offer lower pricing.
$3,500 to $6,000
For simple elopements with higher-end vendors.
$7,000 to $18,000
For all-day backcountry adventures or elopements with full luxury services.
The cost range is broad because each couple will choose their own “mix” of services.
Beautifully, no matter how much you spend on an elopement, you’ll be nowhere near the average cost of $34,200 for a traditional wedding in 2026 per data from The Knot.
What’s Your Budget Recipe? Every Couple Is Different…
Isaan & Dwayne eloped with a small group of family and kept it simple, using nature as their stunning backdrop.
The Ingredients In Your Budget Recipe
I think of the various services for your elopement as ingredients, and you’re making up your own recipe. Because every couple prioritizes a different mix of things, there really is no standard elopement budget.
So here I’ll give you the possible “ingredients” and their pricing, then next we’ll look at examples of “recipes” that I commonly see…
The CORE Must-Have Elopement Services & Their Costs
You have the following things, and you have an elopement!
Location:
Free: Countless great elopement locations in Colorado are on public land, so they’re free to use.
$15 - $35: If you go with a park like Rocky Mountain National Park or a local park, there’s often an entrance fee. Plus permits (see below).
$120 - $2,000: Some couples rent a spot, and pricing can range widely.
Elopement Planner
This is a key role because it’s so much easier when you have an elopement expert guiding you. I haven’t included pricing for this because photographers and sometimes officiants (like me) are also elopement experts, so the cost of having a planner is already included with those services. I’m pointing it out though, because this role is key to your most stress-free experience which is why you’re eloping in the first place ;)
Marriage License:
$30 and that’s true of any county clerk in Colorado. You can see my detailed “How To Get A Marriage License In Colorado” guide here.
Permits:
$0 - $100 for Photography Permits: Often photographers already have this if it’s a location they frequent, or you may pay a one-time fee.
$100 - $300 for Wedding Permits: Some locations require a wedding permit, most notably Rocky Mountain National Park which is $300.
Photography:
$500 - $9,000: Yep, it’s that big of a range! *Keep in mind that many photographers also play the role of planner too.
The low end is for newer photographers with lower pricing and who are willing to do just an hour or two of photography.
The high end is for the most complex packages with adventure photographers who do all-day elopements into the back country.
Mid-range is for high quality photographers who only require one or two hours of photography in order to work with you.
Officiant:
*Keep in mind that some officiants (like me!) can play the role of elopement planner too.
$150 - $975: Newer officiants price on the lower end and experienced officiants on the high end. Whether it’s a “canned” ceremony or highly personalized also affects pricing.
Free: You can self-solemnize in Colorado, which means that you sign your license yourselves and create your own ceremony. I have a “Marry Yourselves Kit” to help with this.
Free: A friend or family member officiates for you by getting ordained online at https://theamm.org/ for a nominal fee. If they want help creating your ceremony, they can use my Elopement Officiant Kit.
Wedding Attire
$0 - $5,000: I’ve seen couples just show up in their everyday clothes (no cost), all the way to brides with couture wedding dresses (high end of the cost range), but mostly I’ve seen somewhere in-between ;)
Lodging
A typical stay is five nights: Arrive two days before your date (night #1), have the entire day before to get ready (night #2), the day-of (night #3), then two more days to relax and enjoy Colorado (nights 4 & 5). Or, I’ve seen couples fly in the day before and leave the day after, plus we’ve also had couples stay a week or more so they could have a honeymoon in Colorado after their elopement day.
$0 - $2,000 for lodging for the two of you since guests typically pay for their own.
$0 is the “stay in your camper” version which is no-cost. It’s unusual, but we’ve had couples do this!
Mid-range is an Air Bnb or affordable hotel.
High-end is $400+ per night at upper-end hotels.
OPTIONAL Elopement Services That I See Used Most…
Bouquet & Boutonnière
$35 - $600: I’ve seen lots of couples support a lower budget by getting flowers at a grocery store and tying them with a ribbon. And just as much, I see brides going with mid-range pricing for a great bouquet from a quality florist. Every once in a while, I see a more complex bouquet from a luxury florist.
Bridal Hair & Makeup
$350 - $700: This range simply depends on what each particular stylist charges. It will be a balance of whose website and style you like, combined with whose pricing fits with what you want to spend. I’ve also factored in tip for this one.
Other OPTIONAL Elopement Services…
Videography
$500 - $2,500 - $5,000: This one can really affect your budget, which is the reason that it’s less common for couples include it. The low range is for newer videographers who charge less. The high range is for experienced videographers and a full-day of footage for a professional wedding film. Mid-range is most common which is an experienced videographer shooting footage for just a few hours to make a professional wedding film.
*TIP: If videography is out of your budget and you’re really just trying to capture the ceremony rather than have a mini wedding movie, we’ve had lots of couples set up a tripod and record the ceremony with their phone!
