Your Guide to Eloping at Great Sand Dunes National Park: Tips, Permits, and Planning

Colorado elopement

A Great Sand Dunes National Park elopement will be an experience like no other, with its otherworldly landscape and jaw-dropping views!

I had the chance to capture Molly and Leon’s elopement in the park, and it was an elopement I’ll never forget – the massive sand dunes and the mountain peaks created a magical setting for their celebration!

Read on for all the info you need to know about eloping at Great Sand Dunes National Park!

a couple walking through the sand together at great sand dunes national park in colorado the woman is wearing a white wedding dress and holding a bouquet of flowers the man is wearing an all tan outfit they are both wearing hats

Your Guide to Eloping at Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in all of North America, and it’s such a unique spot to plan a one-of-a-kind, adventure elopement! It’s located in southern Colorado and close to the town of Alamosa.

Also, the park is just under four hours from Denver International Airport and a little over two and a half hours from Colorado Springs!

How to elope at Great Sand Dunes National Park

The first two items on your to-do list – hire your photographer and get your marriage license!

Hire your photographer for your elopement

Your photographer can help you with all of the planning details and logistics that are an important part of your elopement planning process. This will be very helpful, especially if you’ve never been to Great Sand Dunes National Park before!

I would strongly recommend you hire a photographer who is familiar with Great Sand Dunes National Park (such as myself).

This isn’t an absolute must; however, just know that if you do work with an elopement photographer who knows their way around the park, they are going to be able to suggest the best spots for your ceremony and pictures, the best accommodation options, and they will know the ins and outs of eloping here making your life (and the elopement planning process) sooo much easier.

a couple having their elopement ceremony in great dunes national park the woman is wearing a white wedding dress and a tan had the man is wearing a tan suit

a man lifting his partner and they are both smiling at each other they are in the san dunes

Get your marriage license

You’ll also need to get your Colorado marriage license. Luckily, this process is straightforward and simple. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

You can obtain a marriage license from any Colorado County Clerk’s office. The closest one to the Sand Dunes is in Alamosa. For more information about applying for a marriage license here, visit Alamosa County’s website.

To get your marriage license, you’ll start by making an appointment. Once you make an appointment, you’ll need to go with your partner and bring a photo ID with you. At your appointment, you’ll fill out paperwork and pay the $30 fee required to file.

There is no waiting period, and your license is valid immediately. However, you must return the signed license within 63 days to the same place you received it.

a couple walking through the sand dunes holding hands and looking at each other the woman is wearing a white wedding dress and man is wearing a tan suit they are both wearing ahts

a couple walking through sand dunes at sunrise the man is holding a backpack the woman is holding a bouquet of flowers

Get your permit to elope at Great Sand Dunes National Park

You do have to have a permit to elope inside the park – even if it is just going to be you and your partner! The permit costs $200 and covers a two-hour window for your ceremony.

The park only gives out two permits per day, so you’ll want to apply for your permit as soon as you know your elopement date!

a couple sitting in front of their van on the ground the man is kissing his partner on the head the woman is wearing a white wedding dress the man is wearing a tan suit

a couple having their elopement ceremony in the san dunes they are readin gvows to each other

Where to elope in Great Sand Dunes National Park

The park has a few different incredible spots where you can elope! Here are a couple of different stunning spots for you to consider:

Medano Creek
Top of the Dune
The Dunefield
The Amphitheater
The Grasslands and Dune foothills
The Island at Great Sand Dunes Creek

a couple running through the sand dunes at great sand dunes national park in colordo andholding hands the woman is wearing a white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of flowers, and wearing a hat the man is wearing a tan suit and wearing a hat

When to elope at Great Sand Dunes National Park

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is open all year round, but each season has something different to offer you! Here’s an overview of what you can expect:

Fall

Fall is a beautiful time to elope here – temperatures are mild, there aren’t as many tourists, and the aspen groves will be a beautiful golden color.

Winter

Winter brings much cooler temperatures, and the dunes might be covered in snow, which is incredible to witness! However, trails and roads can become impassable, and most campgrounds are closed during this season.

