Self-Solemnizing Elopement In Ouray, Colorado
WHO SHOULD SELF-SOLEMNIZE, HOW TO DO IT, AND WHY IT’S RAD!
Self-solemnization in Colorado is perfect for couples seeking personalization, time-saving, and ditching the traditional officiant setup – totally unique and non traditional! Self-Solemnization is straightforward: no officiant or witnesses required. It’s just you and your partner, embraced by Colorado’s elopement locations, crafting a ceremony that speaks volumes about your love story. Saying “I do” on your own terms? Now that’s unforgettable and truly unique.
WHAT IS SELF-SOLEMNIZATION AND IS IT AN ELOPEMENT?
Self-solemnization is this rad option where a couple can marry themselves, no officiant or witnesses needed. It’s a cool thing Colorado offers, letting couples exchange vows and tie the knot in a private, intimate ceremony. And yes, self-solemnization totally counts as an elopement! Elopements and weddings are both legally binding in Colorado, provided the legal documents are met.
HOW DO I LEGALLY SELF-SOLEMNIZE MY MARRIAGE IN COLORADO?
There’s a little more to self-solemnization in Colorado than saying “I do.” You can make your self-uniting marriage legal just by turning in the paperwork before you leave Colorado! Don’t overthink the process: I tell every couple that Colorado is literally the easiest place to get married. You can marry yourselves, you can get married the same day and your dog can sign your marriage license. Just fill out the legal form, turn in the paperwork, and you’re officially set!
Here are the legal guidelines for self-solemnizing your marriage in Colorado!
- LOCATE THE CLOSEST COUNTY: First things first, track down the nearest county clerk and recorder’s office in Colorado where you’re going to get married and make an appointment. Now, we gotta wait a little – 35 days to be exact – for that marriage license to be official. Patience is a virtue, right?
- SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT: If you are traveling from outside of the state, you can schedule this for the same day as your elopement, but I would advise against that. Try and buffer and schedule this at least a few days before the day day just in case anything pops up! For locals, you can do a virtual appointment and skip the in person stuff.
- PICK UP YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE: Yay! Get ready for the grand unveiling: your sparkling new marriage license fresh from the county clerk’s office! Don’t forget your essentials: wallet, ID, and $30 to seal the deal. With all that in hand, you’re just one step away from making your self-solemnizing dreams a reality! Let’s do this thing!
- GET MARRIED! You’re all set to self-solemnize your marriage in Colorado! Just a friendly reminder: as you’re heading out of town, make sure to drop off your marriage license or pop it in the mail within 63 days to keep everything shipshape and legally sound! Let’s make those vows official!
WHAT ARE SOME SELF-SOLEMNIZATION CEREMONY IDEAS?
Just because you skip the officiant’s signature doesn’t mean your ceremony can’t be fun. Some couples keep it simple, while others add unique twists to make it even more memorable. It’s all about celebrating your love in a way that feels right for you. You can still have all the elements of a traditional wedding, and then some.
Here are some fun self-solemnization ceremony ideas:
• WRITE YOUR OWN VOWS
While I believe writing your vows is the way to go for any wedding, this is especially true for couples who aren’t having an officiant for their elopement. You won’t be getting any of the traditional “in sickness and in health” vows to repeat, so this is your chance to tell your partner how you feel! Don’t worry if you aren’t the next Shakespeare – you don’t need to write the world’s most beautiful wedding vows, you just need to speak from the heart. Your partner will love hearing how you feel about them, and with an intimate ceremony, it’s much easier to get vulnerable knowing you aren’t doing it in front of 100 guests!
• YOU CAN GET MARRIED WITHOUT AN OFFICIANT
This is the obvious one, but without the need for an officiant, you have so many more options for your ceremony.
Imagine trekking through a dense pine forest and emerging at the snow-covered summit amid the peaks – reading your vows surrounded by sweeping views of the valleys below.
There are absolutely no rules for your self-solemnizing elopement – and you won’t have to search for an officiant who’s willing to join you for whatever adventure you have planned!
• YOUR FRIEND CAN OFFICIATE YOUR WEDDING
You don’t need an officiant’s signature for it to be official – but you can still have someone perform the ceremony! If there’s a friend or family member that you want to marry, this can be a really great way to add a personal touch to your self-solemnizing elopement. They’ll know the two of you much better than a hired officiant will, and this way they don’t have to worry about getting ordained.
• HAVE TWO ELOPEMENT CEREMONIES
I have a lot of couples who self-solemnize by themselves and then have another more traditional ceremony with friends and family later on. This is great for couples who want to share some private vows away from the crowds, while still appeasing their family’s wishes of being there for the traditional ceremony. I love this option because couples can focus on each other without having stage fright!
My intimate Colorado elopement package is great for couples looking to do this option!
WHY SHOULD YOU SELF-SOLEMNIZE IN COLORADO?
