Intimate Elopement at Colorado State Capitol Building
Who knew eloping in Denver could be so ethereal🥹. I really can’t believe the Colorado Capitol Building is this beautiful. Kelsey and Randall were married on a HOT summer day at the Colorado State Capitol building. Knowing they didn’t want the hassle of planning a full wedding they opted to get married surrounded by their closest loved ones at the State Capitol. Afterward, they took portraits around the Capitol before heading to Populus Denver. There they celebrated with drinks and group portraits with their friends and family.
How to Get Married at the Colorado State Capitol Building
For Kelsey and Randall’s elopement ceremony, we opted to host their ceremony outside. They tucked themselves away from the majority of the traffic that comes with the Colorado State Capitol Building. They had a family member officiate their wedding ceremony and just a handful of loved ones as witnesses.
Here are some of the steps they took leading up to their elopement.
How to Get Your Marriage License in Denver
To get a marriage license in Denver, you’ll want to make an appointment at one of the Denver courthouses or the County Clerk’s office. Although, some locations do allow walk-ins, but always be sure to call ahead!
What You Need to Know About Getting Married in Denver
- Don’t forget your ID
- Sign your license within 35 days of receiving it and return it within 63 days of receiving it
- Colorado allows self-solemnization, meaning you can marry yourselves without an officiant.
Plan Your Elopement Ceremony at the Colorado State Capitol Building
When planning an elopement ceremony at the State Capitol, weekdays are great days to do so. Afterward, take portraits around the building and then check out some of your favorite spots in Denver afterward to celebrate.
By choosing an off day, (Kelsey and Randall were married on a Tuesday) they were able to dodge a lot of the crowds that typically can be found at the Capitol Building later in the week through the weekend. On top of that we hosted their ceremony outside tucked on the side of the building to avoid anyone going in and out of the building.
If you are comfortable with small crowds and extra witnesses, you can also have your ceremony inside the Capitol!
Wedding Portraits at Colorado Capitol Building
The Capitol Building is always an option when eloping in Denver. i usually recommend doing 30 mins of photos here and then getting more photos elsewhere. The Capitol building is a popular wedding photo location, for good reason.
Where is the Colorado Capitol Building?
200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Things to Know About Taking Photos at the Colorado Capitol Building
When taking wedding portraits at the Colorado State Capitol, it’s SO important to be respectful and mindful of the staff and everyone else in the building.
Every time I take portraits at the Capitol, I check in with the security guard at the metal detectors to see if any rules have changed throughout the building. I ask which areas are available, whether or not I can use flash inside the building and if there are any areas we need to avoid when taking portraits.
Please note, the rules at the Capitol Building have changed over the years. It is SO important to always ask about the current rules when entering the building so we can preserve the integrity of the space and continue to be allowed to photograph there.
Here is a look at some of the magic we made while taking Kelsey and Randalls Photos at the Capitol Building:
How Much Photography Coverage Do I Need for My Courthouse Elopement?
Two Hour Denver Elopement Timeline
These two decided to have a romantic and intimate elopement without making it a huge to-do.
For Kelsey and Randall, two hours of photography coverage was the perfect amount of time to document their intimate Denver elopement. It gave us enough time for a first look, portraits, their ceremony, family and group photos, and a second location with drinks without making their day feel rushed. Randall and Kelsey’s wedding day was HOT, so taking breaks in the Capitol Building made their wedding day so much more enjoyable.
Their day included:
- Editorial elopement portraits framed by classic courthouse style architectural elements
- An intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest people
- Wedding portraits with their loved ones
- Drinks and a simple celebration at Populus Denver
Their Sample Elopement Timeline
12:00- First look at the Capitol Building
12:15- Portraits around the building
12:45- Wedding Ceremony
1:00- Group Portraits
1:30-Portraits and walk to a second location
1:45-Drinks and celebration with witnesses
This is always an option when eloping in Denver. I usually recommend doing 30 mins of photos here and then getting more photos elsewhere. The Capitol Building is a popular wedding photo place, for good reason.
