How much does a Colorado elopement cost?

How much should you budget for a small wedding?  That depends on several different factors such as the destination, number of guests, what you include (i.e. cake, photography, flowers, seating), the number of service hours and any other inclusions.  
This page helps to explain not only what to expect to pay for a small wedding in Colorado, but also the average overall costs of a "typical" 100-person wedding per vendor category (for comparison)
Transparent pricing plus guides for small-wedding budgets, Colorado costs, weather, and vendor tipping.
Planning your big day shouldn't feel like a guessing game, so we keep everything completely transparent to help you easily understand the real cost of a small wedding.  Just scroll down to find our straightforward While you are here, be sure to grab our helpful pricing resources and other downloadable guides to make your planning process an absolute breeze.

    YES!  I'd love some pricing guides:  

High-quality elopements, exceptional value, unforgettable memories.

Elopement Package Pricing

All packages include Wendee's planning and recommendations to nearby lodging, restaurants and hair/makeup artists. .   
  • 1.5 Hours Sweet & Simple:  Celine as your photographer, Wendee as your officiant (also bringing your cake &flowers), we meet you at the ceremony site for and fun & upbeat experience. 
  • 1.5 Hours Customized  - choice of officiant, photographer from our network with an onsite coordinator to bring a bluetooth speaker, cake and flowers.  We meet you at the ceremony site for a fun & upbeat experience.   
  • 3 or 3.5 Hours Complete - our photographer and coordinator meet you at your lodging for details, getting-ready and (optional) a sentimental first-look. We convoy to the ceremony site, do the ceremony, group photos, and then head back to the restaurant where we do a ceremonial cutting-of-the-cake before you are seated for dinner.  That usually concludes the 3 or 3.5 hours of time
  • 2 or 2.5 Hours Hybrid (the sweet spot!):  combining the 1.5 and 3/3.5 for a 2/2.5 hour package.  This includes some getting ready photos, and going out to the ceremony site together.  We’d do cake and a little celebration at the ceremony spot, and end our service there so that you can go back to the restaurant on your own.

Small Wedding & Elopement Packages & Pricing

Your actual package depends on the venue/destination, permitting fees, gondola tickets, number of people standing up with you (if any), seating (benches), more florals, extra time, additional desserts, etc.  Should you self-solemnize or BYO officiant, you can deduct $350 (exclusive of the "Sweet & Simple" package).   
  • ​Items to budget outside of the package are travel (flights, lodging, car), attire, hair/makeup, and dinner.  Rest assured, Wendee guides you along the way with quality recommendations from past couples.  
  • If you are working with a certain budget, please let Wendee know as we've seen many creative ideas over the years. 
  • ​Ready to start?  Use our instant quote generator.   
Elopement-pricing
Instant Quote Generator
Destination
Sweet & Simple
​​1.5 hours. Limited dates.
8 people max
​​Starting at......
Custom Elopement
​1.5 hours
12 people max
​​Starting at......
Hybrid Package
​2 to 2.5 hours
15 people max
​Starting at......
Small Wedding
3.5 hours
​40 people max
​​Starting at......
Denver/Boulder
$3,000
$4,000
$4,300
$5,100
Estes Park
$3,200
$4,100
$4,400
$5,200
Co Springs/Manitou
$3,200
$4,100
$4,100
$5,200
Grand County
$3,300
$4,300
$4,600
$5,500
Summit County
$3,300
$4,300
$4,600
$5,400
Eagle County
$3,400
$4,400
$4,700
$5,500
Salida/Buena Vista
$3,500
$4,500
$4,800
$5,600
Steamboat
$4,200
$5,200
$5,400
$6,100
Aspen/Crested Butte
$4,300
$5,300
$5,500
$6,200

Additions

  • Extra time: $300/half-hour
  • Videographer:  starting at $1,600
  • Content creator: staring at $850
  • Permitting: depends on site (some require one, others don't)
  • Floral sets for wedding party: $150/set
  • Chairs: $550 to $650+
  • Wooden benches:  $450 to $550+ (dependent on location)
  • Blankets for guests: $100
  • Rehearsals:  $300​
  • ​Centerpieces: starting at $50+
  • Garland: $20 to $50/foot
  • Candles: quote
  • Ceremony decor: starting at $500
  • Ceremony rug:  $100+
  • Macaroons/desserts: quote
  • Ceremony arch: $1,000+

Kelsey + Connor

Small, intimate wedding package

"Our day was perfect, went smoothly, and was very organized. The value for what is included in the package is unbeatable and made our day worry free. I can’t thank Wendee enough for making our day one we will forever cherish."

