The single most surprising thing I tell out-of-state couples: in Colorado, nobody has to marry you. You can legally marry each other — no officiant, no witnesses, no third human on the mountain. It's called self-solemnization, and it's why Colorado has become the elopement capital of America.
What self-solemnization actually means
Colorado law allows the two parties to a marriage to solemnize it themselves. Practically: you get a marriage license, you say your vows wherever and however you want, you both sign the license, and you return it to the county clerk. Legally married. The state doesn't care whether that happened in a courthouse or at 12,000 feet on Molas Pass at sunrise.
Step by step
1. Apply together at any Colorado county clerk's office with photo ID — any county works, regardless of where you'll marry. The fee is around $30 (confirm with the clerk).
2. No waiting period. You can pick up the license in the morning and marry that afternoon. It's valid for 35 days.
3. Say your vows — anywhere legal to be. This is where your ceremony becomes entirely yours: written vows, a whiskey toast, your dog in attendance, total silence at an alpine lake. Nobody scripts it.
4. Sign the license — both of you. That's the legal act.
5. Return it to the issuing county clerk within 63 days for recording. Mail works; in person is safer.
The questions everyone asks
Is it really legal? Will other states recognize it? Yes — a marriage validly performed in Colorado is recognized across the U.S. If you have specific concerns (immigration, international recognition), confirm with the county clerk or an attorney for your situation.
Can our dog sign as a witness? Colorado famously allowed paw prints on licenses for years as a novelty — no witnesses are legally required, so any extra signature lines are ceremonial. Ask your clerk what they currently permit, then bring the dog anyway. (I have a whole guide to eloping with your dog.)
Can a friend still “officiate”? Absolutely — a friend can lead the ceremony emotionally while you self-solemnize legally. Best of both.
Why does this matter for the ceremony itself? Because with no officiant directing traffic, your vows become a conversation instead of a performance. As the person filming: the difference is enormous. Self-solemnized vows are consistently the most honest audio I record.
The one thing people forget
Return the license. Every clerk has stories of couples who framed it instead. Signed-but-unrecorded is not married — send it back.
Planning to self-solemnize somewhere beautiful? That's my specialty — films for two-person weddings where the vows are the whole show. Check your date.