Mountain Elopement Guide – The Best Places to Elope in the Mountains

Imagine if instead of tying the knot in a traditional venue, you could spend your wedding day climbing mountain peaks, hiking tree-lined trails, and exchanging vows on top of the world, with no one else around? 

We think your wedding day should be a reflection of who you are as a couple – and if you’re anything like us, who you are includes a lot of trails, peaks, and scenery! The good news is that your day can be everything you want, and we want to help you make the dream come to life. So if the idea of eloping on top of a mountain makes your heart skip a beat keep reading this mountain elopement guide. We’re sharing the best places to elope in the mountains all over the country!

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We might be a little biased, but if you’ve seen the peaks and valleys and stunning scenery of Colorado, you know why! As Colorado locals, this is our absolute favorite place for a mountain elopement. The options are basically endless, but here are some of the best places to elope in the mountains of Colorado.

Did You Fall In Love With Colorado? Don’t Worry, We Did Too!

Wyoming is an incredibly underrated destination for outdoor adventures – so eloping in this remote state means you’ll be able to find more private, secluded places to say your vows!

California has just about every landscape and type of scenery you can imagine – and that includes mountains!

The Pacific Northwest boasts some of the most incredible peaks! In Washington, you’ll find the best places to elope in the mountains.

Considering the state’s name comes from the Spanish word for mountain (montaña), you can bet that Montana is one of the best places to elope in the mountains!

Alaska is one of the most wild, remote places in the country – and if you want to elope in the mountains, with a wedding ceremony that’s adventurous and one of a kind, this is the perfect place!

Eloping in the mountains comes with some challenges that couples planning a traditional wedding don’t face – and while the adventure is well worth it, there are a few  extra things to think about! Here are some tips for planning your mountain elopement.

The Best Time to Elope in the Mountains

When it comes to choosing your elopement date, if you want to elope in the mountains, you’ll need to plan around the weather! In general, the best time for a mountain elopement is summer – high elevation areas in the northern hemisphere are often snow covered until July, but you should definitely confirm after you’ve chosen your elopement location, as conditions can vary and the mountains can be unpredictable!

A winter elopement in the mountains can be stunning – and a great way to avoid the summer crowds! But, you’ll need to be prepared to elope in a winter wonderland. Make sure the roads to your location are accessible in the winter, and that you’re ready with warm layers and winter hiking gear.

Spring and fall can be gorgeous as well – depending on the location, you’ll likely experience fewer crowds, and if you elope in late spring or early fall, you have a chance at good weather conditions. This can be a great time to explore some lower elevation spots!

Be Prepared for Mountain Weather

No matter when you elope, we recommend being ready for any weather when you’re exploring in the mountains. Being up in higher elevation, weather changes are more dramatic and less predictable. In Loveland Pass in Colorado, for example, it’s not too uncommon for snow flurries to fall in July.

Often, you can start your hike in warm, summer conditions, and as you gain elevation you can find yourself in fog, snow, wind, or rain! It also gets colder as you climb higher, so even in the summer, it’s important to pack layers. While you’re hiking, you might be feeling toasty – but once you stop moving, it doesn’t take too long for the chill to set in.

We recommend base layers for cold weather elopements – wearing thermal leggings under your dress or your pants can do wonders for keeping you warm! For dress wearers, a shawl, cape, or jacket on top is an easy layer that can be removed. Luckily, suits lend themselves perfectly to layering, but we recommend adding a puffy jacket to your pack just in case.

Some other things you can bring to stay warm include hand warmers, gloves, hats, and maybe a backpacking stove so that you can make a hot beverage at the summit!  

What to Wear for a Mountain Elopement

Along with staying warm, you’ll also need to think about comfort on your elopement day! When shopping for your elopement attire, think about being comfortable first – you’ll be moving around a lot more than you would during a traditional wedding, so be sure you can move freely! For dresses, stick to looser skirts – and for suits, make sure they fit well.

