Crested Butte
Elopement Guide
Crested Butte is an
Elopement Hidden Gem
Located in the Rocky Mountains about four hours west of Colorado Springs, Crested Butte is one of my favorite quintessential Colorado mountain towns. What was once a coal mining town is now a paradise for hikers, skiers, and yes, eloping couples!
This town's historic charm and access to so much cool nature to explore are just a few of the reasons why you should consider a Crested Butte elopement.
Why Crested Butte?
Need a bit more convincing? Crested Butte brings a lot of the table as an elopement destination, including . . .
01/
Two major airports within a five-hour drive (and a smaller local airport only an hour away)
02/
Its own ski resort (with significantly fewer tourists than popular resorts like Vail or Steamboat)
03/
Access to countless trails for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and off-roading
04/
Tons of restaurants, shopping, and places to stay
Not sure how to do this?
Howdy! I'm Sam, Your Crested Butte Elopement
Photographer & Planner
I know there are so many options and things to consider when planning an elopement. I absolutely adore helping couples through this process + reducing stress! Crested Butte is one of the many parts of Colorado I know like the back of my hand.
Hiring your elopement photographer + planner is the perfect first step in planning your Crested Butte elopement – even if you aren't 100% sure of when or where yet! I’ll help you through every step of the process, from choosing a time of year/date for the perfect weather conditions, to picking a spot with amazing views, to securing any necessary permits, to finding other vendors and planning wedding outfits that are perfect for adventuring.
Hopefully the information below will help you decide if Crested Butte is right for you guys! Let's go over everything you need to know about eloping in Crested Butte, Colorado.
We're gonna chat about all of this:
Where to Elope in
Crested Butte
Trails
In my opinion, the best venue is no venue at all! The Forest Service maintains over 3,500 miles of day hiking trails in the area around Crested Butte.
For an elopement with no guests, you often don't need a permit – or a ton of advance planning – for a hiking elopement along one of these trails. This is the best way to get off the beaten path and experience a truly private Crested Butte elopement!
Backcountry Campsites
Some of the most stunning views around Crested Butte are the backcountry campsites I've found while exploring! They've got privacy and views (my favorite).
Plus, a lot of my couples choose to camp at them before or after their ceremony.
Mountain Passes
If off-roading is more your style, rent a Jeep and let's escape to a mountain pass for an off-the-grid Crested Butte elopement. There are quite a few roads that run through the mountains around Crested Butte.
Choosing a 4WD-only elopement location definitely cuts down on crowds, and we're sure to find wildflowers in the summer and golden aspens in the fall along these passes.
Waterfalls
Exchanging vows at a waterfall definitely adds an element of magic to any Crested Butte elopement.
There's a few popular options, or I'd be happy to take you to some of my favorite secret spots!
Mountain Wedding Garden
Mountain Wedding Garden is a gorgeous venue, open from June through September, that hosts weddings in its garden ceremony space and outdoor reception pavilion.
The garden can hold up to 125 guests – but its quaint charm, nestled in a grove of aspen and pine trees, would also be a perfect backdrop for a microwedding.
Crested Butte Land Trust
The Crested Butte Land Trust is a local nonprofit that protects and manages land around Crested Butte to preserve it for public use. The trust allows small wedding ceremonies at two breathtaking locations: Peanut Lake and Woods Walk.
This is a great option if you're planning to include some guests in your Crested Butte elopement, or if you want to be surrounded by nature but still book exclusive use of a venue. The cost of renting the venue also supports a great cause, and 50% of the price is considered a tax-deductible donation!
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake is a very popular elopement location that does require some off-roading to access. But with little to no hiking required, it's a great option.
If your elopement day vision includes you and your partner in wedding attire on paddleboards or exploring wildflower fields, few other locations deliver quite like Emerald Lake.
Lake Irwin
Lake Irwin (or Irwin Lake, depending who you ask) is an alpine lake with a loop trail and campground in Gunnison National Forest, about nine miles outside Crested Butte.
Perfect for a day trip or overnight camping elopement, Lake Irwin is surrounded by wildflowers, and according to the Forest Service, "so full of fish you can see them rise to the calm surface." This peaceful spot would make for amazing elopement photos in front of the snow-capped Ruby Mountain Range.
