How to get married in Colorado: license, courthouse and real costs

Mountain weddings in Colorado cluster from summer into early fall, while the Front Range cities host weddings year-round indoors. Colorado.com calls September the ideal month for gold aspen color and notes that the color lasts only about a week in most places, so couples chasing aspens should pick a September date at a venue that still looks good without peak leaves. Some Rocky Mountain National Park ceremony sites change with the season, and Bear Lake is offered in winter only and not on weekends. Winter brings ski town weddings, and covered outdoor spaces like Axel's Pavilion at Devil's Thumb Ranch let couples keep a mountain ceremony when snow falls. Late spring in the high country can bring lingering snow and muddy trails, so check access to any high-elevation site before committing to a May or early June date.

Yes. Colorado allows self-solemnization, where the couple signs the marriage certificate themselves, and the Denver Clerk and Recorder states that neither witnesses nor an officiant is required. The license is $30, there is no waiting period, and the certificate must be signed in Colorado within 35 days of issue. Return it for recording within 63 days of the marriage to avoid late fees. Proxy marriages cannot be self-solemnized.

Colorado.com points to September as the ideal month for gold aspen color and notes that the color lasts only about a week in most places. Peak timing moves with elevation and weather each year, so no venue can promise peak color on a date booked many months out. Choose a September date and a site that works with or without gold leaves, and plan portraits for wherever the color is best that week.

Every ceremony needs a Special Use Permit from the park. Applications open one year ahead of the wedding month and are reviewed first come, first served, and the non-refundable administrative fee is $300, paid only after the park emails you a permit. Each site has its own group size limit, with 30 people the largest allowed, and ceremonies are limited to two hours including setup and photos. Drones are prohibited, amplified music is not permitted, and the sites are rustic with no weather protection. The permit stands in for a timed entry reservation, but normal entrance fees still apply to every vehicle.

Colorado recognizes common-law marriage, so a couple can be legally married without a license or ceremony. In its 2021 decision In re Marriage of Hogsett and Neale, the Colorado Supreme Court said the key question is whether the couple mutually agreed to enter a marital relationship, shown through their conduct, and courts weigh the totality of the circumstances rather than a fixed checklist. Under C.R.S. 14-2-109.5, a common-law marriage entered on or after September 1, 2006 is valid only if both partners were at least 18 and otherwise free to marry. Because the status affects property, debt and inheritance, couples unsure where they stand should talk to a family law attorney.