Silverton Elopement Photographer

Elopements, weddings, and engagements in Silverton, Colorado

Hey There!

silverton colorado elopement photographer

I’m Katie Dawn, your Silverton elopement photographer

And I can’t wait to introduce you to my favorite little mountain town in Colorado. For such a small town, Silverton has so many different little places where you can explore the scenery while being totally alone. It’s such a dream to elope here and be able to soak in all that mountain goodness without the crowds of places like Ouray or Telluride.

I was born and raised in Colorado, so I’m really familiar with Silverton and the surrounding towns in the San Juans. Every summer I pack up my van and spend my days hanging out in Silverton between elopements. I know everyone in town and honestly probably bug the staff of the couple of coffee shops in town with how much time I spend just editing photos there.

I can’t wait to help you find the perfect spot to say your vows i the prettiest mountains of Colorado!

How to plan an elopement in Silverton

couple sharing picnic in mountains of silverton colorado

Pick a location:

The great thing about Silverton is that there’s not many people around compared to elopement locations closer to Denver, so there’s a good chance you’ll be totally alone when you say your vows. The San Juan mountains are pretty steep, though, so some locations can be a bit harder to access- there’s a couple of spots you can get to with relative ease, but you may need to rent a Jeep or go on a hike to get to many areas.

Pick up your license:

Colorado is a very easy state to get married in, you can do it the same day you pick up your license, without anyone there. You can self solemnize, which means that all you have to do to get married in Ouray is pick up the marriage license from the county clerk’s office in Silverton (or you can pick up a license in another town if that’s more convenient), sign it with both of your signatures, and return it within 63 days. You don’t need an officiant, witnesses, or a waiting period. If you want, you can even have your pet sign their paw print as the witness!

Do something fun:

You can just say your vows and be done with the day, but I specifically only photograph couples who want to turn their wedding day into a special adventure. Just because you aren’t having a big wedding doesn’t mean it has to be over in an hour, you can make the day all about the two of you! There’s tons of things to do in Silverton- go on a hike, drive a Jeeping trail, have a picnic, explore some secret hot springs, hire a private chef, rent an off grid cabin that you hike to, etc. Spend your day doing what feels like you.

Best time to elope in Silverton

Summer: Late June-early August

Summer in Silverton is wildflower season, and the mountain meadows are green and warm. This is my faaaavorite time to photograph elopements in Silverton. The weather can be a little iffy- there’s afternoon thunderstorms most days in the summer, so be sure to pack clear umbrellas! This is also fire season, so late summer in the mountains of Colorado can be smokey and hazy if there’s a wildfire going on somewhere nearby. If you want to catch the peak of the summer season when the snow has melted and roads and trails are accessible, the best time to get wildflowers for your day without wildfire haze is late June through July (sometimes late June is still a little early for some high alpine areas if there was lots of snow the previous winter).

Fall: September-early October

Fall in Silverton is soooo beautiful. The trees turn golden yellow for a brief time, and (usually) the weather is more predictably sunny. There’s usually less people around than in the summer, and accommodation can be a bit cheaper. There can be unexpected snow storms this time of year or unexpected rain, but usually the weather isn’t too crazy in one direction or the other- just bring a coat or other warm clothing, because it does get chilly, especially when the sun goes down! If you want to catch the aspens changing color, they almost always turn in the brief two week period between the last week of September and the first week of October. I wouldn’t recommend coming later than October, the weather turns bad, and most businesses are shut in the shoulder seasons.

Winter: November-March

Silverton is pretty quiet in winter, even though the population is mostly made up of avid skiers and snowboarders. The town itself caters to more extreme sports, like heli skiing and backcountry runs, so there isn’t a big resort in town- Purgatory resort between Silverton and Durango has all the typical ski runs. There aren’t many hiking or jeeping trails to explore this time of year, but you can still rent a snowmobile if you want to get somewhere more complicated. If you do decide on winter, be sure to come between December and February, businesses tend to start to shut down for the shoulder seasons outside of those months.

Spring: April-early June

I do not recommend a spring elopement in Silverton, or anywhere in Colorado for that matter. Since the mountains are high in elevation, it takes a long time for the snow to melt and for it to really feel like “spring”. Spring in Silverton typically lasts from March to early June, and everything is muddy, the snow is brown, and there’s a high chance late season for snowstorms. No trails are accessible, there’s often not enough snow for skiing or snowmobiling, and most businesses will be closed. Many blogs and other photographers will say this is the least crowded and cheapest time to stay in Colorado, which is true, but it’s for a reason.