Colorado Elope
From flights to flowers here are all the deets you need to Honeylope in Colorado
Flight & Car Rental Options + Things to Consider
If you’re planning on our Weekender Pack in Ouray, the closest and easiest option is to fly in and out of Montrose Regional airport. It’s about a 45 min drive from Montrose to Ouray and really, there is no other major airport nearby that has better or cheaper flight options. Make sure to stock up on your groceries while in Montrose. There are several major grocery stores in town but only a small market once you get to Ouray.
If you guys are Honeyloping with us in September, then we are probably doing The Mountain + Desert Roadtripper’s Pack! This is, in our opinion the DOPEST pack we offer because it means after we spend three glorious days exploring the raddest mountain town in Colorado, we’ll be ending our adventures in the desert playground Mecca of the west- AKA MOAB🔥.
For the most direct flight out of Moab you could look into flights leaving Canyonlands Regional Airport. It’s only twenty minutes from town and a really scenic airport to fly out of! However, flights are a bit more limiting, and it is usually cheaper for car rentals if you make a loop and drive back to Montrose. It’s only a couple hour drive and super scenic! Plus, going back to Montrose gives you the opportunity to check out Black Canyon of the Gunnison if you want to tick off a lesser known, really cool National Park before you fly home!
If you don’t wanna check out Black Canyon and want to cut that drive time a bit shorter, you could also look for flights out of Grand Junction. You will pass right through Grand Junction in route from Moab to Montrose!
When considering car rental options, if you decide to fly in AND out of Montrose, we recommend exploring what sort of options are available on Turo. If there’s something with high-clearance like a Jeep or 4-runner available , we will make sure you know how to make the most of it incase you want to hit some extra trails out on your own during your trip🔥
Camping & Guest Accommodations
Alright, picture this: Amphitheater Campground in Ouray ain't just a spot, it's an experience. Nestled smack dab in the heart of nature's wonderland, this place screams adventure from the get-go. With jaw-dropping views of towering cliffs and lush greenery, you'll feel like you stumbled into Mother Nature's VIP section. Plus, it's dirtbag-friendly with its no-frills vibe and budget-friendly fees. Whether you're into hiking, climbing, or just chilling by the campfire, Amphitheater Campground is the ultimate basecamp for dirtbag dreams. So pack your gear, grab some brews, and get ready to live your best outdoor life in Ouray's finest spot.
In Ouray, we book campsites for you at Amphitheater Campground (link to the campsite webpage). Just a few minutes up the hill from town, this campground is nestled smack dab in the heart of nature's wonderland. With jaw-dropping views of towering cliffs and lush greenery, you'll feel like you stumbled into Mother Nature's VIP section. You want hiking? Oh, baby, you got it. Trails for days, right from Bambi girl’s doorstep! And let's talk about that sweet, saaahweet climbing. Within a few min drive you've got world-class routes practically begging for your chalky hands.
With the unbeatable access to some of the most epic climbing routes and hiking trails in the area plus the stunning vistas, it's the perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature's playground. Plus, the campground's proximity to town means you can easily stock up on supplies or grab a bite to eat or soak in the town hotspring pools (attach hotsprings link) after a day of epic adventure. Whether you guys are into hiking, climbing, or just chilling by the campfire, Amphitheater Campground is such a sic basecamp for your Honeylope trip.
*P.S. Since it is an official National Forrest Camping, there will be other campers around, but everyone gives each other plenty of space to enjoy their own mountain camping experience.
If you plan on bringing guests, there are a few nice lodges around. Twin Peaks and Box Canyon are popular lodges in town. Or for the most affordable options in town they could look into Ouray Riverside Resort. They have a lot of different affordable lodging options from rustic cabins by the river to RV sites with hookups to tiny houses and hotel rooms!
Marriage license goodies
HOW TO APPLY FOR AND WHERE TO PICK UP YOUR COLORADO MARRIAGE LICENSE
Ouray is the EASIEST place ever to take care of your paperwork! The courthouse is right in town one block behind the Brewery at (give address) No need to apply online prior to showing up, just go together with your drivers license and $60 sometime between 9 am and 4 pm, monday-friday (double check those facts). It only takes about 20 min to apply.
Colorado does not require any witnesses to sign but there is the option to have some so if you’re bringing pup pup along bring an ink pad because in Colorado it is totally legal for your doggies to sign the license as your whiteness (no joke)! Mal or one of our recommended officiants (if you opt to have one of them perform the the ceremony for you) can sign for officiating. However, it’s not mandatory. In Colorado you can actually marry yourselves if you want!
