Aspen Elopement
Packages
Planning an Aspen elopement can look pretty simple until you actually start putting the pieces together. Maroon Bells has permits and shuttles, the town is expensive, seasonal access on Independence Pass, and trying to find lesser known spots for inspiration, it can be overwhelming! I’ve been photographing elopements around Aspen since 2018, so I’ve had plenty of time to dial all of this in so you don’t have to! I still get giddy watching couples get married at sunrise on the Maroon Bells. My experience here keeps me grounded, and these Aspen elopement packages are meant to give you a wedding day that delivers a stress free day without spending all of your time dealing with planning and logistics. I’ll handle every detail, from permits to the best post-ceremony hot springs, so you can simply enjoy the adventure.
And then there’s the Maroon Bells. Yes, it’s one of the most incredible places to get married in Colorado. It’s also one of the most competitive permits in Colorado and comes with some hoops to jump through. But your entire elopement doesn’t have to depend on getting one reservation! I’ll give you lot’s of other off the beaten path options as part of your package that bypass all the permit headaches.
That’s a big part of what you’re getting with these packages. I know the popular Instagram spots, but I also know some awesome alpine lakes, mountain passes, and backup options that can give you an incredible experience without fighting the crowds. I’ll help you figure out the places worth going to, when to go there, how to get there, and the backup plans that are just as good as plan A.
My goal for these packages: Everything is planned before you come out, so you can just show up and have the easiest and best experience on your biggest day. These Aspen elopement packages and ready to roll! Whether you want a quick elopement at Maroon Bells or a full hiking experience in the wilderness, there’s a package built for YOU. Let’s dive into each one and what’s included!
Vows and Peaks Aspen Elopement Packages
Vows and Peaks offers three Aspen elopement packages: Tree Line at $4,700 for 4 hours, Mountain at $6,000 for 8 hours, and Alpine at $7,000 for 10 hours. Mountain is the most-booked option, built around epic hikes instead of a designated ceremony site.
How Do You Choose?
- Maroon Bells Amphitheater or a shorter alternative → Tree Line
- Real trail miles in the Elk range, with an epic backcountry spot → Mountain
- Private adventure with first look and private vows followed by a family ceremony → Alpine
Tree Line Elopement Package
$4,7004 Hours of Photography: This package is great for couples eloping at Maroon Bells. If you land the permit, then let’s GO! Ceremony, portraits at the lake, and we dip before the crowd. Want other options? This same package is great at Twin Lakes or Independence Pass or a short hike.
Mountain Elopement Package
$6,0008 Hours of Photography: This package is meant for couples looking to do a hike and adventure in the Elk or Maroon Bells wilderness area. I’ve had couples do sunrise hikes to an alpine lakes and have the best day of their lives, with real trail miles, and a ceremony somewhere the Amphitheater crowd never sees. Eight hours is enough room for the hike in, first look, ceremony, couples portraits and the hike out without rushing a step of it.
Alpine Elopement Package
$7,00010 Hours of Photography: Built for families and couples who want both halves of the day. A sunrise hike for a private adventure followed by ceremony with your family at an easy-access spot. Ten hours means a family-friendly ceremony with real private adventure time, no rushing on either one!
What is Included in Vows and Peaks Aspen Elopement Package?
Every Aspen elopement package comes with photography, permit guidance and strategy, location scouting, local Aspen vendor connections, your full gallery, all included. The only real difference between packages is time and how deep big of an adventure you want!
Here’s some extra details of what is included in every Aspen elopement package:
- Expert Aspen Elopement Photographer and Planner: I’ll walk you through the Maroon Bells permit strategy, time your ceremony to catch the light that only hangs in the high country for a narrow window, and steer you toward quiet aspen groves or ridgelines most visitors never even know exist. From navigating pesky permits to scouting the perfect alpine light, these packages keep your day dialed in so you can lace up your boots and focus on your adventure!
- Full day coverage: Your day doesn’t end when the vows do. We’ll hike to alpine lakes, grab a beer in downtown Aspen, drive up to Independence Pass, or catch alpenglow lighting up the Bells. This is a full experience, not a two-hour photo op you’ll forget by Tuesday.
- Aspen Elopement Guides & Resources: Every Aspen elopement package is built around you specifically. Unlimited consultations, scouted locations, a personalized timeline, packing lists, vendor recs. After tons of elopements here, I know exactly when the Maroon Bells road opens and which spots go from packed to empty after 5pm.
- Online Photo Gallery: Fully edited, full-resolution photos delivered with a shareable link and unlimited downloads, so you can relive the day on repeat.
- Aspen Maps & Permit Information: Maroon Bells has a permit system, Aspen has seasonal access quirks, and I’ve got both dialed so you don’t have to. Planning calls, location breakdowns, and access to my Aspen rolodex of vendors who actually show up ready for altitude.
- Next Day Teasers: Sneak peeks in your inbox the morning after. Fast. Then when everything’s delivered, a custom leather photo album to hold in your hands, not just swipe through on your phone.
Why Choose Vows and Peaks for Your Aspen Elopement Package?
Aspen Elopements Since 2018
I’ve found quiet aspen groves and epic alpine lakes when Maroon Bells permit fell through. Their photos look like they had the whole area to themselves. I’ve been shooting elopements in Aspen since 2018, which means I already know rookie mistakes so you don’t have to.
