How to plan your mountain elopement in Telluride, Colorado 

If we can experience a mountain town in Colorado for the first time again we think Telluride would be the first on the list. It takes a lot for us to be impressed by certain mountain towns, (we’ve lived in Colorado our entire lives) but Telluride is easily one of our favorite locations for a San Juan Mountains Elopement.

You’ll know Telluride is for you if you are obsessed with waterfalls, unique mountain peaks, less crowds, alpine lakes but you still want some access to civilization in a nicer mountain town. If you want to know how to start planning your elopement here, we’ve added all of our local tips and inspiration in this guide. 

When is the best time to visit and plan your Telluride Elopement?

You can elope anytime of the year, but personally we love Telluride the most in the summertime and the fall. It’s when all of the trails and roads are open, the weather is great, and the town is a bit more alive. 

The ideal dates to choose from would be anything between mid-June through mid-October. Snow in higher elevations doesn’t always melt completely until June, and this will ensure you have the most location options for your elopement, including more greenery. Colorado can look pretty dry between the shoulder seasons so waiting until mid June will help with that. During the fall, the best time to experience fall foliage will be the last week of September and the first week of October. Telluride is actually a prime spot to be in during the peak fall color change which is why you’ll find us there every fall.  

Winter or spring can be amazing as well if you’re into skiing and snowboarding but otherwise it’s not the best in terms of having lots of location options to exchange your vows.

Arriving And Getting Around Telluride 

There are a few ways to get to Telluride. You can either take a road trip there from your home or from Denver. If you choose to fly into Denver, it is about a 6 hour road trip to Telluride. Traveling in the winter and springtime through the mountains to Telluride can be a treacherous experience (ask us how we know, so take that into account when planning your elopement. 

You can also fly into Telluride, but because it’s a small airport flights here are either not existent, connecting flights or very pricey. Your next best options are to fly into the Montrose airport, Durango Airport, Gunnison Airport or Grand Junction Airport to shorten your drive.

We highly recommend renting a car if you’ll be staying in Telluride. Preferably something with 4×4 and some clearance to get you to some of the amazing spots it has to offer! The town itself has a free gondola that travels within the town of Telluride and Mountain Village, which is a fun/scenic way to get around the actual town. 

Where can you elope in Telluride

You can get married on most hiking trails, off-road trails and scenic drive up locations if you want the best views to exchange your vows in. You can also elope at the San Miguel County Courthouse if you want to make it official in a cute historic building then adventure in the mountains afterwards. Either way you’ll have to apply for and pick up your marriage license there. Most of the couples we work with opt for the latter and pick a beautiful spot similar to the ones listed below:

A Hike To Bridal Veil Falls

We did mention there were cool waterfalls in Telluride and Bridal Veil Falls is one of them! It’s a short hike to get to the waterfall adding adventure to your day. It’s also not too far from the town making a perfect place to pair with some fun in the town. Permits are required to elope here, and that is something that most photographers (like us) help you navigate.

Reserve San Sophia Overlook

For a unique elopement location, you can take a gondola up to the San Sophia Overlook. There’s a grassy open area, with a deck perfect for wedding ceremonies. You’ll have incredible views over the town of Telluride and mountain views. You do have to make a reservation for a location like this.

Drive Up To Alta Lakes

Past the abandoned ghost town of Alta, you can drive up to Alta Lakes. Alta Lakes is an alpine lake nestled in the mountains, and the area is great for hiking and camping, or for snowmobiling in the wintertime. The road up is a little rough, but a regular SUV with some clearance will make it up just fine. 

Off-Road To Last Dollar Road

Last Dollar Road is a gem in Colorado – a hidden dirt road that winds through historic ranching country, with absolutely stunning views. It takes you through a valley surrounded by jagged peaks, where you’ll find so much incredible scenery and breathtaking places to stop for an elopement ceremony.

There are tons of beautiful locations to elope in Telluride and these are just a few popular examples. Telluride has some of our favorite hidden gems! Aside from photo & video, helping couples find and choose hidden gem locations that fit their vibe is included as part of our elopement packages. 

Marriage Laws & Location Permits 

Eloping in Colorado is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is apply for a $30 marriage license at the San Miguel County Clerk and Recorders Office, pick it up with your partner, sign it and return it to be recorded and you’re married! Colorado is pretty lax about how you get married so you are able to take your marriage license to sign it on a mountain top and you don’t need officiants or witnesses to make it legal. 

