Wedding Photos In Rocky Mountain National Park Even If You Don’t Have A Wedding Permit - Without Breaking Rules!
How To Have Wedding Photos In RMNP…
Even Without A Wedding Ceremony Permit
Photos by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
The Solution!
If you have your heart set on RMNP for your elopement, but wedding permits are all gone for the time of year you want to elope, we have a great option where you have your ceremony at our Sweet Little Mini Mountain spot in Estes Park pictured here, then drive 20-minutes to nearby RMNP for after-ceremony wedding photos at any of our favorite spots listed below. Or you can do your photos in RMNP first, then ceremony in Estes Park.
When you don’t have an RMNP wedding ceremony permit, you can still do wedding photos in the park, you just can’t have a ceremony in the park without a wedding ceremony permit. The only permit you need for this strategy is an RMNP photography permit - and we have those in place already with our elopement packages!
Current RMNP Wedding Ceremony Permit Availability
Update as of March 3rd, 2025: The park has issued all of its wedding ceremony permits for May through October 2025, but the other months still have availability if you have date flexibility. All months in 2026 still have permit availability.
I am a Rocky Mountain National Park wedding vendor, so I’m always tapped in to the latest permit availability, and if you want to have your elopement on a date or during a month when permits are still available, I can get your permit for you. If you want to have your elopement during a month when permits are no longer available, then we can do what I’ve described above. Permits are $300 when you apply for them yourself, but if you go with one of our elopement packages, the permit is included for a much lower fee.
Our Favorite Before-Or-After-The-Ceremony RMNP Photo Locations
Do photos at any of these locations before or after a ceremony in Estes Park. OR, you can do photos at any of these locations after a ceremony at a different location in the park too, if you already have a wedding permit or if we get one for you for a date that still has availability!
Trail Ridge Road
Photo spot only. Scroll below to learn all about Trail Ridge Road.
Moraine Park
Photo spot only. Scroll below to learn all about Moraine Park.
3M Curve
Photo spot for before or after a ceremony in Estes, plus a ceremony spot when permits are available. Scroll below to learn all about 3M Curve.
Sprague Lake
Photo spot for before or after a ceremony in Estes, plus a ceremony spot when permits are available. Scroll below to learn all about Sprague Lake.
Dream Lake
Photo spot only. Scroll below to learn all about Dream Lake.
All About The Trail Ridge Road Photo Location
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD
Like Being At The Top Of The World
As you can see from the photos, this is another one of those “feels like you’re at the top of the world” locations. And really, you’re pretty much at the top of Colorado. Trail Ridge Road is the road that goes from one side of Rocky Mountain National Park to the other. It takes you right over the Continental Divide and those mountains in the photos ARE the Continental Divide.
There is a great spot for photos near the highest point of the road at 12,000 feet elevation. Perfect for those epic mountain shots you’ve been envisioning in your mind’s eye. Plus to take in all the beauty, because, well, just wow.
All The Deets
No Ceremonies Allowed Here, Just Photos: This is an RMNP spot just for photos. Even if there were wedding permits available for your date, there are no wedding ceremonies allowed here.
Best Time Of Year: July through early October. The road is closed and under snow in winter.
Group Size: Just the two of you for Trail Ridge Road photos before or after your ceremony.
The Drive: A 10-minute drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, then another 45 minutes to the spot on Trail Ridge Road or depending on traffic during very busy times in the park, it could take a full two hours to get up there.
The Walk: Parking is right there off the road, and it’s however far you’d like to venture from the road itself to get those stunning peak photos. Shoes that can navigate rough terrain are ideal.
Permit: Rocky Mountain National Park commercial permit required photographer. We have this in place already, and it is included in your package price.
Trail Ridge Road Photos In Late Summer
In this first set of Trail Ridge photos, you can see that the mountains are melted out from under their snowy winter blanket, and that’s because it’s late summer. Scroll farther down and you’ll see examples of early summer when the peaks are still snow-capped.
Trail Ridge Road Photos In Early Summer
Here are examples of early summer when the peaks are still snow-capped vs. the previous set of photos in late summer when the snow on the peaks has melted out.
Trail Ridge Road after-ceremony photos with ginormous peaks.
Trail Ridge Road peaks, meadows and forest.
Walking the skyline of Trail Ridge Road.
All About The Moraine Park Photo Location
MORAINE PARK
Big Meadows, Big River And A Valley Of Peaks
Moraine Park is like a photo playground before or after your ceremony. You can romp in the meadows, stand on rocks, sit in the grass. In the spring and early to mid summer there are wildflowers galore. The river is wide, while also flat and mellow in this particular part of the park, and even has some sandy beach areas depending on the time of year. We love when our couples want to wade in! Or no pressure if you don’t want to get your feet wet :)
All The Deets
No Ceremonies Allowed Here, Just Photos: This is an RMNP spot just for photos. Even if there were wedding permits available for your date, there are no wedding ceremonies allowed here.
Best Time Of Year: Accessible year-round and changes throughout the seasons. See my run-down on what to expect during each season here on my Colorado Elopement Guide.
Group Size: Just the two of you for photos before or after your ceremony.
The Drive: A 10-minute drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, then another 5 minutes to Moraine Park or maybe a bit longer if the 2nd entrance station on the way to Moraine Park has a backed up line.
The Walk: Parking is right there at the edge of the meadows, and it’s however far you’d like to venture into the meadows.
