The Complete Denver Elopement Guide 2024
Denver Elopement Guide
Located precisely one mile above sea level at 5,280 feet, Denver, Colorado features gorgeous landscapes, exciting entertainment, and mouth watering bites! Denver is the perfect city to tie the knot and celebrate in style. Whether you’re looking for urban scapes and city lights or radiant red rocks and green mountaintops, the Denver area has it all. If you want both the urban and natural world, this Denver Elopement Guide will show you how you can have it all in the Mile High City!
Denver by the Numbers
Denver was incorporated on November 7th, 1861. Its current day population is approximately 725,000 people. The sun appears more than 300 days per year, making it one of the sunniest states in the country. Due to its mile high elevation, there is naturally very little humidity.
Why Elope in Denver?
As the state capital of Colorado, Denver is the largest metropolitan in the state and offers a vast array of options when it comes to eloping. It’s easy to fly into Denver International Airport (DIA) and take the train or drive yourself downtown. One of the main reasons you should elope in Denver is that the city offers the best of both worlds when it comes to mountain landscapes and urban city life. Moreover, Denver’s unique charm can be seen throughout the colorfully painted streets and public art displays. The city offers dramatic modern architecture juxtaposed against historic buildings depicting classic, gothic, western, greek, and renaissance revival. Lastly, there is no shortage of fun to have in Denver, as the city is home to some of the best museums, restaurants, bars, sports teams, and music venues in the state.
Where to Elope in Denver
Perhaps the biggest choice of where to elope in Denver is deciding on where you want to have your ceremony. What’s unique about eloping in Denver is that you have your choice between urban and mountain landscapes, or even a mix of both! You can stay in Denver, drive to the mountains to get married, and get back downtown all in a day with ease! The following lists are some of our favorite Denver elopement locations:
Denver Elopement Locations
Red Rocks Amphitheater
A legendary music and entertainment venue nestled in a gorgeous natural landscape. The description is in the name – red rocks and vast scenery of the front range. Denver’s skyline is even visible in the distance.
Lookout Mountain
Overlook the town of Golden from a bird’s eye perspective and trace your eyes along the range of the foothills to the north and south.
Mount Falcon Park
Take in the expansive mountain forest and meadows overlooking mountaintops, red rocks, lookout posts, and even “castle ruins.”
Denver Botanic Gardens
Do you love flower power?! See all of the colorful botanics and rotating art installations while getting married in style! Take in some tunes during their summer concert series, and if you’re in the mood for yoga and wine, they offer classes April – September!
Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
These vast fields are accompanied by windmills. Views of the mountains and flatirons rest in the distance.
Sunflower Fields at Anderson Farms
Enjoy a luscious sunflower field and pick your own sunflowers! There are also canvas paintings available too!
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Take in expansive aspen and pine tree forests in the Golden Gate Canyon. Get married overlooking the mountains on the Panorama Point Deck and meander along one of the many trails in the area.
Chatfield Farms
As part of the Denver Botanic Gardens, Chatfield Farms offers colorful plant life near the Rocky Mountains. With art installations throughout, you will feel at home in the beauty of this space.
Confluence Park
Perhaps these next two parks simultaneously offer the best urban and natural experience at the same time! Soak in vibrant green spaces, hear the Platte River whistle by, and walk the winding trails & bridges of Confluence Park.
Commons Park
Connected to Confluence by a foot bridge over the Platte River, enjoy the city scapes and easily access the shops and restaurants of Platte Street and LoHi.
Civic Center City Park
This urban park is surrounded by tall buildings and comprised of greek classical structures and flower gardens. It is centrally located just a few steps outside of the Denver County Clerk and Denver Court House.
City Park
City Park overlooks the glistening Denver skyline with several walking trails around the lake. Get on the water with a swan paddle boat or wander over to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to appease your curiosities!
Urban Elopement Locations
With any of the following locations, you can supplement your elopement experience by exploring the streets and architecture of downtown Denver. This includes the 16th Street Mall, Larimer Square, Colorado State Capitol, Lower Highlands Denver, and River North Denver.
