A sunrise first look at Sprague Lake, picnic at Bear Lake, ceremony at Moraine Park Amphitheater, and tattoos in Estes Park, made for the perfect Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement day! | Kinsey and Grace
Kinsey and Grace wanted to get married in the fall in Colorado and I helped them plan an amazing day for their Rocky Mountain National Park elopement!
In order to have a wedding ceremony in Rocky Mountain National Park, you need to obtain a wedding permit. Whether you are exchanging vows between just the two of you, reading letters from family members, or having a ceremony with guests, you need a permit. In addition, there are designated ceremony sites where you can have your ceremony, all with varying guest capacity. In some locations, the guest capacity is smaller in peak summer months vs winter months, so you definitely need to check the max guest count and car count when applying for your permit! For example, Sprague Lake has a maximum capacity of 15 people in the summer, but 30 people in the winter.
The permit costs $300 and you can get more information about ceremony locations and rules here. You can apply for the permit directly, at this link. Permits have been selling out faster and faster each year, so plan to apply for your permit a year in advance of your wedding date. Your ceremony permit grants you and your guests entry into the park without a timed-entry permit, but you still need to pay for entrance fees. If you plan to enter the park earlier than two hours prior to your ceremony time, then you will still need a timed-entry permit between May and October. You can get more information about timed-entry permits in RMNP here.
If you’re planning a wedding in Rocky Mountain National Park, reach out now to book your best adventure!
Example Timeline for an all-day Rocky Mountain National Park elopement (9 hours)
- 5:20 AM: Photographer Arrival
- 5:20 AM – 5:50 AM: Quick Getting Ready and Details Photos
- 5:50 AM – 6:20 AM: Drive to First Look Location
- 6:20 AM – 7:45 AM: First Look, Alpenglow Portraits, little hike around Sprague Lake
- 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Drive to breakfast picnic location
- 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Little hike around Bear Lake and picnic
- 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Walk back to trailhead and drive to ceremony location
- 10:30 AM – 10:50 AM: Private Vows and Private First Dance
- 10:50 AM – 11:00 AM: First look with both dads
- 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Ceremony at Moraine Park Amphitheater
- 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Family Photos, Toast, License Signing
- 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Drive to Estes Park for Tattoos
- 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM: Tattoos!
- 2:20 PM: Photographer Departure
Getting Ready
We started Kinsey and Grace’s elopement day extra early since they were going to have their first look at sunrise. This meant getting ready while it was still dark outside! Both Kinsey and Grace had the cutest custom shoes. Kinsey’s read “Till death do us part” and Grace’s had their initials and wedding date embroidered. They also had the most awesome custom National Park Service sign made for their big day! Details like this really add something special to your elopement. Finally, they both had “bride” hangers for their wedding attire to hang on. After getting ready in separate rooms, we made our way in separate cars for their first look in RMNP.
Rocky Mountain National Park First Look
We made it to Sprague Lake just in time for the most stunning alpenglow for Kinsey and Grace’s first look! Sunrise in RMNP will forever be my favorite time for photos at locations like Sprague Lake, or Dream Lake. This is because as the sun comes up, it illuminates the mountains towering over those two lakes and creates the dreamiest lighting for beautiful pictures. If you’re eloping in Colorado, I highly recommend sunrise for some of your photos!
Exploring Sprague Lake in RMNP
After many tears were shed during their emotional first look, we spent some time exploring around Sprague Lake. Kelsey and Grace enjoyed their little hike, giggling the whole time! We took some couples portraits, as well as some individual photos, and they showed off their “wifey” socks. These two definitely nailed all the special details of their elopement day!
Bear Lake Breakfast Picnic
Since we were up so early, a breakfast picnic was the perfect addition to Kinsey and Grace’s RMNP elopement day! We made it over to Bear Lake for a picnic complete with coffee and cinnamon buns from Cinnamon’s Bakery in Estes Park. I love that Kinsey and Grace wanted to explore as much of the park as possible on their elopement day. After eating some delicious and gigantic cinnamon buns, we walked around Bear Lake for some more photos before heading over to their final spot in the park for their ceremony!
Moraine Park Amphitheater Private Vows and First Dance
Kinsey and Grace decided they wanted to share personal vows privately, before their guests arrived. So we made it over to Moraine Park Amphitheater, where they had their ceremony permit, and read vows to one another. Then, they also shared a private first dance before everyone started to arrive! You can have any moment you want on your elopement day. Don’t hesitate to ask me how to incorporate everything you want in your wedding day. We will make it happen!
Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Ceremony
Before the ceremony, Kinsey and Grace both had first looks with their dads. These were the most special and emotional father-daughter moments! Soon enough, it was time for the ceremony. Kinsey walked down the stairs of the amphitheater as Grace waited for her at the bottom. In order to decide who would read their ceremony vows first, they played rock-paper-scissors. Such a fun addition to their ceremony! After a heartfelt ceremony and first kiss, their family and friends celebrated them with a toast. They signed their marriage license to make it official and then it was time for the final adventure of their elopement day!
Estes Park Tattoos
Kinsey and Grace decided they wanted to commemorate their RMNP elopement with tattoos. Talk about the coolest way to forever remember your Colorado wedding day! They got their tattoos at Redrum Tattoo in Estes Park. Kinsey decided on mountains, and Grace, the exact coordinates they stood on when reading their vows. It truly was the most perfect end to their Colorado elopement.
Congratulations, Kinsey and Grace!
I love sunrise and your pictures are gorgeous. The lake and mountain view looks magical. Amazing job 👏👏👏