How to Elope at Garden of the Gods
A peek into how to plan your elopement at the iconic Garden of the Gods in Colorado!
If you just watched our video on how to elope at Garden of the Gods, here’s the written version to keep handy while you plan. The short answer to how to elope here is this - keep it simple. The City of Colorado Springs currently allows small, brief wedding ceremonies in six designated areas inside Garden of the Gods. Those areas are free to use, first come, first served, and not available by reservation or permit.
That simplicity is a huge part of the appeal. Garden of the Gods gives you dramatic red rock formations, a park that stays free to the public, and a backdrop that already feels epic without a bunch of extra production. It’s also a National Natural Landmark, and the city notes the park sees well over 4 million visitors a year, so the smoothest elopements here usually work with the park instead of trying to turn it into a private venue.
Start by planning for around an experience
One of the best things about a Garden of the Gods elopement is that it can feel relaxed and easy. One of the hardest things is forgetting that it’s still a public park. The city’s rules make that pretty clear: ceremonies must stay small and brief, other visitors may be at the same site, and blocking off parking or public areas is not allowed. The city also says that if you’re planning for more than 50 people, you need to look at a pavilion rental or a special event permit rather than the standard Garden of the Gods setup.
So the mindset that works best here is not “How do we control every detail?” but “How do we create a beautiful experience inside a place that already has its own rhythm?” That usually means a smaller guest list, a flexible timeline, and a willingness to let the setting do a lot of the heavy lifting.
Choose the ceremony site that fits your guest count
The city currently lists these six wedding areas in Garden of the Gods:
Jaycee Plaza
Sentinel Plaza
Three Graces Plaza
High Point Overlook
Scotsman Picnic Area
South Spring Canyon Area
For most couples, guest count is the fastest way to narrow this down. If it’s just the two of you or a tiny group, the smaller locations can feel intimate and unfussy. If you’re inviting a few more people, the bigger sites give you more breathing room. Either way, choosing your ceremony area based on group size and logistics will make your Garden of the Gods elopement feel much smoother from the start.
Pick the best time of day
Timing matters here. The city currently lists Garden of the Gods park hours as 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from November 1 through April 30 and 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 1 through October 31. The city also warns that Colorado weather changes fast and notes the park gets well over 4 million visitors each year, which is exactly why sunrise and weekday ceremonies tend to feel calmer, quieter, and easier to navigate.
That does not mean sunset is a bad idea. It just means you should expect a more shared experience. Build in extra time, bring layers, and plan a day that still feels beautiful even if you are not the only people enjoying the view.
Know the Garden of the Gods wedding rules
This is the part that makes or breaks the experience. According to the city, no receptions are allowed in the park unless you are having a picnic at the Scotsman or South Spring Canyon picnic areas. Alcohol is not allowed. Decorations are not allowed. The city also says not to bring tables, tents, arches, trellises, or similar setup items, and chairs are only allowed for elderly or disabled guests. On top of that, you cannot release balloons, butterflies, rice, or confetti, and you cannot block parking or other public areas. Couples are also asked to stay on established trails and not disturb vegetation.
In practical terms, that’s one more reason the best Garden of the Gods weddings are the ones that stay simple, intentional, and respectful of the landscape.
There is also a sound rule couples often miss. Because of the park’s National Natural Landmark status, if you’re imagining a speaker setup or amplified ceremony audio, this probably is not the place for it.
Make it legal in Colorado
The legal side is one of the reasons Colorado Springs elopements are so appealing. El Paso County says both parties must complete and sign the online marriage application before going to the office. If only one person can appear in person, the absent partner can complete a notarized Marriage License Absentee Affidavit. The county also says applicants do not have to be Colorado residents. The license fee is currently $30, and the license is valid upon issue and must be used in Colorado within 35 days.
Colorado is especially elopement-friendly because couples may solemnize their own marriage. El Paso County also states that witnesses are not needed in Colorado. In other words, you do not need an officiant or witnesses just to make your Garden of the Gods elopement legal.
Build the rest of the day around the ceremony
The sweetest version of this day usually is not complicated. It might look like getting ready at a nearby Airbnb, heading into the park early, sharing private vows, having a short ceremony, wandering for portraits, and then celebrating somewhere else with brunch, dinner, or a small party. Since receptions are not generally allowed in the park and alcohol is prohibited, Garden of the Gods works best as the ceremony-and-portraits part of the day rather than the entire production.
That actually gives you more freedom, not less. You can keep the ceremony deeply personal and then celebrate however feels most like you afterward. Sunrise vows and pancakes. Family dinner in town. A two-person ceremony now and a larger party later. There’s a lot of room to make the day feel meaningful without making it feel overbuilt.
The Best Time of Year to Elope at Garden of the Gods
One of the reasons Garden of the Gods is such a strong elopement location is that it works in every season. The park stays open year-round, and because it sits right in Colorado Springs rather than deep in the mountains, it’s usually easier to access than many alpine locations when weather shifts. The tradeoff is that it’s also a very popular park, so the season you choose will affect the overall feel of your day just as much as the scenery will.
Spring can be beautiful if you want milder temperatures and a landscape that feels a little softer coming out of winter. Summer brings long days and easy access, but it also tends to bring more visitors. Fall often feels especially romantic in Colorado because the light softens, temperatures become more comfortable, and the whole experience can feel calmer. Winter can be incredibly beautiful too, especially if you love the contrast of red sandstone against snow, but you need to be ready for colder temperatures, wind, and the unpredictability that comes with Colorado weather. Remember that mountain weather changes fast, even in a place that feels accessible.
