BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT GUIDE
If you’re planning a Breckenridge elopement, then you’re in the right place!
Snuggled right into the mountains of the Ten Mile Range, Breckinridge is in the heart of the Continental Divide - we call these peaks on peaks on peaks! Add in some alpine lakes and some of the prettiest wildflowers in the summer and brilliant foliage in the fall, and it’s no wonder Breckenridge elopements are super popular!
This charming town is action-packed and has a lot to offer for outdoor enthusiasts, vacations, and awesome elopements! I’ve worked with over 30 couples on their Breckenridge elopement, and know the area like the back of my hand. I’ve explored these trails, tapped into the local breweries, and skied the best slopes in the past decade and I’m stoked to share my love for this place with couples eloping in Breckenridge.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a downside to eloping in Breckenridge between its amazing scenery, food, slopes, and hiking trails. Breck, as the locals call it, is really is an awesome spot to enjoy the days before and after your elopement, as it packs in plenty of things to do ensuring you’ll never get bored. It wears every season like a glove and is a favorite spot for local Coloradans.
Ready for the lowdown on my Breckenridge elopement tips and tricks? Keep on reading!
THE BEST LODGING FOR YOUR BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT
I’ve done Breckenridge elopements in a simple cabin by a mountain stream, in multi-million designer homes, and in awesome cabins tucked away in the mountains. Whether you want to keep things small and simple or want to really throw down, you can do it all in Breckenridge!
Staying at an Airbnb in Breckenridge can be a great home base for you and your friends and family as you explore the area and take in all the fantastic things to do and see here. Or you can get extra pampered by lodging at one of Breckenridge’s beautiful hotels. It’s completely up to you!
Check out some of my favorite lodging options for your Breckenridge elopement:
- Breckenridge Marriot - Situated perfectly right in town, these hotel rooms are stocked with full kitchens, balconies, and full-on living areas.
- Gravity Haus - This place is amazing! The location is perfect in downtown Breckenridge and every year is modern and updated. I've had plenty of past Breckenridge elopement couples rave about their stay here!
- Welk Resort - If you want luxury, look no further! The Welk Resort will absolutely elevate your Breckenridge elopement experience with its big rooms and balconies and intimate fireplaces.
- The Lodge at Breckenridge - This place doubles as an awesome chalet and a wedding venue. You can knock out two birds with one stone here and can even cap off your Breckenridge elopement at the spa!
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN BRECKENRIDGE?
Breckenridge is almost twice the altitude of the Denver area, so winter here lasts a lot longer. If you’re a fan of skiing and anything to do with snow, then a Breckenridge elopement is a great choice! Generally, spring starts in May, but snow in early June is not unheard of, and if it’s a cool spring, then there can be snow on the ground even into late June.
Even the summers in the backcountry of Breckenridge are temperate, with highs rarely hitting the upper 70s. The riot of wildflowers in Breckenridge usually starts right after the 4th of July and gives way in early September when the aspens start turning amber and gold. By mid-October, snowfall is generally in the forecast, and it is game on for the winter elopement fun!
My best advice is to be flexible about days and dates. Look for your Breckenridge elopement location before you pick your date, if possible because you’ll have a lot more options! Also, don’t forget that midweek elopements in Breckenridge can be much easier to plan because weekend dates are insanely busy with tourists.
And speaking of weekends here’s something you might not know if you’ve never been to Breckenridge; traffic on the weekends on I-70 to Denver can be a huge nightmare, and you can get stuck for hours if there’s an accident or snowstorm. Take my advice and plan on getting to your elopement location in Breckenridge at least a few days early!
"A review isn’t enough! Not only are you a legitimate elopement ninja, but Sean's energy was exactly what we needed to kick off a lifetime together. Everything from start to finish was amazing and the photos really captured all of the moments we shared together for our elopement in Breckenridge."
- Elizabeth and Chris
SHOULD YOU ELOPE IN BRECKENRIDGE AT SUNRISE OR SUNSET?
If you’ve seen photos of mountains bathed in a rosy pink hue at sunrise and sunset, that’s a phenomenon that only happens in some regions of the world, and we’re lucky enough to be one of those places here in Breckenridge! Alpenglow is the German word for “Apl Glow” and is most prevalent when the mountains are covered in snow, and the weather is calm and with few clouds.
Because Breckenridge is located between two ranges, as I mentioned, there are lots of insanely beautiful locations to catch alpenglow, both at sunrise and sunset. However, I always recommend sunrise because it’s so quiet and beautiful, and there’s less chance of meeting up with hikers and tourists. You also can bask in the early morning warmth while exploring the surrounding area for your Breckenridge wedding.
WHERE CAN I ELOPE IN BRECKENRIDGE?
One of the great things about Breckenridge elopements is that you have a super small wedding at the base of the mountain, or right along the shores of 7 different alpine lakes. Or, if your guest list is long, there are a lot of great lodges that have all the amenities. Finding things to do for your elopement in Breckenridge won’t be a challenge, I guarantee that!
And after your ceremony, there are so many great little locally-owned brewpubs, restaurants in Breckenridge, and more to do outside like hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, and white water rafting.
Here are some of the best places to elope in Breckenridge!
CHOOSE A BLUE LAKE, ANY BLUE LAKE
This might be hard to believe, but Colorado has over 2,000 alpine lakes! Eloping in Breckenridge gives you the option of some of the better ones within the front range and you’ll be sure to catch some early morning reflections, wildflowers, and even wildlife!
