Best time to get married at Maroon Bells?

Michelle, this sounds like a beautiful place to get married!! From the research I've done, I think the closer to the end of September/the further away from the leaves changing colors you can get, the more privacy you're going to get.

I've not gotten married in Maroon Bells, but as both a tourist and a photographer, I would choose photographers over tourists, no question, not matter where I am. In my experience, photographers will find another way to get the shot they want. Tourists are relentless and don't give a hoot about anything going on around them. Other weddings I've seen have taken place toward sunrise as well, but some of the tour guides say that late afternoons are less crowded. A sunset ceremony could also be very pretty.

I would definitely look around the internet - TripAdvisor, Fodors, all those sorts of places - for more guidance. Best of luck, Michelle!!!

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Thanks, Maggie! I appreciate your looking into it. I've poked around on the internet as well, and our friends from Colorado have said that crowds there are inevitable - it's just a matter of choosing which crowd.

Hi Michelle! I came across your post when doing research on weddings at Maroon Bells, as we are planning our big day there next September. Are you reserving the amphitheater there or just planning to show up and find a less crowded spot? We reserved the amphitheater, should give us more privacy. We were there this past weekend to check out the amphitheater in person, and it is definitely more secluded & away from where all the crowd is. There is also a sign at the amphitheater that is posted saying it's reserved for the day (so if people are hanging around the amphitheater when you get there, they do have to leave the area). Just something I thought I would mention if you had not looked into reserving the amphitheater. Reservations do go fast during that last week of September though. I had to be online, on the dot, to try and reserve the date I wanted to book, as they open up reservations exactly one year in advance. Also, like you, I am trying to figure out what time of day is best to have our wedding. Are you finding that more people say mornings are best? Or that afternoons can be just as beautiful?

Hi Jennifer! We opted to have our wedding in Crested Butte instead, but I spoke with the deputy ranger a few months back while researching the Maroon Bells. You'd have to double check, but she said that the least amount of tourists come in the middle of the day. She said that by 6 a.m. in September, the parking area is usually full - it's prime time for photographers from what I've heard. Hope this helps.

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Hi!

When does booking open up? I'm trying to book for 2020 and was wondering when i should? Is it January?

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the heads up! We are planning to shoot for a 12-1pm ceremony, so I’m happy to hear this is when it should be “less busy.” Best of luck with the Crested Butte wedding. I’m sure it will be beautiful!

View Quoted Comment It opens up exactly one year from the date you want to book. I think around 8/830am Mountain Standard time, but I’d double check on that. So for example, if you want to book for June 10, 2020, be online and ready to book on the morning of June 10th this year. I’d get online even earlier just to be safe and have your reservation info all typed in so you can click “reserve” right when the clock hits 830am (or whatever the time is that they open it up). That’s what I did, since I wanted to reserve for late Sept 2019 because it books up quickly that time of year.

View Quoted Comment Hi Jennifer. Do you happen to know when it starts opening? On their site it says may 25th to October 4th. Yet, the dates for 2020 havent opened yet. Not sure of they changed it the rangers said 6 months but they sounded unsure. Somewhat nervous I need to find another venue if it doesnt open until January.

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Hi Kimberly! If you want to book the amphitheater for your ceremony, it opens up exactly one year from the date you want to book. And it's very competitive! I tried 3 days in a row and was on the computer early, before the reservations opened up online and I was lucky enough to get one of those dates booked. They only allow reservations Sun-Thurs. It's not available to book for Fridays and Saturdays. So for example, if you want to book for Sept 21, 2020, you need to be online and ready to book this Sept 21, 2019. If you want Sept 23, 2020, then get online Sept 23 this year. I think it opens up around 8AM MST each day. I'm not sure but I would maybe be online even earlier just to be safe. Be on the page ready to go around 7:30am and if it doesn't work then, try again right at 8am. If it doesn't work then, try at 8:30am. And so on. I swear it was around 8am but I could be off and it could be like 9 or 9:30am. Or it could also be earlier. Sorry I'm not much help with that. Better to be safe and online early, trying every 30 min on the dot. It'll give you an error message saying the reservations aren't opened yet if you try too early. So that's when I would just wait and try again in another 30 min. Cause it'll tell you that the space is booked if someone else happens to beat you to it. I tried for Sept 22 and Sept 23rd and was ready to go early, both days, but someone beat me to it somehow. I was lucky enough to get a day for that same week. Best of luck! I hope you're able to get the day you want. Let me know if you have other questions.

Is there anything else I can do beforehand besides creating an account to get ready to reserve?

View Quoted Comment Hi Kimberly,

I was trying to send you a message, but I think I friended you instead on here? I am not sure how that works. But I am also looking into next year (booking this year). I am not sure if this has anything to do with the booking or not, but the avalanche that happened in the area is delaying opening this year, which may affect booking for next? I am going to check tomorrow morning and see if the date from a year out becomes available.

View Quoted Comment Hi! I thought that was the reason too. I've been checking every few hours to see if it updates

Hello! Wondering if you found out what the best time for wedding would be at the maroon bells? I’m getting married there in August 2020, needing to decide so we can make dinner reservations for that evening! Thank you!

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Amanda, did you make reservations at the amphitheater? Does any one know do you HAVE to have reservations at the amphitheater to elope there?? I’m planning on eloping there August 2020 as well but it will JUST be my fiancé and I and our photographer. Are we able to just go there and find our own spot??

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Yes, you must have a reservation. I have it reserved August 2020, and I wouldn't be thrilled if someone took over my wedding day.

It looks like the only day available in August is the 5th.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233123

I say reserve it quickly, because I wanted August 31st, and it booked immediately

View Quoted Comment So I called and yes you can still elope and have a photographer on their public trails. But oddly enough my wedding date (August 25) was blocked off from being reserved for no reason. It’s a Tuesday. Long story short when I called the lady said there was a glitch in their computer system that had that date blocked from reserving and she fixed it an I was able to reserve it! It was a miracle! 🙌🏼

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Hello Amanda! Did you ever pick a time for your ceremony? I am getting married in July 2020 and chose to do a later ceremony at 3pm.

Hi we are looking to have our wedding in October 2021 maroon bells. just curious on what the parking is like? Or do we have to have a wedding party take a bus up there thinking either getting married at the amphitheater or the picnic portal