RMNP Wedding Permit Guide: Sites, Costs & How to Apply (2026)
Getting married inside Rocky Mountain National Park costs $300, requires a Special Use Permit, and limits you to 30 people at most — at some sites, far fewer. The trade: a ceremony backdrop no venue in the world can match.
Here’s the complete picture, current as of June 2026, sourced from the park’s permit office. (Heads up: the park reports all of June 2026 is fully booked, and popular months fill fast — read the timing section first.)
The basics
| Permit fee | $300, non-refundable, same for all sites and group sizes |
| Where to apply | Email application to romo_fees_permits@nps.gov |
| When to apply | Up to 1 year before your wedding month; review starts the 1st of that month, first come first served |
| Latest you can apply | 7 days before the ceremony (no guarantees) |
| Group size | Site-specific caps, 30 people absolute max — including the couple, kids, officiant, and photographer |
| Time limit | 2 hours total, including setup and photos at the site |
| Monthly limits | 60 ceremonies/month May–Oct; 40/month Nov–Apr |
| Response time | 7–10 days after emailing the application |
The 13 designated ceremony sites
Ceremonies can only happen at these sites — getting married anywhere else in the park can get the couple, photographer, and officiant cited. Exclusive use isn’t a thing: the site stays open to the public during your ceremony.
| Site | Max people | Vehicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3M Curve | 15 | 3 | The classic — Continental Divide views |
| Alluvial Fan | 20 | 5 | |
| Bear Lake | 20 | 5 | Winter only, no weekends |
| Copeland Lake | 30 | 10 | Wild Basin, quieter |
| Harbison Meadows | 30 | 10 | West side; dogs allowed on leash |
| Hidden Valley | 30 | 10 | |
| Lily Lake Dock | 10 | 3 | Smallest cap — true elopements |
| Lily Lake Southside Picnic Area | 30 | 10 | Only site that allows a simple reception (extra permit) |
| Lily Lake Trail | 20 | 5 | |
| Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater | 30 | 10 | Only site allowing an arch; dogs OK on leash |
| Sprague Lake | 15 summer / 30 winter | 3 / 10 | Accessible lakeside trail |
| Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater | 20 | 5 | West side; closed in winter; dogs OK |
| Upper Beaver Meadows | 30 | 10 |
Summer limits run from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday of October.
Sprague Lake — 15 guests in summer, 30 in winter. Photo: Daniel Mayer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rules that catch couples off guard
- June books out a year ahead. Applications open exactly one year before your wedding month and are processed first come, first served from the 1st. If you want June, email your application on June 1 the year before.
- Your photographer counts toward the cap. So do infants. A “15-person” site means 13 guests once you subtract the officiant and photographer.
- Two hours, total. Setup, ceremony, photos at the site — all inside the window. Most couples do a short ceremony, then use the permit’s all-day park access for portraits elsewhere (Bear Lake checkpoint included).
- Keep it rustic — it’s enforced. No arches (except Moraine Park Amphitheater), no tents, tables, floral displays, or scattering anything (petals, rice, birdseed). Bouquets and boutonnieres are fine. A few chairs for guests who can’t stand are fine.
- No drones, period. FAA license doesn’t matter — drones are banned on all NPS land.
- No amplified music. 60 decibels max — conversation volume. An acoustic guitar at moderate volume works; a speaker doesn’t.
- Entrance fees still apply. The permit covers timed entry (your party skips that reservation) but not the per-vehicle entrance fee.
- Tourists may watch. The site stays public. At Sprague Lake on a July morning, you’ll have an audience. Winter dates buy privacy.
Bear Lake — winter weekdays only, and worth it for the solitude. Photo: Jonathan Wisner, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to apply, step by step
- Download the Special Use Permit application from the park’s weddings page. It needs a specific date, site, and 2-hour window, plus your best participant/vehicle count.
- Email it to romo_fees_permits@nps.gov. No mail, fax, or phone applications. Expect a response in 7–10 days. Don’t send money yet.
- Sign and pay. The park emails you a draft permit; sign it and submit the $300 fee per their instructions.
- Carry the final permit. You’ll show it at the entrance station, and you’re responsible for your whole party following its conditions.
You’ll also need a Larimer County marriage license — $35, no waiting period, and Colorado allows self-solemnization (no officiant required), which pairs perfectly with a two-person elopement at Lily Lake Dock.
Moraine Park — the amphitheater is the one site where an arch is allowed. Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
After the ceremony
Two hours in the park, then everyone’s hungry. Most RMNP wedding parties head into Estes Park for dinner — see our complete rehearsal dinner and group dining guide for spots that handle groups well, from a full-buyout bowling-alley party to white-tablecloth steakhouses.
FAQ
Can we have a reception in the park? Only a simple picnic-style one, only at Lily Lake Southside, and it needs a second permit. No food trucks, bands, tents, or large quantities of alcohol. Real receptions happen in town.
Is winter worth considering? Strongly. Lower monthly limits but far fewer applicants, Bear Lake becomes available, Sprague Lake’s cap doubles to 30, and you’ll actually have the place mostly to yourselves. Dress warm; it’s serious winter at 9,000+ feet.
Do we need the timed-entry reservation everyone talks about? No — your wedding permit replaces it for the whole party.
Questions the page doesn’t answer? The park’s Commercial Services Office: 970-586-1482.
Facts above come from Rocky Mountain National Park’s official permit page, last verified June 2026. Rules change — always confirm against the park’s current page before booking travel.