Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding Guide: Panorama Point | Colorado Elopement Photographer

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Their Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panoroama Point, a Colorado Elopement story is one for the books. He was smitten with her she barely noticed him. He knew their story was forever together she wasn’t so sure. Years later they decided to elope with their family, best friends, two pups and a sweet babe on the way at Panorama Point. Making a beautiful Golden Gate Canyon State Park wedding in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I was so honored to be a part of their beautiful story one day in the beginning of Lauren & Trevor’s married lives together!

How To Have Your Own Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding At Panorama Point

How could you not want to get married at beautiful location like Panorama Point in Golden Gate Canyon State Park? It is super accessible for anyone wanting an beautiful view, not very many crowds and only 30 minutes from Denver, Colorado.

I absolutely love this location because its accessible for family members that may be wheelchair bound or unable to walk far. Which is a hard one to beat. You can hike/OHV/Heli-ride to epic locations here in Colorado but there are few that are a short drive and include a ramp for those disabled individuals. Being a business that gives back to couples and people in need we HIGHLY value locations like this.

I also love that its a bit of a hidden gem. SO few people even know about this park, let alone visit it. So you can let go of you worries in thinking you’re going to have a bunch of strangers swarming your ceremony site like you may at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panorama Point: Get A Permit

Panorama Point is located in Golden Gate Canyon State Park which means you’ll need a permit to have your wedding here. Don’t worry I got your back covered, friend. Head to Colorado State Park’s website to book the site or call this number saying you want to reserve Panorama Point for your wedding. 303-582-3707

Here are their current rates for reserving the site for Group Events

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panorama Point: Consider Hiring Vendors

Panorama Point elopements or small weddings don’t include an all inclusive package like other wedding venues do. I highly recommend you hire wedding vendors that can truly support your wedding dreams. Here are a list of the different vendors you may need as well as some of our past client or other couple’s recommendations.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panorama Point: Vendors For Your Ceremony

Chairs:

The question to ask yourselves is if you need chairs. We’ve photographed a lot of small weddings that just have guests circle around a couple to exchange their vows and have a short ceremony. You may want to rent chairs if you know you have any guests who are unable to stand for long periods of time (it can help to ask them!) and if you personally prefer the look of that.

Florist:

Do you want any ceremony decor, many times a florist can step in here to help you create a portable archway or flowers to line an aisle etc. A few things you’ll want to make sure you talk to your florist about with Panorama Point specifically are:

Make sure flowers will not harm the native environment if some of their seeds get blown into the wind.
Make sure all your pieces are portable as they cannot install any pieces permanently or attach to any trees.

Catering Company:

Many larger catering companies have chairs you can rent from them if you want to have chairs at your ceremony. Do keep in mind if you don’t place chairs there yourselves (or family or friends) they too will need a permit to do so.

Officiant:

In the state of Colorado you can marry yourselves! Say what!? Yep, just apply for a marriage permit, follow the steps to be legal and that’s it! Some of our clients have had a family or friend lead the ceremony even if they weren’t ordained!

Leave No Trace Rules for your ceremony at Panorama Point:

Make sure to not use rice, confetti, bird seeds, balloons, birds or butterflies at the end of your ceremony. Or if you want to check with the state park rangers to see what is safe to release.
Pack out anything you bring in including trash: guests water bottles, tissues, etc.
Stay on the trail and designated areas.
Don’t feed the wildlife. As cute as they are, it makes it harder for them to survive when they are fed. Also wildlife may be dangerous so keep your snacks for yourselves.

Getting Ready

Since you won’t be on site in an indoor venue we highly recommend getting ready for some place indoors. This could be done at a rental property like Airbnb or a hotel. If you’d like your hair and make up done we’ve loved working with Makeup by Heather B

But if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous bring a fancy rug, and mirror, your supplies and get ready on either side of your car, true elopement style! 😉

Pro Tip We highly recommend shopping around to find the best bang for your buck between

P.S. We created this curated list of 20 Airbnb wedding venues in Colroado we think you’ll love!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panorama Point: Vendors for Your Reception

Since Panorama Point doesn’t have a wedding package and is only available for certain windows of time you may want to find your own solution to a reception. Here are our favorite ideas as well as restaurants our past clients or other couples have loved who married at Panorama Point.

Private Chef

Hire a private chef or caterer to cook for you too at your hotel or rental property. If you do have a large guest list make sure you check with your rental property that they’d allow this many guests in their home.

Make a picnic for two!

Grab your favorite blanket, better yet have your vows written on this blanket and have a meal made for you too to enjoy by the beautiful trails or picnic areas in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. If it’s just you two you can make your reception as romantic as you’d like!

