Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Photographer: Your Guide to an Epic Mountain Elopement

So you’re considering a Rocky Mountain National Park elopement?  Colorado boasts many beautiful elopement backdrops, but Rocky Mountain National Park takes the cake!

Imagine eloping beside an alpine lake, surrounded by wildflowers as an elk meanders by.  Or saying your vows beside Alluvial Fan waterfall, surrounded by just your best friends.  Or perhaps you’re on the fence of whether you want to elope (just the two of you) or include your closest family & friends at Moraine Park Discovery Amphitheater.  Surrounded by nature, and the peace of wild things, you and the person you love most in the world exchange vows to love, protect, and stick together for the rest of your lives.  

The sweeping views, untouched mountains, and abundant wildlife make RMNP a highly sought after wedding destination.  The park boasts beauty and accessibility in all seasons, from snowcapped mountains, to lush wildflowers, and golden aspen.  There are 12 approved ceremony sites available in Rocky Mountain National Park, and they are the only locations that you can get married in the park. 

In addition to limited number of sites, the park only issues 560 permits for weddings/elopements each year, and has strict caps of the number of vow exchanges they allow per day and per month.  With permits costing only $300, planning a wedding or elopement here can be much more affordable than a traditional wedding venue, although certain restrictions apply.

As a Rocky Mountain National Park elopement photographer, I’m here to help you with planning, obtaining permits, and, of course, preserving beautiful memories from your RMNP elopement. 

In this guide I’ll walk you through locations, obtaining permits, what to expect in each season, and share helpful tips planning your RMNP elopement!

Best Places for an Elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

Since there are only 12 designated locations  for vow exchanges, RMNP has made choosing a location a little bit easier!  Any of these locations will work if you’re planning a true elopement, but if you’re considering inviting more people, size limits might play a role in your location decision.  With a maximum count of 30 people (photographer included) many of these locations are only suited  to even smaller groups.

3 M Curve – With views of Longs Peak, Upper Beaver Meadows, and Moraine Park, 3M Curve boasts one of the grandest views. If you’re hoping for a private vow exchange, 3M curve is a great option! With a guest cap of 15, it’s perfect for an elopement or super intimate wedding ceremony.  Be sure to carpool! You can only park 3 cars at this location.

Bear Lake Nature Trail – Bear Lake boasts some of the most iconic views in the park! With views Hallett Peak, Longs Peak, and Thatchtop Mountain, Bear Lake is a beautiful option for your elopement.  With a guest limit of 20, Bear Lake is a busy trail with limited space.  You’ll certainly have some uninvited guests if you exchange your vows here.

Moraine Park Amphitheater – With a limit of 30 guests, Moraine Park Amphitheater is an excellent choice if having an intimate elopement is important to you.  Although the amphitheater is located close to the road, it’s not an area frequented by hikers or other park visitors. Although you see beautiful views of Longs Peak & Moraine Park from the parking lot, tall pine trees obscure the ceremony site, making you feel hemmed in (in an amazing way). After your wedding ceremony,  I suggest taking couples photos in Moraine Park, or at Lilly Lake!

Sprague Lake – This popular trailhead boasts breathtaking views of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide.  The easy 1 mile loop is accessible for most, but this is a popular spot for hiking year round. The guest limit is 15 including any vendors you’re bringing along.

Alluvial Fan – This ceremony spot features a wooden bridge, with Alluvial Fan, a cascading waterfall as your backdrop.  Alluvial Fan has limit of 20 people, and you’ll likely have a few onlookers.

Other sites to consider are Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater (near Grand Lake), Upper Beaver Meadows, Copeland Lake, Harbison Meadow Picnic Site, Hidden Valley, and 2 locations at Lilly Lake.

How to Choose a Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Photographer

Once you have your location set, and a date in mind, it’s time to choose your Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Photographer.  When you’re considering options, be sure to review full galleries (preferably more than one) & read reviews. I highly suggest hopping on a call with a few different photographers to see which one you connect with more. After all, you want to feel comfortable and at home on your wedding day! 

When chatting, ask questions about whether they book multiple events in a day, whether you can add time to your session later in the process, if they help with planning or obtaining permits, etc.  Discuss backup plans in case the weather doesn’t cooperate, and, of course, make sure you like the way they edit photos!

I never take for granted the honor it is to be (sometimes the only) witness for a couples elopement. Its wildly important to me that you feel seen and cared for on this important day, and I’ll do everything I can to make you feel valued and loved!

Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Photography Packages

A big question if you’re eloping is how much time do I need?  And the answer just isn’t one size fits all…it depends on which moments you value and what kind of adventure you’re planning! My typical bookings ranging from 2 – 8 hours, but if you’re looking for more time that’s always an option.

Although you can only get married (exchange vows) at the designated locations mentioned above, you can take couples photos (in your wedding attire) anywhere in the park. 

Are you wanting photos of getting ready in your Airbnb, a slow morning, just you two? 

Done!

How about a first look beside an alpine lake?

We can make that happen! 

Maybe you’re ready to hike up to emerald lake for couples photos after your wedding ceremony for more intimate couples photos (and a dip in the lake)…

I’m here for it! 

Or perhaps a picnic lunch is more your style, or an upscale dinner in Estes Park, followed by sunset portraits on Trail ridge Road. 

I love dreaming and scheming up these things with the couples I photograph to make the day feel like a beautiful adventure.

When to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park

Summer

Summer is the most popular time to visit RMNP, which makes it the most crowded time of the year in the park! With lines to enter the park, requirements for timed entry permits, and the likelihood of afternoon thunderstorms, summer elopements can be challenging. 

But warm sunshine and fields of wildflowers make it a beautiful time of year to get married.
If you’re planning a summer wedding or elopement, I highly encourage you to consider early morning.  Sunrise couples portraits followed by your vow exchange (with or without guests) in the cool of the day, before the park gets crowded, and the afternoon showers move in…I promise you it’s worth waking up early!

Fall

I think that Colorado is at it’s finest in the autumn.  The golden aspens and crisp air make everything feel like an adventure…but they also bring the possibility of an early snow.
If you’re aiming for a fall wedding, you have to be prepared for both warm and chilly weather (probably in the same day!)

Winter

It may surprise you to find out that eloping in the winter is TOTALLY an option!  Many of the designated locations for ceremonies are located at lower elevations, and accessible year round.  Although we do get snow, much of Colorado’s snowfall happens in March and April, making the winter months a more predictable (though chilly) time to plan your elopement.

Spring

Spring in Colorado is a total wild card. It might be warm and sunny, but we might have over a foot of snow fall in 24 hours.  Have a back up plan in place incase the weather doesn’t cooperate (which is always a good idea in Colorado.)  Also known as “mud season”, you’ll definitely want to wear some good waterproof hiking boots and keep your pretty shoes packed safely in a backpack until they’re needed.

After considerations of season, we have to talk about time of day! When I photograph couples, I recommend choosing either sunrise, or sunset for your main couples photos.  I then build the timeline backward (or forward) to allow for all of the different pieces you want to include in your day.

Permits, Rules, and Leave No Trace

Couples eloping in RMNP are required to know and follow leave no trace rules, along with group size limitations and all of the other requirements of the park.  I also suggest verifying current requirements with the National Park Service prior to your wedding date.

Some non-negotiables include staying on designated trails, respecting wildlife, packing out all trash, and not picking flowers.  This place is beautiful, and we all must do our part to preserve it.

Tips for Planning Your Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement

As you make plans for your big day, here are some helpful things to consider:

Elevation

Fly in a few days prior to acclimate to the elevation. Altitude sickness is real, and going from sea level to 10,000 feet is tough on the body!  Make sure to drink more than you think you need (many suggest 1 gallon per day) with a quality electrolyte.  Make sure you eat plenty of protein, and consider having canned oxygen on hand if you know that you have a hard time adjusting to elevation.  Remember that 1 drink at elevation equals 3 at sea level, and that you have to drink even more water if you’re drinking.

Weather
Although Colorado boasts sunny skies more than 300 days per year, the mountains create all kinds of weather.  Pack layers, you may need a jacket even in July, especially at high elevations.
Each 1000 foot elevation gain = a 3 degree drop in temperature, and temperatures in the park can vary by more than 20 degrees from one location to another.

Gear/Attire

Make sure you have appropriate hiking footwear if you plan to hike, and layers appropriate to the season.  I suggest choosing wedding attire that doesn’t wrinkle badly, so that you have the option of changing into your wedding clothes on location. 

Ready to Plan Your Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement?

I’m here to help! I’ll walk you through planning a timeline, obtaining a marriage license, and help you find florals, dinner spots, and a place to stay!  Part of my job as a Rocky Mountain National Park elopement photographer is helping guide you through all of the details that you’ve never done before to make your day as stress free and enjoyable as possible.

Check out my other guides for eloping in Boulder & Estes Park!