SolPine Studios

The wedding industry acts like elopement and microwedding are completely separate things. They're not really. Both are small, intentional, built around the couple rather than the spectacle. The differences that actually matter are practical — how many people are there, what does the day need to feel like, and how much do you want to coordinate.

Here's the short version:

Elopements are usually 10 guests or fewer. The day is flexible. You can hike somewhere in the morning, do your vows at one spot, grab dinner somewhere else that night. Timelines are loose, vendors are minimal, and in Colorado you don't even need an officiant if you don't want one. Budget typically runs $2,000 to $8,000.

Microweddings are roughly 10 to 30 guests. The day has more structure with a real ceremony, toasts, usually a dinner reservation or a private venue. You start needing more vendors, and timelines become actual documents that people follow. Budget usually falls between $8,000 and $25,000.

The number isn't sacred. We've shot groups of 12 that felt like elopements and groups of 8 that felt like microweddings. It's less about the count and more about the shape of the day.

The easiest way to figure out which fits: write down actual names. Not categories like "immediate family" — first and last names of the people you want there. The number you land at tells you more than anything else.

After that, two more things tend to settle it: whether you want guests at the ceremony or if that moment is just for the two of you, and how much you actually enjoy coordinating logistics. Elopements are simple. Microweddings are still small, but they have more moving pieces.

One format we keep coming back to as a favorite: a private ceremony with a microwedding-sized dinner afterward. Just the two of you for the vows, then 15 or 20 of your people for dinner and toasts. You get the intimacy of an elopement and the warmth of a real celebration without having to choose between them.

If you're still working through where you land, we published the full breakdown on the journal — real scenarios, venue and permit implications by guest count, and what the day actually looks like either way.

Should You Elope or Have a Microwedding? An Honest Guide | SolPine Studios The honest guide to elopement vs. microwedding. What each really means, who they fit, and why some couples should pick the hybrid option.

Honest version of eloping at Red Rocks: it's a working venue that's also a park that's also a cardio spot for half of Denver. On any given morning you've got runners on the stairs, dog-walkers, tourists, and the occasional school group all sharing the same space.

That's not a problem. It's just what you sign up for when you pick somewhere this well-known. The couples who have the best time here are the ones who come knowing that and lean into it. Someone's going to yell congratulations from across the seats. A hiker will probably wander into the edge of a wide shot. Your photographer will clean that up in post, and you'll laugh about it for the rest of the weekend.

The actual keys to making it work: pick the right spot for your vibe, plan around the concert schedule, and get there early.

The three main spots work really differently. The amphitheater is the most iconic — sandstone walls, the Denver skyline, the famous rows of seats — but it's also the busiest. If that energy sounds fun, great. If you want something quieter, the Geologic Overlook Trail is the better call. Same landscape, way fewer people, and pull-offs all along the trail that work well for a ceremony. If you want to bring guests and have an actual setup, the Trading Post Backyard is a dedicated space with no foot traffic messing with your timing.
One other thing worth knowing: Red Rocks runs a full concert and event schedule year-round, and show days can shut down public access earlier than you'd expect. Always check the calendar before you commit to a date.
We just put together a full guide on the journal — the three locations, what they each look like for an elopement, suggested timelines, and the permit basics. Worth a read if Red Rocks is on your list.

Red Rocks Elopement Guide: Permits, Best Spots & Timelines | SolPine Studios Planning a Red Rocks elopement? Learn the best ceremony locations, permit basics, show-day logistics, ideal timing for privacy, and a stress-free photo-friendly timeline.