Are you looking for a mountain town with panoramic views of the Rockies, bright turquoise lakes and powerful waterfalls for your wedding? Look no further, Telluride and Dolores have absolutely everything that you could ever dream of. Telluride is a gorgeous ski town in the San Juan Mountains known for being the hub for hikers, bikers and people looking to hit the slopes. It’s about 6 hours from Denver or 2 hours from Durango so it has a much smaller town feel than some of the bigger cities in Colorado and is the perfect place to tie the knot.
About Telluride
Telluride can definitely draw a crowd during busy seasons and while the area is stunning when the weather is great, it can feel like a bit of a tourist trap if you go during a holiday weekend or even just a Saturday during one of the festival weekends. There is however a smaller town called Dolores only an hour and a half from Telluride that is a very short drive from Durango with even better mountain views and less crowds that is featured in the photos from this blog!
Here are some things you need to know about getting married in Telluride or Dolores!
Learn about Telluride’s weather before you make your plans!
Telluride sits at an elevation of 8,750 ft while Dolores is 6,936 ft. While this might not seem like a huge difference on paper, it definitely contributes to a change in the weather patterns of the town. Telluride gets much more snow with long freezing winters while Dolores can still reach the mid 40s during the day in the winter and highs in the 80s in the summertime. If your goal is a winter wonderland, Telluride is your best bet. If you want something a little warmer and less crowded Dolores is for you.
While mid November to early April and mid June to August are the busy seasons for winter and summer, picking a shouldering month is absolutely the way to go. Telluride can get vibrant wildflowers in July and golden aspen trees in September and some years into October. If you want to avoid the peak months you’ll also get the best nature views.
The Best Places to Elope in Telluride
San Sophia Overlook
If easy access is important for you San Sophia Overlook is a great option. With free gondola access from Telluride Ski Resort, its the perfect spot if you have a group of people that you’re taking with you for your ceremony that want to avoid a strenuous hike.
Bridal Veil Falls
This 365 ft waterfall is a stunning backdrop for wedding photos with a relatively easy hike. If a waterfall is your dream we would recommend Bridal Veil Falls for your couple portraits but you’ll want to avoid this spot for your ceremony unless you’re going at sunrise because the crowds can be thick and you may not even be able to find parking later in the day!
Private Residences
One of my favorite ways to do an elopement or small wedding is to get an airbnb in Dolores. Some of my favorite options have enough room for the full family, including your dogs, and are close to our favorite stops in the mountains for couples portraits. If you’re looking for a place for everyone to stay together, with a ceremony site on property check out this stunning venue! This is the best of both worlds because you can always drive to one of the more popular spots for couples portraits and have a place all to yourselves for your ceremony. If your fur babies are important to you, its the perfect spot to include them.
Permits and Licenses
Making it legal doesn’t need to be a stressful experience. While most national forests, ski resorts and town owned trails do require permits, we’re here to help you every step of the way and get the correct forms filled out so you don’t have to deal with fines on your wedding day. You can pick up a license at San Miguel County Clerk’s Office and have a self-solemnization marriage, meaning there’s no officiant or witness required. There is no waiting period and it’s a very smooth process!
Telluride and Dolores Photography Packages
Send me a message if you want some help with your plans and information on our photography and videography packages for your elopement! We would absolutely love to help you make your dreams come to life.
