How to Have a Winter Elopement in Colorado
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of winter elopements in Colorado.
some major benefits to eloping in the winter:
Locations are typically less busy. Lots of people avoid the cold, especially at higher altitudes unless they are seeking out a winter sport like skiing/snowboarding.In some towns in Colorado, winter is considered the “off season” so you can find discounted rates on hotels and vacation rentals.It often isn’t frigid cold in the winter in Colorado because we’re closer to the sun at high altitude. So when you’re in the sun it is much warmer.We’ll run out of light about 30 minutes after sunset (typically between 4:30 to 6:00 pm) so you get to go to dinner way earlier, celebrate with friends and family way earlier, or go to bed… way earlier.Because there are more government holidays in the winter, you can bookend your elopement with days you already get off, giving you a longer vacation!
How to choose a location for your winter elopement in Colorado
For choosing your location in Colorado for your winter elopement we want to look at two different locations, mountains vs high desert.
Mountains (Ouray, Aspen, Telluride, etc):
Pros
Beautiful scenery with snow capped mountains, snow dusted trees, etc
Off season discounts on hotels and rentals
Nice weather because of proximity to the sun, even though it’s at a higher elevation
Winter lasts a lot longer in the mountains, usually from November to May is winter in the high country
Cons
Mud season means some stores and restaurants can be closed
Can be windier & colder in certain locations
A lot of trees can be dead so there is less scenery in locations like the woods
High Desert (Grand Junction, Fruita, Moab, etc):
Pros
Beautiful scenery of red sandstone and towering mesas
A lot of desert plants still have color throughout the winter
Off-season discounts on hotels and rentals
Nice weather because of lower elevation and warmer winters
Cons
Can be cloudier more often because of inversions
Can be muddier at certain locations
Pros & Cons of Different Winter Elopement Locations in Colorado
Ouray
Pros
Beautiful in the winter, there aren’t a lot of deciduous trees, and instead you get pine trees and snow capped mountains that envelope you in the landscape
Most restaurants still open, even throughout mud season since it isn’t a ski resort town
Because it isn’t a ski resort town, it’s not as busy as nearby Telluride or ski resorts in the front range and instead to you get to immerse yourself in the experience of the town like a local
HOT SPRINGS - nothing warms you up faster from those cold mountains like a dip in a 104 degree hot spring
Cons
A lot of the more scenic views are up Red Mountain which requires alternate and backup plans in the winter when roads can be unsafe from snow and ice
Red Mountain Pass has a lot of avalanche terrain so you need to be aware of any potential avalanche danger from recent freeze and thaw cycles
Telluride
Pros
Beautiful in the winter, there are more deciduous trees in town but once you begin heading up in altitude you get into the snow capped peaks and pine forests
Cheaper costs in mud season (around October/November and May/June) because most restaurants and stores are closed
More restaurants and activities to choose from than in nearby Ouray
While backup plans at high altitudes are always a great idea, you don’t have to worry as much about dangerous and unsafe roads in Telluride since there aren’t as many cliffs
Has a beautiful free gondola you can take during ski season that gives you beautiful mountain and city views
Cons
VERY expensive during the winter ski season because of the ski resort
Because it’s a ski resort, it can be a bit busier around town, but you can always find a spot to yourselves up the passes
Mud season occurs around November and May, resulting in a lot of stores and restaurants closing - this can be a pro though as hotels and rentals are much cheaper
Aspen
Pros
Proximity to the front range and nearby airports like Aspen and DIA as it’s half the drive it would take to get from Denver to Ouray or Telluride
Tons of restaurants and shops to explore around town
Lots of activities you can do to get you to higher elevation or to mountain views, they just require a bit more money and planning (snowmobiling, snowcat tours, helicopter tours, etc)
Cons
Super duper expensive and pretty busy in town during ski season
There are less locations to choose from in Aspen because there are a lot of deciduous trees around the town and it sits at a lower elevation so I usually recommend Snowmass or Ashcroft
All high mountain passes like Independence are closed October through June requiring you to either hike 5 to 10 miles for good views & privacy, snowmobile, or take a tour via snowcat, etc
Crested Butte
Pros
Beautiful in the winter, it is a ski town so lots of restaurants and shops still stay open through the season
Closer to the front range and airports like Gunnison and Denver
There are beautifully accessible areas around town
Cons
It can be one of the coldest areas in Colorado as nearby Gunnison frequently breaks freezing temperature records
All the scenic roads are closed requiring you to get creative with your exploring - you’ll need to rent snowmobiles and go miles into the back country or opt to explore nearby areas instead like Blue Mesa, Gunnison, or Lake City
Grand Junction
Pros
Warmer in the winter because it sits at a lower elevation
Restaurants are still open every month of the year as it is a year round tourist destination
The landscape is so diverse! You can spend the morning at low elevation in the high desert and spend the afternoon up on the Grand Mesa exploring the snowy mountain tops
There is so much to do: from exploring the National Monument to wine tasting in Palisade, nothing closes in the winter months
Cons
It isn’t a “Colorado Mountain Town” so year-round locals take advantage of their proximity to the outdoors meaning trails are typically on the busier side, especially on weekends
It can get pretty muddy some weeks out of the year, usually in early Winter when rain and snow is constant, and again in March when the ground begins to thaw
It is often pretty overcast and cloudy, but sometimes there are beautiful cloud inversions
Moab
Pros
Arguably the best time to visit Moab because the National Parks are way less busy and you can have some beautiful scenic landscapes and monuments to yourselves
You don’t need timed entry reservations for the National Parks
It is warmer in the winter because it sits at a lower elevation
Some restaurants are still open every month of the year as it is a year-round tourist destination
There is so much to do and see in Moab, even during the winter months as not much closes and roads are still accessible
Cons
Year-round, locals take advantage of their proximity to the outdoors meaning trails can be on the busier side, especially on weekends
It can get pretty muddy some weeks out of the year, usually in early Winter when rain and snow is constant, and again in March when the ground begins to thaw making 4WD roads impassable
It is often pretty overcast, cloudy, and some parts of Moab can get windy in the winter
How to Choose a Winter Elopement Date in Colorado
When choosing your wedding date in the winter, you honestly want to be flexible with the weather. In the summer you either get sun or some rain but you can work around it. In the winter it’s a different story and can often be unsafe to leave your house when winter storms roll in.