You can also get your marriage license the same day you apply for it, making it easy to plan an elopement within a shorter timeframe unlike other states where there’s a waiting period. 

Some locations within the county do require special use permits to elope there, but most locations do not. If you are not working with someone knowledgeable with the area we recommend double checking for special-use permit requirements with the county. 

Where to Stay When You Elope in Telluride

There are a couple options to choose from when choosing a location to stay in Telluride. You can either stay in town where you will be close to restaurants, shops, and people or you can choose to stay outside of the town in a more secluded, mountain home. Telluride is a small town, so it can be hard to find lodging during popular dates. Make sure you plan in advance to secure a great place to stay!  

Note that most lodging available in the town will most likely be condos or hotel resorts. 

Lodges

There are plenty of lodges and ski resorts where you can stay in Telluride. There’s Bear Creek Lodge, with slopeside condos that have a big living area and all the amenities you’ll need, and the Mountainside Inn, located close to the lift. The Manitou Lodge is a smaller inn with 11 rooms (perfect for couples who invite guests to their elopement) that sits right next to the San Miguel River.

Cabins & Airbnbs

Airbnb is always a good place to find lodging and private accommodations, and Telluride has plenty of rentals and cute cabins for you to stay in during your elopement. You’ll find secluded cabins in the forest, unique homes, and riverfront cabins! 

Camping

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, a really fun way to celebrate your elopement would be to go camping in a campervan rental. Around Telluride, there are plenty of places for dispersed or reserved camping, where you can really immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area. We can show you some of our favorite spots!

Stay Right Outside Of Telluride

If you don’t mind driving a little bit, the towns of Ridgway, Placerville & Rico have great lodging options under an hour away to look into as well. 

Some of our favorite adventures with couples in Telluride

Fun Telluride Experiences You Can Include On Your Elopement Or Stay

One way to make your elopement day a true Colorado adventure is by adding fun activities or excursions you can experience. There are a lot of options for your elopement, but these are Telluride specific:

• Hike/Climb the Via Ferrata
• Jeep tour with Telluride Off-Road Adventures
• Attend one of the music festivals
• Ride the free mountain village gondola and stop at a cute coffee shop (if you’re coffee lovers like us)

If you want more ideas of activities you can include to make your elopement feel more adventurous and special, see our 30 elopement activity ideas.

Tips For Your Telluride Elopement from Colorado Locals

• Even though summertime is an ideal time to elope it is common to see afternoon rain come in at high altitudes. We recommend staying flexible with your timeline or eloping at sunrise if you want predictable weather for your elopement day. We offer day-after weather insurance with our photo & video packages for this reason!
• Telluride sits at 8,750ft of elevation, so if you’re coming to visit from lower elevations–we recommend that you arrive at least two days before your elopement. That way you have enough time to acclimate!
• If you want to experience wildflowers in Telluride, July is a great month for that! 
• Prepare for any type of weather especially if your elopement location includes hiking or being at a higher elevation. Bring a cute jacket you don’t mind wearing over your elopement clothes.
• If you’re eloping out on trails, rocky overlooks etc. bring shoes that are comfortable and flat. Heels and some dress shoes make moving around in these areas very unpleasant!

Telluride Elopement Photographer & Other Vendors

As an elopement Photographer & Videographer, we do way more than show up with a camera. We help you find the most stunning spots to exchange your vows, build a timeline that fits your vibe, and make sure your day feels relaxed & adventurous. We know the hidden gems, the best times for awesome lighting, how to handle the mountain weather, and how to make your day as stress-free as possible.

We also connect you with the best local vendors to help bring your day to life. Think:

• Florists who can create mountain-proof bouquets
• Hair and makeup artists who can hike up mountains and wake up at sunrise for you
• Private chefs or picnic set-ups for an intimate dinner
• Adventure guides for 4×4 tours, horseback rides, or hiking support

We work with vendors who share our values: relaxed, diverse, inclusive, and focused on meaningful experiences.

If you’re dreaming about eloping in Telluride and want a team who knows how to bring it all together, contact us. We’d love to help you create an unforgettable day in one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment below: