Estes Park Wedding Venues & Elopement Guide

Colorado is probably one of the most popular places to elope if you ask our team. There are endless places to say “I do”, and we can’t get over how picturesque this state is year-round. A favorite place in Colorado to elope or plan a micro wedding would have to be Estes Park. This town in northern Colorado is best known for Rocky Mountain National Park and nearby Roosevelt National Forest. We’re going to mention some of our favorite Estes Park wedding venues to check out for your intimate elopement below.

Your Estes Park elopement should be magical, personal, and adventurous. Use the links below to jump to the section you’re most interested in to start planning:

• Why Elope in Estes Park?
• How Much Does it Cost to Get Married in Estes Park?
• Our Favorite Estes Park Wedding Venues
• Affordable Wedding Venues in Estes Park
• Colorado Vendors For Your Estes Park Elopement Package

Why Elope In Estes Park?

This mountain town has something for every couple. The valley of Estes Park is one of the most picturesque views we have seen to date. Not only that but there are so many hidden gems here including intimate cabins and historic hotels. Estes Park is probably the best place to plan your micro wedding too since a lot of Estes wedding venues can easily accommodate smaller, intimate weddings. Not to mention you have Rocky Mountain at your back door where you and your partner can venture off together after or the next day for your portraits. So if you’re looking for the best of both worlds when it comes to eloping and something a bit more traditional, then this guide is for you.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Married in Estes Park?

The cost of eloping in Estes Park really depends on three things: your vendors, your wedding venue, and if you’re getting married on Rocky Mountain grounds or at a wedding venue. The wedding ceremony permit at Rocky Mountain National Park is $300, and your venue and vendors depend on your budget and what time of year you’re planning to elope in Colorado. We also mention some affordable wedding venue options in Estes Park, which include a lot of the Rocky Mountain ceremony sites.

For a more detailed breakdown of Colorado elopements, then check out our Colorado elopement packages to team up with one of our vendors.

Our Favorite Estes Park Wedding Venues

Della Terra Mountain Chateau

One of our favorite wedding venues near Estes Park has to be Della Terra Mountain Chateau. This venue screams luxury, mountain views, and convenience in one. Couples have the option to have their ceremony indoors or outdoors. They also provide amazing amenities, including a bridal salon, dressing room, theatre, and lounge for you and your guests. This venue is perfect for couples who decide to plan a Colorado destination wedding, or who want to get away from it all in the mountains.

The Estes Park Resort

Mountain weddings in Colorado are what Estes Park Resort weddings are all about. This resort features multiple ceremony locations including a lakeside pavilion, outdoor gazebo, grand ballroom, and a mezzanine.

Fall River Village

If you’re looking for an Estes Park wedding venue that is dog-friendly, modern, and packed with amenities, consider Fall River Village for your destination Colorado wedding with your friends and family. We love the accommodation here, but what really catches our eye is the Skyview ceremony spot at this venue. You’ll literally feel like you’re on top of the world surrounded by gorgeous views of the Rockies.

Black Canyon Inn

Black Canyon Inn offers options for a ceremony only or a full wedding package. The package includes the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. This place is scenic and far enough into the Rocky Mountains to enjoy some gorgeous mountain views, but close enough to Estes Park for your wedding guests to enjoy the area as you and your partner venture together after your ceremony.

The Landings at Estes Park

The Landings gives couples that rustic romantic vibe while offering some of the best views in the Estes Valley! This venue is riverside, which gives your wedding portraits a unique touch before and after your ceremony. This location is also just 2 miles away from the main entrance of Rocky Mountain National park, so it’s a win, win for couples who want something traditional yet unique.

YMCA of the Rockies

YMCA of the Rockies gives you an epic venue literally on top of mountains with panoramic views of NMNP. With on-site accommodations, ceremony, and reception sites, this is ideal for either a romantic elopement getaway or a micro wedding adventure. This is probably one of the most popular wedding venues in Estes Park, with good reason too!

