How to Elope in the San Juan Mountains
If you’ve been dreaming of a San Juan Mountains elopement, this is your guide to elope in the San Juan mountains. The San Juan Mountains have some of the most stunning spots in Colorado! You have beautiful alpine lake locations with mountain backdrops and waterfall spots that look like it’s from a fairytale. Besides the breathtaking locations, Colorado is one of the easiest states to elope.
Quick Look: How to Elope in the San Juan Mountains
- How To Elope In The San Juan Mountains
- The Best Places To Elope In The San Juan Mountains
- Where To Stay
- Unique San Juan Mountains Elopement Ideas
- How To Get There
How to elope in the San Juan Mountains
Colorado is one of the easiest states to elope because you can self-solemnize. Also, Colorado does not require an officiant or witnesses but if you choose, your pups can sign as your witness.
You are required to get your marriage license which you can file for at a local county’s office. You can get your certificate the same day as well but I recommend calling the county’s office ahead of time.
read more about how to get married in Colorado.
The best places to elope in the San Juan Mountains
The best places to elope in the San Juan Mountains include Yankee Boy Basin, Governor’s Basin, and American Basin. The San Juans are full of stunning spots to say your vows and explore. So, the things to consider are your guest count, the season, the scenery, and the activities you want to do on your elopement day.
Alpine lake locations:
If you love the water and want a lakeside elopement here are the best lakeside elopement spots in the San Juans,
- Island Lake
- Blue Lakes
- Ice Lake
- Columbine Lake
- Crater Lake
- Opal Lake
Jeeping elopement locations:
The San Juan has some of the best trails for Jeeping elopements. Here are some of the best spots to adventure around the San Juans in your Jeep,
- Yakee Boy Basin
- Governor’s Basin
- Corkscrew Gulch
- Imogene Pass
- Ophir Pass Road
The best season to elope in the San Juan Mountains
The best time to elope in the San Juans is the summer or fall seasons. In the summer, it’s wildflower season so the weather is perfect and you get the lush green scenery combined with the wildflowers. There are also a lot of thunderstorms in the summertime so it’s best to plan for a sunrise elopement or sunset. I recommend eloping from mid-July to Mid-August for a wildflower elopement. In the fall season, which is my personal favorite, you get the warm weather and fall foliage. Peak fall foliage varies every year so it’s best to plan for late September to mid-October for a fall elopement in the San Juan Mountains.
Where to stay
The San Juan Mountains are close to many mountain towns. Some of these include Ouray, Telluride, Ridgeway, and Silverton. Here are some locations that add to your adventure wedding experience,
Unique elopement ideas
So, you got a good idea of where you’re going to elope and stay now it’s just figuring out what type of activities you can do for your elopement. Here are 12 unique San Juan mountains elopement ideas to try for your wedding day,
- Vows by the lake at sunset
- Luxury picnic at a stunning Airbnb
- Gift exchange
- Hiking
- Rent a Jeep and go off-roading
- Jeep Tours
- Host a small dinner with family and friends
- Explore the stunning wildflower fields
- Stargazing
- Campfire and smores
- Painting together
- Have a first dance
Get more elopement activity ideas.
How to Elope in the San Juan Mountains: next steps
Ready to start planning your dream elopement in the San Juan Mountains? Reach out to me and we will work together to make your dream wedding a reality.