Cake
$30 - $200: The lower end is for this great cake at Whole Foods that we tell our couples about, and the higher end is for the fanciest of small cakes from local bakers. There’s lots of options in the mid-range of this as well ;)
“Ingredients” You’ll Need To Guesstimate For Yourselves
Travel
Typically it’s plane or a road trip, and the cost of plane tickets or gas is so variable with distance and market pricing that you’ll need to guesstimate this one on your own.
Meals & Entertainment
Again, so variable! Guesstimate based on how many days you’ll be here, what you like to eat and if you think you’d like to go to any concerts, parks with entrance fees or special activities while you’re here.
Celebration
If it’s just you two, grab food at a local brewery or relax back at your Air Bnb, which simply counts as part of your travel food expense.
OR if you can make reservations at a fancy restaurant
If you’re bringing guests and want a celebratory meal, then Google popular Colorado restaurants near your location to get a sense of pricing.
Various Adventure Activities
We typically work with couples who want an easy five-minute hike to their spot, so I’m not super well-versed in these more wild services, but if you’re the more adventurous type, you might go Jeeping during your elopement or get dropped off by helicopter or ride in on horseback or go on any variety of outdoor excursions while you’re here.
Handy for you: I’ve got elopement packages!
All the core services you’ll need for an intimate and intentional elopement.
Guided by years of caring, thoughtful planning with 100’s of couples.
Sample Colorado Elopement Budgets
Lauren & Tommy love lakeside views and so one of their budget priorities was location.
I’ve used pie charts below! And pie charts are so NOT romantic!
However, because of the visual, they make it clear where you’re prioritizing your budget. And that’s super handy when making decisions about which services are important to you and how much money to put in each.
Below are three general budget “recipes” - pick the one that best fits what you’re aiming for, then adjust the “ingredients” for your own preferences and priorities.
Note: Remember to add to these budgets the ingredients that only you can guesstimate, like travel, food, celebrating, etc.
$3,500 - $6,000 Budget
High quality, intimate and thoughtfully-planned for just you two or with guests.
This is the most common budget that I see. It works for “just the couple” or a small group of guests.
Go mid-range with most services, and maybe high with one or two, plus forego some optional things.
You can stay in this budget with many packages that provide location, photo, officiant & planning, then decide the optional services important to you too.
$1,000 - $2,500 Budget
Simple, minimal, budget-conscious.
This is a bare bones budget. It works best for “just the couple” elopements.
Go low with pricing by choosing newer vendors or a company that does large amounts of elopements and offers more bulk pricing. You’d stay less nights or do cheap lodging.
You’d forego most optional services.
$7,000 - $18,000 Budget
Luxury and/or all-day immersive.
This is quite a range as you could have so much in the mix - either full luxury with all services, or an all-day backcountry adventure with a photographer as your guide.
The adventure elopement works best for “just the couple”. Or a luxury scenario could include guests and a rented venue.
I included all services here and at the high end of pricing to give an example of the upper limit.
Our Packages Are A Great Fit For Mid-Range Budget Couples
If you aim to spend in that $3,500 - $6,000 mark, our packages with mountain location, planner, photographer, officiant are made for you. Years of planning with 100’s of couples has helped us to get the cost just right for what we know is important to you.
Our packages use part of that budget, leaving you with plenty for other services too.
Where To Save & Where To Spend
Emily & Nico kept their guest list small, which opened more budget for hair, makeup and beautiful florals.
Here are a few things I’ve noticed over the years as couples prioritize expenses. It’s different for every couple, but these are great food for thought…
Opportunities To Minimize
Hair & Makeup
If you’re fine doing your own, or want a natural look, you can skip this expense. Or if you’ve always dreamed of having special bridal makeup, then keep it in the mix.
Florals & Decor
Nature is your backdrop, so you’ve got instant beauty. Or keep florals in your plan if you’d love to have them, or want the pop of color they bring to photos.
Attire
I’ve seen beautiful dresses that brides simply got online on a budget. So you could explore that route. But… if you’d love to lavish yourself with an expensive or dream dress and you have budget for it, then don’t skip this.
Everything Else
You can see where I’m going with this - you really can nix any “ingredient” of an elopement if it’s not super important to you. AND if an ingredient is key to the meaning of your day, or your enjoyment, then keep it in if it fits financially.
Hannah & Cody chose to have flowers and hair & makeup in their budget.
Investments Couples Don’t Regret
Photography
Most everyone prioritizes photography because it’s the lasting record of such an important day. That said, if your budget is super limited, you can skip it, but just make sure to take timed photos and selfies on your phone!
Planning/Package
It’s easy to pressure yourself to DIY because an elopement is a simple event. But… it’s not simple when learning the ropes for the first time. There are planners, photographers and officiants (like me) who’ve done so many elopements that we’re experts. Having a guide relieves a huge amount of stress so you can relax and enjoy.
The Investment Often Not Listed, But That Matters MOST
Amidst the focus on location and amazing photos, it’s easy to forget that the ceremony is the entire reason for the day. It’s not the end of the world if your ceremony is an afterthought, but I can attest that a meaningful, guided ceremony makes all the difference.
You actually drop in and feel your connection and love.
