3M Curve Elopement Guide & Packages 2025
Vows at 3M Curve with the amazing snow-capped peak view. Photo: Alyssa Carpenter.
Published 12/17/20. Updated 1/23/25.
Everything You Need To Know For 2025 - And Packages Too!
A Dreamy Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Location
Welcome to 3M Curve - a sweet 5-minute hike down a trail that brings you to a breathtaking view overlooking a glacially-carved valley and an expansive rocky mountain vista.
At the ceremony spot, there are rocky outcroppings to stand on, and that make you feel like you're on top of the world. The view is everything you think of when you imagine being in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and in Rocky Mountain National Park.
I’m Lisa Hunter - wedding officiant, elopement expert and mountain girl at heart - and I’ve been guiding couples to elope at this magical spot for over a decade now. Each month my team is on the trail having new adventures with couples, and I’ve created this page to give you all the intel about 3M Curve in one easy place. Glad you stopped by!
With Love,
Officiant Lisa
Table Of Contents
Photo by partner company: Colorado Photographer Squad.
Best time to elope at 3M Curve
Law, Rules, Permits & Fees
All the details about the location itself
Spotlight: Our March ‘25 trail notes from The Curve
A 3M Curve elopement photo story
Local tips and tricks for 3M Curve
Our 3M Curve elopement packages
3M Curve Elopement Guide & Packages For 2025: Everything You Need To Know
Photos by partner photography company Colorado Photographer Squad
Let’s Start With The Best Time To Elope At This Gorgeous Ceremony Spot:
3M Curve ceremony spot with the Longs Peak backdrop. Photo Alyssa Carpenter.
Best Time Of Day
As always, the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset are the golden hour for photos with light that is the most soft, dreamy and romantic. The two hours before sunset is our default best time. At sunset, most visitors are headed out of the park to get dinner, so that’s handy too. If you want the added perk of very few people around, and you’re fine with getting up several hours before sunrise, you can go for sunrise lighting!
Best Time Of Year
I recommend mid-June through mid-October as the best time to elope at 3M Curve simply because that is when the weather is most stable with warm temperatures and really nothing to consider but afternoon thunderstorms that move quickly through. Come late October and all the way through early June, the weather can be quite variable with anything from sunny and warm to rain to snowstorms and everything in between.
At the same time, it’s no surprise that the above time frame is also the busiest in the park! So if you highly value the chance of feeling like you have the place all to yourself, then consider an off-season date or a sunrise start.
Also, here are the perks and challenges that each specific season brings at 3M Curve…
Spring
Typically March through end of May to mid-June. You can see here that sometimes a spring month (in this case April) can have more snow than the winter month photo below! Temperatures are wildly variable at this time, so be prepared for anything from warm to crazy cold. Later in the spring, like May, the meadow in the background will be a lush green.
Summer
Typically Mid-June through mid to end of August. This is a June photo and the peaks are still snow-covered while the meadow is a beautiful green from all the running water.. By late summer, the peaks are in all their rocky glory because they’ve melted out, and the meadow will have dried to a golden yellow.
Fall
Typically early September through end of November. It’s all evergreen trees in the 3M Curve backdrop, so no fall colors here, but who needs fall colors when you’ve got this epic view, big sweeping meadows and rocky outcrops to stand on!
Winter
Typically December through end of February. The funny thing about Colorado is that there may be snow on the ground during a winter month or maybe none at all. Because of the high elevation in RMNP, you definitely want to prepare for cold temps though. If the sun is out, it can provide much warmth, but still the air itself will be cold.
Laws, Rules, Permits & Fees For 3M Curve
Legal and Permit Requirements For 3M Curve & Rocky Mountain National Park
RMNP Wedding Permit: You need this permit to have a wedding ceremony in the park. I am an official RMNP vendor, so I’m able to get and issue your permit for you, plus it’s $300 when you apply yourself, but is included in your elopement package with us for a much lower fee. You can apply for an RMNP permit here or I’ll do it for you!
RMNP Photography Permit: Make sure you work with a photographer who has an RMNP photography permit. For my packages, all of the photographers from the photography company I’m partnered with already have their permits in place.
RMNP Timed Entry Permit: You need this permit to get through the entrance station. RMNP has timed entry to assure that a steady flow of visitors enters the park throughout the day, rather than a big glob all at once. This minimizes lines at the entrance station. You can learn all about timed entry here, or if you work with my team, we have a wonderful step-by-step document with all the tips to ensure you acquire your timed entry permit in a timely fashion because it can be a little bit like trying to get popular rock concert tickets ;)
RMNP Entrance Fees: You’ll pay a small amount to get your Timed Entry Permit, plus know that you’ll still also need to pay the entrance fee itself at the entrance station. A one-day pass for each vehicle is $30 and a 7-day pass for each vehicle is $35. We always have our couples do a practice drive the day before their elopement, so we recommend getting the 7-day pass when you do your practice drive, then use that same pass on your elopement day.
Marriage License: If you want to sign your license with an officiant or self-solemnize on your day, you’ll need to obtain and bring your Colorado marriage license. You can read highly detailed Colorado marriage license guide here, plus download a PDF with the step-by-step to get and sign your license.
All The Deets About The Location Itself
Now All The Deets
Availability: The trail down to the ceremony spot is accessible year-round.
Group Size: The park allows a group of up to 15 at this spot. We do packages with just the two of you, or bring up to 10 guests with you. After years of elopements at 3M Curve, we find these are perfect size elopements for this spot.
The Drive: A 15-minute to hour-long drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, depending on traffic, then another 15 minutes to 3M Curve.