Where you’ll be sayin’ “I DO, BABY-BOO”
Ceremony location options and considerations
There are so many incredibly scenic, remote, mountainous backdrops to choose from for your ceremony around Ouray. Most of them do require a 4x4 to access. We absolutely provide transportation for you and your partner but if your bringing guests, they will need to rent their own jeeps or 4x4’s from a company in town. We really recommend Colorado West Jeeps! There is a few STUNNING locations that have easy access (no 4x4 required) but it will be more likely for us to run into other couples in these more accessable areas who are also eloping in this dreamy destination.
DA SPOT
ANOTHER SPOT
The Post- Elope Adventures We Include for the Southwest
Sedona, Grand Canyon and Zion are full of epic 4x4 trails and climbing adventures! We like supporting our favorite local outfitters and adventure partners to provide a one of a kind expierence to make your first days of “married life” extra special.
In Sedona, we parter with Sedona Can Ams if you guys wanna do UTV’s and head out to an epic spot for sunset.
Sedona also has SO MANY incredibly scenic, multi-pitch climbing opportunities. We partner with Xander, owner of Gravity Line, to provide sic climbing/rappelling opportunities. You do not need much experience or any gear- However, if you’re afraid of heights and have some physical limitations, this might not be the most suitable option for ya.
If you’re down to wake up early- we can take y’all up to do Devil’s Bridge for sunrise. This is one of the most popular trails in Sedona for good reason. It’s an epic spot for pics and a fun short hike to get there! We will pick you up in our truck so we can take the short cut and park in the 4x4 access lot. This cuts out the first 3 miles that most people who do not have proper clearance will have to walk. From the 4x4 parking, it’s just a mile up to the bridge. We’ll beat the crowds and take some beautiful pics while the light is nice and soft. Then we’ll dip around the corner to a sic spot for some morning coffees with a desert view.
If you’re continuing up to Zion with us, we partner with some East Zion Expierence ROAM who own a bunch of dope Via Ferrata options, and access to epic slot canyons if you wanna try canyoneering for your last day.
Sultana and Jeremy rented a huge airbnb for their friends and fam to all stay in prior to their ceremony because for Sultana, coming from a traditional Indian family, it was important to incorporate some of her cultural traditions with family before their honeylope! (If your planning on bringing friends and fam we totally rec putting them up at the spot they found! It was pretty epic!)
The night before their elope, a super freak blizzard hit and HOLY SHIT! Even all the locals couldn’t get over how beautiful the mountains looked all covered in white fluff!
We shoveled them an isle at the base of the mountain and had one of the most beautiful ceremonies performed by Sultana’s cousin!
Although many traditional elements were incorporated with their friends and family present, Sultana and Jeremy wanted to share their Vows to one another in private. So, the next morning we took just the two of them back out to another place so they could do this before we took off for Zion!
After the morning sharing vows out on the bluff, they gave their guests the duces and roadtripped up to Zion. We met them up there with Bambi set up right in the National Park so that they could wake up and start cranking out all their bucketlist shizz they wanted to explore.
Next day, we ended their trip with our buds in East Zion. We took a wild UTV ride up to some private slot canyons and then rappelled our way back down through them to the ground. Sultana and Jeremy had never gone canyoneering before so it was super sic getting to document that memory for them!
Here’s a few examples from some recent Southwest Honeylope Adventures:
Tori and Marcos got ready at the Airbnb thatTori’s mom rented in town. They had a few friends and family joining us for the ceremony including Tori’s adorable daughter who was stoked to be apart of the day her amazing momma married her adopted dad. We did first looks at the base of the mountain before joining their guests for a short but beautiful ceremony. Then, Tori and Marcos hopped in our truck and we took the 4x4 trail to the top of the mountain to celebrate for sunset.
The next day we rented Can Am’s. Being Arizona locals, Tori and Marcos of course already knew how to rip around the desert on these toys. We took them to a sic spot for sunset and Then went back to camp for dinner and campfire shenanigans🔥
Haley and Scott got ready at camp and did their first looks right at camp before hopping in our truck and heading up the mountain for a bomber sunset ceremony. They had bunches of friends and family write them letters, so after the ceremony, they enjoyed watching the sun go down while reading through all of them. Then we went back to camp and partied. They hired one of our buds to play some acoustic jams around the fire while we all ate and celebrated.
The next morning we picked them up in the truck and drove the 4x4 trail out to Devil’s Bridge for some pretty sunrise views, photos and the best cup of coffee you’ll ever get out in the middle of the desert brewed by our incredibly talented field assistant and camera man, Xander.
