Western Colorado Wedding Guide
- To obtain a marriage license in Colorado, submit an application at the county clerk's office in the county where you plan to be married. Although you do not need to reside in Colorado to get married there, you must show proof of identification. After receiving the Colorado marriage license, it will be valid throughout the entire state for a period of 30 days.
- While summer temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the lack of humidity allows the outdoor temperature to remain comfortable. Since the sun is almost always shining, the winters remain relatively mild, although they do tend to have the most precipitation. June is typically the driest month, making it a popular time for outdoor weddings. Tornadoes are rare, but lightning remains one of the "greatest weather hazards in Colorado," according to the Colorado Climate Center. When planning an outdoor wedding in western Colorado, plan around potential weather problems. For summer weddings, provide guests with fans and cold drinks so they can keep cool. Although the summers tend to by dry, have umbrellas or tents on hand in case of rain.
- Located in Glade Park, the Silver Raven Ranch offers a beautiful setting for weddings on a private mountaintop. The 58-acre setting overlooks sandstone cliffs, canyons, mesas and the Colorado National Monument. A wedding reservation gives you use of the entire Silver Raven Ranch Lodge on your special day, including use of the indoor and outdoor gourmet kitchens, grills, dressing suites for the bridal parties and facility space.
- Established in the 1800s as a sheep herder's farm, Gorrono Ranch in Telluride now operates as a mid-mountain ski lodge during the day and a private wedding venue in the evening. Nestled in the ski trails above Mountain Village, the venue offers spectacular views of the Wilson Mountain Range and San Juan Mountains. Along with the indoor lodge, the facility also offers multiple outdoor decks that can be used for summer weddings. Wedding guests are transported up the mountain by a shuttle, while the bridal party arrives in a sleigh pulled by snowcats.
- For a rare and extraordinary wedding experience in Ouray, consider taking your wedding on a jeep tour. Established in 1946, the San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours offers a variety of customized tour adventures for your wedding party. According to their website, the company will fully arrange exclusive mountain-top weddings. Typical tours of the San Juan Mountains feature lakes, waterfalls, wildflower fields and aspen groves. However, you can also request a special tour of old mining ruins or ghost towns.