How Much Does It Cost to Elope in Colorado?

Eloping can be a wonderfully affordable way to say "I do," but it's important to know what you're getting into before you jump in and the truth is that eloping doesn't have to be expensive. You can get married for as little as $30 for a license, or you can spend $13,000 and can plan your once in a lifetime dream date with your partner to have an entire new experience.

So how do you know how much your elopement will cost? The best thing to do is sit down with your partner and talk about what's most important to you—and then budget accordingly. If photography is at the top of your list, you'll probably want to plan for more spending there than if you're planning a big party afterwards with all your friends.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding if eloping is in your budget:

What is a good elopement budget?

Whether you're getting married or eloping, budgeting is important. No one would recommend going into debt for your wedding day :)

Nowadays, the average couple spends $24,000 on their wedding day. If you're looking to cut costs and have a smaller ceremony, an elopement is a great option but definitely check in with each other and make sure you’re on the same page budget wise. If one person wants a large wedding, another wants to elope, but your budget is somewhere in between the two, then think about going the route of having a small intimate wedding with your loved ones.

Here's a quick guide for how much it will cost you to elope:

-Rings: $100-$5,000 per person on average, depending on quality and style.

-Wedding dress: $100-$5,00 on average, depending on quality and style.

-Photography: $1,000-$9,000 for a full day

-Flowers/decorations: $100-$300 per person on average

-Permit: $50 - $300 depending on location

-Experiences & Activities: $100 - $3,000

how can I save costs on eloping?

1) budget for what is most important to you

The first thing to do when planning an elopement is to figure out what's most important to you. Is it the location? The photographer? The venue? Once you know what matters most to you, you can start building your budget.

For example, if you want a photographer who specializes in shooting elopements and has a great portfolio of work, then it's going to cost more than if you just need a friend with an iPhone who can take some pictures for free. If you're looking for a beautiful and unique venue that will help tell your story and make the day special, then the price tag will be higher than if you plan on using your backyard as the backdrop.

Each part of your wedding has its own cost associated with it; once you know how much money is available for each item on your list, then it's time to start making decisions about what will work best for your budget and what won't fit into your plans.

2) Figure out what factors you can change to make it cheaper

There are a few things to consider when eloping that can make the day just a bit more affordable. Think of things like:

• The season you are deciding to elope during. Ski season around ski resorts tend to be more expensive in the winter, while towns without ski resorts usually offer deals since they are less busy

• The location you are eloping in. The Front Range (Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs) tends to be more expensive to elope in, although it is closer to DIA. The Western Slope (Ouray, Telluride, GJ) are more affordable depending on the season.

• The longer out you start booking your elopement plans, the cheaper they will be. If you want to fly to Colorado last minute to elope, chances are that flights will be pricey. For more information on when you should start planning your elopement, and how long it takes, check out this blog post.

3) Think about the experience you want to have

You might wonder why elopement photographers cost so much, and the reason is because we are so much more than photographers for your elopement. Traditionally for large weddings, you have a caterer, a planner, a florist, friends and family helping everything go smoothly - with an elopement, it’s typically just your photographer. We are the ones to help you plan your dream day, all you have to do is take advantage of that. When shopping around for photographers, just remember that lower costs usually equal less experience.

4) Compare costs

You can compare costs of different aspects of traveling to Colorado and eloping here:

• Cost of flying vs driving

• Cost of a hotel vs Airbnb vs hostel

• Vendor & photographer rates that charge extra for travel because they aren’t local

• Florist vs DIY floral bouquet

• Planner vs day of coordinator (if you’re wanting something like a private dinner in the backcountry, a day of coordinator can help take all of the stress of the “day of” off of you, but you still get to plan it).

• Seasons and times of year that could be more expensive

Cost breakdown for an elopement in Colorado

Marriage License - $30

Photographer - $1000 to $9000

Lodging - $130 +

Gas - $3.60/gallon

Experiences & Activities - $NA

• everyones experiences are going to be different and be budgeted different

• here's a list of things you could do on your elopement

Food - $25 - $60 per meal if budgeting

Flight - $100 - $700 depending on time of year and location you’re flying into

Why elope in Colorado vs elsewhere

Why elope in Colorado? For starters, it's beautiful year-round. You can choose from over 100 different venues spread across all four seasons, so even if it's not summer when you get engaged, there'll still be plenty of options for your winter wedding. Colorado is also home to some of the most picturesque locations in America—from mountain tops to prairies to beaches—so no matter what kind of scenery inspires you, chances are we have an option for you here!

• The Weather:

Colorado has a lot of different weather conditions, which means that there are lots of options when it comes to deciding how you want to get married. You can have snow flurries falling around you, or you can be in the high desert in your bathing suits.

• The Venue:

Were not talking about your run of the mill $10,000 wedding venue here, when it comes to elopements, you really have your choice of scenery in Colorado. Whether you want a snow capped mountain as your backdrop, or afield of wildflowers, we truly have it all.

• The People:

Maybe I’m biased here but I truly think the people in Colorado really make this state a special place to elope to. You have so many choices on what type of photographer you want to work with, how your wedding photos will feel, etc. We elopement photographers truly care about the experience you have on this incredibly important day.

For more information on eloping in Colorado, check out how to elope in Colorado.

Weddings can be expensive, that much is true. However, if your heart is set on an intimate affair with just the two of you or a few close family and friends, you can still have the wedding of your dreams without putting yourself in a place financially where you're stretching yourselves thin to do so.

I truly love working with couples, helping them create a vision and plan towards it. I believe every wedding is YOUR day--you get to choose what works best for you!

I'm here to explore ideas and discuss options with you!

Looking to have an elopement experience that you can look back on and know you wouldn’t change a single thing about?

Howdy, I’m Kimberly!

I’m s Colorado elopement and wedding photographer that’s committed countless hours chasing sunrises and making dinner in the back of my car while perfecting my craft (while getting some lenses really dusty and wet along the way), and capturing images that make people feel something.