Your Guide to Colorado Micro Weddings + Elopements
As a wedding photographer in Colorado, I’m always excited when I get to capture a Colorado micro wedding or elopement! Whether you’re drawn to the idea of an adventure elopement in Aspen or an intimate wedding weekend nestled in a mountain lodge, Colorado is the perfect destination for couples who want to break free from traditional wedding conventions (my kind of people!).
Today, I’m breaking down the differences between a micro wedding and an elopement. Spoiler alert: Colorado is ideal for both! Plus, I’m sharing tips for creating your timeline with all-day wedding coverage in mind. Grab a mug of your favorite tea, find a cozy spot to curl up, and let’s dive in!
Colorado Micro Weddings
A micro wedding is an intimate celebration with the structure of a traditional wedding day. This often means a ceremony followed by a family-style dinner, but the flow of events is entirely up to you! The guest count ranges from 10 to 50, and includes the couple’s family and close friends.
There are limits to what you can achieve when planning a traditional wedding day, especially regarding location. However, when planning a Colorado micro wedding, you have the chance to let your creativity run wild. The result is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for yourself and your loved ones—like the best family vacation you’ll ever have!
Whether you and your partner have a dream destination in mind or want to splurge on activities and food, keeping your guest list small is the key to stretching your budget as far as it can go. Picture a luxurious lakeside cabin stay, and enjoying all the unique experiences the Colorado backcountry has to offer—hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and ATVing—joined by your closest family and friends.
And when it comes to the big day itself, the best part of a micro wedding is that it gives you the same “wedding” experience as a traditional event, but with none of the stress. You can choose which traditions to observe or leave behind, and enjoy them all with fewer eyes watching.
Colorado Elopements
An elopement is a wedding day stripped down to its barest essentials: two people in love and a marriage license! Guests are optional—many elopements are just the couple, a photographer, and an officiant—and don’t usually exceed ten people. If guests are invited, they’re usually the couple’s immediate family or a handful of close friends.
An elopement differs from a micro wedding in that it’s catered solely to you and your partner. Want to exchange vows on a mountaintop at sunrise, or jump hand in hand into an alpine lake in your wedding attire? A Colorado elopement gives you that opportunity—there are no rules (however, be sure to check local permits).
An elopement is also low-pressure, making it a great choice for introverted couples. Performance anxiety and other stresses melt away when it’s just you and your partner declaring your love for each other!
But the best part of eloping? It doesn’t have to cost a thing. Depending on where you want to elope and other details, such as your attire and guest count, it can truly be as simple as going somewhere and prioritizing each other for a day, a weekend, or however long you choose.
Why Choose Colorado for Your Micro Wedding or Elopement?
Colorado is one of the best states for an elopement or micro wedding (and not just because of its stunning natural beauty!). The process of obtaining a marriage license is very straightforward, and you can apply for one at any County Clerk’s office. Once you have, it’s valid immediately for 35 days—no waiting period!
Colorado is also one of the few states that allows self-solemnization, meaning you technically don’t need an officiant or witness to get legally married. Some counties even allow your dog to “sign” your marriage license! However, be sure to check with yours first to ensure adherence to local laws.
Speaking of your fur baby, it’s most likely they’ll be able to join you for your special day! Colorado is a very dog-friendly state (why else would I move here?), and many parks, Airbnbs, and wedding venues are happy to welcome them.
All-Day Coverage for Micro Weddings and Elopements
Micro weddings and elopements aren’t about sticking to a strict timeline. They’re about sharing an experience with your partner and your guests! That’s why I recommend investing in all-day coverage if you’re planning a micro wedding or elopement. As a documentary-style photographer, I’m all about capturing the “in-between” moments of a wedding day, when a couple is so caught up in each other or in celebrating with their loved ones that they forget I’m even there. But to preserve all of those moments, I need to be present from start to finish!
Pairing documentary-style photography with all-day coverage is the best way to capture your special day from start to finish, with every moment and emotion woven together into one beautiful tapestry. Here are a few more ways that all-day coverage for your micro wedding or elopement ensures your photography experience is as stress-free as the event itself:
Factors in Travel Time
While the duration of most elopements is shorter than a traditional wedding day, don’t forget about travel time! This is especially important to factor in if you’re planning an adventure elopement in a location like Loveland Pass or Rocky Mountain National Park. Your coverage should account for drive and hike time, which could be several hours, depending on your desired location.
Provides Weather Insurance
If you’ve spent any length of time in the Colorado mountains, you know the weather can be unpredictable! A storm can roll in at a moment’s notice, forcing you to take a break from your hike—or your wedding vows. The built-in extra time afforded by choosing all-day coverage gives us room to pivot in the event of an afternoon shower or snowfall.
Preserves Meaningful Moments
Your micro wedding or elopement is still a wedding, just with fewer guests! When you invest in all-day coverage, like Rachel and Dominic did for their micro wedding, it allows me to document your day holistically. From the details of your attire all the way through to the after-party, I’ll capture what made your wedding day yours. Just because you’ve invited 30 guests (or three!) instead of 150, doesn’t mean the moments experienced by you and your guests are less worthy of preservation!
Colorado micro weddings and elopements have a one-of-a-kind beauty that deserves to be documented from start to finish. Are you planning one of these intimate events? It would be my honor to tell the story of your special day through authentic, emotion-fueled imagery. Let’s connect! I’d love to hear about the type of celebration you’re envisioning and share more about my process and personalized wedding photography packages.