Permit: Rocky Mountain National Park commercial permit required photographer. We have this in place already, and it is included in your package price.
All About The 3M Curve Photo Location
3M CURVE
A Rocky Outcrop With Epic Views And Meadows Below
3M Curve is a gorgeous, breathtaking spot. You walk down a sweet trail through beautiful Ponderosa Pines to a rocky outcrop where you can stand and be blown away by the view. It feels like all of Rocky Mountain National Park is expanding out before you. Long’s Peak - one of the most famous peaks in Colorado - is right there in front of you, with all of its companion peaks stretching out from it. The combo of the big peaks and rolling meadows creates a feeling of expansiveness that is a must-have experience.
All The Deets
This is a ceremony spot when a wedding permit is available on your date, or a before-or-after-ceremony spot when a wedding permit is not available: This is an RMNP spot just for photos. Even if there were wedding permits available for your date, there are no wedding ceremonies allowed here.
Best Time Of Year: Accessible year-round and changes throughout the seasons. See my run-down on what to expect during each season here on my Colorado Elopement Guide.
Group Size: Just the two of you when there are no wedding permits available on your date and you’re doing photos before or after your ceremony in Estes Park. Or, up to 15 people allowed with a wedding ceremony permit. Our packages allow 10 guests plus the two of you, photographer and officiant which we find is the best size for this location.
The Drive: A 10-minute drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, then another 10 minutes to 3M Curve.
The Walk: Parking is a pullout on the side of the road, then walk down a dirt trail for about 5 minutes to get to a rocky outcrop that looks over the expansive views. Walking down into the meadow is an option as well. You’ll definitely need shoes or hiking boots with sturdy ankle support for this spot.
Permit: Rocky Mountain National Park commercial permit required photographer. We have this in place already, and it is included in your package price. Or wedding permit too if they’re available for you to do a ceremony there on your date.
All About The Sprague Lake Photo Location
SPRAGUE LAKE
Stunning Alpine Lake With A Rocky Peak Backdrop
Sprague Lake is very easy to access with its graded pathways and flat walk around the lake. For minimal effort you get to spend time next to this gorgeous body of water - playing on the rocks and on its tiny sand beaches, while taking in the absolute beauty of the Continental Divide peaks and the pine and fir trees all around. Wildlife really love this spot too. Ducks and chipmunks and particularly of note… moose! We’ve seen moose regularly in the past few years. Not guaranteed, but such a treat when we get to witness them swimming in the lake or foraging at lakeside.
All The Deets
This is a ceremony spot when a wedding permit is available on your date, or a before-or-after-ceremony spot when a wedding permit is not available: This is an RMNP spot just for photos. Even if there were wedding permits available for your date, there are no wedding ceremonies allowed here.
Best Time Of Year: Accessible year-round and changes throughout the seasons. See my run-down on what to expect during each season here on my Colorado Elopement Guide.
Group Size: Just the two of you when there are no wedding permits available on your date and you’re doing photos before or after your ceremony in Estes Park. Or, up to 15 people allowed with a wedding ceremony permit. Our packages allow 10 guests plus the two of you, photographer and officiant which we find is the best size for this location.
The Drive: A 10-minute drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, then another 15 minutes to Sprague Lake, or possibly longer if there’s a backed up line at the 2nd entrance station inside the park.
The Walk: There’s a parking lot at Sprague lake with ample parking, then you walk on a graded flat trail and the lake is just a few-minute walk from the parking lot. A full walk around the lake takes around 20 minutes to a half hour, but you only have to go as far as you like when doing photography.
Permit: Rocky Mountain National Park commercial permit required photographer. We have this in place already, and it is included in your package price. Or wedding permit too if they’re available for you to do a ceremony there on your date.
You can read more about Sprague Lake as a ceremony spot here.
All About The Dream Lake Photo Location
DREAM LAKE
A Lake And Peak That Will Rock Your World
Dream Lake is at the base of Hallett Peak, with Dream Lake at 9,905 feet elevation and Hallett Peak at 12,720 feet in elevation. Needless to say, you are way up there! That makes Dream Lake an alpine lake with all the beauty of a lake at that elevation - millions of years-old granite rocks, fir trees that smell like cotton candy when warmed by the sun and water that has come right from the snow-capped mountains. Hallett Peak and the lake itself were carved out by glaciers ages ago, and it’s such a cool thing to think about how you are hiking where glaciers once were.
All The Deets
No Ceremonies Allowed Here, Just Photos: This is an RMNP spot just for photos. Even if there were wedding permits available for your date, there are no wedding ceremonies allowed here.
Best Time Of Year: Accessible year-round and changes throughout the seasons. See my run-down on what to expect during each season here on my Colorado Elopement Guide.
Group Size: Just the two of you for photos before or after your ceremony.
The Drive: A 10-minute drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, then another half hour to Dream Lake or maybe a bit longer if the 2nd entrance station on the way to Dream Lake has a backed up line.
The Walk: Most of our ceremony and photo locations are just a 5-minute walk from your car, but this one is a bit more of an adventure. It’s a 2-mile out-and-back trail hike to and from the lake, so wear hiking boots with tread and sturdy ankle support. Be prepared for about a half hour in, then about a half hour out.
Permit: Rocky Mountain National Park commercial permit required photographer. We have this in place already, and it is included in your package price.
Photos by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
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 chat about your elopement, just reach out to me at this link here: Let’s Chat About Your Elopement
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!