​​June 2024

The Nitty-Gritty Wedding Officiant Prices

Officiant: Pricing, Destinations and Rehearsals

Wendee is also ordained to officiate weddings.  As your go-to Colorado wedding officiant she makes sure every detail is explained up front—so you feel supported from the start.
  • Location-Based Pricing.  Colorado is a big, beautiful state. Wendee's officiating rates are based on the geographic location of your venue, making her the flexible wedding officiant Colorado couples trust for value.
  • Rehearsals.  If you have an event coordinator, they usually run the show! Thus, rehearsals are not included in the standard officiating package. Want her to walk you through it? Yes, she can add a rehearsal the morning prior to the wedding (no afternoon rehearsals, please) for an additional fee, also based on location.
  • Hitting the Road.  We love a good road trip. Just let us know if your venue is located more than 100 miles outside of Arvada, Colorado so we can plan travel.
  • CHECK AVAILABLE DATES​ 
Destination
Starting at......
Rehearsal
(optional)
Overnight
Denver/Boulder
$375
$200
N/A
Co Springs Area
$475
$250
N/A
Fort Collins Area
$475
$250
N/A
Estes Park
$475
$250
N/A
Summit County
$525
$250
N/A
Grand County
$500
$250
N/A
Eagle County
$550
$300
N/A
Salida/Buena Vista
$575
$300
N/A
Steamboat
$600
$250
$250
Crested Butte
$670
$250
$250
Aspen/Snowmass
$675
$250
$350
Telluride
$850
$250
$350

Additions

  • Rehearsals:  we do require that rehearsals are scheduled morning prior to your wedding day.  
  • Additional Planning Meetings:  $75/meeting, maximum 2 hours
  • Attending Walk-Through: starts at $300 (Denver/Boulder area)and depends on the destination (travel/time required) 
  • Need an Onsite Coordinator?  This is how Wendee started in the industry and has trained professionals, available in her network so that you can have an stress-free wedding day. 
  • Benches:  We have wooden benches that can be added.  Ask for a quote! 
  • Florals: Wendee works regularly with a wholesaler and can customize florals for your wedding.  Please contact for a quote. 

The Big Question: How Much Do Wedding Coordinators Cost?

Wedding Coordination Pricing Guide

Base coordination starts with two face-to-face or vital meetings, a rehearsal the morning prior, and 8 consecutive hours on the wedding day.   Should your logistics require more than 8 hours, it is $125/hour rate. Pricing does include travel/time fees.  Because we want all parts of your wedding to go off without a hitch, we do require you to also hire a professional & experience photographer, caterer, and florist/decor company.
  • CHECK AVAILABLE DATES
  • To get started, Wendee can meet virtually with you for a mini-planning session @ $75.  Should you end up booking, that fee is credited to you on the invoice. 
Destination
Up to 35 people​Starting at......
Up to 75 people 
​Starting at......
Up to 150 people
​​Starting at......
Denver/Boulder
$1,450
$1,650
$1,950
Co Springs Area
$1,600
$1,800
$2,200
Fort Collins Area
$1,600
$1,800
$2,100
Estes Park
$1,700
$1,900
$2,200
Summit County
$2,000
$2,200
$2,500
Grand County
$2,000
$2,200
2,500
Eagle County
$2,200
$2,400
$2,700
Salida/Buena Vista
$2,300
$2,500
$2,800
Steamboat
$2,400
$2,600
$2,900
Crested Butte
$2,500
$2,700
$3,000
Aspen/Snowmass
$2,600
$2,800
$3,100
Telluride
$2,900
$3,100
$3,400

Additions

  • Rehearsals:  we do require that rehearsals are scheduled morning prior to your wedding day.  
  • Additional Planning Meetings:  $75/meeting, maximum 2 hours
  • Attending Walk-Through: starts at $300 (Denver/Boulder area)and depends on the destination (travel/time required) 
  • Additional Coordinator: required if you have over 3 people on each side and/or you have the ceremony and reception in different venue, and/or you have extraneous installations of decor
  • Benches:  We have wooden benches that can be added.  Ask for a quote! 
  • Florals: Wendee works regularly with a wholesaler and can customize florals for your wedding.  Please contact for a quote. 
Kelsey + Connor planned a small destination wedding in Colorado with 32 guests.  Their overall wedding budget was around $25,000, including travel and the reception.  NOTE: it *can* be done cheaper and way less  View our GALLERIES for other ideas. 