If your goal is to make the day feel intimate, our strongest advice would usually be to lean toward a weekday and either sunrise or late-day light. Garden of the Gods is iconic, which is wonderful for the visuals and less wonderful if you were secretly hoping nobody else would be around.
What to Bring for a Garden of the Gods Elopement
The best packing list for a Garden of the Gods elopement is a practical one, not an elaborate one. Because the city prohibits large décor items and asks couples to keep ceremonies small and low-impact, this is not the place for hauling in an entire styled setup. It’s the place for bringing the handful of things that actually matter and then letting the setting do what it already does so well.
At a minimum, you’ll want your marriage license, rings, vow books, water, layers, comfortable footwear, and any small personal items that make the ceremony feel like yours. A bouquet works beautifully here because it adds something soft and human against the scale of the rock formations without turning the day into a production. A jacket or blanket can also go a long way, especially if you’re eloping at sunrise, in shoulder season, or anytime wind might roll through. Bring the essentials, keep it simple, and avoid anything bulky or park-disruptive.
It’s also worth remembering that public-land elopements feel best when you dress for movement. Even in a relatively accessible place like Garden of the Gods, you may still be walking between spots, stepping on uneven ground, or dealing with temperature swings. A dress you can move in, shoes you can trust, and layers you won’t resent are all more valuable than details that look good in theory but make the day harder to enjoy.
A Sample Garden of the Gods Elopement Timeline
One of the easiest mistakes couples make is assuming a simple elopement needs almost no timeline. In reality, a thoughtful timeline is what protects the simplicity. It gives you room to arrive without rushing, settle your nerves, read private vows, walk to the ceremony area, take portraits, and actually enjoy the place you chose. Garden of the Gods works best when the day feels unhurried.
A sample sunrise timeline might look like this: wake up early and get ready slowly at your Airbnb or hotel, head to the park before first light, share a private first look, exchange vows as the sun starts to hit the rocks, spend time wandering for portraits, and then celebrate afterward with breakfast or coffee in Colorado Springs. That kind of arc tends to feel especially good here because it keeps the ceremony centered in the most peaceful part of the day and leaves room for the celebration afterward. The park’s listed hours support early access, with opening at 5 a.m. year-round.
A sunset timeline can work beautifully too. In that version, you might spend the day doing something meaningful together first, then head into the park with plenty of extra time for parking and walking, hold the ceremony in late afternoon or early evening light, and use golden hour for portraits. Just keep in mind that sunset often comes with more activity in a place this well loved, so your expectations should be built around sharing the park, not having it to yourselves.
How to Make the Day Feel More Personal
A lot of couples assume that if they elope in a public park, the experience has to feel more basic. Usually the opposite is true. When you strip away the unnecessary production, the meaningful parts of the day have more room to breathe. That’s often where the magic shows up.
At Garden of the Gods, personalization usually comes less from things and more from rhythm. It might be reading private vows before the ceremony. It might be writing letters to your families and reading them over coffee that morning. It might be going out to dinner afterward in your wedding clothes, or stopping for pizza, or hiking somewhere quieter later in the day just because you want more time together outside. The ceremony itself may be brief, but the day around it can still be deeply yours. That’s part of what makes eloping so beautiful in the first place.
If you are bringing guests, this same idea still applies. You don’t need a giant setup to make people feel included. Sometimes it’s as simple as choosing a ceremony area that’s easier for family to access, building in extra time so nobody feels stressed, and planning an intentional meal or gathering afterward somewhere that better supports celebration than the park itself does. Since the city limits what can happen on site, many couples naturally create the emotional fullness of the day by splitting it into two parts: a beautiful ceremony in the park, then a more relaxed celebration afterward.
Why This Location Works So Well for Couples
Garden of the Gods makes sense for couples who want a wedding day that feels visually stunning without becoming performative. A place like Garden of the Gods supports the philosophy of finding an experience that’s special to you because it does not need much embellishment. It rewards presence more than production.
It also fits couples who care about memories more than formalities. A lot of people are drawn here because they want incredible scenery without having to turn their wedding into a full-scale event. They want to feel something real. They want the day to move. They want to remember what the air felt like, what the light looked like on the rock, and what it was like to stand there together. That is exactly the kind of day that tends to translate beautifully in both photo and film.
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering how to elope at Garden of the Gods, the real answer is not complicated. Choose the right ceremony site for your group size. Follow the park rules. Keep the logistics easy. Give yourself more time than you think you need. Let the landscape carry some of the weight. The city’s current setup makes that possible: six designated ceremony sites, no charge, first come first served, and a straightforward path to making things legal in Colorado through an El Paso County marriage license.
Most of all, remember that this place is already powerful. You do not need to force it into being something else. Garden of the Gods is at its best when couples come into it with intention, humility, and a willingness to have a day that feels alive rather than overly controlled. That’s usually when an elopement stops feeling like a photoshoot with paperwork and starts feeling like what it actually is: the beginning of a marriage in a place you’ll remember forever.
If this sounds right up your alley and you’re looking for some local Colorado folks to help you plan and capture your elopement day, fill out the contact form below to get in touch with us!