Sprague Lake Elopement - Everything You Need To Know in 2024
Sprague Lake sunset ceremony with stunning glacial peaks.
Everything You Need To Know & Updated For 2024
A Stunning Alpine Lake & Wildlife On Your Big Day
Photos by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
At 8,000 feet elevation, Sprague Lake is the quintessential alpine experience - a beautiful pristine lake with a rugged mountain peak backdrop.
Plus there is wildlife - ducks, geese, deer and every once in a blue moon if you're lucky... a big 'ole moose. You never know if you’ll see wildlife, but that’s what makes it so special when you do.
Walk the flat trail to get to the dock or lakeside for your ceremony, then continue on the trail to play in the forest and on the rocks. There's even a small aspen stand for stunning photos next to the lake if you're particularly excited about fall colors. Read on for all the intel!
With love,
Officiant Lisa
Sprague Lake just married kiss.
All The Deets
Availability: Accessible year-round. Mid-June through early October are ideal for weather.
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 Sprague, we find these are perfect size elopements for Sprague.
The Drive: A 15-minute to hour-long drive from downtown Estes Park to the park entrance, depending on traffic, then another 20 minutes to an hour to Sprague depending on traffic.
The Walk: It’s a 15-minute walk on a wide dirt trail that is graded so it’s like a road. You’ll want hiking shoes or sneakers for this, then you can switch to fancy wedding shoes at the site. Plus remember, even though the walk is flat, it's at 8,000 feet elevation, so limit invites to those who will do fine at that elevation.
Permit: Commercial RMNP permit required. We are an RMNP vendor, so we are able to get your permit for you, and it’s included in your elopement package with us.
Photo Story: Sunset Ceremony At The Dock
Sprague Lake Nature & Trails
The path takes you around the entire lake edge as you pass pine, fir and aspen forests.
Plus, there is so much wildlife! You will almost certainly see elk on the drive up to Sprague Lake, then at the lake itself there are all kinds of sweet critters like you see in the pics below.
We once had an elopement where a moose decided to take a swim, and we all watched with our mouths open as this ginormous animal submersed itself and just its antlers were above water as it moved about the lake.
I’ve also had elopements where baby ducklings or tiny chipmunks decided to scamper by our feet right in the middle of the ceremony!
Walking the trail that circles the entire lake.
Deer!
Ducklings!
Lakeside kiss just after the ceremony.
Sprague Lake forest ceremony spot.
Playing on the lake edge.
The ginormous majestic Ponderosa Pine which must be hundreds of years old.
More Beautiful Photo Spots After The Ceremony
In addition to the photos above, there are even more spots for epic shots.
You can walk around the lake, stop on the many wooden bridges, stand under a huge and ancient Ponderosa Pine, run through a meadow next to a stand of aspens, and that’s just to name a few…
I saved the dock for last because we’ve noticed that some couples love the dock and some don’t like the look of it at all, so just know that you don’t have to have the dock in any of your photos if you don’t want it lol :)
Or if you love it, then you can have your ceremony there. Because the lake is surrounded by forest, it’s often so calm that it’s like glass, and the clouds and trees reflect a mirror image of themselves onto the lake as you stand on the dock. Pretty magical. It’s also a great place to sign your license.
Local Tips & Tricks For A Sprague Lake Elopement
Parking Trick
Sprague Lake has a pretty big parking lot, but on busy days it can fill up as early as 8:00 or 9:00 am, and if that happens, you have to take a shuttle to the lake. Lol, can you imagine having to take a shuttle on your wedding day?
Luckily, the park wedding permit allows three cars to park at the lake, so even if they’ve got it blocked off as full, they should let you in. Keep this in mind if you have guests plus wedding vendors. You’ll have the smoothest arrival experience if you have three cars max.
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, then it’s another 20 minutes to Sprague where there is mostly no cell service.
A nice benefit is that you won’t have your cell phone to distract you from all the fab nature, but 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 won’t be able to call you.
2024 Update: We noticed that cell service was much less spotty in 2023, especially for AT & T customers, but still plan on doing all your communications before your enter the park ;)
Park Wedding Permit Tip
Due to high volumes of visitors to the park each year, the park has limited the number of weddings to 250 max in 2024 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 I can secure your permit for you because I’m a vendor with the park. Plus the permit is included in your package for much cheaper which is a nice bonus for you :)
Colorado Elopement Package: Ceremonies With Lisa Elopement Packages
Photos by partner company Colorado Photographer Squad
To see other elopements at this location: Jess & Zach, Megan & Terin
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 practical and inspiring 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!
