Buena Vista (BV for short) is one of our favorite towns in Colorado, especially if you’re hoping to get away from the more crowded areas like Breckenridge or Estes Park. Located about 2.5 hours from Denver and about an hour and 50 minutes from Colorado Springs, BV has a nice historic downtown area as well as a beautiful walking path alongside the Arkansas River.
And if you’re hoping for a more unique elopement experience, this place has several opportunities to make your wedding day one to remember. Check out our Buena Vista elopement guide below for more details!
Reasons to Elope in Buena Vista, Colorado
- Buena Vista (where the locals pronounce it like “byoo-nuh” in “beautiful,” not the Spanish word “buena”), is full of great activities: paddling in the river, off-roading in the nearby mountain passes, hiking to scenic views, drinking at the local breweries and distilleries, and soaking in the hot springs at Mt. Princeton — just to name a few!
- Fewer crowds than other popular destinations in Colorado. That’s not to say it doesn’t get busy, especially during summer! But if you’re willing to drive a bit farther to get away from the more touristy locations, this spot is well worth it.
- Plenty of camping opportunities nearby, including dispersed locations in the nearby national forest areas.
- Easy to combine a just-us elopement with a celebration including your family and friends. Want to follow up an elopement with an evening (or a second day) to eat, drink and/or dance at a formal reception? BV has several great wedding venues that make this a real possibility.
- Or combine an elopement in Buena Vista with some exploring in other nearby towns and parks! If you visit in summer you can take the mountain pass over to Crested Butte (another one of our favorite places, where they host the annual wildflower festival). You could head north up to Twin Lakes, where you can paddle out onto the water with a kayak/canoe. Or you could head south down towards the New Mexico border, and play in the sand at Great Sand Dunes National Park!
Best Places to Elope near Buena Vista
While we save the specifics on our favorite hidden-gem locations for couples that work with our photo + video team, here are a few of the main areas to elope near BV:
Pike-San Isabel National Forest
Please note: Always reach out to the managing office, ranger district, or other governing municipality about any potential special use fees, events permits, photography/videography or other commercial use permit, and rules that may apply, such as a maximum guest count, before you plan an elopement or wedding in these areas.
How to Elope in Buena Vista
1. Select a date. Although BV is accessible year-round, many nearby trails and mountain pass highways are not accessible for about half the year in winter. Our favorite months for eloping in Buena Vista are June through October, with snow on the ground still possible at the tail end of spring in May/early June and first snowfall possible around mid-late October. Summertime is beautiful in BV, but keep an eye out for afternoon thunderstorms, which can quickly turn dangerous when you’re above 9-10,000 feet.
2. Find your vendors. As a photo + video team that also helps our couples with unlimited planning assistance, we always suggest reaching out to us first. We have several great vendors in the area to recommend, including hair/makeup artists, florists, food, and more.
3. Reserve lodging. Some of the best places to stay in BV can fill up quickly for busier months, so it’s best to reserve nearby lodging at least a few months in advance. Check out the next section below to get ideas about where to stay in the area.
4. Obtain any permits you might need. No matter the size of your group or date you choose, you’ll always want to get the most recent information available about any potential permits you might need for your elopement location directly from the manager of that location. No one likes getting a fine on their wedding day, so it’s best to be sure you have the right permission to be there.
5. Get your marriage license. The closest courthouse to obtain your marriage license is the Chaffee County Courthouse in Salida, about 30 minutes south of Buena Vista. We’ve also had several couples pick up marriage licenses in other counties on their drive out from the Denver area, including Denver County, Jefferson County, or Clear Creek County. Be sure to reach out to the courthouse about reserving an appointment in advance, and remember that they are not open on weekends or major holidays.
Best Places to Stay in Buena Vista
We’ve put together a few different options when it comes to lodging in BV:
Best Hotels + Resorts in BV
- River + Tree Inn
- Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
- The Surf Hotel
- The Inn at Railroad & Main
- Buffalo Peaks Lodge
- Deer Valley Ranch
- Best Western
Best Designated Campgrounds/RV Parks
- Snowy Peaks RV Park
- Mt. Princeton RV Park
- BV Overlook Camp & Lodging (what used to be a KOA)
- Rafter’s Roof
- Arkansas River Rim
- Arrowhead Point
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
- Collegiate Peaks Campground
Best Airbnb/VRBO + Private Rentals
Where to Eat + Drink in BV
We’ve had food and drinks at several of these local eateries and bars! Here are some of the top local favorites:
- Wesley & Rose – lobby bar in the Surf Hotel
- Sorelle Delicatessen – our go-to stop for lunch when visiting town!
- Buena Vista Brewing Co.
- Simple Eatery
- The Midland Stop
- Deerhammer Distillery – such great drinks + dog friendly patio!
- Eddyline Brewery
- House of Rock Kitchen
Buena Vista Wedding Venues
- The Surf Hotel
- River + Tree
- Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
- The Barn at Sunset Ranch
- The Terrace on Main
- Deer Valley Ranch
Other wedding venues in nearby towns:
- SteamPlant – Salida
- Hutchinson Ranch – Salida
- Camp Hale – north of Leadville
- Joyful Journey Hot Springs – 30 miles south of Salida
- Willow Vale – an hour south in Hillside
Reach Out to an Elopement Photo + Video Team
Whether you’re looking for an elopement photographer to explore the mountains with, a videographer with a drone license to capture your day in the snow from above, or a guide to walk you through the planning process, contact Skyewater Photo + Film!
We help couples plan epic elopements and destination weddings all over the US and we can’t wait to bring your elopement vision to life.
