Colorado or Montana?

Both offer jaw‑dropping mountain scenery, wide‑open skies, and space to slow down and be intentional. But the experience of getting married in each place feels very different. If you’re deciding between a Colorado mountain wedding or a Montana elopement, this guide will help you choose the location that best fits your vision, priorities, and pace.

The Feel: Adventurous vs. Untouched

Colorado Mountain Weddings

Colorado is ideal for couples who want dramatic alpine scenery without sacrificing accessibility. The Rockies are iconic for a reason—towering peaks, golden aspen groves, alpine lakes, and venues that feel elevated without being stuffy.

Colorado works especially well if you:

Want a balance of adventure and comfort
Are inviting guests from out of state
Love modern mountain venues or upscale lodges
Want easy access to vendors, lodging, and airports

Popular areas we film and photograph include:

Rocky Mountain National Park
Breckenridge and Summit County
Vail and Beaver Creek
Crested Butte
Estes Park

Montana Elopements & Weddings

Montana feels quieter, wilder, and more remote. It’s less about polished venues and more about space and stillness. If Colorado feels energetic, Montana feels grounding.

Montana may be your place if you:

Want fewer crowds and a slower pace
Are drawn to wide valleys, rugged peaks, and big skies
Prefer a more intimate or non‑traditional day
Value privacy over convenience

We often work in:

Glacier National Park
Whitefish
Bozeman and Paradise Valley
Flathead Lake
Southwest Montana mountain ranges

Guest Count & Logistics

Colorado tends to be more guest‑friendly. There are more direct flights, larger lodging options, and established venues that handle logistics smoothly. This makes it a strong choice for weddings with 30–150 guests.

Montana shines for elopements and intimate weddings. Fewer people, fewer timelines, fewer distractions. It’s perfect if your priority is presence over production.

Permits, Rules, and Planning Reality

Both states require permits for ceremonies on public land, but:

Colorado locations often book far in advance and have stricter capacity limits
Montana locations can feel more flexible, but access and weather play a bigger role

Regardless of location, we help our couples think through:

Seasonal weather patterns
Trail access and hiking considerations
Ceremony timing for light and privacy
Backup plans that don’t feel like compromises

The Visual Difference (From a Photo & Film Perspective)

Colorado imagery tends to feel:

Bold and high‑contrast
Epic and vertical
Clean alpine blues and greens

Montana imagery often feels:

Earthy and expansive
Layered with depth
Softer, moodier, and more cinematic

Neither is better—just different. Your choice should reflect how you want your wedding day to feel when you look back on it.

You Don’t Have to Decide Alone

Choosing between Colorado and Montana isn’t about trends or what photographs best on Instagram. It’s about alignment—how you want to spend your day, who you want there, and what kind of experience you want to remember.

At Summit & Soul, we photograph and film weddings and elopements across both Colorado and Montana. We help couples navigate location decisions, timelines, and logistics so their day feels intentional, grounded, and fully theirs.

If you’re still deciding, we’re happy to talk it through with you.

Reach out here to start planning your Colorado or Montana wedding or elopement.

Colorado vs. Montana: How to Choose the Right Mountain Backdrop for Your Wedding or Elopement