Growing up in Colorado, the annual return of wildflowers in the mountains was always one of my favorite times of the year. For as long as I’ve loved photographing couples in the mountains (over a decade now), I’ve also loved photographing couples in wildflowers! I pride myself on knowing exactly when and where to find the best wildflowers in the state, all season long.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise, then, that my personal pick for the best wildflowers to elope in is right here in Colorado in Crested Butte! They call this the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, and in mid-July, it’s easy to see why. Trails through meadows wind through hundreds of blooms!
But there are many more spots in Colorado, across the country, and even around the world where you can find next-level flowers to get married near! Keep scrolling to find more of my personal picks that I can confirm first hand will make your elopement one to remember.
Want to make sure your wildflower spot is available during a specific month or that you can also do another activity nearby? Head to my interactive map full of 800+ locations to elope! You can use the filters there to get a customized list of spots that meet all your requirements.
Crested Butte, Colorado
They don’t call it the Wildflower Capital of Colorado for nothing. Come July, Crested Butte turns into a full-on bloom fest! Meadows explode with lupine, columbine, paintbrush, and more. You’ve got mountain backdrops, fields of color, and enough quiet alpine spots to find your own slice of wedding-day magic. Whether you hike in or keep things low-key near town, it’s hard to take a bad photo here. Peak bloom usually hits mid-summer, but even the lead-up is gorgeous.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Chugach National Forest, Alaska
Wildflowers and glaciers? Yes please. Chugach National Forest is one of Alaska’s underrated gems, especially in summer when the meadows burst into color. Expect fireweed, lupine, monkshood, and a lineup of blooms you’ll want to Google later. The best part is, you’re never far from a jaw-dropping view – mountains, rivers, fjords, take your pick. It’s remote enough to feel wild, but with accessible trails and overlooks for an easy in.
Best for: Mountains, Wildflowers, Forest, Waterfall, Lakes, Coast, Glacier, River
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Helicopter, Camping, Stargazing
San Juan Mountains, Colorado
There’s something about the San Juans – especially in wildflower season! You’ll find everything from bright blue columbine to sunny daisies and deep magentas here, all set against the postcard-perfect ridgelines the San Juans are so well-known for. Summer here is peak bloom season, and the options for ceremonies are endless, from scenic pull-offs to half-day hikes with nobody around. It’s Colorado doing what it does best: dramatic, colorful, and effortlessly beautiful.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Lakes, Hot Springs, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing, Jeep 4×4
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Deserts aren’t always dusty and dry. Sometimes, they go full bloom. After a wet winter, Anza-Borrego pulls off one of the most surprising wildflower shows in the country. Poppies, desert lilies, primrose, and cactus blooms light up the park from February through April, turning the usual muted palette into something bold and bright. It’s a short window, but a powerful one. Don’t miss it!
Best for: Desert, Canyons, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: February to April
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing
Inks Lake State Park, Texas
For a Texas wildflower moment without the crowds, Inks Lake is a quiet star. In spring (especially March and April), the hills and lakeshores fill up with bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and coreopsis, all framed by rocky outcrops and a warm, low-key landscape that’s perfect for laid-back couples. It’s easy to access, with trails, picnic spots, and plenty of hidden corners for an intimate ceremony. The vibe here is sun-drenched, and a little bit old-school. Hello wildflowers, water, and wide-open skies!
Best for: Lakes and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: March and April
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
The Smokies go big on blooms – like, over 1,500 species big. Spring wildflower season kicks off in April, but you’ll see something blooming almost year-round, from delicate trilliums to bold flame azaleas. The park is full of winding trails, misty overlooks, and shady forests that open up to surprise meadows bursting with color. Eloping here is full of variety. You can hike deep into the mountains or keep it simple near one of the many pull-offs. Either way, it’s lush and romantic.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Waterfall, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
This is a desert, but not as you know it. Come March and April, the Sonoran Desert erupts into what looks like a bazillion wildflowers, with golden poppies, purple lupine, and cactus blooms bursting out of nowhere. And yes, all of this happens beneath those iconic, towering saguaro cacti. The contrast between spiny silhouettes and soft flower petals is pure perfection! Trails wind through blooming hillsides, and sunsets here are next level.
Best for: Desert, Forest, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: Year-round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
Franconia Notch feels like it was made for elopements. In late spring and early summer, the trails and forests come alive with mountain laurel, lupine, and clusters of wildflowers tucked into the greenery. You’ve got waterfalls, alpine lakes, and sweeping views of the White Mountains all in one spot, plus plenty of quiet trails and lookouts for a ceremony that feels private and personal. It’s easy to access, wildly scenic, and full of that cozy, woodland romance that New England does so well.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Waterfall, Lakes, River, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Canoeing, SUP
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Mount Rainier isn’t shy. By late summer, the meadows below its snow-capped peak explode into wildflower chaos, full of magenta paintbrush, avalanche lilies, lupine, and beargrass, all packed into one technicolor scene. Paradise and Sunrise are the park’s go-to spots for blooms, with easy trails and wide-open views that make your ceremony feel epic. You’ll get some of the most colorful elopement photos ever here!
Best for: Mountains, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Wildflower season here is short but spectacular. From mid-June to early August, the high-elevation meadows of Rocky Mountain National Park turn technicolor, with Indian paintbrush, blue columbine, alpine sunflower, and more. Whether you’re hiking into a quiet basin or saying your vows at a scenic overlook, the backdrop is an absolute visual spectacle, with wild blooms against snow-dusted peaks. It’s that age-old classic Colorado vibe, and it just works.
Best for: Mountains, Lake, Alpine Lake, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Eastern Plains of Colorado, Colorado
If you’re picturing endless sunflower fields under a big open sky – yep, this is the place. Out east, where Colorado flattens into golden farmland, mid-to-late summer means fields of sunflowers stretching as far as the eye can see. Mountains aren’t what we’re here for. We’re here for the light, space, and bold simplicity. You’ll want to plan ahead and scout the right field (sunflowers bloom fast and fade quickly) to get permission, but if you time it right, it’s pure sunshine. For couples who love wide horizons and a bit of small-town charm, this one is quite the hidden gem elopement location!
Best for: Sunflower fields
Best months to get married here: July to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
One of my favorite things about an elopement full of wildflowers is that it can happen in way more places than just the American Rockies or Cascades. Because you can find them in so many spots, you may need help narrowing down the list even more! That’s where I can help. You can head over to my searchable and interactive elopement location database that is jam packed with hundreds of spots! You can use filters to sort through them so that you get custom results. Think of this as your search engine without the searching.
Or, you can just get in touch with me! I’ll use my experience from over a decade of photographing 300+ elopements in 42+ countries to make sure that you have only the best recommendations for everything from locations, to vendors, to activities, and more. I’m your one-stop for beginning to bring your vision to life!
I know how to make the process as stress-free and fun as possible, so all you have to do is get ready for the trip of a lifetime with your favorite person in the world. No matter where you’re going, I’ll make sure you’re prepared for the perfect day!
