Grand Lake Elopement Guide
Posted On | January 19, 2025
Grand Lake is one of our all-time favorite elopement towns in Colorado. With a small mountain-town feel without all the frills and tourists of more popular areas, it is the perfect location for a more low-key couple. This Grand Lake elopement guide will give you all the details on cost, ceremony locations, and time of the year to consider if you want to elope in Grand Lake, Colorado!
Why would you want to elope in Grand Lake?
One of our favorite secret spots to elope at is Grand Lake. Grand Lake is a subalpine lake located near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, located east of the continental divide. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of our favorite places in the world to photograph elopements because it’s just so iconic to Colorado. There are so many incredible things to see and do. We can’t imagine a more picturesque place to celebrate your marriage!
Grand Lake is a hidden gem in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and a fantastic place to elope. There are less than 500 residents in this tiny mountain town. It’s a 2-hour drive from Denver – and only 45 minutes from the popular town of Winter Park. At an elevation of 8,369 feet, Grand Lake gets chilly at night (even in the summer months!), but you get the best of all seasons in this mountain town. There are always fun things to do in Grand Lake that could coincide with your wedding, including festivals, outdoor recreation, lake activities and so much more!
More reasons to consider eloping in Grand Lake?
- It’s much less crowded than other areas near Rocky Mountain National Park
- There is very easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park on the east side
- Options are endless for your elopement experience and photo opportunities, including hiking, waterfalls, mountain peaks and of course, the lake!
When is the best time to get married in Grand Lake?
The truth is, Grand Lake is gorgeous year-round. There really is not a ‘bad’ month for your Grand Lake elopement. But, there are many things to consider about what the best time of year is like the temperature and landscape you’re hoping for.
Summer Grand Lake Elopement
Months: Late June to early September
Average High/Low Temperatures: 61°F/37°F
June is the busiest summer for weddings, and for good reason: the weather is generally pretty amazing. However, that also means it’s one of the busiest times of the year for elopements in Grand Lake so if you’re considering a June date, you’ll want to book that date far in advance and not leave it to the last minute!
The summer months of July and August are our favorite, mostly because it’s nice and warm in the mountains but not so hot as it can be in the lower altitude. The wildflowers are incredible, and it’s very green everywhere. If you do better in warmer temperatures without much risk of snow, July and August are the best months to elope at Grand Lake.
Fall Grand Lake Elopement
Months: mid-September to early November
Average High/Low Temperatures: 48°F/32°F
September is the busiest month for weddings in Colorado. The leaves usually start to turn those gorgeous yellow and orange colors around the middle of the month, and usually last 2-3 weeks. Our fall is very brief, but it is absolutely beautiful. Because it’s so busy for weddings in September, we strongly recommend considering a sunrise elopement to lessen the chances of crowds!
October is another up-in-the-air month for weather; we’ve seen it blizzard in October and there’s been days where it’s been so hot outside you want the air conditioner! Usually by the middle of October, we have seen the first snowfall of the season in the higher elevations, like at Grand Lake, and the gorgeous fall colors have gone.
And finally, November is another month that can be warm(ish) or snowy; lately, it seems as though a lot of the elopements we’ve had in November have seen an abundance of snow, but it’s not always a guarantee.
Winter Grand Lake Elopement
Months: mid-November through early March
Average High/Low Temperatures: 25°F/5°F
If you’d like a wintery elopement, we would recommend December, January or February because these are the months most likely to have snow.
If you’d like slightly warmer temperatures at lower altitudes with snowy peaks in the distance, March is your best bet.
Even though it’s chilly out, there is still a lot you can do in the winter months, including skiing, snowshoeing, taking a sleigh ride, or even snowmobiling!
Spring Grand Lake Elopement
Months: March through mid-June
Average High/Low Temperatures: 40°F/20°F
If you’re thinking of April or May for your wedding date, we here in Colorado call those ‘mud months’ because the temperatures are rising and the snow is melting off. Don’t let it scare you though – it can still be snowy or it can be warm and very spring-like. These are the most unpredictable months weather-wise for the entire year.
What day of the week to Elope in Grand Lake
One of the important things to consider when planning your Grand Lake elopement is your privacy. There are over 4.5 million visitors every year coming to experience Rocky Mountain National Park and many of them stay in towns like Grand Lake. Peak visitor season for the park is June through September, with July being the busiest month. However, winter months are full of visitors too, hoping to catch a glimpse of some winter magic.
What does that mean for you? If you are planning a destination wedding ceremony in Grand Lake, you should plan to hold your elopement on a weekday. While you are likely not to be completely alone during your elopement, this will guarantee the most privacy. Some of the Grand Lake elopement locations are much more private than others, especially if we go hiking for an adventure elopement.