Rocky Mountain
Biological Laboratory
You've probably never considered a scientific field station as an elopement location – but RMBL holds private events at their rustic lodge surrounded by aspens. You can rent the large community center and outdoor tent in the fall, but they also consider events with less than 30 guests at other times of year!
Did one of these locations strike your fancy?
Reach out to me to start planning your ideal Crested Butte elopement!
Adventuring During Your Crested Butte Elopement
Crested Butte is surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes, and passes that create so many opportunities to plan an adventure with your partner on your elopement day. I love when couples incorporate the outdoor activities they're most passionate about into their wedding day – and I love helping you plan these adventures!
Hiking
As I mentioned above, there are over 3,500 miles of day hiking trails managed by the Forest Service in the area around Crested Butte! This many options can definitely get overwhelming, though – so here are some of my favorite trails that would be a great venue (if that's your vibe), or just a fun place to adventure with your partner before or after your ceremony.
- Whetstone Vista Loop (2.8 mi)
- Snodgrass Mountain Trail (5.8 mi)
- Oh-Be-Joyful Trail (13 mi)
Skiing & Snowboarding
If you are your partner love to hit the slopes together, adding a visit to Crested Butte Mountain Resort to your plans would make a wintertime Crested Butte elopement truly unforgettable.
Or, if you've never skied before but love experiencing new things together, you can book a ski lesson and gear rental – though you might want to plan this for the day after your elopement, because falling a few times is pretty much a given. Either way, this would be an incredibly fun way to kick off a winter honeymoon!
Off-Roading
Another awesome way to experience some off-the-grid nature around Crested Butte in the summer months is off-roading! No worries if you don't have a 4WD-capable car – you can rent one for you elopement day from Alpenglow Rentals and hit the (dirt) road.
Mountain Biking
Crested Butte is also a popular place for mountain biking! If you don't have your own bike (or can't quite get it on a plane), you can rent one for the day from several local bike shops, including Big Al's Bicycle Heaven, The Alpineer, or Crested Butte Sports.
Once you've got a bike, you can check out the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park, which has 30 miles of its own trails and connects to over 800 miles of trails through the valley.
The Best Time to Elope in
Crested Butte
Summer
Summer is the best time to elope in Crested Butte! It is known as "Colorado's Wildflower Capital," and the wildflowers are at their peak during the summer.
Crested Butte even has an annual Wildflower Festival in July – which you may want to avoid if you're seeking less tourists during your elopement, but is super cool to check out regardless!
The town's high elevation (almost 9,000 feet) also means temperatures never get too hot in the summer – highs from June to September are usually in the 70s.
Fall
Fall is also a great season to elope in Crested Butte. Late September and early October are the best time to find fall colors here, which can make a gorgeous backdrop for your elopement.
With average highs in the 50s and 60s and snow not quite yet falling, it's still warm enough to hike, bike, and camp in Crested Butte throughout most of September and October.
Winter
While it can be a bit more challenging to plan a Crested Butte elopement for the winter months – it is certainly not impossible! High average snowfall from December to March can cause road closures that make traveling to Crested Butte a tad more difficult.
However, if you're envisioning skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, or even snowmobiling as part of your elopement day, winter is the perfect time for you to elope in Crested Butte!
Spring
Crested Butte doesn't have much of a true spring – snow continues falling into April and May, and the "thaw" between winter and summer produces a lot of mud, which isn't ideal for hiking, off-roading, or camping.
That being said, if your heart is set on a spring elopement (or you just want to avoid the crowds as much as possible), I'm happy to chat about how to make a spring Crested Butte elopement work for you!
Got a season in mind for your elopement?
I'd love to chat about all the pros and cons and help you pick the perfect time of year for your Crested Butte elopement!
Where to Eat in
Crested Butte
There's a good chance you'll have worked up an appetite during your Crested Butte elopement – especially if hiking, skiing, or mountain biking was a part of your day! You can pop into town to eat at one of Crested Butte's many delicious restaurants – or, for ultimate romance, hire a private chef for an intimate, beautiful meal as the sun sets.
Private Chefs
Alpen Chef
Based right in Crested Butte, Alpen Chef offers private dinners with the highly experienced Chef Christoph Peherstorfer, who will travel to your location and tailor the entire menu to your tastes.
