Are you looking to have a Sapphire Point elopement? Well first off, good choice! (And congratulations!) Sapphire Point is a fantastic location for elopements. Sapphire Point is located on Swan Mountain Road and is the only permitted wedding location in the Dillon Ranger District. The location is conveniently located in between Breckenridge and Keystone, so you will have plenty of fun activities, restaurants and places to stay nearby! Here is my handy guide for planning your elopement at Sapphire Point.
Reserving Sapphire Point
Reserving this elopement location couldn’t be easier. Reservations can be made by either calling 877-444-6777 or applying online at Recreation.gov
Cost to Reserve Sapphire Point
The cost to reserve Sapphire Point is $110 plus a $10 reservation fee. This is for a 2 hour time slot, the perfect amount of time for a ceremony, portraits and even a picnic or snack.
The Best Time to Reserve Sapphire Point
The best lighting is going to be around sunrise or sunset. However, keep in mind the sun dips below the mountains a little earlier than sunset. I will know the exact time you’ll lose sunlight on the day of your elopement, so send me a message and I’d be happy to help you out!
Which Season is Right for your Elopement?
Sapphire Point is truly gorgeous all year round. But which season is right for y’all? Here’s a breakdown of each different season and what you can expect for your Sapphire Point elopement.
Sapphire Point in the Spring
Spring in Colorado is actually quite misleading. Especially once you get into the mountains, Spring is actually a lot more like winter, but usually not with the gorgeous, fluffy, fresh snow. This season can usually be quite muddy. However, one of the perks of getting married in the mountains during Spring, is that cost and demand is much lower!
Sapphire Point Elopements in the Summer
Summers weddings in Colorado are extremely popular. And for a good reason! Early summer usually behaves more like Spring. This is when the wildflowers are usually in full bloom– the colors are beautiful! Usually temperatures are quite mild, but sometimes it can get a little chilly at night. Make sure to bring layers if there’s an unexpected cool front. Another big factor to consider are the afternoon thunderstorms that are super common in the Summer months. For this reason, I highly recommend doing a morning elopement!
Fall Elopement at Sapphire Point
Colorado in the Fall is unbelievable. The colors are just absolutely breathtaking! But this season can come and go in the blink of an eye. Fall is truly an unpredictable season in Colorado. The best bet if you have your heart set on fall colors for your Sapphire Point elopement? Aim for August or September.
Sapphire Point in Winter
Sapphire Point in Winter can have quite a bit of snow, but since it’s such a heavily trafficked area, the snow is usually pretty packed down unless there’s been a recent storm. This is good and bad! Usually you won’t need snow shoes to get married here in winter, but it can be a little slippery and icy in spots, especially on the downslopes. It’s also important to note that it can be quite cold and windy since you’re at slightly higher elevation, but I’ve found it much more tame than other Colorado locations in the winter!
Where to Stay
When choosing your hotel or Airbnb, I highly recommend you and your guests choosing something close by. There are so many gorgeous mountain towns– Breckenridge, Keystone, Dillon and Silverthorne. And yes, these locations are usually more expensive than Denver, but I promise you do not want to commute on i70 the day of your elopement. I have seen traffic add an extra 8 hours to the drive time (seriously).
Hotels near Sapphire Point
Mountain Thunder Lodge in Breckenridge $$$
One Ski Place in Breckenridge $$$$
Hotel Frisco $$
Gravity Haus in Breckenridge $$$
Sapphire Point Elopement Rules and Details
- This location is not completely private and you are not allowed to block off the walkway in any way. Here is a diagram of the location to better understand where guests are and aren’t allowed to be.
- The overlook can accommodate 35 people, max. I promise you would not want to try to squeeze in more people than that.
- You are allowed to bring chairs, seating, tables, etc.
- The only 100% approved celebration activity is bubbles, bells and sparkling water. Confetti and rice is never permitted.
- The ceremony location is a short .6 miles from the parking lot (about 5-10 minute walk). It has a very gentle slope down, but not strenuous at all. The biggest suggestion is just to wear shoes with a little grip to prevent slips.
- The ceremony site is accessible via wheelchair, but it will take some time to navigate down, so factor that time in.
What to Do After your Sapphire Point Elopement
Have a picnic
There are several tables on the other side of the mountain. (About a 15-20 minute walk, almost no incline.) There you could set up a picnic with your family or just you and your partner. The views of the mountain and the Dillon Reservoir are absolutely gorgeous.
Go Skiing
After your elopement you will be right by some of the top ski locations in Colorado! Why not celebrate your new marriage by hitting the slopes?
Rent a Snowmobile
This is another super popular Colorado activity in the winter. Snowmobiling is so fun and a great way to feel adventurous if you’re not a big winter sports person. You can even have a picnic or activity set up at another location!
Rent a Private Chef
If you’re having a more intimate elopement, consider hiring a private chef at your Airbnb. They will pull out all the stops and create a wonderfully romantic lunch or dinner for you and your partner.
Enjoy a Reception
Just because you’re eloping or having an intimate wedding, doesn’t mean you can’t have a reception! Lots of my couples choose to go to a second location after their ceremony for a bigger gathering of friends and family. The day is yours, so you can do whatever you want! Cake? Dancing? It’s totally up to you!
Elopement Gallery at Sapphire Point
I am absolutely obsessed with taking photos at Sapphire Point. The mountain views are truly so stunning for such a minimal walk. I love that the picnic tables can be completely transformed into a gorgeous picnic scape after couples elopement.
What’s Next?
Yay! You’ve gotten through all the important details of planning the perfect elopement at Sapphire Point. Now let’s get planning! Send me a message here and let’s chat about your dream elopement at Sapphire Point (or any Colorado location!)
Meet Leah, Colorado Elopement and Wedding Photographer
I’m so glad you’ve taken the time to read all about Sapphire Point! It is truly such a gorgeous location. One of the first things to know about me is I am all about making sure my couples have a fantastic experience and wedding day. That starts with creating awesome resources (just like this one!) so that you can just relax and enjoy your day! Something I do for all my couples is to create a custom wedding timeline– I will take care of the optimal ceremony time based on lighting, when to take photos and more! If you’d like to learn more about me or reach out about photographing your upcoming elopement, send me a message! I’d be so honored to hear more about your special day!
And if you liked this post about a Sapphire Point Elopement, why don’t you check out some of these other helpful resources and blog posts?
Why you should elope in Colorado
let's work together!
Contact Us!
I'm so excited to hear more about your vision! Send me a message and I'll get back to you within 24-48 hours!