Self-solemnizing your marriage in Colorado opens the door to a myriad of unique advantages that set this experience apart from traditional ceremonies. Let me unravel the reasons why taking the self-solemnization route in the Centennial State is a game-changer:
• IT’S PRIVATE AND INTIMATE
One of the biggest reasons that couples choose to elope is because they want their wedding day to be an intimate experience. They want to feel free to do whatever they want and to be completely present and vulnerable with each other – without feeling like they have an audience.
A self-uniting marriage is an ultimate way to ensure your day is exactly what you want, and that your ceremony is private and intimate – shared only with your partner, and maybe a few of the people you love most if you choose to invite guests.
• THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE EASY
There aren’t a lot of rules to marrying yourselves in Colorado. You won’t have to worry about finding an officiant, getting ordained, or the logistics of whether they’re down for the 8-mile hike you have planned. It’s incredibly easy to doing your marriage in Colorado, so you can focus on the fun part – getting married, exploring, and starting your marriage off with an adventure.
• YOUR DOG CAN SIGN YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE
If you’re anything like me, then you love your dog. Your marriage license will still have space for an officiant to sign – but since you don’t need one, you can have your dog sign instead! Fur real!
Well, your dog probably can’t pronounce anything, so make sure you prepare a few words! And bring an ink pad along so they can stamp their paw print and pronounce you married!
• YOU CAN BE SPONTANEOUS
The fun of eloping is that you can change the plan and go with the flow. Maybe you see a spot that looks like it would be fun to explore, or you stumble across a view that just screams “get married here!” When you self solemnizes, you won’t need to worry about meeting your officiant at a certain time or being in a certain place – you have the freedom to get caught up in the moment and to be spontaneous!
• YOU CAN STILL INVITE FAMILY
Just because you’re marrying yourselves, doesn’t mean your family can’t tag along. You can still self marrying with guests at the ceremony or celebrate with them afterward. Self-solemnizing elopements leave a lot of wiggle room for couples to outline the day exactly how they want!
Read more on how to include your family on your elopement!
• YOU CAN SAVE MONEY
Looking to allocate some cash somewhere else? You can save a good chunk of money on an officiant by choosing to self-solemnize. The truth is, hiring an officiant can be pricey depending on their experience level, how customized you want the ceremony, and the location. The cost of officiant can be upwards of $500, while self-marrying yourselves is free outside of obtaining your marriage license!
• EMBRACE THE COLORADO TRADITION
Self-solemnization in Colorado runs deep, just like the roots of those majestic mountain trees. It’s a tradition that dates way back to the 1800s, embracing the wild pioneering spirit and individuality that defines this great state. So, if you’re the adventurous type, self-solemnization might just be your ticket to marital bliss, Colorado style!
• THE OPTION TO SELF SOLEMNIZE IS YEAR ROUND
In Colorado, the option to marry yourselves is available year-round, regardless of the season. This means that you can get married any time of the year, whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter. The flexibility of this allows you to plan your wedding according to your, schedules, and the different seasons.
DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN COLORADO TO SELF-SOLEMNIZE?
Many couples worry that their marriage won’t be recognized if they marry themselves in Colorado. But this isn’t the case at all!
No matter where you’re from, if you self-solemnize, your marriage will be recognized across the country (and in most cases, across the world). You don’t have to live in Colorado to marry yourselves, and a lot of couples travel here to self-marry because of how easy it is! If you don’t live in Colorado and applied for a marriage license there, the county clerk’s office may mail the license to you at the address you provided during the application process and you will be set!
DO ALL STATES RECOGNIZE SELF SOLEMNIZATION?
Regrettably, not all states share Colorado’s embrace of this beautiful practice. While some states embrace it wholeheartedly, others remain steadfast in their legal requirements for an officiant to make things official. Thus, the legal recognition of self-solemnization varies from state to state, much like the landscapes we traverse in search of eternal bonds.
Here are a few states that allow self-solemnizations as legal marriages.
- Colorado and Washington D.C. are the only places where you can self-solemnize with no caveats.
- California has a separate marriage license and application system for a “non-clergy” marriage, but you will still need two witnesses.
- Pennsylvania does not require an officiant, but does still require two witnesses – and some counties do not offer these types of marriage licenses, so double-check this before heading to the county clerk’s office.
- Wisconsin and Illinois allow you to self-solemnize if it is in accordance with your religion or denomination. Wisconsin will take your word for it, but Illinois may require proof.
- Nevada, Kansas, and Maine allow you to marry yourselves only if you are a member of the Quakers or Friends, and you get married in a way that is in accordance with their practices.
SELF-SOLEMNIZING COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHER
As you can see, it’s a little complicated in many of these states! Self-solemnizing elopements are easy and hassle-free, and the scenery is just incredible. I may be a little biased, but I think self-marrying elopements are the best and easiest- whether you’re a local or traveling from out of state.
Ready to self-solemnize in Colorado? Check out my elopement packages here! Use my best places to elope in Colorado guide for inspiration!