Crested Butte Personal Chefs
Another local business, Crested Butte Personal Chefs advertises farm-to-table catering for anywhere from two to 250 guests. Their intimate meal catering service has options for chefs to come to your location to cook and serve the entire meal, or you can choose pick-up or delivery of your custom dinner menu.
Terrene Gatherings
Terrene Gatherings is based in Longmont, CO, but travels to Crested Butte and specifically caters to elopements and microweddings. Terrene not only offers private chef services, they will also provide gorgeous table styling for an unbelievably romantic event. Their elopement dinner package includes a four-course custom menu and a breakfast kit for the next morning!
Restaurants
Django's Kitchen
Django's Kitchen serves New American cuisine as part of what the restaurant itself describes as an "adventurous," seasonal menu. What could be more fitting to cap off an adventure elopement than an adventure dinner?
Elk Ave Prime
Elk Ave Prime is a classic, upscale steakhouse in Crested Butte. In addition to their regular dining room, they also host events and parties – perfect for if you want a semi-private dining experience with your closest friends and family.
Ryce Asian Bistro
Ryce Asian Bistro serves a delicious Asian fusion menu that includes classic Chinese takeout dishes, Vietnamese noodles, and Thai curry. They also offer takeout if you prefer to eat somewhere out in nature!
Butte Bagels
While not a suggestion for dinner, I strongly believe that anyone who visits Crested Butte needs to work in at least one visit to Butte Bagels into their trip! They make bagels, breakfast sandwiches and coffee, and open at 7:30 a.m., so you can grab a bite before the day's adventures!
Want more Crested Butte elopement inspiration?
Check out these epic elopement days!
how to Plan Your
Crested Butte Elopement
If this guide has convinced you that a Crested Butte elopement might be right for you, but you’re not quite sure where to start and feeling overwhelmed by the options, don’t panic! I’ll break down the steps to planning your dream elopement and do my best to make the process as stress-free as possible for you and your partner.
Step One:
Contact Me
First things first, fill out my contact form! No worries if you don’t have all the details figured out yet – reach out to me with your ideas, and I can help walk you through the rest of the steps from inquiry to elopement day. I pride myself on being not just an elopement photographer, but also a local expert, planner, and my couples’ best friend and support as they navigate the elopement planning process.
Step two:
Pick a Time & Place
This is where I come in as your on-the-ground local expert. I'll create a personalized location guide based on your preferences and priorities. If one of the sites above has piqued your interest, awesome! But I’ll also share some hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path ideas, and help you choose the perfect location for your Crested Butte elopement.
Once we have the location nailed down, if you don't already have a date in mind, I'll help you choose the perfect timing for whatever activities and backdrop you're envisioning on your Crested Butte elopement day.
Step three:
Find Other Vendors
If your dream elopement includes florals, hair and makeup, skiing or mountain biking, or even a Jeeping adventure, I can provide tailored recommendations for vendors to make it all happen! I have great relationships and experience with many local venues and vendors.
I can also help you find accommodations for your Crested Butte elopement, whether it's an Airbnb for cute getting-ready photos, or the perfect campground for a night under the stars.
Step four:
Get Your Marriage License
If you’re planning to apply for a marriage license in Colorado, make sure you’re familiar with all the rules and regulations! To get a marriage license in Gunnison County, you'll need to make an appointment with the county clerk's office in Gunnison, which is about 30 minutes from Crested Butte. You can make an appointment by phone and fill out your paper application ahead of time to speed up the process.
If you're traveling from another county in Colorado for your Crested Butte elopement and stressed about getting a marriage license, you can also apply for a marriage license in your home county and use it anywhere in the state. That way you can just focus on your partner, your vows, and your adventures together during your elopement day!
And because Colorado is a self-solemnization state, you don't need an officiant or witnesses to elope in Crested Butte! (Your dog can even "sign" your marriage license as your witness if you want.) For more info on self-solemnization and rules for Colorado marriage licenses, check out my guide on How to Get Legally Married in Colorado.
Step five:
Elope!
With all the planning out of the way (and me on your team to tackle any last-minute emergencies), all that's left to do is have the adventure of your lifetime with your person.
Fill out my contact form below to start chatting – no matter where you are in the planning process!
Let's chat!
