Let’s be real, I could not elope without including my friends and family in at least one aspect of the day. And the good news is, whatever goes. So if you want to elope just the two of you and celebrate with your closest friends and family afterwards, here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Have a private catered dinner

One way to include friends and family is to include them in the meals throughout the day, whether that’s making brunch together in the morning, having a picnic before you head off solo to your ceremony, or hosting a dinner party when you return in the evening. If you’re like me and LOVE food, then this is the prefect way to include friends and family in your elopement.

Tips & tricks for having a private catered dinner after your elopement: If you’re looking to have an outdoor reception after eloping, I can’t recommend enough having some source of ambient light once the sun sets: twinkly lights, large lightbulbs, or candles (if there isn't a fire ban). And I'm totally a fan of risking the weather (and avoiding large white event tents) in order to keep the ambiance of dinner parties what they are: and your photos will be so much better for it.

2. Host a dinner party at a restaurant

If you’re looking to head out to a restaurant after you eloping, you can also looking into different larger capacity restaurants to host your reception after eloping! Some of my favorite restaurants on the west slope that might be able to host your dinner party include Brickhouse 737 in Ouray, Allreds in Telluride, or Peche in Grand Junction.

3. Have a picnic at a trailhead or your campground

You also don’t have to do anything wild and crazy and can always opt to go the simpler route of offering a grazing board/picnic at your elopement ceremony site, your campground, or your favorite trailhead. There are quite a few local options that source ingredients directly from Western Colorado too! Some of my favorite meat & cheese companies are Nibbles & Sips, Meat & Cheese, and Wander + Graze.

Tips & tricks for having a picnic reception after eloping: Double check any food rules that your campground or trailhead might have, especially when it comes to bear country in Colorado! And don't forget to never feed the wildlife!

4. Enjoy your favorite local beverages around a campfire

Nothing says Colorado quite like sipping -anything but- Fat Tire around a camp fire (just kidding, if you like Fat Tire, you do you, no judgement here!). It’s a way to collectively wind down in the evening, possibly see some stars, tell some good stories over the campfire, and more. There is truly no comraderie that is built like that around a campfire when you’re in your 30’s and usually in bed by 9 pm, only to find yourselves sharing your favorite tales until … 10 pm. Let’s face it, we don’t get too crazy anymore.

Tips & tricks for celebrating with beverages around a campfire after your elopement: If you’re getting married in Utah, be sure to purchase your beer in Colorado as different laws making bottle beer hard to come by. In Colorado, instead of heading to a liquor store, you can also hit up the local breweries and distilleries for growlers.

5. Host a get-together at your rental property

While rental companies like Airbnb currently have event limits, some rental companies still allow larger events with hosts approval. Nothing lets you unwind like unbuttoning those pants and running around in your socks like a get together at your rental property.

Tips & tricks for hosting a get-together after your elopement: Some great ideas my couples have done to celebrate with family after their elopement at their rental includes hosting a potluck or BBQ, playing cards and board games, karaoke, watching movies, star gazing, having a campfire, swimming, and more.

6. Get takeout from your favorite restaurant

If you’re like me and would rather head home than sit in a restaurant booth, you can always pick up some take out or have food delivered to where you are staying! Double check that the place you want is open as a lot of mountain towns have low staff and therefore are closed on random days of the week. Nothing kills the mood faster than talking all day about how excited you are for tacos, only to realize the taco place is actually closed.

Tips & tricks for getting takeout after your elopement: For larger groups you’ll want to let the restaurant know ahead of time, but if it’s just a few of you and you’re looking to split a couple of pizzas, you’re usually okay waiting until the day of.

7. Ask a food truck to cater for you

A lot of smaller mountain towns have more food trucks than they do locally owned restaurants, which means there is no shortage of local community you can support by asking them to cater your reception after eloping!

Tips & tricks for asking a food truck to cater after your elopement: You can even have more than one food truck come if you are having a larger “traditional” sized reception after eloping which allows guests to have options as well as not overwhelm the food trucks! You can also get different ones for the main course, as well as dessert.

8. Have a silent disco party in the desert

Okay this one is reallllly specific but if you’re the type of find this idea super cool then you know this idea is super cool.

9. Hang out with friends and family virtually

If you are heading out of town for a destination elopement then celebrating with friends and family virtually is still a great way to have a reception after eloping! Whether a pre-planned Zoom call, a Facetime call, or a quick little Skype session - this is a great eay to still include friends and family in your elopement!

Tips & tricks for celebrating with loved ones virtually after you elope: Use an app that allows you to pre-plan your call if including more than a few people, that way everyone knows when to expect your call!

10. Go camping or glamping

While this kind of like #4, it’s a little more general and my favorite way to have a reception after eloping. If you have family or friends like mine who couldn’t imagine sleeping in a tent… on the ground… in the middle of nowhere … look into renting cabins or yurts. You can play board games, star gaze, go for sunrise hikes, go skinny dipping in that alpine lake, or even sit around the campfire.

Tips & tricks for camping or glamping with loved ones after your elopement: If you have a larger group, forgo yurts and cabins at state parks and instead opt to reserve on private property instead. That way you don't have to worry about upsetting any other campers in case you get a little loud!

If you’re looking for a venue to host your reception, check out a few of my favorite small wedding venues in western Colorado.