RiNo Arts District Denver
Enriched with plenty of street art and murals, River North Arts District offers unique eats, breweries, shops, art galleries, and cozy speakeasies to explore.
Union Station
Union Station has been a hub for travelers by train since 1881. Filled with restaurants, bars, and shops, there is plenty to see and do inside. The main area has lots of comfortable seating along with tables where you can spread out a bit if you need to get some work done. There’s even a large sandy shuffleboard table when it’s time to play! If you need a boost, the Pigtrain Coffee Company has the perfect brew. If you’re really feeling frisky, the speakeasy hidden above the atrium is a great space for a cocktail and a conversation.
The Brown Palace
Established in 1892, this iconic Denver hotel feels like you are stepping back in time to an era of flapper dresses and underground parties. Enjoy high tea in the center of the golden atrium or sneak away into one of the many lavishly detailed rooms.
Bigsby’s Folly
This swanky craft winery offers a classy elegance meets industrial vibe right in the heart of RiNo. The space offers a outdoor garden area for your ceremony.
The Clock Tower
One of the more unique spaces to get married, The Clock Tower offers an altar in front of an enormous analog clock face. The inside of the clocktower is intriguing and there are many opportunities for one-of-a-kind portraits.
Denver Art Museum
The DAM recently opened a brand new wing and features lessons, lectures, and creative spaces. Come for the exhibits and stay for the drop-in drawing classes – even the building itself is part of the art!
Blanc Denver
An innovative space that adjusts to your event, Blanc features a great outdoor patio as well as plenty of seating and space inside.
Nocturne Jazz Club
Nocturne is a restaurant that features nightly live jazz and is a swanky space to host your celebration with great music for everyone. Feel like you’re stepping back in time to the 1920s.
Elitch Gardens
An amusement park for those who seek adrenaline and funnel cakes!
Meow Wolf
The third location of the Meow Wolf brand opened approximately two years ago, and the adventures that await you inside are out of this world!
Mountain Elopement Locations within 90 Minutes of Denver
Located near the foothills of the Rockies, Denver offers easy access to some incredible mountain scapes. There are many options available, and the following are all locations within an hour and a half drive of Denver. If you’d like to elope at one of the following locations, we recommend staying in that area for ease, convenience, and to enjoy all that the area has to offer.
- Boulder (30 minutes)
- Brainard Lake Recreational Area (90 minutes)
- Echo Lake at Mount Evans (60 minutes)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (90 minutes)
- Garden Of The Gods (60 minutes)
- Breckenridge (90 minutes)
Elopement Permits for Denver
You may need a permit depending on where you get married, how many guests you have, and if a professional is photographing you. Always check with the local municipality or elopement venue to ask about permits. For most of the parks and city spaces in Denver, a permit is required if you have 5 or more people in total. A permit is required for Union Station, Botanic Gardens, Denver Art Museum, The Dairy Block, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Roxborough State Park, and Mount Falcon State Park Open Spaces.
When to Elope in Denver
Denver is a budding mountain city where it is wonderful to get married any time of year. When you elope truly depends on your personal weather preferences and what activities you would like to include during your elopement. To help you identify the best time for you to elope in Colorado, check out our seasonal Colorado elopement guide!
What is the Best Time of Year to Elope in Denver?
Denver’s weather is sporadic most of the year. The most consistent time for good weather with warm temperatures is during the summer months of June-September. On any given day in the spring and fall, it can vary between cold and snowy to warm and sunny. In general, the weather is usually pleasant although it’s impossible to predict and can change in an instant.
When is the Best Time of Day to Elope in Denver?
The best time for lighting and photographs is always sunrise and sunset. If you are looking for more privacy, the best time of day to get married is sunrise. The mornings are naturally colder so bring layers and dress warmly!
Denver Elopement Packages
We are a local Denver elopement photographer team who can help you plan and photograph your Denver elopement! Our Denver elopement packages start at $4,500. Unique and customized packages are available as well.