The Maroon Bells Permit, Strategized
From navigating pesky permits to scouting the perfect alpine light, they keep your day dialed in so you can lace up your boots and focus on each other.These packages include my custom planning app that has everything all dialed in before you arrive. I got the extra head lamps and hand warmers just in case. You lace up and say yes. I’ll guide and do the rest!
An Adventure-Friendly Vendor Rolodex
Local aspen elopement vendors who know this area like the back of their hands, not a generic referral list, plus you get my custom planning app that gives you all these people in an easy and accessible place.
140+ Five-Star Reviews
Couples mention the same two things when booking my Aspen elopement packag: how easy everything comes together, and how natural the photos turned out even for people who feel awkward in front of a camera. That’s 14 years in Colorado and 450+ elopements talking, not just a big number on a page.
Real Couples. Real Reviews.
Throughout the planning process, Sean communicated exceptionally well, answered every question we had, and made what could have been a stressful experience feel exciting and manageable. On our wedding day, he was calm, patient, and encouraging. Walking over rocky terrain in a tuxedo and wedding gown wasn’t exactly easy, but he never rushed us and always made sure we felt comfortable and at ease. He reminded us that this was our day, and we got to decide what worked best for us.
The photographs are simply incredible. They didn’t just capture how our day looked—they captured how it felt. Every time we look at them, we’re taken right back to the joy, excitement, and adventure of our elopement.
If you’re looking for an elopement photographer who is talented, organized, professional, and genuinely invested in making your day unforgettable, I can’t recommend Sean highly enough. We are so grateful we trusted him with one of the most important days of our lives.
From the very first phone call, Sean listened to our thoughts and questions, offering the support and direction needed to make our elopement truly memorable. He provided the space for us to be creative and flexible; not only is he one of the coolest dudes we've ever spent time with, he was incredibly patient with our semi- thought out plans and my own lack of confidence on skis.
The pictures reflect a day that was far beyond our expectations. Sean captured moments that represented our elopement perfectly-from breathtaking and fun to the completely unexpected. Thank you, Sean, for sharing your your incredible photography skills, your great attitude and our special day with us.
On the day of, we found out just how fun and cool Sean actually is. We of course had a ton of jitters, but he brought such a light-hearted and relaxed energy that grounded us in a real way. He made sure we got up to our location safely and at our own pace. Once we were up there, we got to celebrate in literally whatever way we wanted and that's exactly why we wanted to elope. The location was STUNNING and Sean gave us the perfect amount of direction while giving us the freedom to just be ourselves and enjoy the moment.
We got sneak peek photos the day after that were so incredible we thought to ourselves "how can the full album top this?!" It definitely did, though. We got our full album a few months later and were SO happy with the results. Sean captured moments we otherwise wouldn't have noticed and all of it captured the most candid and beautiful parts of that day, from our vows on a cliff ledge to our hike back down in my dress and Tevas. Sean helped make the experience everything we hoped for and now we get to relive it through his photos. Definitely hire this guy. He's a gem.
Aspen Elopement Package FAQ
Every package includes Maroon Bells permit strategy or a no-permit alternative location, Elk Range scouting, vendor connections, and your full online gallery. The difference between packages is hours of coverage and how the day is structured.
Photography and planning run $4,700 to $7,000. Most couples land between $8,000 and $15,000 once lodging, the marriage license, and a post-ceremony dinner are added in, since Aspen runs higher on lodging and dining than most Colorado destinations. See the full Aspen Elopement Guide for the complete cost table.
Plan for 6 to 12 months out if fall is your target. Reservations release exactly 365 days before your date at 8am Mountain Time, and the most requested fall dates sell out within minutes. Have 3 to 5 backup dates ready and be willing to go weekday, since Fridays and Saturdays are blacked out June through August, and Friday through Sunday in September and October.
Four hours works well for a Maroon Bells ceremony and portraits. Eight hours is ideal if you want to hike to a backcountry alpine lake and include a first look, ceremony, and sunset portraits. Ten hours gives you a private sunrise adventure plus a family ceremony, with no rushing on either part of the day.
Aspen weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains. I build flexible timelines with built-in weather buffers and have a list of sheltered locations like aspen groves or covered overlooks. Rain, snow, or clouds often create dramatic, one-of-a-kind photos, and I’ll guide you on how to embrace whatever the day brings.
I’m Sean. And these Aspen elopement packages are dialed in! I don’t just photograph elopements. I plan them, scout the location myself, handle the permits, and connect you with local vendors so you don’t have to think about any of it.
I live in Colorado full time, not just for elopement season. This isn’t a weekend trip for me. I’ve spent years learning these mountains, and I use that to find you a spot nobody else would think to send you to.
I’m Sean. I moved to Colorado 14 years ago and spent the first few years just exploring every corner of the state I could find. Eight years ago I started doing elopements in Colorado and it clicked immediately.
Hundreds of couples later and I’m still going out before sunrise to find those hidden locations, fixing broken dress zippers mid elopement, and building days where couples tell me they completely forgot I was even there. That the whole thing felt natural and unscripted, like hanging out with an old friend who just happened to be capturing everything. I’ve had couples deal with weather that had no business being on their wedding day, and their friends and family still couldn’t stop raving about the photos. That’s what I’m after every single time!
This place is not a backdrop to me. It’s home. That’s the difference between hiring someone who flies in for your elopement and hiring someone who genuinely lives in the mountains you’re getting married in.
Sound like the perfect match? Check out my All Inclusive Elopement Packages and reach out if you’re ready to elope in Colorado.