Pro Picks: Top Five Wedding Sites in Rocky Mountain National Park

As a wedding planner and officiant I’ve worked with hundreds of couples doing small weddings in Rocky Mountain National Park over the last few years. While it is a beautiful park, there are a handful of important considerations to keep in mind! Most importantly, which site is best for you.

Remember:

Rocky Mountain National Park is open year around, but expect winter conditions November - May, and heavy tourism June - October.
The park only allows wedding ceremonies at their designated sites.
All wedding ceremonies in Rocky Mountain National Park require a permit.
The maximum group size for a wedding in RMNP is 30. Many sites allow significantly less.
All of the ceremony sites are still in public areas, so expect people around. If you want a 100% private spot, I have an awesome ceremony site located just outside the park (obviously I’m bias, but it is a nice spot!) more info.
Seating and decorations are not allowed.

Rocky Mountain National park
All-Inclusive Wedding Packages

- 1 on 1 Planning

- RMNP Permit

- Photography

- Officiant

…Starting at $1,500

Learn more

3M Curve

Max Group Size: 15

This is my top pick if your looking for mountain views and a touch of privacy.

My personal favorite! 3M Curve is the ideal Rocky Mountain National Park location for small weddings. This picturesque spot offers a breathtaking view from all directions. This location does have a fairly bumpy trail to access, so not great for elderly guests. However, the isolated location also means it’s one of the spots that’s going to have the least amount of people around (again not private, but significantly better than the other sites).

Sprague Lake

Max Group Size: 15 Summer, 30 Winter

My top pick if you want water AND mountain vibes (if you don’t mind people around).

Sprague Lake is a great choice if you plan to have a small wedding, and my favorite spot if you want water and mountains. You will be able to have your ceremony on a small dock at the edge of the lake while the majestic mountains rise behind you. Sprague Lake is situated 7 miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Bear Lake Road. It's very well-equipped as there is a parking area, restrooms and a short (0.3 miles) walk. Since it is often a busy picnic area, choose either the evening or early morning for your wedding ceremony.

Lily Lake (Picnic Area)

Max Group Size: 20 Summer, 30 Winter

My top pick for larger groups, offering nice water and mountain vibes.

Lily Lake is a beautiful ceremony site in Rocky Mountain National Park that boasts beautiful views and the logistical comfort that is great for larger groups. There is lots of parking, restrooms, a flat trail, short hike to the site, and it’s off the trail a bit so you don’t have people walking right through your wedding (like Sprague Lake).

Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater

Max Group Size: 30

My top pick for groups that want a more formal setting with seating and privacy.

The Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheatre is a great wedding location for large wedding parties. This wedding location is just 2.8 miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and also has parking areas and restroom facilities. Moraine Park Discovery Center has an extremely rustic feel to it, with its amphitheater nestled cozily between the trees.

Another great feature of the Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheatre is that it is the only Rocky Mountain National Park wedding location that allows dogs. Dogs must be kept on a leash, and your plans to bring them must be disclosed on your Rocky Mountain National Park permit application.

Dream Lake

Does not allow wedding “ceremonies” - but a great spot if you want to hike in and do some photos after the wedding!

Dream Lake is great for those more adventurous couples. The hike to Dream Lake starts at Bear Lake Trailhead and is 2 miles to both go and come back. The trail mostly goes uphill, but about half a mile in, the trail flattens, and Nymph Lake comes into view. This lake is often covered in lily pads during the summer. You finally reach the Dream Lake after another half-mile of hiking. The lake is surrounded by Hallett Peak, making the view worthy of the lake's name.

If you want to do an “adventure elopement” at Dream Lake, basically you do the ceremony at one of the previously mentioned sites, then you hike up to Dream Lake after to do your photos!

Things To Know When Deciding Scenic Wedding Locations In Rocky Mountain National Park

There are quite a few things to keep in mind when deciding which scenic wedding locations you want to visit or get married in at the Rocky Mountain National Park. Since it is your special day, you must strive to get everything as right as possible so that you won't look back at your wedding day with regret or, worse, sadness. Some of the most important things to keep in mind are:

Beware of altitude sickness.

Since the level of oxygen drops the higher you climb, there is a higher chance of you getting struck by altitude sickness. Be sure to drink plenty of water before and while hiking. Don't be hard on yourself on the first couple days of the hike while your body gets used to the change in altitudes, and consider warmer months for your Rocky Mountain National Park wedding to completely avoid altitude sickness.

Be aware of unpredictable weather.

Especially during the spring, the weather is prone to change without warning. Check the weather forecast before going to Rocky Mountain National Park, and come prepared with many layers of clothing, proper footwear, and umbrellas!

Have the proper documentation

A special-use permit is mandatory for a Rocky Mountain National Park wedding. You can apply for this online, which costs just $300. This permit is necessary to have regardless of the size of your party, and you must be able to produce it whenever asked for by a park ranger. But since they are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, plan ahead and make the reservations as soon as possible.

Be Equipped

Don't underestimate the value of being well-equipped, especially when it comes to hiking up mountains and rocky trails. In addition to the essentials such as food, first aid kits, hiking gear and extra clothing, there are certain unsung heroes when it comes to hiking up the Rocky Mountains for your wedding. This includes bear horns/ spray to protect yourself and wildlife, sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself from the mountain glare and veil weights (for brides) to prevent your veil from flying off whenever the mountain wind makes an appearance (which is often).