Capturing the Magic of a San Juan Mountains Elopement
Ask any Colorado native or adventure enthusiast (or epic elopement photographer!) to name their favorite place in the state, and they’ll likely tell you the San Juan mountains. It’s home to some of the most remarkable scenery, spectacularly tall mountains, outrageously blue lakes, and stunning waterfalls. You can find some of the most unreal spots for a quiet San Juan Mountains elopement nestled off of hiking trails or offroading on 4×4 roads. It’s truly an area that has it all.
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The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Dream San Juan Mountains Elopement
Nearby towns like Telluride and Ouray make the San Juan mountains easily accessible and offer small-town European vibes that are romantic and cozy. It’s also an area with tons of history, which can be fun to incorporate into your elopement through photos or adventures.
If you’re looking for an incredible place to elope and take advantage of some of the most beautiful views Colorado has to offer, look no further than a San Juan Mountains Elopement. Consider this the Ultimate Guide to Eloping in the San Juan Mountains, but if you still have questions by the end, reach out! I’m happy to share everything I know!
When You Should Elope in The San Juan Mountains & How to Pick Your Date
Choosing your wedding date for an elopement in the San Juan Mountains has a lot to do with the weather and the season in which you prefer to elope. Colorado’s varying altitudes can make the weather a little unpredictable, but there are some patterns to look out for around the San Juan Mountains.
Winter sports enthusiasts will love visiting in the winter months when everything is covered in a blanket of snow. Just be aware that not all of the trails and roads will be open depending on weather, so you may want to have a plan B in case your first choice location isn’t accessible (and maybe even a plan C.)
July and August are some of my favorite months for an elopement in the San Juan mountains, as they tend to bring beautiful wildflowers and bright greenery. Just know that it can get pretty rainy and stormy almost every afternoon, so you may want to plan for a morning elopement, preferably during sunrise!
Fall is another spectacular time to elope when the Aspens are turning vibrant yellow, and the mountains are coming to life with fall colors. Just plan to bring lots of layers since you never know what the weather can bring!
San Juan Mountains Elopement Locations
There are so many beautiful spots to elope in the San Juan Mountains and to be honest, a lot of them can be found just off of the trails and roads in a moment of inspiration. If you’re looking for some more specific locations, however, I’m happy to share a few of my favorites.
Yankee Boy Basin is one of the most popular trails since it’s fit for beginners and has some of the most breathtaking views. You’ll come across the beautiful Twin Falls waterfall, get seasonal views of wildflowers, and plenty of mountaintop backdrops. It’s also relatively accessible in case you plan to include a small number of guests for your vow exchange.
Governor Basin is another great trail, with fields of wildflowers greeting you as you make your way to the top. Once you’ve reached the peak, you’ll discover spectacular mountain views, abandoned mines, and stretches of wide open sky. This location is at a pretty high altitude, though, so be sure you’re prepared! I also love the American Basin, which is surrounded by stunningly tall mountains and is home to a winding creek.
If you want something a little more off the beaten path, you can always rent a jeep (and maybe hire a professional driver!) to take you to some more secluded spaces. Just another option to keep in mind!
How to Get a Marriage License
The state of Colorado makes getting your marriage license pretty straightforward. You’ll need to visit a county clerk’s office with all of the required documentation and a way to pay the $30 license fee. It doesn’t even need to be from the county in which you plan to get married! There’s no waiting period once you have your license; you’ll just need to make it official within 35 days of getting it.
In Colorado, you don’t need to have witnesses or an officiant, so if you want your elopement to be as private as can be, it can literally be just the two of you! However, I do recommend bringing an experienced elopement photographer along with you just to make sure you get to capture all of those incredible, memorable moments to look back on for as long as you both shall live (get it?)
What to Wear to Your Mountain Elopement
Since a lot of the best elopement spots in the San Juan Mountains are off of roads and trails, one of the most important things you can wear is a solid pair of hiking boots. You’ll be grateful for the extra traction and likely for the warmth, too. Other than that, you can pretty much wear whatever you want! I do highly recommend planning for layers, however, since you never know when a mountain breeze might pick up.
How Much Does a San Juan Mountains Elopement Cost?
A San Juan Mountains elopement can cost pretty much whatever you want it to! Once you’ve accounted for your marriage license fee and any other required site fees, the rest is up to you! Overall, your budget should consider things like your attire, any travel costs, and transportation to get to your elopement site. Details like florals (a bouquet and a boutonniere) can always add a personalized touch to your photos, and if you plan to hire hair and makeup artists, you’ll want to account for that, too. Of course, if you want to document your elopement, you’ll need to budget for a photographer (and perhaps a videographer) as well.
I’m also a huge fan of planning some sort of celebration following your elopement. It is, after all, your wedding day! Whether it’s a romantic dinner and an overnight getaway in one of the nearby mountain towns or a helicopter ride over the mountains, your love deserves to be celebrated. Just make sure you’re budgeting for that, too!
Hiring a San Juan Mountains Elopement Photographer
You’ve made it all the way to the spectacular San Juan Mountains for your elopement – now be sure you have the right person by your side to document it! The breathtaking views are going to be incredible for photo backdrops, and you’ll treasure your elopement photos forever and always. As an experienced elopement photographer, I’ve had the honor of capturing some of the most epic wedding days, and I would love to help you with yours. Let’s connect so we can start planning every detail of your incredible day!
We Will Have So Much Fun Creating Magical Memories At Your San Juan Mountains Elopement
A San Juan Mountains elopement is an incredibly special, albeit intimate, event. Don’t miss out on capturing a single moment of your once-in-a-lifetime day; with me by your side, you’ll have breathtaking photos that will take you right back to that beautiful mountainside, hand in hand with the love of your life.