Estes Park Wedding Planning
Estes Park Marriage License Guide
A Colorado marriage license is one of the simplest parts of planning your Estes Park wedding, but timing matters. Here is what to know before your ceremony.
Getting Legally Married in Estes Park
If you are getting married in Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, or anywhere else in Colorado, you need a Colorado marriage license. You do not need to live in Colorado to apply, and a marriage license issued by a Colorado county can be used anywhere in the state.
For Estes Park weddings, the most local place to start is the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder. Couples can complete the application process through Larimer County and use the license for their Estes Park ceremony, elopement, or Rocky Mountain National Park wedding.
The Big Timing Rule
35 Days
Your Colorado marriage license must be used within 35 days of the date it is issued. Do not apply too early.
The Process
How to Get Your Colorado Marriage License
Complete the application
Start with Larimer County’s online marriage license application. This helps speed up the in-person process.
Visit the Clerk and Recorder
Both parties generally need to appear in person with valid identification. If one person cannot appear, Larimer County provides an absentee affidavit process.
Pay the license fee
The Colorado marriage license fee is $30. Check with Larimer County for current payment options before you go.
Use it within 35 days
There is no waiting period, so the license can be used immediately. It must be used in Colorado within 35 days.
Return it after the ceremony
After the ceremony, return the completed license to the County Clerk and Recorder within 63 days.
Simple paperwork. Big mountain wedding.
Local Office
Larimer County Clerk and Recorder: Estes Park Office
The Estes Park office is the closest Larimer County location for couples getting married in Estes Park.
Address:
1601 Brodie Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Recording Phone:
970-498-7860
Appointments are recommended. Always confirm current office hours, requirements, and payment options with Larimer County before making a special trip.
View official Larimer County marriage license informationWhat to Bring
Identification and Application Details
Both parties should generally be present to complete and sign the marriage license application. Each person must provide valid identification.
Larimer County lists acceptable identification such as a valid driver’s license, passport, valid state ID, military ID, alien registration card, or another U.S. government-issued ID that includes a photo, date of birth, issue date, and expiration date.
If one person cannot appear in person, Larimer County has an absentee affidavit process. The absent applicant must complete the proper affidavit, sign it before a notary public, and include a copy of their identification.
Previous Marriages
If Either Person Was Previously Married
If either person has been previously married or part of a civil union, be ready to provide information about the prior divorce, dissolution, or death of a former spouse.
Larimer County may require the date, place, and type of court where the divorce or dissolution took place. Widows or widowers should be prepared to provide the date and place of death of the former spouse.
Divorces and dissolutions must be final before a new marriage license can be issued.
Colorado Flexibility
Self-Solemnization in Colorado
Colorado allows couples to solemnize their own marriage. That means a couple can legally marry themselves without an officiant, judge, clergy member, or witnesses.
This is especially useful for elopements, small ceremonies, and couples planning a private Rocky Mountain National Park wedding. Some couples still prefer to hire an officiant to lead the ceremony, while others choose a self-led ceremony.
One important detail: self-solemnization does not mean a friend or relative can sign as the officiant unless they are legally authorized to do so. Larimer County provides instructions for self-solemnizing when couples apply for the license.
Explore Estes Park wedding officiantsAfter the Ceremony
Once the ceremony is complete, the marriage certificate portion of the license needs to be filled out correctly and returned to the County Clerk and Recorder within 63 days.
After the license is recorded, couples can request certified copies. Certified copies are often needed for name changes, insurance updates, banking, passports, and other legal records.
Getting Married in Rocky Mountain National Park?
A marriage license handles the legal side of getting married in Colorado. If your ceremony is inside Rocky Mountain National Park, you may also need to follow park-specific permit rules, approved ceremony site rules, guest limits, parking requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Next Step
Plan the Rest of Your Estes Park Wedding
Once the legal details are handled, EPWA can help you find local venues, planners, photographers, videographers, florists, DJs, officiants, caterers, lodging, and guest services for your Estes Park wedding.