The Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Breckenridge, CO

As a Colorado elopement photographer I’ve had the pleasure of documenting elopements at SO many different locations throughout this incredible state. One such special location is the town we’ll be looking at in today’s elopement guide, the ever beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado! Breckenridge is arguably one of the best places you could choose to have your elopement in the Centennial state, for reasons we’ll be covering shortly. Let’s get into what makes this town the one of a kind place that it is, and everything you need to know in order to plan an elopement here.

The Logistics of Your Breckenridge Elopement

The first area I want to cover when talking about elopements in Breckenridge is the logistics side of your elopement planning. This is usually the least fun part of planning an elopement, but also one of the most important.

Travel Accommodations

One area Breckenridge easily excels in when it comes to planning an elopement is how simple it is to get there compared to other parts of Colorado. Breckenridge is only around an hour and forty five minutes away from the Denver International Airport. Seeing how most couples will be traveling from out of state for their elopement, this keeps a large part of the logistics planning relatively stress free. DIA is one of the largest airports in the country, which means anyone and everyone can fly here with ease. Then all that’s left to do is rent a car through the airport and your travel accommodations are set!

Where to Stay

The next step of planning the logistics of your Breckenridge elopement is to plan out where you’ll be staying. Thankfully Breck keeps this part of the planning process simple and straightforward as well. The town is home to some of the best Airbnbs and Vrbos you’ll find in the state of Colorado, and with the amount of tourism the town is accustomed to they also have quite a few condos and vacation rentals if that is more your style. Check out BlueSky Breckenridge if you’re looking for something in town, or Grand Lodge if you’d rather be in the mountains.

Incredible Accessibility

The simplicity of planning the logistics of your elopement in Breckenridge makes it an ideal location for couples looking to include some of their family into their elopement. Whether you want your parents and/or grandparents present at the ceremony, or want to celebrate with them after, Breckenridge’s remarkable accessibility makes this much more feasible than some other locations throughout Colorado. 

The Experience of Your Breckenridge Elopement

Once you have the logistics of your travels ironed out, it’s time to get into the fun part of planning your elopement! One of the main reasons couples choose to elope here in Colorado is for the one of a kind experience the state provides, and that experience holds true in the town of Breckenridge as well. Let’s get into all the different details you’ll want to take into consideration as you plan out your elopement experience.

Where to Elope in Breckenridge

The first thing we’ll take a look at that affects the experience of your elopement is of course the location you plan on eloping. Breckenridge may be a small town, but it still has plenty of options to choose from in terms of elopement locations. When deciding on which location to have your elopement you’ll want to keep a few things in mind, the scenery, the accessibility, and the privacy. I always recommend my couples choose a location that excels in at least two of these three categories, but some places in Breck satisfy all three depending on the season! 

Most locations in Breckenridge have stunning scenery, so you really don’t have to worry about that aspect. You really only need to decide on what setting you want for your elopement. For example, do you want to elope with the mountains towering behind you, with a pristine lake in the background, or next to a beautiful waterfall?

Accessibility as we discussed earlier is an area Breckenridge excels in, though some locations do require a bit of hiking to get to. Keep this in mind when choosing your location, especially if you plan on having family members present as you’ll want to take everyone’s hiking ability into account before choosing a location.

Lastly in terms of privacy that will heavily depend on the location itself as well as when you plan on having your elopement. The time of day, the day of the week, and the season you have your elopement in all affect the popularity of these locations, something we’ll cover more in depth later on in this article.

Some of My Favorite Locations for Elopements in Breckenridge

Sapphire Point Overlook

This overlook sits about 15 minutes north of Breckenridge, and is an elopement location that fits all three of my criteria. It has stunning views of the Dillon Reservoir as well as the Gore Mountain Range and Tenmile Mountain Range. The space is easily accessible via car, and while not currently ADA accessible that is something they are working on at the moment. Finally this is a very popular location, but you are able to reserve the space for up to 3 hours if you do want to ensure you have the location all to yourselves!

Blue Lakes Trailhead

Our next location is about 20 minutes or so south of Breckenridge, and that is the Blue Lakes trail. Blue Lakes satisfies 2 of my criteria, with its stunning views of the Blue Lakes themselves, and a short and simple hike to access the location from Blue Lakes Road. The location is one of the more popular spots for hikers, though depending on the time of day you have your elopement you may end up being the only ones there. 

My Personal Favorites

Having documented quite a few elopements in Breckenridge I’ve become quite attached and familiar with many of the best locations in and around the town. I’d rather not give out all of my favorites though, which is why I love to work with my couples throughout their planning process. A huge part of my client experience is location scouting and recommendations. Whether you want cozy downtown vibes, picturesque mountain views, or an elopement next to a secluded waterfall, I have plenty of recommendations to fit your exact vision!

