San Juan Mountains Elopement Guide
How to Elope in Telluride, Colorado
If you are thinking of eloping in the mountains and are looking for the most beautiful place in Colorado, look no further than Telluride and the San Juan Mountains. Yes, it’s kind of a pain to get to. Yes, it’s really far from Denver. Yes, it’s kind of expensive but trust me when I say its SO WORTH IT! While Telluride is famous for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, there is SO MUCH more to this place and the beautiful San Juan Mountains that surround it than that!
In this guide I’m going to give you the low down on how to elope in Telluride and the San Juans. Here is everything you need to know to have an epic mountain elopement or intimate wedding in the most beautiful places in Colorado!
Table of Contents
- Best Places to Elope in the San Juan Mountains (Telluride’s Best Elopement Locations)
- How to get Legally Married in Telluride
- How to Plan a Telluride Elopement
- How Much does it Cost to Elope in Telluride?
- Best Places to Stay for your Telluride and San Juan Mountains Elopement
- Real Telluride Elopements
- Meet your Telluride Elopement Photographer
best places to elope in the san juan mountains
Telluride’s best elopement locations
The San Juan Mountains are full of incredible spots for an elopement and where you decide to do the thing will largely depend on the type of scenery you are looking for and the amount of adventure you want (or don’t want!) to have!
Out of a deep concern for protecting these places I don’t go into specific locations for backcountry spots (I save those for my clients!) but hopefully this will get the wheels turning on where to elope in Telluride and what that could look like!
San Sophia Overlook
Want to get married on top of a mountain without even leaving town? This is for you! San Sophia is on top of the mountain and accessed by the gondola. It features STUNNING views of the town of Telluride and Bridal Veil Falls. It’s also an excellent spot for a wedding with guests.
Bridal veil falls
Bridal Veil Falls is an absolutely epic Telluride elopement location. It is at the end of town and can be seen from just about everywhere! A hike or Jeep ride takes you to a mossy, misty wonderland at the base of the tallest freestanding waterfall in Colorado!
in a backcountry basin
Some of the BEST places to elope in Telluride are off the beaten path and accessed only by hike, Jeep, or ATV. These spots offer wildflowers, waterfalls, views for miles, and very few people!
alta lakes observatory
Alta Lakes Observatory is SO FREAKING COOL. This cabin is up a bumpy road and surrounded by mountains and lakes. It is an ideal location for an elopement or small wedding with guests as well! Reserve Alta Lakes Observatory here.
at a campground
Hiking and backpacking elopements are perfect options for couples who are up for an adventure and want to get away from the crowds. The San Juan Mountains have incredible hiking and backpacking (and camping in general!).
on top of a mountain pass
Telluride and the San Juans have some of the most beautiful 4×4 roads in Colorado. If your idea of adventure involves Jeeps or ATVs (or hiking, obviously!), you have tons of options for getting way up high.
How to get a marriage license in Telluride
As with everywhere in Colorado, getting legally married in Telluride and the San Juan Mountains is incredibly easy. Simply go to a county clerk’s office bring your paperwork, and be ready to raise your hand and promise you’re not related to each other by blood (weird, right?!).
Because Colorado is a self solemnizing state you do not need an officiant or witnesses to get married here!
Marriage licenses can be picked up at the San Miguel County courthouse in Telluride or any other county clerk’s office in Colorado.
how to plan a telluride elopement
1. find a telluride elopement photographer
I ALWAYS suggest choosing your photographer first (even if it’s not me – although I hope it is!). A good photographer will be able to help you find the best elopement locations, choose the right time of year, lock in any vendors, and come up with a timeline. The whole process is so much easier when you bring in the professional help early on!
2. choose your elopement ceremony location
Figuring out where you will have your ceremony early will help figure out the rest of the day and how it will all go down. Every photographer is different but for me, this is always where I start with my couples! We’ll run through a bunch of options and choose a location that fits the scenery and level of adventure you want!