A complete breakdown of Colorado wedding expenses, vendor pricing factors, and how to manage your budget before signing contracts.

How Much Does a Colorado Wedding Cost? (And Why Vendors Charge What They Do)

Planning a wedding in the beautiful mountain landscapes of Colorado? Congratulations! Wouldn’t it be nice to have an unlimited budget for your wedding? Whether you have a $5,000 or $500,000 budget, it is crucial to know what weddings cost in Colorado to guide your decisions and ensure every dollar is well-spent. Remember, the key is managing your expenditures wisely before signing any contracts.  So, before you say "I do" to your dream venue & vendors, let's talk numbers. Wedding costs can vary significantly based on .....
  • Guest count, package includes & customizations - this is the overall scale of your event, size of group, hours of coverage, any upgrades, add-ons, etc.  This directly affects the cost of material sand labor. 
  • Experience and expertise - seasoned vendors have YEARS of experience, hands-on experience, are collaborative with other vendors onsite, and have a refined skills set. 
  • Time and labor - this goes beyond the wedding day and considers things like consultations, prep-work, planning, site visits, setup and teardown.
  • Travel and logistics - this includes ravel to remote areas, mountain terrain, loading requirements (like taking gondolas up), staffing fees, delivery fees, etc.  
  • ​Seasonality and dates - peak dates demand higher pricing due to limited availability.  Peak dates in Colorado are Fridays & Saturdays from June through September. 
  • Business overhead and tools - there are operation costs such as insurance, equipment, software, licenses, materials, taxes, utilities, professional services (accounting, lawyer fees).  These are required to run maintained a legitimate business. 
Below ⬇️ is a breakdown of what to expect in Colorado, specifically for a "traditional" wedding party with up to 10 attendants (5 on each side) and 100 guests.  

If all of this sounds overwhelming to you, consider scaling-back a large wedding and going small!  Use our interactive instant quote builder to compare costs.  
Vendor Type
Low
Middle
High
Bakers/Cake
$450
$850
$1,500+
Bands
$2.500
$6,000
$10,000+
Catering
$8,000
$18,000
$35,000+
Cermeony Musicians
$450
$750
$1,200+
​Ceremony Sites/Venues
$1,000
$8,000
$18,000+
Day-of Coordinators
$1,200
$1,800
$2,800+
Disc Jockeys, Emcees
$750
$1,600
$2,400+
Florals
$1,200
$5,000
$12,000+
Gown, Tux, Attire, Alterations
$1,000
$5,000
$10,000+
Hair & Makeup (HMU), Bride's
$350
$500
$750+
​Invitations/Stationary + postage
$500
$2,000
$7,000+
Officiants
Or, DIY ceremony guide
$600
$1,200
$2,000+
Photographers
$1,800
$4,800
$10,000+
Planners (full service)
$3,000
$8,000
$15,000+
​​Rentals, Decor, Linens
$1,000
$6,000
$19,000+
Transporatioon
$850
$1,500
$3,000+
Videography
$1,800
​$4,800
$10,000
Knowing the average costs for various vendor categories can significantly impact your budgeting decisions. Keep in mind that actual prices vary greatly depending on the number of guests, extensiveness of service, and quality of goods. Remember, a well-planned budget is the first step toward a stress-free wedding day! 

Small Wedding Packages with Custom Weddings of Colorado

At Custom Weddings of Colorado, we specialize in small, intimate ceremony packages. Our approach focuses on the core elements of a wedding without the stress—and cost—of a large event. With packages starting at just $5,200, couples can enjoy a meaningful day with their closest loved ones, all set against Colorado's stunning natural backdrop.  Why choose an intimate wedding?  
  1. Cost-Effective: Enjoy a beautiful ceremony and reception without breaking the bank.
  2. Quality Time: Spend your special day with those who matter most.
  3. Focus on What Matters: Create lasting memories without the overwhelm of planning a large wedding.
If you're considering a small wedding or elopement, connect with Wendee. We offer expertly curated packages that ensure a stress-free experience, allowing you to focus on the joy of your special day.