How Much Is It To Elope In Denver
It costs $30 to obtain your marriage license. How much you spend on your elopement really depends on if you have guests, where you want to go, and what vendors you decide to hire. If you are not including any guests, you can expect to spend between $7,000 – $12,000 total. If you are having guests, the total cost will increase exponentially.
Obtaining Your Marriage License
There are several County Clerk offices you can visit to obtain your marriage license in the Denver area. You need to make an appointment up to one week ahead of time to obtain your license. The Denver County Clerk and Recorder features easy accessibility and timeliness. You may make an appointment by filling out the online marriage or civil union application, then selecting a time and date for your appointment. Appointments are available between Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM.
To obtain your marriage license in Denver, you and your partner must be present with valid identification, verbally confirm you are not blood relatives, and pay the $30 fee (cash, check, or cards accepted). You may sign your license on the spot or take your license with you and sign it within 35 days and subsequently return by drop off or mail within 63 days.
Other offices to obtain your marriage license in the greater Denver area are Jefferson, Adams, Douglas, Broomfield, and Arapahaoe. For more information on getting married in Colorado, click here.
Things to Do in Denver
- Visit The Denver Art Museum
- Visit Meow Wolf
- Go to the Selfie Museum
- See standup comedy at the world famous Denver Comedy Works
- See a concert at one of Denver’s legendary music venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Ogden, The Fillmore, The Paramount, or Mission Ballroom.
- Catch a Rockies baseball game at Coors Field
- Sit in the end zone for a Broncos game at Empowered Stadium at Mile High
- Cheer for the Avalanche or Nuggets at Ball Arena
- Shop on Larimer Street
- Drink in a brewery tour
- Take a cannabis tour
- Enjoy the colorful International Church of Cannabis
- Learn about the historic architecture and tour downtown Denver
- Visit the Museum of Contemporary Arts
- Visit The Wild Animal Sanctuary
- Take a day trip into the mountains
Denver Elopement Reception Venues
After you’ve spent your elopement day painting the town, celebrate your marriage at one of these unique Denver reception venues. From cozy speakeasies to rooftops to camp themed discos this list has a little bit of everything.
Denver Elopement Vendors
The beauty about eloping in a city like Denver is that there are many vendors conveniently located nearby. This eliminates many of the travel fees associated with eloping in a remote mountain town. Below is a list of Denver elopement vendors we personally recommend, all of whom we’ve worked with before.
Hair + Makeup
Florists
Catering, Private Chefs, & Bakeries
Meet your Denver Elopement Photographer Team
Hi there! We’re Meg and Kevin – a husband and wife Denver elopement photographer team. We have lived in Denver for nearly 30 years combined and are happy to offer our guidance and expertise to help you get married in the Mile High City! We absolutely adore our city and sincerely hope that everyone can experience their dream elopement day in the urban and natural world of Denver!
Places to Stay in Denver
As a major metropolitan, Denver has many boutique and unique places to stay. Below is a list of swanky hotels and quirky Airbnbs:
Airbnbs in Denver
Places To Eat & Drink In Denver
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Meg did my engagement photos perfectly! The way she keeps the energy up and organized everything made what could be awkward fun! I highly recommend!
So much detail and Inspo! Thanks for putting together this guide! 🙂
Wow!! What an awesome detailed guide! I love how diverse Colorado is but the fact that there are this many options in and near Denver is just incredible! I definitely did not get to see all these awesome sights the last time I was there – what a great inspiration! Love this!
Wow, there’s so much to do in Denver! Anyone with the right idea to elope is spoiled for choice 🙂
Thanks for sharing this article, it’s so helpful and succinctly packed with info and insight – plus your images are beautiful!
Love how colorful your images are!! This is an amazing resource for anyone considering eloping in Denver!! So much great information!
Wow! How informative for those who are wanting to elope in Denver. And your images are so vibrant! Beautiful.
This is so amazing what a great guide!
This might be the best Denver elopement guide I’ve ever come across! So thorough and so helpful!
Wow, I can’t imagine how long this complete guide on Denver elopement locations took. So comprehensive–well done!
Such a super comprehensive guide, everything a couple planning to get married in Denver would need to know. Thanks!