Be flexible: Book at least 3-4 days in your location so if you need to change your date, you can.
Double check that your elopement photographer is open to changing the date if hazardous conditions pop up (I am!).
Be prepared. This means layers for sun and shade and wind to keep yourselves insulated and warm because you don’t want your wedding day to be a suffer fest. You’ll want proper footware, which often means snowshoes in the backcountry or microspikes on trails in the mountains. Be aware of mud season in the off season in the high desert.
Follow all Leave No Trace Principles. I know thinking of LNT most of us think “stay on trails”, “respect wildlife”, etc which doesn’t usually apply to the winter months BUT there are scenerios that LNT is still imperative to follow.
Know the area. This is where hiring a local becomes imperative. For example, knowing that Jeep roads can be accessible in the morning but become mud pits by the afternoon as the ground warms up can be a recipe for disaster. Same with avalanche paths in the backcountry of the mountains. Always err on the side of caution in the winter as the low temperatures can make things go from bad to worse SUPER quick.
Weather In the Mountains
January - Cold and snowy
February - Colder and Snowier, major storms likely
March - Cold and snowy
April - more sunny days mixed with snow
May - mud season begins when snow starts melting off, lots of places close
June - Mud season ends and days start warming up with cooler nights. trees get greenery back
July - Monsoon season begins and most afternoons storms roll through the mountains making it unsafe to be above treeline after noon, wildflowers bloom
August - wildflowers continue blooming until mid/late august, monsoon season dies down in late august
September - aspen leaves begin to change around the 3rd week of september
October - Mud season as mountains get their first snowfall & places close to prepare for ski season, warm days and cool nights, greenery is gone
november - mud season, Colder days and nights but mostly sunny days
December - mix of cold and warm days, some scattered snow depending on global warming
Weather In the High Desert
January - Cold and some snow, more overcast days
February - Colder and Snowier, major storms likely
March - weather stars warming up, warmer days and cool nights
April - mostly sunny and warm days
May - highs in the 80s/90s
June through September - Highs in the 90’s/100’s
October - fall begins in early October and lasts much longer than in the mountains depending on drought
November - warm sunny days and colder nights, some rainy days
December - colder and sometimes 2 or 3 days of snow, overcast
How to Choose What Activities to Do During Your Winter Elopement in Colorado
While there are some obvious winter activities you can do in Colorado, there are so many specialized things you can do together on your elopement day! Here are a few of my favorite:
Go ice climbing at Ourays famed ice park
Visit Orvis Hot Springs for a soak and to warm up
Charter a $3400 per hour flight, or a $900 for 15 minute flight in Telluride, the only place in Colorado where helicopters are legally allowed to land on terrain
Snowmobile or take a snowcat tour out to Maroon Bells
Take a chuck wagon tour through aspen forests to a group dinner
Take a gondola ride to the top of the mountain
Go skiing or snowboarding at the ski resort
Snowmobile to the ghost towns in the high country
Take a sleigh ride
Cross country ski the nordic trails on the Grand Mesa
Snowshoe your favorite hikes
Go ice skating at some of the free secret ice rinks
Buy some sleds and head to the local sledding hill
Drive the famed Million Dollar Highway
Go ice fishing on one of the high alpine lakes
Have an early dinner at a restaurant and eat a ton of food to stay warm (I mean, it’s science)
Hit up the local brewery or distilleries
Small Winter Wedding Vs Eloping Just the Two of You
One thing to consider with winter elopements is the number of guests you are inviting to your ceremony. When eloping in the mountains in the winter, there are more obstacles and work that needs to be done in informing your guests of the conditions of any trips/hikes/locations/weather, etc. This often includes requiring people to have snowshoes or micro-spikes (and sometimes both as you never know what a trail is like until you walk on it). Sometimes it’s a safer bet for larger groups of people to rent out a small venue, here are some of my favorite small venues in western Colorado that are great for groups under 20 people.
As with most elopements, locations also have a size restriction on the number of guests for wedding ceremonies, limiting the number of ceremony locations. You’ll want to keep your guest count to max 10 people in the winter and ensure they are comfortable with the cold and wind, as well as prepared.
If you’re ready to take advantage of those snowy mountains and aren’t afraid of a little cold, let’s chat about what you’re envisioning for your winter elopement in Colorado and how I can help!
