With summer in full swing in Colorado and so many elopements taking place within the next couple of months, let’s chat about what to pack for your summer elopement in Colorado!

Summertime in Colorado is quite possibly the best there is. The weather is beautiful, the trails are accessible, everything is green and full of life, and the wildflowers put on the most spectacular display! It’s no wonder so many people choose to elope in Colorado in the summer and because Colorado experiences all four seasons (sometimes in one day!) it is super important to have a packing list specific to the season you’re eloping in. In this blog, we’ll dive into what to pack for your summer elopement in Colorado!

What Months Are Considered Summer Months In Colorado?

This is such a great question! Colorado has so many high elevation areas that provide gorgeous views, making it the perfect destination state for your adventurous elopement. But summertime in Colorado is not like summertime in lower elevation states. Typically summer in lower elevation states (even lower elevation spots in Colorado) starts in May or the beginning of June, that is certainly not the case in Colorado’s high country! Summertime in Colorado’s mountains doesn’t start until the beginning of July. Oftentimes June still means snow, frozen lakes, and limited access at high elevations. So if you want to plan a summer elopement in Colorado’s high country, I would suggest going for July or August.

If you are itching to have a May or June elopement in Colorado, but really don’t want to deal with snow or frozen lakes, I suggest choosing a lower elevation spot in Colorado so that you can still get that accessibility and greenery! You can check out Taylor and Anthony’s early May elopement here to get a better idea about what to expect at lower elevations during this time. Another great option would be Rocky Mountain National Park (I would avoid Bear Lake as a ceremony spot until July) for a May or June elopement. You can read all about my favorite ceremony sites in Rocky Mountain National Park here!

What to Pack for Your Summer Elopement in Colorado – A Complete Checklist

This list is a great baseline for what you should expect to pack for your elopement in Colorado this summer. However, every couple is unique and their elopement will reflect the uniqueness of their relationship so you can totally add things to this checklist that you want to include during your elopement.

• Marriage license
• Dog friendly ink pad if you’re including your furry friend(s) into your wedding to “sign” as a witness on your marriage license, this one is great! Wait, hold up, can your dog(s) sign your marriage license?! We wrote this blog all about that here!
• Wedding permit (if applicable. Ex: If you have a Rocky Mountain National Park wedding permit it will need to be printed out and in your possession)
• Vow books
• Rings
• Warm coat/layer
• Lightweight gloves
• Hand Warmers (these ones are great!)
• Warm wool socks/good hiking socks (and one extra pair per person just in case)
• Hiking boots with good tread
• Shoes to change into for ceremony (if you want)
• Sunscreen – the atmosphere is thinner at higher elevations, so the sun is a lot harsher here meaning you could burn easier and faster than at lower elevations.
• Sunglasses
• Bug spray
• Rain/wind coat and an umbrella
• Headlamp for each of you
• Backpacks to carry things in
• A water bottle for each of you (and your guests if you have any). And two more full water bottles in the car just in case 
• Snacks
• First aid kit/medications that are specific to you if you have any
• Any additional details for your specific elopement. Ex: Elopement signs for backpacks, blanket, etc.
• This is a great article talking about altitude sickness and what you can do to prevent it

Summer in Colorado can be unpredictable at times so it’s always best to be prepared! It will always be cold at higher elevations/sunrise so I recommend having warmer layers. You can always shed layers but you can’t add any if you don’t have them 🙂

Be Prepared for Anything!

Eloping in the great outdoors means that you should be prepared for anything, even in the summertime. We’ve had elopements at the end of July where we have had snow, raind, and hail. It’s best to be prepared for any type of weather so that you can keep the focus on you and your partner!

“What Do We Do If It Rains?”

When choosing to elope in the mountains of Colorado, there is a good chance that you will get encounter some rain, especially in the summertime. We say…embrace the elements! As long as it is safe. When thunderstorms roll in, it is very dangerous to be above the treeline. If we have planned your elopement above treeline and we see that a thunderstorm is rolling in, we will change the location to a safer spot. Our goal is to make sure that you and your partner have one of the best days ever, and we do that by making sure everyone is safe!

Rain usually comes and goes pretty quickly in Colorado, especially in the mountains. If it does rain there are a few options: You can embrace the rain, wait it out, or grab some umbrellas! Plus, the clear umbrellas make for a pretty cute wedding accessory! When choosing to elope in the mountains, the elements will always be at play whether that is sun, rain, wind, or anything else and we say embrace it because it helps tell the story of your wedding!

Ready for Your Summer Elopement in Colorado?

The benefit of hiring a Colorado based adventure elopement photography and videography team is that we know this state inside and out! We will be there every step of the way to help you plan your dream elopement. We will also help you and your partner to be prepared for whatever the day may throw at you. We’d absolutely love to meet you and your partner and start dreaming together! Reach out to us today and let’s be new adventure bff’s!

Hey, We’re Jake and Bailee – Your Colorado Elopement Photographer and Videographer!

We are a husband and wife team specializing in capturing elopements through photography and videography in Colorado. As two laid-back individuals who adore nature, we are deeply committed to celebrating adventurous Colorado elopements. We strongly believe that exchanging vows in the great outdoors offers the most meaningful way to tie the knot! Beyond simply documenting your special day, we are dedicated to guiding you through every step of the process, ensuring your wedding experience is nothing short of extraordinary.

Our journey into elopement photography and videography began when we recognized a growing desire among couples for a unique wedding experience—one that revolves entirely around them, free from conventions and expectations.

From our very first elopement shoot, we found ourselves in our element. It’s a wonderful convergence of our love for the outdoors and our passion for capturing timeless moments in wedding photography and videography, all while meeting incredible couples from around the globe.

Our goal is to assist couples who cherish the outdoors and each other in celebrating their love in a way that resonates with their adventurous spirit.

We are eagerly looking forward to connecting with both of you and embarking on this unforgettable journey together!