Summer

Summer in the dunes can get hot – the sand can get very warm, temperatures can get quite high, and remember, there’s no shade to hide under. However, if you plan a sunrise or sunset ceremony, you won’t have to worry about baking under a sweltering sun and can still enjoy the heat!

Spring

Spring has great temperatures, and it also sometimes tends to be snowy (through April) and windy. The weather during this time of year is great for camping!

You’ll also need to decide on your elopement date! My advice? Choose a weekday! You’ll encounter much fewer tourists, and hotels and Airbnbs are often cheaper on weekdays.

a woman posing in the sand dunes with her hat, white wedding dress, and holding a bouquet of flowers

a couple sitting in the back of their van smiling the woman is wearing a white wedding dress the man is wearing a black hat, white, shirt, and tan pants

Book your accommodations

Here are some potential accommodation options to choose from:

Great Sand Dunes Lodge – This lodge is right on the doorstep of the park!
Airbnb or VRBO – there are lots of really fun and eclectic Airbnbs around this area. However, something I want you to be cautious of is how close to the park the Airbnb or VRBO you choose to the park actually is – some can be located much farther away than you might realize.
Camping in the park at Pinon Flats Campground or at a campground outside of the park.

a couple posing in front of their holding hands and standing side by side the woman is wearing a white wedding dress and holding flowers the man is wearing a tan jacket and pants and a black hat

Molly and Leon’s Elopement at Great Sand Dunes National Park

If all of this has captured your attention, here’s a behind-the-lens look at Molly and Leon’s celebration to help you imagine what your elopement could look like!

Background on the couple

These two met at a bicycle fundraising event and concert in Golden Gate Park. They were both volunteering, and Leon took a chance and asked for Molly’s number. Fast forward a few years, and Leon proposed on a canal as they were biking around Amsterdam (Leon is from the Netherlands, which makes this extra special).

While they live in Denver now, they picked the sand dunes because it is such a great place to camp in their van, and they hadn’t had the chance to do that yet. So not only did they get to have their elopement in a beautiful place, but they got to do it while doing what they love, exploring National Parks.

They also made the day even special by planning their elopement on the 11th anniversary of the day they first met. This was such a great way to bring the moment full circle and start off many more firsts in their lives!

Their elopement

Molly and Leon planned an epic, adventurous elopement! Before their elopement, they elected to stay overnight in their van at a campground inside the park. Fun fact: They actually lived in their van for a little while!

To start their day, I met them at their van pre-sunrise and captured some stunning photos of the two of them with their van before we ventured out to the dunes.

I took some more couple portraits of them in the dunes before the sun rose and before their ceremony. I loved photographing the sand dunes—they created such a captivating bohemian backdrop, which was perfect for these two world travelers.

Molly and Leon chose to self-solemnize and said their vows on top of the dunes. If you didn’t know, you can self-solemnize in Colorado! This means that you don’t need an officiant or witness at your ceremony.

After their beautiful ceremony, we snapped a few more photos before returning to their van for a few more portraits, champagne, and a picnic to celebrate the start of this exciting new chapter in their lives.

Molly and Leon’s Vendors

Florist: Oftenkind Florals

Dress: Fable Dresses

Photographer: Alisha Light Photography

a couple sitting in the back of their van smiling and looking at each other the man is touching the side of the woman's face

a couple walking towards the sand dunes at sunrise holding hands and looking at each other behind them is their van

Ready to Plan Your Great Sand Dunes National Park Elopement?

I hope you found all this info about eloping in the Great Sand Dunes National Park helpful! The Great Sand Dunes are a stunning natural gem in Colorado and are a surreal backdrop for your celebration!

And… if you’re looking for a Colorado wedding or elopement photographer, I’d love to connect with you. I want you to feel free to do things your way without worrying about being “photogenic.”

As your photographer, I will artfully frame you, your love, and your surroundings. You can contact me here or learn more about my wedding services here. Let’s capture your wedding in a way that celebrates the unique way you love one another.

Read these next:

10 of the Best Places to Elope in Colorado

Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Lake Isabelle Colorado Elopement