For hikes, especially in warmer weather, choosing lighter fabrics will help keep you cool, and will also be easier to carry, whether you’re wearing it or packing it! If you plan to elope in the winter or in the snow, heavy fabrics can help you stay warm. And of course, don’t forget the layers.

Another important thing to think about is if you’re hiking, whether you want to wear your elopement attire the entire way, or if you want to pack your clothes and change at the top. For shorter hikes, we recommend wearing your ceremony attire – but for longer hikes, it can be a little cumbersome, so packing it can be a better option. Don’t worry – we’ll help you pack! But when you’re shopping, it can be helpful to keep this in mind. Fabrics that don’t wrinkle will help keep your outfits looking good after they’ve been in your hiking bag – so look for dresses and suits that will hold up!

The last, but possibly most important, aspect of choosing your elopement attire is the shoes! There’s nothing worse than getting a blister on a hike, or wearing shoes that hurt your feet – and you especially don’t want that on your wedding day! For mountain elopements, hiking shoes are definitely the best option. Choose something waterproof, sturdy, and comfortable, and if you get new shoes, be sure to break them in before the big day!

Leave No Trace in the Mountains

We love being outdoors, whether we’re exploring for fun or with an eloping couple – and one of the most heartbreaking things is seeing trash on the trails, or even seeing places close due to overuse and damage to the ecosystem.

Luckily, we can prevent this! People can have a bigger impact than we realize, and by being informed and educated about how to Leave No Trace, we can all do our part to protect these places we all love. 

Leave No Trace (LNT) is a set of 7 principles created by the Center for Outdoor Ethics to help us preserve the environment. Following these principles, and learning about the specific guidelines for your mountain elopement location, will ensure that we can keep exploring, and couples can keep eloping!

Here are the 7 principles.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Others

Elopement Permits

Many outdoor locations require a permit for your elopement! These rules vary depending on where you choose for your mountain elopement, so it’s important to do some research, and to get the proper permits, if required.

National parks typically have the strictest regulations and permit requirements, as they tend to be busier. Some places have pre approved locations where you’re allowed to have a ceremony, some places have limits on the number of people who can be involved, some places only require a permit if you have over a certain number of guests, and other places don’t require permits at all. Getting a permit is part of Leave No Trace, as it ensures that the park or forest rangers know what’s happening and that you’re aware of the rules for the location. Permit costs vary, but are usually around $100 – $300, when required.

As elopement photographers, we help our couples with every part of the elopement day, including getting the right permits! The process can be confusing sometimes, but don’t worry – we’ve got your back.

Safety in the Mountains

Exploring the backcountry, and being in the mountains, always comes with some added safety concerns. With quickly changing weather, remote locations, and long hikes, it’s important to prepare and be ready for emergencies.

The first way to stay safe exploring outdoors is to bring layers and warm clothes.

Next, always bring more water and food than you think you need! Staying hydrated and fed is important, and will also make you feel better.

Make sure you have the proper hiking gear, and that you choose a hike or location that matches your experience level. If you’ve never done a long hike, don’t make your elopement day the first time! Choose a hike you know you can physically handle. Some hiking gear you’ll need include shoes, a headlamp (even if you don’t plan to hike in the dark, be prepared in case things take longer than expected), extra layers, sunscreen, and a first aid kit. While it’s always good to expect the best, it’s important to be prepared for emergencies!

You should also bring a way to navigate – downloading offline maps for the trail you’re on is essential, as it can sometimes be hard to find your way in some less developed wilderness areas. You will often lose cell phone service in the mountains, so having your route available offline is definitely a must.

We never dreamed of an aisle and a big wedding – and we’re passionate about helping adventurous couples like you have a wedding day that truly suits them. One packed with adventures, scenery, and once in a lifetime experiences.

With our mountain elopement packages, we help our couples find the best places to elope in the mountains – because every couple is different, and every elopement is unique! Whether you want an easily accessible scenic overlook, or a long backpacking trek, or you want a little bit of both, we’ll work with you to find the most amazing spots.

Ready to elope in the mountains? Contact us to learn more about mountain elopement packages!

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