State Park Wedding Venues In Colorado

The answer is YES! Oftentimes when we think about weddings we automatically have thoughts of big ballrooms and churches; a typical traditional wedding day. Maybe that just isn’t your jam and you think it is important to have a day that reflects you and your partner to the fullest.

Most state parks allow for an outdoor ceremony and some even have outdoor reception space. If you are someone who wants to have a small wedding outdoors or simply having a scenic outdoor ceremony with a reception elsewhere, choosing a state park will be one of the best decisions for you. In this post you’ll find some of our favorite state parks, tips and more!

You are probably wondering why you would choose a State Park over a regular venue, so before we get into some of our favorite state park wedding venues-let’s look at the pros and cons of getting married at a state park. 

Pros Of A State Park Wedding:

According to the Green Bride Guide the average wedding creates around 400 lb of trash per event. That’s a lot of trash for just one day! When you choose to get married at a state park, it is easier to make less trash from the usual things like decorations and one time use party favors. You can save money by choosing a state park as your venue and using the beautiful scenery as the perfect backdrop!  

Cons Of A State Park Wedding

You have to deal with whatever the day brings

We are thinking about things like weather, flexible timelines etc. Getting married at a state park means you are getting married outdoors which requires a bit of flexibility from your part. Colorado weather can be a bit bipolar so understanding how it can change quickly and when the best season to elope is always a great idea. Having a plan B is always a great idea and something that we always recommend to the couples we work with.

Other people will probably be around

Some parks have designated areas that you can specifically rent out for your ceremony and they are pretty private but because they are public parks you are unable to reserve the entire park.

Rules and Regulations

The parks might have specific rules with music, alcohol etc. Getting married at a state park can mean your day will be ending early if you choose to have your reception there and you might have to figure out if what you are envisioning is allowed. 

Colorado offers 41 state parks that you can go to and explore! These are just 9 of our favorites because they have a more streamlined process and location for ceremonies.

• Accessibility– How accessible is my ceremony spot? Can my guests join me easily?(if any)
• Restrooms– Are there restrooms nearby? 
• Food & Drinks logistic– What kind of food can I bring? Is alcohol permitted
  ?
• Location for ceremony– Is it okay to use certain/different locations for my ceremony or is there a designated spot?
• Guest limit– Is there a guest limit for the location that I chose for my ceremony?
• Small decor– Can I bring a small amount of decor if I wanted?

Make sure you guys are asking all the questions you need to ask before having your wedding day at a state park. There are never too many questions!

How to Leave No Trace at a State Park 

Before wrapping this up, it is our responsibility to share principles of Leave No Trace to our readers since we are suggesting the usage of public lands and we believe in the preservation of them! Here are a few tips that can help you become more aware and practice LNT when you visit our parks:

1. Don’t feed the animals, avoid the animals 
2. Walk on durable surfaces AKA the trails
3. Whatever you bring in the park, take it ALL back out
4. Don’t pick the flowers, or step on them or any other plant
5. Dispose of waste properly, don’t bring waste into the park 
6. Leave what you find

Looking for other small wedding venues that are also outdoor in Colorado? Although we added only 12 parks, there are other outdoor options in the state for a small weddings or elopement. Check out these small wedding venues in CO or these awesome places to elope in CO.