Adventure Elopement Gear Packing List | Colorado Elopement Photographer

I’ve documented over 100 elopements, hiked 500+ miles, and driven my lifted 4×4 all over this state in the last 7 years. I’m Wilderness First Responder certified so my gear lists come from a fully prepared keeps you alive standpoint. I always suggest over-preparing on your elopement day to lessen the chance of anything being able to bother your day. You want to be able to handle whatever the day throws at you. We don’t generally get do overs with elopement days so having what you need to be able to dance in the storm is what keeps things fun and moving. Colorado is a very weird weather state. We can, and often do, have every season in just one day. You can go from needing your beanie to needing your bikini in a matter of minutes. Here they say, “if it’s raining just give it 10 mins”. Because the summer storms come and go quick in the mountains usually. Winter storms can be a different story.

Why Colorado for Your Adventure Elopement?

Colorado is an ideal state to explore for your adventure elopement and honeymoon! It’s got amazing adventures mixed with luxury at all the right times. Colorado gets all four seasons. Even all four season in one day sometimes. You can go from Denver at a mile high to top of a 14,000 foot mountain in one day. And you don’t even have to get out of your car to do it. Colorado is wild! Like really, we have a lot of wildlife and places where nothing is around for miles. We have the perfect mix of city & mountains; rugged adventure & luxury; lakes & waterfalls. Colorado’s got it all.

4 Seasons

Mountains & Cities

Wildflowers

Mountain Lake life & Waterfalls

Easy Adventures

Winter Adventures

Hikes

4x4ing

Camping

Hot Springs

Mountain Luxury

Adventure Elopement Gear Essentials

There are a few gear essentials that you will want when planning your adventure elopement. But what you need will vary depending on the type of day you’re planning and where you’ll be. Here are a few of the essentials for your ultimate comfort and ability to enjoy any possible weather.

A couple hikes on a cliff together with their adventure gear.

Base Layers

Base layers are essential for high alpine adventures. The mornings are cold and the afternoons can be hot and wet. The materials you wear matter. Wool is the warmest fabric and makes great for base layers as it wicks the sweat and regulates heat. Try to match the color of your base layer to your clothes. These are some of my favorite brands of base layers.

Smartwool
REI

Proper Footwear

Make sure you’re getting the right type of shoe for your adventure. Ideally, it’ll be something warm, sturdy, comfortable, and with a good grip. Some people like to bring a pair of adventure sandals to have a pair to change into. I’ve listed a few really great adventure & hiking shoe brands below. But I always recommend going into the store to get fitted. REI usually has pretty good shoe attendants who can help you determine the right shoe for your foot & activity.

Blundstone
Danner
Salomon
Altra
On Cloud

Traction

Depending on where you’re exploring you could need certain traction. For instance, if you’re in the snow or ice you might need microspikes. If you are going to wading through lakes or rivers you probably want a pair of water shoes. When you’re buying your shoes keep in mind what kind of traction you’ll want for the environment you’ll be in.

Outer layers

Bring an outer shell for rain and wind, or snow. The weight of your outer layer will depend on your environment. It’s always better to have an extra layer than end up needing one.

Mid Layers

Mid-layers are things like a lightweight Cotopaxi puffy, an additional wool layer, a vest, or fleece. It’s essentially a warm layer that can fit on top of your base layers and under your outer layers. I like to keep this layer lightweight but warm so I use a light puffy that is super lightweight and can be packed down small.

Hats, Sunglasses & SPF

Denver is 5,280 feet closer to the sun than the beach. Having SPF clothes, hats, and sunglasses helps protects you from the extreme rays here. I suggest polarized glasses and your choice of hat based on what the adventure is.

Gloves & Hand warmers

Outdoor Blanket

A puffy outdoor blanket like the ones made by Rumpl is perfect for adventures because they’re lightweight and compact. Plus they come in really pretty colors and designs. You want something that is easy to fit into a pack and take with you so you two can sit and enjoy. Or one of you who might be cold can just bundle up with a blankie.

Packs

You’ll need to carry all these essentials plus extra supplies and everything for a wedding. You’ll want your pack to be comfortable and fit your needs. I suggest hiking packs that are made to help distribute the weight properly. If you aren’t having to carry anything far from the car then you might not need a pack. Here are some good pack brands.

Osprey
Gregory