Colorado Self Solemnization Guide | How to Marry Yourselves in Colorado

Yes, you can marry yourselves in Colorado!

Colorado is one of the best states for couples who want a wedding day that feels personal, private, and unique. One of the biggest reasons for that is self solemnization, which means you and your partner can legally marry yourselves without an officiant leading the ceremony.

Colorado law allows a marriage to be solemnized “by the parties to the marriage,” and the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s office also states that couples may self solemnize by signing the certificate themselves.

That way you can stand on a mountain, exchange vows, sign your marriage license, and be legally married without needing a judge, minister, officiant, or a crowd of people watching you say your private vows.

What does self solemnization actually mean?

Self solemnization means that the two of you are the ones making the marriage official. You’re not hiring someone else to pronounce you married or relying on a traditional ceremony structure. You don’t have to stress over building the day around what everyone else expects your wedding to look like.

You’ll still need a valid Colorado marriage license and return it on time, but the actual ceremony can be as simple, emotional, funny, quiet, or personal as you want it to be.

That is why so many couples choose Colorado for elopements. The legal side can be simple, which leaves more room to focus on the part that actually matters: the two of you.

Do you need an officiant to get married in Colorado?

No, not if you’re self solemnizing!

Denver’s marriage guidance says that couples may marry in front of a judge, through a religious ceremony, or by self solemnizing, which means signing the certificate yourselves.

That gives you plenty of options. You can have an officiant if you want one, or you can ask a friend or family member to lead the ceremony if that feels more meaningful. You can also keep it completely private and marry yourselves with no one else standing there if that’s your vibe.

The best part is that self solemnizing just makes the ceremony feel more personal.

Do you need witnesses to self solemnize in Colorado?

For a basic Colorado self solemnization, you won’t need witnesses in the traditional sense. Denver’s office describes self solemnization as the couple signing the certificate themselves, and Boulder County gives the instructions for the couple to sign as the “Officiating Party” when self solemnizing.

That said, always check the exact instructions from the county where you get your marriage license, because you want the paperwork filled out correctly.

And yes, some couples like to have their dog “sign” with a paw print for the memories, but you need to be careful with that. El Paso County specifically notes that pet paw prints are no longer allowed in the witness section of the marriage license.

How to self solemnize in Colorado

The process is pretty simple, but you still want to do it in the right order.

1. Apply for your Colorado marriage license.

You’ll need to get a Colorado marriage license before you can legally marry yourselves. Denver lists the marriage license fee as $30, and Colorado doesn’t require a blood test or waiting period.

That means you can technically use the license right away after it is issued, but I would still avoid waiting until the absolute last second. Wedding days already have enough moving parts and it’s best to get the boring part out of the way first anyway.

2. Use the license within the required window.

Denver states that the certificate must be signed in Colorado within 35 days from the date the license was issued.

This matters if you are traveling into Colorado for your elopement. Don’t apply too early, and don’t wait so long that one delayed flight puts you in a weird spot.

3. Have your ceremony.

This is where you get to make it yours.

You can exchange private vows at sunrise, read letters in the mountains, sign the license in your Airbnb, etc. Still want to celebrate with your favorite people afterwards? You can have a tiny picnic afterward or head to a bar! You can invite two people, ten people, or no one at all. The entire day is up to you.

Self solemnization doesn’t mean that your ceremony has to be empty, it just means it doesn’t have to follow traditional structure.

4. Sign the marriage certificate correctly.

When self solemnizing, Boulder County says the couple signs as the “Officiating Party” and uses “The Parties to the Marriage” as the title.

This is one of those details I would triple check with the county before your wedding day, especially if you are applying somewhere other than Boulder or Denver. The concept is simple, but the paperwork still needs to be exactly done the way the issuing county asks.

5. Return the completed license.

After the ceremony, the completed marriage certificate and attached license must be returned to the Clerk and Recorder for recording. Denver states it must be returned within 63 days after solemnization, and late fees apply after that.

Why couples choose to marry themselves in Colorado

Self solemnization is perfect for couples who want the day to feel intimate without feeling unfinished.

A lot of couples choose it because they don’t want a ceremony that feels overly formal. Some want privacy or to exchange vows without standing in front of everyone they know. Some want the freedom to get married somewhere beautiful without coordinating an officiant’s schedule, travel, and timing.

It also works really well for couples who want their wedding day to feel more like an experience than an event. You can build the day around what you actually want to remember.

Self solemnization doesn’t mean you’re skipping the good parts.

This is the part I need every couple to hear.