When to Elope in Breckenridge

When should you plan to have your elopement in Breckenridge? Here’s what you need to consider to help answer that question:

Time of Day

The time of day you plan on having your elopement is important for a number of reasons. The first is that some trails and locations are more popular at certain times of the day. The other reason is the lighting you’ll end up having for your elopement photos. Typically I recommend a sunrise elopement as the best option since it gives couples that fantastic golden hour lighting while also being the least busy. Sunset gives you similar lighting, but often means you likely won’t have the space to yourselves. The middle of the day can work if you’re a fan of that lighting style, but this is also the busiest time of the day for most locations as everyone is out and about.

Day of the Week

Just like the time of day you plan on having your elopement, the day of the week also heavily affects the look and feel of your elopement. If you plan your elopement on a weekday you’re much more likely to have the location to yourself, which can be a great option if you plan on having your elopement during one of the more popular times of day. If you do opt for a weekend elopement you’ll have to be prepared for the good possibility of other people being present at the time.

Time of Year

Finally we have the time of year, which impacts the look, feel, and privacy of your elopement greatly. 

Breckenridge in the Spring

Spring season is the least consistent time of year in Breckenridge, but also one of the least popular. In the early spring there’s likely to still be snow on the mountains, but there’s also the chance for rain showers which can lead to some messier hikes. That being said, with things starting to bloom in late spring this can be a great option for couples looking to avoid the crowds, just be ready for some muddier hikes!

Breckenridge in the Summer

Summertime is a fabulous season to elope in Breckenridge for a number of reasons. While there is definitely an uptick in tourism this time of year, especially around the summer holidays, it’s nowhere near what you’ll see in the fall. The consistent weather also makes it ideal for ease of access when it comes to many of the locations in and around Breckenridge.

Breckenridge in the Fall

Fall is by far the most popular time for an elopement in Breckenridge, and really Colorado as a whole. The landscape of Colorado is always beautiful, but when the leaves change colors it really takes things to the next level. Breckenridge’s leaves typically change color around late September / early October, so plan accordingly if you’re looking to see the leaves at their peak. Just know that this is going to be one of the busiest times of year, so getting a space to yourself will be quite a bit more challenging in the fall.

Breckenridge in the Winter

Breckenridge becomes a true winter wonderland, and is a dream come true for couples that are also into skiing and other winter sports. Some locations may be inaccessible due to the weather which is something you have to be aware of. The fresh snowfall always looks so wonderful in your elopement portraits though and makes the additional challenge the weather poses so worth it.

What Vendors Do You Need?

One thing I love about elopements is how much freedom they give the couple to make the day their own. This extends to the vendors needed for an elopement. While I do very strongly recommend booking an elopement photographer to document your day, outside of that you really can pick and choose which vendors you want for your day. Some vendors you may want to consider booking include:

• Florist
• Hair and Makeup Artist
• Catering
• Videographer

Something that is a part of all of my elopement packages is vendor recommendations, and there are plenty of fantastic vendors in Breckenridge to choose from! If you’re not sure what you want for your elopement, or who to book, I’d be happy to talk through options with you to come up with the best plan possible.

Other Things to Plan Out for Your Breckenridge Elopement

What to Bring for Your Elopement

With this likely being a destination elopement for you and your partner, what exactly should you be packing for your trip to Breckenridge? This will come down to when you plan on having your trip, where you plan on eloping, what you plan to do outside of your elopement, and how long you intend to stay in Breck / Colorado. What to pack for your elopement could honestly be its own topic for an article, which thankfully I’ve already written! Be sure to give it a read through so you’re prepared and pack everything you need for your day.

Additional Activities

Your elopement is of course the most important moment of your trip to Breckenridge, but you should take advantage of your time in this fantastic town while you’re here! As I mentioned there are plenty of skiing opportunities in the area, but there is so much more to enjoy in Breck. Head to the arts district in town, check out one of the incredible hiking trails, treat yourself to a spa day, check out the shops and restaurants of downtown Breckenridge, and more. Another part of my client experience that I love is being able to recommend fun things for my couples to do while in this fantastic state I get to call home.

Phew, that was a lot of info, but as you can see there is a lot to think about when planning an elopement in Breckenridge. I’m sure by now you’re itching to get your elopement planning started, and I’d love to be a part of the process. Head to my contact page to send over an inquiry if you’d like me to be the one to document your experience, and if you’re looking to read more about my different elopement packages you should check out this blog I wrote covering them in depth.