The ceremony is the reason everyone gathered. It's the emotional center of the day — the moment that transforms a party into a wedding. And in Colorado, you have more freedom in crafting that moment than in almost any other state.
Colorado's self-solemnization law means couples can legally marry themselves with no officiant, no witnesses, and no third-party signature required. This opens up extraordinary possibilities: intimate mountaintop elopements, deeply personal vow exchanges, or ceremonies where the couple literally marries each other in front of their guests.
But self-solemnization isn't the right choice for everyone. Many couples want the guidance of a professional who can shape the narrative, manage the emotional arc, and speak words more eloquent than what nerves allow. Colorado's officiant community delivers exactly that.
Officiants Worth Knowing
Elevate Wedding Officiant — Colorado
Since 2020, Elevate Wedding Officiant's award-winning team of storytellers has guided more than 1,475 couples across Colorado and surrounding states. Every member of their officiant team is an ordained minister qualified to legally solemnize marriages, and several are experienced Reverends and Pastors for couples who desire spiritual depth.
What sets them apart: The storyteller identity. These aren't people reading from a script — they're gifted speakers who bring calm, confidence, and connection to every ceremony. They support officiated ceremonies, self-solemnized ceremonies, and everything in between.
Services: Full ceremony creation, self-solemnization guidance, rehearsal coordination
Service area: Colorado and surrounding states
Website: elevateweddingofficiant.com | Instagram: @elevateweddingofficiant
Jane's Personalized Weddings — Boulder / Colorado
Jane Gorman has officiated over 700 weddings since 2015, all from her home base in Boulder. Her approach is built on what she calls "The Homework Process" — before your wedding, she sends each partner a set of questions, then uses those answers to craft a ceremony that's authentically yours.
What sets her apart: The homework approach. Jane doesn't write ceremonies from a template. She writes them from deep knowledge of the couple — their story, their humor, their values, their relationship dynamics. The result is a ceremony that feels like it could only belong to these two people.
Services: Custom ceremony creation, rehearsal coordination, coaching for friend/family officiants
Packages: Full ceremony starting at $500, script-only $375, elopements starting at $500, vow renewals starting at $450
Service area: Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, and beyond
Website: janespersonalizedweddings.com | Instagram: @janespersonalizedweddings
Weddings With Clinton — Denver
Owner Clinton Andersen established the business in 2017 specializing in light-hearted and personalized wedding ceremonies. For couples who want their ceremony to include laughter alongside tears, Clinton's approach strikes the balance between meaningful and fun.
What sets him apart: The light-hearted specialization. Not every ceremony needs to be solemn. Clinton creates space for humor, personality, and the authentic dynamic between the couple — while maintaining the emotional weight of the moment.
Service area: Denver, Colorado
Website: weddingswithclinton.com | Instagram: @weddingswithclinton
Additional Resources
- WeddingWire Colorado Officiants — Full directory with reviews: weddingwire.com
- The Knot Colorado Officiants — Searchable by denomination and style: theknot.com
Self-Solemnization: What You Need to Know
Colorado Revised Statute § 14-2-109(1) allows marriage to be solemnized by the parties themselves. Here's what that means in practice:
The Legal Requirements
- Both parties obtain a marriage license from any Colorado county clerk ($30, no waiting period, valid 35 days)
- Both parties sign the license
- The license is returned to the county clerk within 63 days
- No officiant signature is required
- No witness signatures are required (though having witnesses is recommended for personal reasons)
When Self-Solemnization Works Best
- Elopements: Just the two of you on a mountain summit — legally married, no logistics
- Deeply personal ceremonies: The couple writes and speaks their own vows, with no intermediary
- Non-traditional celebrations: Couples who want the ceremony to be entirely theirs
When You Might Want an Officiant Anyway
- Large gatherings: Someone needs to guide the flow for 100+ guests
- Nervous speakers: Professional officiants provide the structure that helps anxious couples relax
- Cultural/religious traditions: Many traditions require or benefit from a religious leader's involvement
- The words matter: A skilled officiant crafts language that the couple often couldn't produce under the pressure of the moment
Ceremony Styles & Inspiration
Non-Denominational / Secular
The most popular choice for Colorado weddings. No religious elements — focused entirely on the couple's story, values, and commitment. Often includes personal anecdotes, readings chosen by the couple, and personalized vows.
Interfaith
Colorado's diverse population means interfaith ceremonies are common. The best officiants weave traditions from both backgrounds into a cohesive ceremony that honors each partner's heritage.
Religious
Traditional religious ceremonies performed by ordained clergy. Many Colorado churches and synagogues welcome wedding ceremonies, and religious officiants often travel to venue locations.
Cultural Fusion
Ceremonies that blend cultural traditions — handfasting (Celtic), wine ceremonies, sand ceremonies, unity candle rituals, ring warming, tree planting — with personal elements.
The Ceremony-Transportation Connection
The ceremony site and the reception venue are often in different locations at Colorado weddings — a mountaintop ceremony followed by a valley reception, or a garden ceremony with a barn reception a few miles away.
This transition — the space between "I do" and the first toast — is one of the most logistically critical and emotionally significant moments of the day. When Arion manages this transfer, the couple gets a private champagne moment together while guests are shuttled seamlessly to the next location. No one wanders to the wrong parking lot. No one gets lost. The celebration continues without missing a beat.
Arion provides luxury wedding transportation across Denver and the Rocky Mountain region. Learn more → | (970) 703-4995
This article is part of Arion's Wedding Season series. Return to the Complete Guide →
For the complete picture, see our The Complete Guide to Planning a Colorado Wedding: Every Detail, Every Vendor, Every Moment.
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