A lot of these lakes are actually super close to the town of Breckenridge itself, so you can cut down on your early morning drive time and get a few extra hours of sleep before heading out on your Breckenridge elopement. These lakes are also western facing, so you will have the best light at sunrise as the sun comes from the east and casts its beautiful morning alpenglow on the peaks above. Talk about a rad experience!
CHASE SOME WATERFALLS
Another great thing about eloping in Breckenridge is the abundance of places to take photos by an epic waterfall. If you want to get married near a rushing waterfall, then there are a few locations that look great year-round and others that are more weather/rainfall dependent. As the snow melts, the rivers and streams start to roar, which leads to some epic waterfalls for your Breckenridge elopement. Most of the waterfalls require a small trek and are the best in late June through September.
SAPPHIRE POINT ELOPEMENTS
Sapphire Point makes things easy. It’s super accessible, so if you have friends or family members who aren’t up for a hardcore hike, it’s a great choice. This is one of the few locations that allows you to choose a specific time and date since most other locations just give you the permit, and you have to cross your fingers that it’s not busy.
HOOSIER PASS ELOPEMENT
Between Breckenridge and Fairplay, the highest point on HWY 9 is Hoosier Pass. It’s usually a little less crowded than nearby Boreas Pass, and not as difficult to get to, which can be important if the timing is an issue. Hoosier Pass elopements will have epic mountain and lake views. You can cross-country ski here in the winter and hike the trails nearby in the summer months.
LAKE DILLON ELOPEMENT
This bold blue reservoir is tucked right between the Ten Mile and Gore Mountain ranges in Breckenridge. It’s a vast lake, and with the peaks topping around it out at 14,000 feet, there are so many photo opportunities in this area it always makes my photographer’s heart pitter-patter a bit! Lake Dillon elopements can have light hiking, or we can find a secluded place, or you can also take advantage of the boat rentals and get hitched on the water with a mountain view.
BRECKENRIDGE LOCAL SPOTS
The reality is that Breckenridge has tons of no named elopement spots that I can share with you! Some of my favorite spots are those that invite exploring and adventure. Trust me to guide you to some of my favorite local spots in the Breckenridge area!
HOW DO YOU ELOPE IN BRECKENRIDGE?
After we take some fantastic photos of your day, it’s time to sign your marriage license in Summit County! Some couples will elect to get their stuff the day before, which can leave more room for your actual elopement day. However, you can totally get married on the same day as well!
Here are a couple of things to remember when you get married in Breckenridge and Summit County:
- Both parties need to fill out the certificate and both have signatures on the form.
- Weddings and elopements are performed by appointment only by calling (970) 547-2614.
- Weddings and elopements can be performed at the Summit County Justice Center, 501 N. Park Avenue, Breckenridge.
- Appointments are only available on workdays at 12:30 pm or 5:30 pm.
- You don't need a witness to elope in Breckenridge. You can do everything privately or hire an officiant to take care of everything for you.
- You need to fill out everything and send it in before 60 days. I would suggest dropping it off on the way out of town!
GETTING AROUND FOR YOUR BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT
If you’re eloping in Breckenridge, then you’re likely starting off in Denver. This is going to be the closest place to look for flights, but don’t fret, you can drive to Breckenridge in around two hours. I would still highly recommend getting a rental car for the drive out to Breckenridge and for the day of your elopement at least. You’re going to need transportation to your elopement location and having your own car is easier than flagging a Uber at 3 am. Trust me!
You can also take advantage of other means of transportation in town, like renting a bike or taking the Free Ride bus service. Biking is a great option because it offers expansive views of the Ten Mile Range outside of Breckenridge and the bus service is great to cut down on congestion within the town.
BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT PACKAGES
Eloping in Breckenridge is an awesome experience, and I want you to enjoy every minute! I’ve put together a Breckenridge elopement package that will help you plan out your trip, go over locations where you can get hitched, and hook you up with the best vendors in the area.
BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT PRICING:
- STARTING @ $4,600 – read more about my elopement packages here!
- ALL DAY COVERAGE
- BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - there are tons of epic Breckenridge elopement locations and I'm stoked to match you up with the best one!
- BRECKENRIDGE MAPS AND PERMITS - Ready to get the lowdown on Breckenridge? I'll walk you through where to look for lodging, and maps for local activities and hold your hand through the permit process if need be.
- BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT VENDORS - I work with some of the best vendors in Breckenridge throughout the year and these peeps know how to make Breckenridge elopements extra special!
- NEXT DAY TEASERS - Can't wait to share the news of your awesome days with social and family? I'll hit you with some next-day bangers to hold you over until your full album is ready!
- ONLINE GALLERY: Ready to drool over your Breckenridge elopement photos? You'll get a full gallery online where you can download, share, and print your photos.
BRECKENRIDGE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
My name is Sean, your Breckenridge elopement photographer, and I can’t wait to help create your epic elopement in Breckenridge! I’m a Colorado-based free spirit who has dedicated my life to exploring this wild world and connecting to the people in it.
I know firsthand what an important and personal decision this is—my wife and I eloped to Northern Ireland. You’re trusting me to capture this amazing day, and I make it my responsibility to make sure you have an incredible experience from start to finish.
My passion has led me here, where I can follow my heart and share my love for the outdoors with others on their wedding day. It’s truly an awesome experience, and I’m stoked every time I get to document your day.
When I’m not photographing couples, I love to go exploring with my wife and our corgi.
Sound like the perfect match? Reach out so we can get started on your Breckenridge elopement!
Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by vowsandpeaks