Do you dream of running away to elope with the love of your life in Colorado with just a photographer and the beautiful outdoors? Colorado is one of the few states in the U.S. that allows couples to legally marry each other without a witness or officiant! If you’re planning to elope and are interested in learning about self-solemnization in Colorado, I’ve written a brief yet detailed guide to help you navigate the process!
Self-solemnization is the act of two people legally marrying one another and signing their own marriage license without the need for a witness and/or officiant. There are only two states in the U.S. where unrestricted self-solemnization is legal, and Colorado is one of them!
Self-solemnization may be for you and your partner if you’re looking to reconnect with one another in an intimate, stress-free way for your celebration of love. In my opinion, self-solemnization is one of the purest ways a couple can say I Do. You’re free to be yourselves while celebrating your love story in an organic way. You’re not confined to reciting vows back to an officiant or scrambling last minute to find a witness!
Another great thing I love about self-solemnization is that your furry friend can legally sign your marriage license with a paw print! Colorado is a very dog-friendly state, so it’s only fitting that your dog can help you and your partner say I Do here!
The process of self-solemnizing in Colorado is very simple! First, I recommend visiting the County Clerk’s office nearest your elopement location or utilizing Denver’s online marriage license service. Here is how to self-solemnize in Colorado in 5 easy steps:
****If your appointment is in person, know some offices only accept cash.
If you’re from Colorado, I recommend getting your marriage license a week or two before your ceremony to ensure the process goes smoothly. If you’re visiting Colorado from out-of-state for your elopement, make sure you plan the pickup and drop-off of your marriage license for a weekday. The County Clerk’s office isn’t open on weekends. If you plan to get your marriage license in Denver, the County Clerk’s office has a 24-hour drop-off box.
You can find additional information about self-solemnization in Colorado here.
If you’re planning to self-solemnize in Colorado and want someone to help you navigate and capture the whole experience, I’d love to be a part of your adventure! As your elopement photographer, I can help make your elopement day as stress-free as possible! Along with the self-solemnization process, I assist couples with things like location scouting, elopement permits, and ceremony day timelines! You can tell me about your dreams for your special day and how I can help by filling out my contact form.
I can’t wait to explore the beauty of Colorado with you and your partner and capture all the big, small, and in-between moments that make eloping so special! In the meantime, you can learn more about eloping in Colorado on my blog!
Location: Larkspur, Colorado @ Sandstone Ranch Open Space Trail
Vendors: Florals by Erin Ashley Design | Dress by The Altar Bride Lakewood
A destination wedding and elopement photographer based out of Colorado! You can usually find me with a hot cup of coffee in my hand, sporting some comfy tennis shoes, or in pursuit of my next big escape!
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