You experience moments you’ll never forget, and that will keep you anchored in what truly matters in your relationship for decades to come.
So What Does This Have To Do With Budget?
Invest in your ceremony.
Whether that’s just to learn how to self-solemnize beautifully, or you have a friend/relative create something thoughtful, or you hire a professional officiant to guide you the entire way.
Colorado Elopement Cost: Easy Reference FAQ’s
Can you elope in Colorado on a small budget?
Yes! Check out the $1,000 to $2,500 budget earlier on the page here.
And for fun: If you want to elope on the teeniest budget ever, you can do it for $30!
That’s the cost of the marriage license. Find a spot to camp for free. Wear clothes that you already own. Marry yourselves by self-solemnizing which costs nothing, and do it at any of the thousands of gorgeous spots in Colorado. Take selfies and timed photos with your phones. It’s not common, but you really could do it this way!
Should we self-solemnize to save money?
You don’t need an officiant to get married in Colorado, so yes you can save money this way. You can self-solemnize which is a certain way to sign your marriage license that only requires your and your fiancé’s signatures to make it legal. The County Clerk where you get your license can show you how.
NOTE: If you do choose to save money by not having an officiant, still put energy into planning an amazing ceremony, since this is what brings depth and meaning to your day, plus creates photo opportunities filled with true connection. You can use my Marry Yourselves kit to create an unforgettable self-solemnization ceremony.
What are more details about how much Colorado elopement permits cost?
There are different kinds of permits related to elopements:
Timed Entry Permits
Rocky Mountain National Park uses these to regulate the flow of people in and out of the park. It’s $2 per vehicle in addition to the $35 park entry fee per vehicle. There are other parks and recreation areas that require you purchase a Timed Entry Permit ahead of time, like Brainard Lake Recreation Area whose timed entry permits are $16 plus a $2 processing fee.
More On Wedding Permits
A permit allowing you to have a ceremony, like in Rocky Mountain National Park whose wedding permits are $300. Some planners have your permits covered - for instance our team is an official vendor with RMNP, so your permit is included in your package at reduced cost, plus you don’t need to secure it yourself.
Photography Permits
Many locations require a permit for commercial photography. Experienced photographers will have these permits in place. Or if not, a less active photographer might have you pay for one.
Location Permits
These may be permits or rental agreements, which allow you to use a location that requires payment to use it. Locations like this typically charge $100 to $2,000 depending on the spot.
Is a package cheaper than booking everything separately?
It really depends! It could be. Although keep in mind that when you book a package, there typically is someone in the mix (a photographer, planner or officiant) overseeing your elopement, and they’ve likely included that time in the package fee. So you could perhaps book everything separately and cheaper, but then YOU’RE the one overseeing it all. Decide if it’s worth being the one overseeing it in exchange for some savings. The answer will be different for every couple!
What is the biggest elopement expense?
Typically, the biggest elopement expense is photography. Lodging can also make a big impact on your budget, depending on the kind of lodging you choose. Videography is also a large expense if you choose an experienced videographer, but for that reason many couples just do photos and not video.
Why are elopement photographers so expensive?
Interestingly, just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean the photography rates are cheaper. The hourly rates are pretty much the same. Some photographers require an amount of hourly coverage similar to that of several-hour weddings. Some photographers are willing to do one or two hours for elopements. If you want to save money, you can aim for a photographer who’s willing to do one or two hours, rather than a minimum of six or eight.
Can a simple elopement still feel special?
Yes, absolutely. I officiate elopements and classic weddings, and both feel just as special. The key is to plan a deeply meaningful ceremony, so that you drop into the depth of your connection on your day. Otherwise, it’s just some time out in nature wearing fancy clothing and taking photos ;)
What should we financially prioritize for the best elopement?
I always tell our couples, “If you have a great location, great photographer and great ceremony - you have an elopement!” These are really the core things that make your day real, plus visually and emotionally beautiful. All the other things you can add in are great, but bottomline, you always need these three things first.
All photos on this page by Colorado Photographer Squad. They provide the photography for our packages.
If you want to know more about how your elopement or micro wedding will work, let’s chat sooner than later - just reach out to me at this link here: Let’s Chat About Your Elopement.
Want help planning a Colorado elopement that feels worth it?
Let’s make it happen!
Ceremonies With Lisa: Colorado Elopement Packages
Hey it’s Officiant Lisa - ceremony expert, elopement expert and mountain girl at heart. The checklist on this page works for elopements anywhere, AND if you happen to be interested in a beautiful, meaningful Colorado elopement with an unforgettable ceremony and gorgeous photos, my team has provided mountain elopement packages to hundreds of couples.
Read here about our packages and pricing at ALL our locations - our packages include mountain location, officiant, photographer and more
You can also read years of rave reviews here.
Or reach out to me now with the handy form below for more info, plus a consult:
Selfie with Melanie & Josh and their just-married glow❤️
I’ll send all the info to make your elopement real, see if we’re a fit and hop on a call to lay out your dream day and package quote.
Can’t wait to get to know you, and to guide you with thoughtfulness, love and care!