How to Legally Get Married in Colorado

Written By Maggie Ridings

Colorado is one of the easiest states in the country to get married in. No waiting period. No blood test. No officiant required. Just a $30 license, your signatures, and whatever backdrop makes your heart race a little.

Here is everything you need to know to make it completely official.

Colorado Marriage License Quick Facts

Cost: $30, cash or card depending on the county

Residency Required: No, anyone can get married in Colorado regardless of where you live

Officiant Required: No, Colorado allows self-solemnization

Witnesses Required: No

Waiting Period: None, you can get married the same day you receive your license

License Valid For: 35 days from the date of issue

Return Deadline: 63 days after the ceremony

Where to Get It: Any Colorado County Clerk and Recorder office

Both Partners: Must appear in person in most cases

Step by Step: How to Get Married in Colorado

Step 1: Get Your Marriage License

Both partners need to appear in person at any Colorado County Clerk and Recorder office. You do not have to go to the county where you are getting married. You can get your license in whichever county is most convenient.

Important: Many counties now require an appointment so do not just show up and assume you will be seen. Check the website for whichever county you are visiting and schedule ahead of time. The whole process takes about 20 minutes once you are there.

What to bring:

  • Valid government issued photo ID for both partners, driver's license or passport

  • The last four digits of both social security numbers

  • $30 for the license fee

  • If either partner has been previously divorced, information about the prior marriage may be required

You do not need to be a Colorado resident. You do not need a blood test. You do not need proof of anything beyond your ID and your age.

Step 2: Get Married

You have 35 days from the date your license is issued to use it. Do not let it expire before your ceremony.

Colorado offers three ways to solemnize your marriage:

Self-solemnization: You and your partner declare yourselves married and sign the license as your own officiants. No third party required. This is one of the most unique aspects of Colorado marriage law and it is genuinely beautiful for elopements. Your ceremony is entirely between the two of you.

Religious ceremony: A marriage solemnized by a religious officiant recognized by a religious denomination.

Civil ceremony: A marriage solemnized by a judge, magistrate, or other authorized public official.

NOTE ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS OFFICIANTS: A friend or relative cannot legally solemnize your marriage in Colorado unless they are authorized by a legal or religious body. Getting ordained online does not automatically qualify someone in Colorado. If you want a loved one to lead your ceremony the easiest path is self-solemnization, which means your friend leads the ceremony as a celebrant while you and your partner sign as your own officiants.

Step 3: Return Your License

After your ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the same county office where you obtained it. You have 63 days from the date of the ceremony to return it either in person or by mail.

Do not skip this step. Returning your license is what makes your marriage officially recorded. Until it is filed with the county your marriage is not on record even though it is legally valid.

Self-Solemnization: Getting Married Without an Officiant

Colorado is one of only a handful of states that allows couples to marry themselves without any officiant or witness present. This is called self-solemnization and it is one of the reasons Colorado is such a popular elopement destination.

For a self-solemnizing ceremony, you simply:

  • Obtain your marriage license at a County Clerk office

  • Hold your ceremony wherever you choose

  • Sign the license as the officiating parties using the title 'The Parties to the Marriage'

  • Return the signed license to the issuing county within 63 days

There is no script required, no minimum length for the ceremony, and no one else needs to be present. You can get married at sunrise on a mountain overlook with just the two of you, sign your license right there, and that is completely legally valid.

This is genuinely one of the most freeing things about eloping in Colorado. The legal requirements are so minimal that the entire focus of the day can be on the experience and each other rather than logistics.

Can Your Dog Sign the Marriage License?

Historically yes, and it became one of Colorado's most beloved elopement traditions. Since witnesses are not legally required, couples could press their dog's paw print into the witness section of the license as a sentimental touch.

As of 2026 this is no longer universally allowed. Some counties have stopped permitting pet paw prints because they create issues with scanning and copying the official document. El Paso County, for example, explicitly prohibits it.

If having your dog's paw print on your marriage license is meaningful to you, call the specific county where you plan to obtain your license before your appointment and ask directly. Some counties still allow it. Others do not. It varies by county and the rules continue to change so confirming ahead of time is the only way to know for sure.

Getting Married in Colorado as an Out of State Couple

You do not need to be a Colorado resident to get married here. Couples from anywhere in the United States and internationally can obtain a Colorado marriage license and get married in the state.

A few things worth knowing if you are traveling from out of state:

  • Get your license in Colorado, not your home state. Marriage licenses are state specific and a license from another state cannot be used for a ceremony in Colorado.

  • Plan to get your license at least a day or two before your ceremony rather than the morning of. County offices have specific hours and appointment requirements that could add unexpected stress if you are trying to coordinate everything on the same day.

  • Boulder County offers a remote online appointment option for out of state applicants. Check their website for current availability and requirements.

  • The license must be returned to the same county that issued it. If you are not staying near that county, mail it back.

Where to Get Your Marriage License Based on Where You Are Eloping

You can get your license from any Colorado county regardless of where your ceremony takes place. That said, getting it close to where you are eloping saves time and keeps logistics simple.

Eloping near Aspen or Maroon Bells: Pitkin County Clerk in Aspen or Eagle County Clerk in Eagle are the closest options.

Eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park or Estes Park: Larimer County Clerk in Fort Collins is convenient and well reviewed for efficiency.

Eloping near Garden of the Gods: El Paso County Clerk in Colorado Springs.

Eloping in Fort Collins: Larimer County Clerk, available by appointment Monday through Friday.

Eloping near Vail or Piney River Ranch: Eagle County Clerk in Eagle.

Ready to Plan Your Colorado Elopement?

The legal part of getting married in Colorado is genuinely simple. Four steps, $30, and some paperwork. The part that takes more thought is choosing where to stand when you say your vows.

If you are planning a Colorado elopement and want a photographer who knows the state, understands the permit landscape at the locations you are considering, and will make your day feel as good as it looks, I would love to hear about your plans.

I want to elope!!

Curious about the best places to elope in Colorado? Check out my complete guide to Colorado elopement locations.

Maggie Ridings
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