Marrying yourselves doesn’t mean that you have to skip the dress, the flowers, the first look, the cake, the dinner, the dance, the dramatic veil photos, or the “oh my god, we’re actually married” champagne moment.

It just means you get to choose what the pace is through the day.

You can still have a full elopement timeline, have details photographed, invite your closest friends and family. You can still make it feel editorial, emotional, silly, romantic, and very much like a wedding.

A self solemnized Colorado elopement can be tiny and still feel extremely romantic.

Self solemnization ceremony ideas

If you are trying to figure out what the ceremony itself should look like, here are a few ideas that photograph beautifully and feel personal without becoming overly staged.

You can exchange both of your handwritten vows somewhere private, then sign your license together on a picnic blanket, in the back of your car, at your Airbnb table, or on a flat rock with a mountain view. You can bring a bottle of champagne, a tiny cake, Polaroids, a bouquet, a vintage jacket, or anything that feels like part of your story.

You can also create your own ceremony rhythm. You do not need a script if that feels weird. You can read vows, trade rings, take a breath, kiss, sign the license, and immediately start laughing because it hits you all at once.

That’s where the best photos happen anyway!

Where to self solemnize in Colorado

Colorado gives you a lot of options, but the location should match the experience you want.

If you want something easy and accessible, you might look near Denver, Boulder, Golden, or Colorado Springs. If you want bigger mountain views, you might consider areas near Breckenridge, Estes Park, Vail, Telluride, Crested Butte, or Rocky Mountain National Park.

Just remember that beautiful public places often have rules. Some locations require permits for ceremonies, photography, or both. National parks, city parks, and protected outdoor spaces can have specific limits on group size, timing, decor, parking, and where ceremonies are allowed.

So before you fall in love with a location from Pinterest, make sure you know whether you can legally and respectfully get married there. and in this day and age.. double check that it isn’t ai.

What to bring for a Colorado self-solemnization

You don’t need much, but the right things will make the day so much smoother.

Bring your marriage license, vow books, rings, IDs, comfortable shoes, layers, water, snacks, tissues, and anything you want photographed. If you are heading into the mountains, bring more warmth than you think you need. Colorado weather loves to be dramatic.

For photos, I also love when couples bring details that feel personal instead of overly perfect. A handwritten note. A bouquet with movement. Sunglasses. A jacket. A film camera. A dessert you actually want to eat. Something unique that will make your day feel like yours instead of a copy of every other mountain elopement online.

How photography fits into a self solemnized elopement

When there is no officiant and no big ceremony structure, photography becomes even more important because the day is often more personal.

The photos tell the full story. They show the nervous getting ready moments, the walk to the ceremony spot, the wind messing with your hair, the vows, the signing, the “wait, we’re married now?” reaction, the portraits, the tiny celebration after, and all the in between moments that made the day feel special.

My approach is documentary focused with enough direction that you do not feel awkward or left hanging. I’m there for the real moments, but I will 100% tell you where to stand when the light is good and what to do with your hands when your brain suddenly forgets hands exist.

That balance matters for self solemnized elopements because the day should feel easy, but the photos should still feel intentional.

Final thoughts on marrying yourselves in Colorado

Colorado self solemnization is one of the sweetest options for couples who want their wedding day to feel personal, private, and actually reflective of their relationship.

You can skip the traditional ceremony pressure without skipping the meaning. You can marry yourselves legally, build a day around your actual relationship, and still walk away with photos that feel like a full story.

If you are planning a Colorado elopement, Denver courthouse style wedding, mountain ceremony, or private self solemnization day, I would love to help you document it in a way that feels cinematic and honest. <3

Planning to self-solemnize in Colorado? Reach out here, and let’s build a wedding day that feels stress free and unique.

FAQ section for SEO

Can you really marry yourselves in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado law allows the parties to the marriage to solemnize their own marriage, which means couples can legally marry themselves.

Do you need an officiant to self solemnize in Colorado?

No. Denver’s marriage guidance says couples may self solemnize by signing the certificate themselves.

How long is a Colorado marriage license valid?

Denver states that the marriage certificate must be signed in Colorado within 35 days from the date the license was issued.

How long do you have to return a Colorado marriage license?

Denver says the completed marriage certificate and attached license must be returned for recording within 63 days after solemnization. Late fees apply after that deadline.

Can your dog sign your Colorado marriage license?

Be careful with this. I love the idea, but El Paso County specifically says pet paw prints are no longer allowed in the witness section of the marriage license. Always check the rules from the county issuing your license.