As one of the most special and memorable times in your life, your elopement should be as perfect as possible! The best way to ensure that’s the case is to do some pre-elopement planning and to put together a trip full of fun with those closest to you or you and your lover. I know adding more planning into the mix doesn’t always sound good, but it’s way more fun than it sounds, I promise (and when you hear about all the amazing elopement ideas RMNP has to offer, you’ll see why!)

This is a time when you can really connect with your significant other, the entire family, and plan the elopement of your dreams. Not only that, but it gives you a chance to book some really interesting activities for your elopement. Remember, it’s got to be authentic to you, no matter what that entails!

Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Itinerary

If you’ve been wondering how to elope in RMNP, or are still looking for Rocky Mountain National Park elopement ideas, I’ve got you covered with a quick three-day itinerary to get you started!

One quick note before we get going: this is only an example RMNP elopement guide. Think of it as a springboard where you can chop and change different bits to suit your tastes! We’ll work on your personalized elopement itinerary together to make sure we’re crafting an adventure that matches up with your personal dreams!
(Are you still wondering where to elope in RMNP? I’ve got that covered right here!)

A little bit of house keeping before we get started…

Before we get to all that fun stuff, we just need to do a quick bit of housekeeping: it’s really important that you’ve applied for your Colorado marriage license so that you have it on you before heading out on your trip. You can do the application online, which won’t take too long, and then you need to have your elopement within 35 days of receiving the marriage license.

Day 1

Today you’ll start off by flying into Denver International airport, ideally in the morning. Grab yourself a rental car, pop over to that cute Airbnb you’ve booked, and settle in! 

If you’ve arrived in good time, now would be a great opportunity to meet your photographer (maybe me!) ahead of time and have them show you a few locations for the big day. It’s way more fun to build a connection with your photographer before your elopement so you know you’re both on the same page for your big day!

If you’re feeling especially energetic, why not go for a gentle hike? Rocky Mountain National Park is full of trails for all abilities, and it’s another opportunity to spend some time together before your big day.

In any case, I would recommend getting all the little bits together on this day. Steam your dresses and suit, make sure your permit is printed out and downloaded onto your device (best to have both, just in case!), and just get generally organized! That way you won’t have to worry about anything tomorrow.

Day 2

This is the day before your elopement – things are starting to seem a bit more real! First, grab some breakfast with all those special people who have come to celebrate your day with you. 

Then I would suggest spending the first half of your day doing fun activities like rafting, hiking, horse riding, or even a helicopter ride if you’re feeling adventurous. The second part could consist of the rehearsal dinner and triple-checking that everything is ready to go for tomorrow.

Day 3

That day you’ve been waiting for for so long has finally come! After spending the morning enjoying a secluded and romantic brunch together, it’s time to go your separate ways. I would advise being ready around an hour before your private first look at the locations. With the time you have before the ceremony, we could spend a small amount of it capturing your couple portraits, or perhaps you’d just prefer to relax. The choice is yours!

Once you’ve had your ceremony, whether just the two of you or perhaps some friends and family too, we’ll head off around the park for a couple of hours (depending on where you want to shoot) to capture some more portrait shots. Then, you’ll sign your marriage license! Woo!

If it’s just the two of you, you may want to go on a long romantic walk while you dream about the rest of your life together, or maybe a cozy meal to finish off the day is more your style. For my adrenalin junkies; off-road Jeep excursions, epic hikes, scenic helicopter rides and a whole host of other adventures are available to you as well – hit me up for some ideas and we’ll come up with something incredible!

If you have friends and family with you, you could have more of a traditional reception with drinks, food, and music. There’s no right or wrong answer – just make sure you’re being your authentic selves!

Here’s is an ideal timeline for a 72-Hour Rocky Mountain National Park elopement if the ceremony is planned for 3:00 pm:

• 9:30 am: Romantic couples breakfast / Joyous family & friends breakfast

• 11:30 am: Couples separate and prepare

• 1:00 pm: Both are ready by 1:00 pm

• 2:30 pm: First look with the couple

• 3:00 pm: Ceremony time!

• 3:30 pm: Family portraits

• 4.00 pm: More couple portraits & the signing of your marriage license!

• 5.30 pm/6.00 pm: The night is yours! More portraits, fun excursions, a short hike, dinner with the family…you’ve got each other and I’ve got you – let’s celebrate!

Are you still looking for a fun RMNP elopement photographer? Let me tell your story through emotive and heartfelt photographs! I pride myself on shooting romantic RMNP elopement photography, something every couple deserves. Don’t just think of me as a photographer – think of me as your personal guide, passionate adventurer, and excited cheerleader! 

Get in touch now and let’s bring your story to life!!