Grand Lake Elopement Locations
Point Park
Point Park is located on the shores of Shadow Mountain Reservoir, right in the heart of Grand Lake. It has a small pier that overlooks Grand Lake and the majestic Mount Baldy in the background, and i perfect for small groups! It operates on a first come-first served basis, so it’s best for weekday weddings. Check out Dominika and Govind‘s Point Park elopement for inspiration!
This Lake That You Can PAddle Board and Kayak On
This lake close to Grand Lake, is perfect for an intimate ceremony lake-side. While less busy than Point Park, it still has stunning views of snow-capped peaks and is more private. You can also enjoy a picnic, kayak, or paddleboard on the lake! See Jeff & Kayla’s intimate wedding for more examples from here.
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
While you can’t have your ceremony there, per the park rules, we can certainly adventure together there for photos! It’s not very far from Grand Lake, and is the perfect location if you’re wanting to feel like you’re on top of the world!
Rental Home
If you don’t want to have your ceremony at Grand Lake itself, we’d recommend looking at AirBnB’s in the area or larger Grand Lake rental VRBO homes that are great for up to 15 to 20 guests. This is a great idea if you want to include family in your elopement!
Snowmobile up to Gravel Mountain
And for you adventure elopement couples, how about snowmobiling? We absolutely love to go snowmobiling in the winter and have been searching for the perfect couple to take with me to Gravel Mountain for a snowmobile elopement. Alternatively, we can snowshoe hike in the winter or regular hike in the summer!
A Frame Club
This new Grand Lake resort features a-frame mid-century modern cabins to host all of your guests, a private outdoor ceremony area, and a private dining room for a small reception. It’s a great option for a couple looking for an all-in-one option for up to 30 people!
Grand Lake Lodge
One of our favorite spots is the Grand Lake Lodge, which is on the National Register for Historic Places in Colorado. There are 70 cabins available, a tavern onsite and you will find yourself surrounded by lake and mountain views that exude the rejuvenating beauty found only in the heart of Colorado!
Where Should You Go To Celebrate after your Grand Lake elopement?
Our favorite local restaurants to celebrate on your wedding day near Grand Lake are:
Real Grand Lake Elopements
The Proof Is In The Pudding! Check out a few of the Real Grand Lake elopements We’ve Photographed
Kayla & Jeff
Rachel & Eric
Kevin & Erin
Nicole & Daniel
Need a recommendation for local Grand Lake wedding vendors?
We are thrilled to share with you a few of our favorite tried-and-true vendors that are local for your Grand Lake elopement!
Grand Lake Wedding Hair and Makeup Artists
Grand Lake Wedding Florist
Grand Lake Wedding Officiant
Where is the best place to stay in Grand Lake?
The links below are a great place to start your search for lodging in Grand Lake, Colorado!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you decide to purchase through one of our recommended partners. We would never recommend anything we don’t use ourselves!
Ready to start planning your Grand Lake Elopement or Small Wedding?
we’re more than just your photographer
We’re not kidding. We’re here to make this process easier than “accidentally” binge-watching the newest season of your favorite show. Every single elopement package includes:
If it’s on your elopement to-do list, we’re here to help check it off.
Grand Lake Elopement + Small Wedding Packages
Meet Larissa and Bailey! We are two born and raised Coloradoans who specialize in planning and capturing epic elopements for our couples that feel authentic to who they are. We specialize only in Colorado and can help you plan the perfect just-us day or a celebration with up to 30 of your friends/family.
What’s Included
3+ Hours of Photography Coverage
We intentionally document your day with both digital and film. Includes high-resolution digital images, printing rights, a shareable online gallery, and free album design.
Full Elopement Planning Assistance
When we say we help with it all, we mean it. Location scouting and ideas. Vetted and LGBTQ+ allied vendors who know elopements. Recs for activities to do on your elopement day. Stress-free timeline planning. Planning resources and ideas. Unlimited communication because we never leave you high and dry.
Overwhelmed with How To Plan A Colorado Elopement?
Download Our Free Colorado Elopement Planning Guide & Checklist
40+ pages of ideas, tips, and a step-by-step checklist to make your dream elopement come to life.
Are You Freakin’ REady?
We’re 100% here for whatever day you’re dreaming up. Fill out our contact form to start chatting.
Are You Freakin’ REady?
We’re 100% here for whatever day you’re dreaming up. Fill out our contact form to start chatting.
Comment Love
4 responses to “Grand Lake Elopement Guide”
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Would you have availability for a 2-22-22 Elopement photo shoot? We’re trying to pull this together last minute. Thank you!
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Hey Stacey! Yes we are! Sending you some more info soon via email to make this happen for you two!!!!
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I am looking into micro wedding/elopement at the end of September…? I am not sure you have any openings or can recommend any information to me would be great!
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Hey Brittany! Yes, we sure do have some limited availability for a wedding/elopement at the end of September depending on the date and location! We’d love to chat more, please feel free to email us at hello@wethelightphotography.com and we can help you out!
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