Looking for the best backdrop for your ceremony during your elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park?  With a 360 view of the mountains and little foliage to block your view, it’s a no-brainer that 3M Curve is the perfect option for you when choosing your ceremony site! 

If you’ve decided to say, “I do” in this beautiful landscape, the epic mountain views are probably one of the many things that first caught your eye when making this decision (am I right?!) However, this is (probably) your first time planning an adventurous elopement and with the permits you need to acquire and regulations you need to follow, you may not know where to start!

I’ve got you covered! Here’s everything you need to know when planning your 3M Curve Elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park!

What We Are Covering in This Article:

Reasons why you should choose 3M Curve as your RMNP elopement ceremony site!

How to apply and reserve 3M Curve as your ceremony site!

Rules and regulations for a 3M Curve elopement!

My Favorite Nearby Views for Couple’s Portraits After your Ceremony!

Reasons Why You Should Choose 3M Curve as your RMNP Elopement Ceremony Site!

In my opinion, 3M Curve is the best ceremony site in Rocky Mountain National Park. With a stunning 360 degree view of the Colorado Rockies, this ceremony site definitely offers you with one of the best views in the park. Here are three reasons why you should reserve this ceremony site for your elopement:

Close Proximity to Estes Park:

3M Curve lies on the East-most side of the RMNP near Estes, making transportation much easier than some of the other sites. As an added bonus, Fall River and Beaver Meadows Entrance Stations are also nearby!

Tons of couple portrait opportunities:

hough 3M Curve already has an incredible view, you will probably want to mix it up a bit and hit a few different spots for your portraits. Great news is, there are many options nearby with two of those being my favorite areas for photos! I will tell you more about West Alluvial Fan Trail and UTE Trail in the, “The BEST Views Near 3M Curve for Your Couples Portraits” further down this article!

A larger guest capacity:

this ceremony site allows up to 30 guests and 5 parked cars to be in the area for your 3M Curve elopement! This is great if you’re looking to elope in the park but still want to have your closest family and friends with you as you tie the knot!

To view a birds-eye of RMNP, click here to view a Google Map I put together that labels all the ceremony sites, my favorite portrait locations, and more!

How to Apply and Reserve 3M Curve As Your Ceremony Site!

There is an application process and a rulebook to play by when eloping at 3M Curve. Luckily, the process is very straightforward and doesn’t take too long to get through! Here is the application process:

1. Reach out to the Rocky Mountain National Park Concession Management Office to check permit and date availability! You can shoot them an email at romo_fees_permits@nps.gov call the office at (970) 586-1209 to inquire about availability.
2. Once you find a date and site you’d like to secure, click here to Download a Special Use Application (you can also find the form on the NPS site by clicking here) and fill out the form with your information. Please note: everything must be done electronically! RMNP no longer accepts mailed/faxed in applications and permit fees.
3. Once the form has been filled out, you will email the form back to them using the same email address provided above (or the same one they reached back out to you with!) Once you email it, wait for them to get back to you until doing anything else.
4. Once the officer in charge emails you back approving your application, you will need to send in a $300.00 application fee! Think of this as your venue payment!

Rules and Regulations for a 3M Curve Elopement!

Guest capacity at 3M Curve:

3M Curve has a guest limit of 30 people maximum. This number includes you, your spouse, the photographer, and your guests.

Decorations:

Unfortunately, you can’t set up any decorations, arches, or chairs at 3M Curve. The reason for this is to help preserve the environment according to the “Leave no Trace” rules the park puts in place.

Wedding Permit:

You MUST have your approved wedding permit on hand at all times while in the park. This can be a physical print-off or even a digital file on your phone.

My Favorite Nearby Views for Couple’s Portraits After Your 3M Curve Elopement Ceremony!

Although 3M Curve has stunning views of the mountains, I recommend adding a little extra spice to your experience by changing up the scenery a bit! Here are two of my favorite locations for adventurous and romantic portraits during your Rocky Mountain National Park elopement!

UTE Trail along Trail Ridge Road:

Sitting at right under 12,000 feet of elevation, UTE Trail is the perfect spot for those “surrounded by ethereal mountain peaks” photos you’ve been dreaming about! Just a short 500 feet walk from a small parking lot you’ll find a jaw-dropping view of the mountains on one side of the road and a golden tundra (which looks a lot like the Scottish Highlands) on the other side. UTE Trail is a 12 mile, 35 minute drive from 3M Curve. Due to high elevation, I highly recommend grabbing a couple cans of Boost Oxygen!

West Alluvial Fan Trail:

Also a big change in scenery, West Alluvial Fan Trail features a large open meadow surrounded by mountain peaks that tower over you. The meadow’s demographics features an open, golden grass area and a flowing stream with rocky banks. On a sunny day, the sun sets just behind the mountains which is perfect for romantic golden hour portraits!

Ready to Lace Up Your Boots and Embark on an Adventure of a Lifetime?

Looking to elope in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado? From start to finish, I help adventurous couples plan an elopement experience that is the embodiment of their authenticity. No compromises, no apologies, undeniably them. Everyone is waiting for you to share your romantic love story, ready to give them what they want?  Click here to learn more about what your journey with me will look like and inquire here to book a commitment free discovery call so we can speak face to face and begin to curate an emotive elopement photography experience to align with exactly what you envision this chapter of your legacy to look like! 🙂

More Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Resources!

Haven’t quite found what you’re searching for? I gotcha covered! Here are three more info-packed articles about what it takes to seal the deal in RMNP! 

Planning Your Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement

5 Beautiful Places to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park

7 Reasons Why You Should Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park!