so how do we get married in COlorado?
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. All this information is online and is subject to change.
Getting married in Colorado couldn't be much easier. You can self solemnize your marriage without witnesses, which means you could legally marry yourselves out in the woods for about $35 and call it a day. Of course, all the fun of eloping is making an adventure out of the whole thing, but that's up to you.
Here's how you do it:
1. make an appointment with the county clerk
This appointment is to register your marriage and get your license. You do not need to get your license from the same county you're getting married in. So if you're getting married in Telluride, you can get your marriage license in Denver, etc. as long as you return it to THE SAME office you got it from.
2. go to the office together to apply
This is EXTREMELY important. You BOTH need to be there in order to get the license. You should be able to fill out some parts of the application online, but they will not give it to you if you're not both there in person.
You will both need:
- A valid ID - check the website for what kind
- Your social security number
- The dates and locations of both sets of your parents' births.
- The location and date of the death or divorce of your previous spouse, if applicable.
3. get married!
Go have your ceremony and sign your license! You don't need an officiant or witnesses to sign, but you can have your dog sign as a witness if you want as long as your license did NOT come from Denver or Colorado Springs (I would recommend practicing that signature multiple times in advance!).
Just make sure you sign it within 35 days and return it to the same county clerk's office you got it from, either in person or by mail, within 63 days of signing.
ceremony permits
Yes, this is a completely separate thing from your Colorado marriage license. Depending on where you choose to elope you may need a special use permit or a permit for the ceremony itself, especially if you're eloping in a high traffic or protected area.
In Colorado, permit requirements depend on the location and the land management agency. Some of the most iconic locations have incredibly strict regulations. For example, Maroon Bells requires a wedding permit that is extremely competitive- they only release one ceremony permit per day, one year in advance, and no weddings on Saturdays. These permits disappear quickly, which makes early planning essential if you're dreaming of a Maroon Bells wedding.
As a general rule, National Parks (like Rocky Mountain) require a wedding or special use permit for all ceremonies, regardless of group size. They are also incredibly strict on where in the parks you can have your ceremony- you can't just gather everyone in a meadow and call it good. State parks also tend to require ceremony permits and have set locations. National Forests and BLM land only require a permit if your group is larger than a certain size, or if you're planning to used arches or decor, but they won't have developed ceremony sites at all.
Because rules can change depending on the trail, park, or forest, it's essential to do your research once you've decided on a general location. Always confirm permit requirements directly with the land management agency and double check with your Colorado elopement photographer, who can help guide you through the process and let you know about any potential issues. Let me be clear- it is not your photographer's job to obtain permits for you. We can offer advice and local knowledge on which locations will need a permit, but it is actually up to you to obtain the permit.
Making sure you have the proper permits in place long before your big day not only protects our natural spaces but ensures that your day runs smoothly. Nobody wants their ceremony interrupted with a fine.