Taharaa Mountain Lodge

Like many of the Estes Park wedding venues and receptions we have featured, Taharaa Mountain Lodge has spectacular views and is a great bed and breakfast for you and your guests to enjoy. This mountain getaway is perfect for your destination wedding because you’ll also get to enjoy some delicious dishes from Twin Owls Steakhouse (yum).

Affordable Wedding Venues in Estes Park

Are you planning an elopement in Estes Park instead of a bigger wedding? While the spots we mentioned above are ideal for micro weddings or couples looking for Estes Park wedding reception venues for their post elopement celebration, the following locations are more affordable, intimate, and require a Rocky Mountain National Park permit. Keep in mind that some of the private wedding venues in Estes Park we mentioned above also offer smaller packages for elopements, and they do have more affordable prices during weekdays or off-season.

One more important factor to consider is teaming up with a Colorado elopement photographer to help you find some gorgeous ceremony locations outside of the national park itself. These locations are kept secret for the most part and come from hours and days of research and scouting the surrounding area.

Here are some of our favorite ceremony locations to consider:

Sprague Lake

Sprague Lake is a popular elopement ceremony location because of how accessible it is. We love the boardwalks and bridges are around the lake, giving you views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak. This also gives your ceremony a nice backdrop alongside the mountains. Keep in mind Sprague Lake is very popular, so planning during the weekday or off-season is key for a more intimate experience.

3M curve

3M is 100% one of the most iconic wedding ceremony locations in RMNP. It has by far one of the best open views of the mountains, and it’s perfect for intimate elopements (think less than 15 people including vendors and even the couple).

This spot can be tricky to find on Google Maps, but it’s about a 3 mile drive past the Beaver Meadows entrance. Keep in mind there are no restrooms here, comfortable shoes are a must here due to the uneven terrain, and it’s not as accessible as Sprague Lake. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then it’s time to team up with an elopement professional in the Colorado area.

Lily Lake

Lily Lake is beautiful, and you’re able to choose from three different ceremony locations here, but this area does get crowded. The dock at Lily Lake, in particular, is somewhere you’ll always see guests wandering around during the weekend. While we love this location for its accessible, easy trail, and dock, planning an off-season, weekday, or sunrise ceremony will probably be your best bet when planning your wedding day here.

Hidden Valley

Maybe you’re more into forests and mountain views instead of meadows and alpine lakes. Rocky Mountain has a little bit for every couple, and that’s one of the many reasons why we love adventure weddings here. In the summer, you can appreciate gorgeous wildflowers! This area is also accessible, has restrooms, and has a picnic shelter. Hidden Valley is not as busy as other locations if you’re thinking about a weekend ceremony. Team up with an experienced photographer for more details.

Upper Beaver Meadows

If you’re wanting a different, accessible look for your ceremony, then Upper Beaver Meadows is gorgeous and within the Estes Park area. Upper Beaver is private, quiet, and gorgeous from the grassy meadow and rocky hills. This area doesn’t see much traffic from tourists, so it’s a good spot to plan your micro wedding ceremony. However, the road here does close during the winter, so plan to elope here May through October.

Looking for more places to elope in Rocky Mountain? Check out our Rocky Mountain elopement guide.

Airbnbs and Vrbos For Your Estes Park Wedding

If none of the above is appealing to you for your ceremony at Estes Park, then another option is finding a rental property you love to host your ceremony at before exploring nearby areas with your partner. There are a bunch of options when it comes to this, and we always recommend going this route for your accommodations versus renting a hotel room for a night or two.

Depending on your party’s size and plans, there’s a number of options to choose from that are big enough to host all your friends and family, or small enough to start your honeymoon off on the right foot together. You’ll also get some amazing photos here, and you’ll have the whole property to yourself!

Colorado Vendors For Your Estes Park Elopement Package

Are you ready to plan your wedding at Estes Park? Team up with one of our featured vendors below to get started!