The Hike: A 5-minute hike from the parking area on a dirt trail with rocks and uneven terrain. Even though it’s short, we require hiking shoes or sneakers. If you want to wear fancy wedding shoes, you can change into them at the ceremony spot.
Ceremony Spot: After the short five-minute hike down, we get to a flat rocky outcrop that seems like it was created by mother nature just for elopement ceremonies since it’s the perfect place to stand and has an incredible view.
Great Spot To Bring Guests
3M Curve is lovely for a “just the two of you” elopement, and it’s also great if you want to bring a small group of loved ones. There is a sweetness to the ceremony spot because of the way guests are able to stand. The flat rock outcropping is perfect for the two of you and any small wedding party, then your guests can gather just in front of the rocks for a circular, intimate feel. Plus, because of where guests stand, they get an amazing view!
More About The Trail
3M Curve is actually the name of the pullout area off the side of the road that goes through the park. You park in the pullout, next to a huge rock and for a moment it doesn’t look like there’s anywhere to go.
On closer look though, there is a trail to the left and right of the rock. Either trail will take you down to the overlook spot which is perfect for your ceremony. The hike is not hard, but it does have uneven ground and rocks to navigate over.
It’s the perfect little hike for a wedding processional as it takes you through a mini forest of beautiful Ponderosa Pines, then the view and ceremony spot open up before you.
March 2025 Spotlight: Hannah & Tyler’s Sweet Family Ceremony
Pro Tip: Make sure to get a twirling photo! Photo by partner company: Colorado Photographer Squad.
Our Latest Trail Notes From 3M Curve
This month I thought I’d tell you about one of our 3M Curve elopements from last summer since it’s nice during the cold temps of January & February to look at photos that make us feel warm and summery ;)
Hannah & Tyler brought their closest family to Rocky Mountain National Park so that they could share their love for the mountains with the people they love the most.
They wanted something special after exchanging rings, so I created a ceremony for them that included a rose exchange as their first gift to one another after officially saying “I Do”. We also had their toddler son bring them the rings which was nothing less than the definition of adorable.
Above is my favorite photo from their day, with these two having a romantic dance after their ceremony with that incredible backdrop behind them.
Did You Know?
There’s a special window of time in Colorado where the meadows are still green while the mountains are still snow-capped. You can see that in Hannah & Tyler’s photo above. The sweet spot is typically in June and then maybe a bit into July as well. After that, the meadow greens have faded to a golden yellow and the mountains are less snow-capped. Still gorgeous of course, just in a different way.
And Now… Photo Stories!
Family Processional Plus An Epic Ceremony Backdrop
Photo Story photos by Alyssa Carpenter
Local Tips & Tricks For A 3M Curve Elopement
Cell Service Tip
It’s good to know that once you drive about 5 minutes into the park from the Beaver Meadows entrance, you may lose cell signal. In recent years, cell signal has improved in the park, but it’s still hit or miss. Usually some phones pick up signal and some don’t.
On that note, make sure that you take care of all your communications with officiant, photographer and guests before you enter the park, plus make sure that everyone has great driving directions because if they get lost they might not be able to call you.
A nice side benefit if you have no cell service: You won’t have your phone to distract you from all the gorgeous nature ;)
Entry Fee Trick
The park entry fees are $35 per car, so the less cars, the less overall cost. If it makes logistical sense, put four people in one car instead of two people in two cars.
This also makes it easier to find parking since the pullout parking area at 3M Curve has limited spots.
Park Wedding Permit Tip
Due to high volumes of visitors to the park each year, the park limits the number of wedding permits it gives out each year, and only so many weddings can happen at each spot on any given day.
So you want to apply for your park permit sooner than later. Permits cost $300, and you can either apply yourselves here or secure a package with me and I’ll get the permit for you since I am a wedding vendor with the park. Plus the cost of the permit is included in your package and I’m able to charge less for it than if you obtained it yourself :)
Trail Ridge Road Pics After The Ceremony
Another 20 to 45 minutes (depending on traffic) past 3M Curve is a spot on Trail Ridge Road that is just exquisite. You can have an additional photo shoot up there after the ceremony. It’s like being on top of the world. And married now to boot!
Tip: The Trail Ridge road spot that is great for photos is at a very high elevation, so if you want photos there, you’d want to plan your elopement between July and mid-September, when it’s much less likely there would be a road closure due to snow.
You can see more photos at Trail Ridge Road here at this link too.
Some photos on this page by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
Some photos on this page by Alyssa Carpenter
To see other elopements at similar locations: Megan & Terin, Mary & Jeremiah
Meet the officiants and photographers who I’m partnered with Here
3M Curve Elopement Packages
You can read all about our Colorado Elopement Packages at this link here where you’ll find detailed information about how we support you every step of the way in the months and weeks before your elopement, plus guide you for the smoothest, easiest and most beautiful experience on the day-of.
Our 3M Curve packages not only include all of our typical elopement package services, they also include detailed driving directions with photos since 3M Curve is an unmarked pullout on the side of the road and is also not found on GPS - you want to be absolutely certain you’re in the right place!
You’ll also get step-by-step how-to’s for worry-free entry into Rocky Mountain National Park and your wedding permit is included since I’m a vendor with the park. Or, if you’ve already got your wedding permit, that works as well.
Let’s Make It Happen!
Hey it’s Lisa :) I’m an officiant, elopement expert and mountain girl at heart. I can’t wait to tell you all about these sweet mini adventures and how it all works.
Reach out using this handy form and I’ll send all the info to make your elopement day real, see if we’re a fit and hop on a call to lay out your dream day and package quote. Can’t wait to get to know you!