Now that we were all warmed up for the day(Literally ☕️🙏), we decided to end Haley and Scott’s Honeylope on a pretty epic note…. Thanks to Xander’s incredible guiding and rope rigging skills, Haley and Scott summited their first multi pitch climb just in time for sunset charcutery and photos! We rappelled back down in the dark under a zillion stars✨
Dakota and Austin did their first looks at sunrise on Devil’s Bridge. It was chilly but it was beautiful and we had it all to ourselves! With the jitters of seeing each other for the first time out of the way, we moved Dakota and Austin to camp during the day and got ready for their sunset ceremony on top of the mountain. It was pretty gusty that night but the wilder the weather the better the adventure is usually how it goes and for this one- that motto totally stayed true!
They played rock paper sissors to see who would read vows first.
Being from Nashville, live music is their jam so we brought our incredibly talented bud Miles along to play some tunes for them on top of the mountain and back at camp around the fire over some good pizza and beers.
The day after we did a chill hike out to this super pretty spot by the river where our partners Canyons and Chefs met up with us to create a 5 Star, super wild and unique dining experience Austin and Dakota. It was epic, but maybe what was more epic was the after party we through back at camp around the fire where they finally signed their marriage license😛
Whittney and Brandon did our Weekender’s Pack in Zion last season and also got hit by a freak winter storm the night before their elopement! But wild weather always brings greater adventures!😛
Despite the weather, we got them out to a super cool private slot canyon for first looks. It couldn’t have been more epic; with all that fresh snow fluff! And then, as the snowfall continued to persist we were still able to carry on the party (thanks to our incredible partners in East Zion and their access to a sic cave for the ceremony we could get all of their fam out to) We were even able to build a fire in the cave before the ceremony so that it would be nice and warm for everybody!
After their ceremony night, the weather finally chilled out and we got to spend the last couple days with Whittney and Brandon doing the super iconic Angel’s Landing trek (in crampons!) and a via ferrata🔥
Weather and whatnot
CLOTHING RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
The desert in the fall and spring is absolutely the BEST times to visit (which is why we choose to work there during these two seasons of the year. If you’re taking your honey loping trip in the fall or spring, monsoon season will be over and you can expect mild to warm weather during the day and cool to chilly temps during the dusk till dawn hours of the day. Besides your wedding attire, we recommend bringing your puffy jackets and sweats (or cozy pants) for chillin in the evenings. Then, some shorts and tee shirts for the daytime. A wind layer would be nice and a rain layer (because if you do not bring one, then it will rain lol) Basically, be prepared to be delayering during the day and layering back up during the night. This is the desert life…. Day temps should average somewhere in the 60’s-70’s and nights should average in the 40’s- 50’s. Ladies, for your wedding attire, please bring a cute jacket or shawl you can wear over your dress and some nude fleece leggings so that you will stay warm during dusk!
WHAT ABOUT FLOWERS?
Due to the fragile dry desert conditions and restrictions that the national parks we work in have regarding live plants being brought into the area, we do not work with any local florests. Instead- if you do want to hold a boquet, we encourage you to support some of these amazing artist on Etsy who create incredible wooden flower arrangements, specifically for adventure elopements.
Several of our brides have gotten bouquets from the shop, Evergreen Bride.
Wooden flower boquets photograph super duper well, usually come scented, won’t die in the dry climate like real flowers, and are not invasive to the natural desert plant life. They are also more affordable.
Just talk to Mal if you’d rather ship them to Sedona instead of traveling on the plane with them!
What and Where You’ll Eat
(Meals THAT ARE INCLUDED DURING YOUR TRIP + OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT OUT IN THE AREA)
Assuming it’s just the two of you, we totally provide some chill, tasty dinner options to have around the fire, back at camp after your ceremony. Typically we do a basic taco bar set up with smore’s or, we pick up pizza’s! There are several alternatives we can accommodate for and custom to your dietary preferences too!
If you’re eloping with guests and want to celebrate with them after sunset, we recommend making dinner reservations at either Mesa Grill, The Hudson, or Shorebird. If one of your guests is renting a bnb you could order catering from Mesa Grill, Creekside, or Dellepiane! Unfortunately we cannot accommodate guests back at camp.
For other meals, we recommend trying Red Rock Cafe or Coffee Pot for breakfast or lunch, Free Form, Oak Creek Expresso or Fire Creek for good coffee, and then Delapanie, Rotten Jonnies, or Oak Creek Brewery for dinner. Moonies is a dope Irish pub also worth checkin out.
If you’re continuing on to Zion with us, we looove coffee and breakfast at Deep Creek Coffee, MeMe’s Cafe for lunch or dinner and def get some Mexican at Oscar’s Cafe. (Also, stock up on beer in AZ. UT only sells alcohol (over 5%) in state-licensed liquor stores. There is one in Springdale in case you forget.