National park · Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park

Managed by National Park Service

Every ceremony in Rocky Mountain needs a Special Use Permit ($300, non-refundable) at one of 13 designated sites, with a 2-hour limit and a 30-person ceiling. Apply up to a year ahead; summer and fall dates go first, and the park says May–June and August–October 2026 were already full.

Verified 1 official source

Official permit page ↗ Eloping in Colorado

Hallett Peak reflected in Lake Haiyaha at dawn
PicturedHallett Peak reflected in Lake Haiyaha at dawn Photo: National Park Service, public domain

01 The rules

Permit fact card

Permit
Required: Special Use Permit — wedding / ceremony (required for 2 or more people)
Application fee
$300 non-refundable administrative fee per wedding application (same for all sites and group sizes; pay only after the park emails payment instructions)
Entrance & parking
Normal entrance fees apply to all vehicles associated with the ceremony. The permit serves as the Timed Entry Reservation, so none is needed.
Lead time
Email the application at least 7 days before the ceremony (last-minute requests may be accommodated, no guarantee); allow 7 to 10 days for a reply; no weekend processing
Booking window
Applications accepted one year in advance of the desired wedding month; review starts on the 1st of the month, first come first served
Group size
30 people at the largest site (couple, guests incl. infants, officiant and photographers all count); 10 to 30 depending on site
Caps & rules
May–October: 60 ceremonies per month. November–April: 40 per month. Max 2 weddings per day per site and 6 ceremonies per day in the whole park. 2 hours maximum, including set-up and photos. 2026 note on the page: all dates for May–June and August–October 2026 are fully booked.
Photographer
Photographer and officiant are covered by the wedding permit (no separate permit) and count toward the group limit. Photos allowed at other park locations the same day with the permit. Drones are prohibited.
Seasons
Summer site limits run from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the 2nd Monday in October; winter limits apply the rest of the year.

02 Where

13 designated ceremony sites

As listed by the agency. Numbers in brackets are the group caps it gives.

  1. 3M Curve (15)
  2. Alluvial Fan (20)
  3. Bear Lake (20, winter only, no weekends)
  4. Copeland Lake (30)
  5. Harbison Meadows (30)
  6. Hidden Valley (30)
  7. Lily Lake Dock (10)
  8. Lily Lake Southside Picnic Area (30)
  9. Lily Lake Trail (20)
  10. Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater (30)
  11. Sprague Lake (15 summer / 30 winter)
  12. Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater (20, closed in winter)
  13. Upper Beaver Meadows (30)

03 Re-check log

Compared with our June 2026 guides

No change to fee, caps or site list. New detail captured today: monthly caps also cover November–April (40), per-day caps (2 per site, 6 in the park), and the page still lists May–June and August–October 2026 as fully booked.

Sources

Where each value comes from

  1. Weddings & Other Ceremonies — Rocky Mountain National Park (NPS), last updated Sept 14, 2026 ↗ Read on

Confirm with the agency before you book. Fees, calendars and site lists change, sometimes without notice. This page records what the official pages said on the date above; it is not legal advice.

Local pros who name Rocky Mountain National Park

16 listings mention this place in the areas served or the description.

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Abby Shepard Photography

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Elopement Videographer · Buena Vista

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Elopement Photographer · Denver

Captured by Kt

Rocky Mountain National Park is the specialty territory for Captured by Kt, a Denver-based documentary photographer named Katie…

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Elopement Officiant · Boulder

Ceremonies With Lisa

Lisa Hunter has officiated Colorado mountain elopements for thirteen years under the name Ceremonies With Lisa, building…

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