When to Have Your Intimate Wedding: A Guide for Colorado

Intimate Weddings, much like elopements, are some of the most creative and personal celebrations of marriage, in large part due to their smaller size. Even with this smaller size though there is still quite a bit of planning involved with putting together an intimate wedding in Colorado! Finding a venue, booking your vendors, and creating a timeline for your day are just a few of the tasks you’ll have to iron out in order to make your wedding a reality. One of these tasks includes deciding when to have your intimate wedding in Colorado, which can be a little daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the state and its seasons. That’s why I decided to make this guide to give you the pros and cons of each season so you’re able to decide which is best for you.

What is an Intimate Wedding

Before we really dig into the pros and cons of each season in Colorado I wanted to quickly go over what exactly an intimate wedding is, and some of the other factors you should consider when planning your wedding day. For me personally, an intimate wedding is a group of 15 or less people, including the couple. Anything larger I would consider to be a small or large wedding depending on the guest count, where an intimate wedding is just the couple and their very closest friends and family.

Factors to Consider as You Decide When to Have Your Intimate Wedding in Colorado

Who Will be Attending?

For most couples, an intimate wedding in Colorado likely means that it is a destination wedding. This makes the experience all the more exciting, both for you and your guests, though who those guests are can greatly affect your decision making. For instance, if your grandparents are attending your wedding you’ll want it to take place in an easily accessible location or venue, and you’ll likely want to avoid the winter altogether. If your guests are more capable in terms of hiking and physicality you can be a bit more adventurous in deciding where and when to have your celebration. 

Where Will You Have Your Wedding?

Speaking of where your intimate wedding will take place, there are quite literally thousands of options to choose from in Colorado, some of which I talked about in my elopement guide! From scenic mountain overlooks, to picturesque lakes surrounded by those same mountains, breathtaking hidden waterfalls, and everything in between. There are also an insane amount of charming intimate venues for you to enjoy, whether it be for your ceremony, reception, or both. As we work our way through the different seasons and what they bring to the table in Colorado, keep in mind how they’ll affect venues differently. For example, a wedding venue in the mountains may be harder to access in the winter depending on the snowfall. A venue with a covered space may be a good idea for a season where rain is common like spring. 

What is the Feeling You Want for the Day?

Lastly, when deciding when to have your intimate wedding in Colorado keep in mind how you want the day to feel. Are you looking to experience Colorado as a true winter wonderland? Are you obsessed with the colors of fall and want to marry the love of your life surrounded by them? Each season in Colorado has a drastically different look and feel to them, so it’s important that you and your partner are on the same page with what you want the vibe of your day to be!

When to Have Your Intimate Wedding in Colorado

Alright, so now that we have all of that out of the way we can finally discuss the different seasons in Colorado! We’ll go through each of the 4 seasons along with their pros and cons. The good news is that Colorado is beautiful year round, so no matter when you decide to have your intimate wedding here you can be sure it’ll be gorgeous.

Fall

The Pros of Fall

Fall is the most popular season for weddings and elopements in Colorado, and for good reason. The fall colors and mostly consistent weather create an experience that is both beautiful and reliable. The leaves change colors in Colorado between the months of September and October, though the peak time for this varies depending on the location. The general rule of thumb is that the further north you are in Colorado the earlier this peak time will be. Once you get into November those peak colors are typically gone, and the weather begins to change bringing more rain and occasionally some snow into the equation. This is when things generally start to slow down, which can lead to some more affordable booking options for your intimate wedding.

The Cons of Fall

As I mentioned earlier, fall is the most popular season for weddings and elopements which is the main drawback of the season. This added popularity means that you’ll need to plan your intimate wedding well in advance if this is when you want to celebrate your love in Colorado. Be prepared to pay a higher rate when booking your vendors, venue, and where you’ll be staying in addition to reaching out to book them earlier. Another drawback are the cooler temperatures of the fall, as while mostly consistent early in the season they still can dip pretty significantly. This is especially true for any venue in the mountains.

Winter

The Pros of Winter

Generally speaking, winter is one of the least busy times of the year for weddings and elopements in Colorado. This has many benefits for couples as booking your vendors and your venue for your wedding becomes much less stressful. Typically costs are on the lower side of things, and more dates are available for longer. In addition to this added flexibility with your bookings, the landscape of Colorado becomes absolutely breathtaking during the winter months! Snow covered mountains, evergreen trees, and frosted lakes all come together to create a surreal setting for your intimate wedding day. Plus, if you and your guests are into winter sports Colorado has practically endless options for skiing and snowboarding for everyone to enjoy. 

The Cons of Winter

The biggest drawback of having your intimate wedding during a Colorado winter is of course the unpredictability that comes with the weather. Frigid temperatures, blizzards, and heavy snow can add a layer of difficulty to your wedding day that you may otherwise want to avoid. Some roads and venues also close or can become inaccessible during this season which is something you’ll want to keep in mind before booking. If you do intend to have a winter wedding I suggest booking a venue that either has a backup location or booking your own backup if the weather becomes too rough to use the original. For those looking to have a winter wedding in the mountains you’ll also need to be prepared for the additional popularity that comes with the ski season. 

Spring

The Pros of Spring

Similarly to the winter, spring is a season that is usually less popular for intimate weddings and elopements in Colorado. This means again that there is more availability and flexibility when it comes to booking your vendors, as well as lower rates for some venues. Spring can be an insanely beautiful time of year, as with the colder temperatures leaving and the snow melting the state has begun to bloom. Seeing the landscapes come back to life and having that beauty as the backdrop for your intimate wedding is a fantastic thing to experience!

The Cons of Spring

Not gonna lie, spring is a pretty unpredictable time of year here in Colorado. Some days are gorgeously sunny, others are rainy and muddy, and sometimes we even get a little snow to throw us back to the winter we just got out of! This unpredictability makes it so that you have to be ready for anything for your wedding day. This can affect your venue choice as you may want to play things safer, especially if you have older guests that will be attending. Sometimes though the weather can actually add a layer of fun and excitement to your wedding day. Just think of having your newlywed portraits taken in the rain while looking out from atop one of Colorado’s mountains!

Summer

The Pros of Summer

Finally we have summer! Summer has quite a few benefits for couples to enjoy if this is when they plan to have their intimate wedding in Colorado. First of course is the generally higher and more consistent temperatures that come with the summer. The landscape of the state is also remarkably beautiful as everything is in full bloom, including the wildflowers in parts of the state. You also don’t have to worry about venues and locations being closed for inclement weather, as while the summer months can get some rain (especially in July), it’s usually nothing too serious.

The Cons of Summer

Summer is one of the busiest seasons in Colorado, which can make your arrangements a little more difficult. More couples are looking to have their elopement or wedding during this season, which means you’ll need to book your vendors well ahead of time. Couples and families are also taking time to vacation in Colorado during the summer months, which can make booking places to stay for you and your guests more of a challenge. Some summer days can also reach pretty intense high temperatures which you’ll want to be aware of and prepare for if you plan on having an outdoor wedding.

Now that we’ve covered when to plan your intimate wedding in Colorado there is still a LOT of work to be done, but you’re one step closer to making your dream wedding a reality! Check out this article that goes over some of my different package options in detail, and if you’d like to see more of my work head on over to my Instagram. Finally for any couple ready to book me for their intimate wedding or elopement, send me an inquiry through my contact page so we can start planning your day together!