Resturants

Book a private room or book out a small restaurant for you and your guests in Denver. Some of our favorite places include:

Dessert

Don’t forget your dessert! If your caterer or restaurant does not offer the desert you like you can check out this vendor we’ve loved working with in the past. Some of these are in Denver so you’d have to pick up your deserts for your own picnic!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panorama Point: Hiring A Photographer

Photographer

Last but not least don’t forget your photographer! We would absolutely love guiding you through this whole process as Colorado elopement photographers. We even love to help make sure you have some back up locations! Taking couples around the front range area for some more beautiful photos area that are more secluded are some of our favorite things to do! Let us help you with your location scouting and timeline to catch the best light before you apply for your permit so you know the best time to have your ceremony for the wedding day that fits your loves, passions and story together.

Find your Panorama Point Elopement Dress

Need to find your elopement wedding dress? Don’t forget to consider your environments! We have this great guide that can help you find your elopement wedding dress!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Wedding at Panorama Point: Preparing for Your Colorado Mountain Elopement

Now, that you have your heart set on a Panorama Point wedding we want to make sure your wedding day is a success. After you’ve decided when to have your ceremony keep in mind if its a summer wedding morning times are ideal. I’d even go as far to say that morning times are best for Panorama Point because the light is so magical then too. Late evening and sunsets may not be ideal at Panorama Point because of where the sun ends up at this location. But if you have a great Colorado elopement photographer they can help you find epic places to catch the beautiful sunset in the front range!

Preparing For The Mountain Weather at Golden Gate Canyon State Park:

Having the right gear for your weather you may experience can make or break you and your guests experience.

Summer or Fall:

You may just need an umbrella, raincoat or jacket for 40/50 degree weather. Keeping in mind wind chills may make it seem colder. Alternative shoes are a good idea in case it is muddy or slippery from recent rain. If anyone is unstable walking I do not recommend them wearing heels but good traction shoes.

Late Fall and Spring:

I’d recommend having layers you can strip off to adjust as the weather can fluctuate. Prepare for snow, rain, thunderstorms having plan B’s or options to add on more layers for you and your guests. Having crampons may also be a good idea to prevent any slipping on snow or slick ground.

Winter:

Layers are your best friend. Make sure you and your guests are dressed for the weather. Small thin cotton gloves will not keep your hands warm in 40 degree or below weather. I suggest thick gloves, hand warmers, toe warmers and thermal layers for everyone. If the sun is out and warm people can take off layers as needed. Don’t forget sunscreen as the snow reflection can burn your skin too. Snow shoes and or crampons will be a must for this time of year. Depending on the time of year one or the other may be a good option. Good snow boots are a good idea. Thin fake leather boots or stylish fashion boots will not keep your feet warm. Staying warm can make the difference between hating your experience of missing your wedding day because you’re cold and cannot think of anything else and actually being warm enjoying your day.

Preparing For The Altitude at Golden Gate Canyon State Park:

Low Altitude Plan B

If you or your guests have never been above sea level or at higher altitudes 5,000+ I highly recommend having a plan for a wedding in Denver just in case your bodies react severely to the altitude. Or if you’re able make a trip out here ahead of time to see how you tolerate it. Some signs of altitude sickness include but are not limited to: fatigue and dizziness.

Feel free to get ideas checking out our best places to elope in Colorado post!

Water Is Your Best Friend

Make sure to drink a lot of water or add lemon/lime to your water to keep up your electrolytes. You’ll need to make sure you’re drinking an extra 50oz of water out here. Also fun fact, alcohol will get you twice as drunk, so go easy until you know your tolerance level at different altitudes. If in doubt call an uber. 😉

Make some plan B and C’s.

Work with your vendors, or if you’re hiring a photographer like us that does location scouting for you to have some different plans if the weather isn’t safe.

Thunderstorms, avalanches, road closures, high winds are such cases that may cause a need to change a venue.

Don’t Forget To Eat

Plan to have a meal or two in preparation for your wedding day. I know its SO hard to eat with all those nerves and excitement running through you but the last thing you want is anything to happen because you didn’t eat. Also no one wants to be hangry (hungry/angry) because they didn’t eat enough on their wedding day! Plan to have a family or friend bring you meals while you get ready, call room service, high uber eats, or pack something with you to enjoy as you get ready.

Enjoy

Above all enjoy your day you created to fit you too. Things will may go wrong, but if you keep in mind and hearts focused on your partner it will all be worth it. The experience you can have is more important than if all the details align, trust me, having a grateful heart serves us all a lot more than a fretful one. 😉