3. book lodging and any other vendors
Once you have a general idea of the areas you will be exploring or where you want to get married, it’s time to book other vendors! While you definitely DON’T need to hire other folks, many people choose to invest in flowers, hair and makeup, catering, cake, and/or Jeep or ATV rentals.
For an awesome list of lodging options, click here!
4. take a deep breath and enjoy every moment
This day is going to FLY by – make sure to slow down and enjoy every moment of it!! It’s not about pictures or pressure or stress or everyone’s expectations. It’s about the two of you getting married, maybe with some family and friends (or just your favorite dog) in one of the most beautiful places on Earth!
How much does it cost to elope in Telluride?
The cost of your Telluride elopement or intimate wedding will depend largely on where you base your elopement and the type of activities you do during the day!
A simple San Juan Mountain elopement based out of an affordable AirB BNB in Ouray, Silverton, or Ridgway will be relatively inexpensive while a more involved
An elopement based out of a resort in Telluride will be far more expensive. While Telluride itself isn’t the cheapest part of Colorado, there are definitely options for every budget!
Adding things like hair and makeup, florals, officiants, Jeep rentals, etc CAN drive the cost up but you don’t really need any of those things. It’s ALL up to you!
best places to stay for your san juan mountains elopement
The San Juans have everything from super lux accomodations to cute little cabins in the woods. Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort experience or just want to chill somewhere pretty, there is something for everyone in this area!
The four main towns that make up the Telluride area are Telluride, Ridgway, Silverton, and Ouray. Each town has it’s own vibe! I’ll be making some specific recommendations about these spots below, but for now your first decision is to choose your vibe!
Best places to stay in Telluride
Telluride is the biggest and (by far!) the fanciest of the towns on this list. If you are looking for an upscale, resort-style town (that still has tons of local character), Telluride is where it’s at. Telluride has two main areas – the town of Telluride itself and Mountain Village, which is part of the resort. These two areas are connected by a free (and dog-friendly) gondola! You’ll find most in-town lodging is actually in Mountain Village
- Mountain Lodge – Upscale resort in Mountain Village
- The Madeline – Luxury hotel in Mountain Village
- Alta Lakes Observatory – Remote mountain lodge
- Riverside Condos – Close to town
Best places to stay in silverton
If I had to choose ONE town in the San Juans as my favorite, Silverton would be it. This place is an old mining town, surrounded by some of the must rugged peaks in the state. It has tons of cool lodging, some really great restaurants, and a town-that-time-forgot kind of vibe. I LOVE Silverton and I think you will too!
- The Wyman – Midcentury modern charm in an old mining town. I’m OBSESSED with this place!
- Elevated Mountain Retreat – Large luxury home with beautiful views neaer Silverton
- Artist Cabin on Red Mountain Pass – Beautiful rustic cabin in the mountains
- Addie’s Cabin on Red Mountain Pass – Another gorgeous cabin
Best places to stay in ouray and ridgway
Ouray and Ridgway are tiny and adorable mountain towns, just 15 minutes apart. They both have a super laid-back, outdoorsy vibe. One of the best things about both of these towns is that it is centrally located between Telluride and Silverton, making it easy(ish) to access both during your stay!
- Hotel Ouray – beautiful boutique hotel right in Ouray (adults only)
- Canon Creek Cabin – cabin with beautiful views in Ridgway
- Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge – stunning backcountry lodge, 4wd required
check out some telluride elopements
San Juan Mountain Elopement Inspiration
Meet your telluride elopement photographer
’m a Colorado-based elopement photographer who helps couples have easy and unforgettable elopements in the San Juan Mountains (and beyond).
I‘ve lived in Colorado since 2007 and know this place like the back of my hand – so it means a lot when I tell you that the San Juans are, without question, the most beautiful part of the state and one of the best places in Colorado, if not the U.S., to elope!
My goal for this guide is to help you decide whether Telluride and the San Juans are the right spot for your Colorado elopement – and to help yo make it happen!
