Eloping At Garden of the Gods

Nestled in the heart of Colorado Springs, amidst landscapes of the Rocky Mountains, lies a natural wonder that captivates visitors from around the globe: the Garden of the Gods. This breathtaking expanse of towering sandstone formations, set against the backdrop of 14,000+ foot mountain, Pikes Peak, makes GOTG one of Colorado’s most unique elopement locations. It’s no wonder, that couples from all over the country (and world!) select this backdrop for their most intimate moments.

What to Consider:

Tourism:

With beauty, can come people, and lots of them. This location is a HOT tourist spot on weekends, in Summer and definitely on Holidays. Due to the high volume of tourism the park attracts, I recommend avoiding holidays and weekends, opting for a sunrise session or selecting a weekday to exchange your vows!

Accessibility:

I LOVE GOTG for its accessibility. The “Main Lot” of the park as long paved travels to enjoy lots inside the park that is wheelchair accessible. However, this park is large, with lots to explore with many hiking trails which all have different levels of accessibility.

Weather:

Like anywhere in Colorado, the weather is often upredictable! Due to GOTG’s close proximity to the city of Colorado Springs, this is a top recommendation of mine for any time of the year as the roads have not been known to close to the park. However, I’ve been through rain, sleet, snow, hail, thunder and wind all at Garden of the Gods. You should always expect to prepare accordingly, as even in Summer, this area is known for afternoon thunderstorms.

No Permit Fee:

At the time of writing this there is currently NO permit or fee to elope at Garden of the Gods. This is great to avoid adding additional expenses to your day, but means that the amount of people getting married at the park is not monitored, and you likely will be one of many couples getting married at the park that day!

Respect the land and Leave No Trace:

-Stay on permitted Trails

-Please care for the natural environment–only bring in chairs for the elderly or disabled.  Do not bring in any tables, tents, arches, trellises, etc. Do not release balloons, throw rice, floral petals or any confetti.  No decorations allowed. No alcoholic beverages allowed.