Best Little Chautauqua Park Elopement Guide - 2024 Edition
Chautauqua Park Lawn meadow just married!
Everything You Need To Know & Updated For 2024:
Elope With The Flatirons Rocks As Your Backdrop
If you like the experience of mountains jutting up behind you, rather than being on top of them, this spot is beautiful and so unique.
The Flatirons are the triangular rock formations that define Boulder’s skyline, and there are trails that take you near them or even right along the base of them.
With the Flatirons as your ceremony backdrop, there are a several different spots for a ceremony - check out the photos below.
Best thing is that Chautauqua is right on the edge of Boulder, so it’s incredibly easy to get to!
These photos of Whitney & Richard are by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad…
Smooching next to the Chautauqua Lawn ceremony spot.
All The Deets
Availability: Any time of year, this spot is great for all seasons.
Group Size: Just the two of you and up to 10 guests with our packages on the Chautauqua trails. Or up to 50 guests with you on the Chautauqua Lawn.
The Drive: A 10-minute city drive from downtown Boulder.
The Walk/Hike: Trail locations range from 5 to 20-minute hikes depending on the spots you choose. Some trails are more like graded gravel roads, while other trails are the traditional kind of trail with dirt, rocks and uneven grade. You’ll want hiking shoes or sneakers for any of the trails, then if you want to wear fancy wedding shoes, you can switch to them at your ceremony site. Or if you have a ceremony on the Chautauqua Lawn, there is parking around the perimeter lawn so it’s just a short walk on flat grass to the ceremony spot. Make sure to avoid wearing shoes with heels, though, because they’ll sink into the grass!
Permit: Commercial permit required and is included with your package with us.
Playing in Chautauqua Meadow with the Flatirons backdrop.
Chautauqua Meadow View
This spot is on the trail heading toward the Flatirons, and is a lovely area for additional photo time after a ceremony on the Chautauqua Lawn (you can see photos of the lawn in the next section).
Or if you want a bit more of an adventure, this meadow view area is also along the way as we do the Chautauqua Flatirons hike (see more photos of that hike below too).
Chautauqua Lawn
If you want to bring family and friends, the Chautauqua Lawn is easily accessible for guests of all ages.
You can have your ceremony on the lawn with a group of family and friends (up to 50 people total), and then opt for additional photo time for just the two of you on the trail to the meadow and along the Flatirons.
Micro wedding on Chautauqua Lawn.
The whole crew of family & friends for the Chautauqua Lawn ceremony.
Chautauqua Flatirons Hike
These winter flatirons photos by Jewel Afflerbaugh
If you love the idea of being right at the base of the Flatirons, we can head 20 minutes up the trail to another spot that is all about these amazing rock formations. Have your ceremony where 300 million year-old sandstone meets meadow and forest. This hike is great as a mini adventure for just the two of you.
Here’s this area during a sunny winter elopement…
And Here’s The Chautauqua Flatirons Hike In The Summer…
These summer flatirons photos by Jewel Afflerbaugh
Hiking the Chautauqua Mesa Trail to the base of the Flatirons.
Ceremony at the base of the Flatirons just off the Chautauqua Mesa Trail.
Chautauqua Horizon View
These horizon view photos by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
This is a fun spot for family or for just the two of you. It’s on a different part of the trail that is pretty flat and easy to walk. It’s accessible both from a parking lot and a nearby street with a short set of stairs to get the trail. Easy, yet at the same time, you get this backdrop!
A great option if you’ve got your kids with you, or a small group of family/friends.
Family elopement with a Chautauqua horizon view.
Local Tips & Tricks For A Chautauqua Park Elopement
Lodging Tip
Chautauqua Park is not only an amazing spot for hiking, it has a whole little village of cabins and cottages that you can rent.
We’ve had several couples request a cottage right on the trail, and if you get one of our faves, there’s a beautiful view of the Flatirons, plus a little path out your back door leads you right to the trail where you’re getting married. You can literally walk to your ceremony!
Parking Trick
Chautauqua is busy. That’s one of the drawbacks of the spot, but the beauty and the accessibility count for a lot more. When heading to your ceremony, make sure to leave lots of cushion time to find parking. If spots are all filled, drive around the parking circle a few times and a spot will usually open up.
Or if not, find parking on one of the nearby side streets. The lower numbered streets usually have less cars on them, since they are a bit up the hill but still nearby ;)
Timing Tip
If you’re having a ceremony around sunset, keep in mind that the sun “sets” at Chautauqua an hour earlier than actual sunset time because it sinks behind the Flatirons just to the west of the park.
Great photography lighting is usually within an hour to an hour and a half of sunset, so at Chautauqua, plan your photos for two and a half hours before sunset.
Colorado Elopement Package: Ceremonies With Lisa Elopement Packages
To see other elopements at similar locations: Jess & Zach, Krista & Kris
Introductory, Chautauqua Meadow, Chautauqua Lawn and Chautauqua Horizon View photos by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
Chautauqua Flatirons Hike photo by Jewel Afflerbaugh
Meet the officiants and photographers who I’m partnered with Here
If you want to know more about how your elopement will work…
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!
