How to Get Married at Maroon Bells in Aspen, Colorado
If you have been dreaming about saying your vows in front of the famous twin peaks you see in every Colorado postcard, you are in the right place. You can have your Maroon Bells wedding at the Maroon Bells Amphitheatre, which is the only designated ceremony spot, and it is truly one of the most breathtaking places you will ever stand.
The amphitheater sits just behind the visitor center and overlooks a wide open meadow that bursts into wildflowers mid-summer and golden aspens in the fall. Of course, you can also see Maroon Lake shimmering below you and the Maroon Bells towering above it all. The ceremony site is intimate, absolutely breathtaking, and perfect for couples planning a micro wedding in the mountains with their closest people.
Images in this blog were captured while working for Photos By Diandra.
How Much Does a Maroon Bells Wedding Cost?
Booking the Maroon Bells Amphitheater for your wedding costs only $200, which is an incredible value for such an iconic mountain view. To officially reserve the Amphitheatre, you can book your date through Recreation.gov, and then the mountains do the rest of the work for you. Seriously, it’s that magical!
How Far in Advance Can You Book a Maroon Bells Wedding?
The amphitheater is available from the first week of June through the last week of September and reservations open exactly one year in advance on Recreation.gov.
You can reserve your Maroon Bells wedding here.
And here’s the honest truth from a wedding photographer: the reservation is very competitive. If you have your heart set on a specific date, you’ll want to be fully prepared the morning the reservations open. Think refresh-your-browser-at-7:59-AM type of prepared. Make sure you’re already signed in to your Recreation.gov account, have the page open ahead of time, and refresh right at 8:00 AM Mountain Time until the permit becomes available.
Once your date is secured, you can take a sigh of relief and focus on planning all the fun parts!
How Many Guests Can Attend a Maroon Bells Wedding?
The amphitheater allows up to 50 people total for your Maroon Bells wedding ceremony, including the couple, guests, officiant, photographer, videographer, planner, and any additional vendors.
Do You Need a Shuttle for a Maroon Bells Wedding?
Yes. Access to Maroon Bells is regulated to protect the area, and transportation is one of the most important logistics to plan for!
Your reservation includes five parking passes, which are available for pickup at the Welcome Station up to five days before your event. You’ll want to confirm with the ranger at the Welcome Station what time you all can enter the lot on your wedding day.
All remaining guests will need to arrive using the Maroon Bells shuttle from Aspen Highlands. The shuttle operates from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and guests must reserve their seats in advance. The shuttle drops off just 25 yards from the amphitheater, making the walk to the ceremony site short and easy.
Parking for those 5 parking passes is located in the day-use lot, about 200 yards from the ceremony site. Please know, no vehicles are allowed in the bus loop for any reason, including unloading.
If you want to simplify transportation or keep your group together, many couples choose to hire a private shuttle service. One popular option is Blazing Adventures, which offers private transportation to Maroon Bells.
What Is the Altitude at Maroon Bells? How Should Guests Prepare?
The Maroon Bells Amphitheatre sits at 9,500+ feet, which means altitude is something to plan for, especially if guests are traveling from lower elevations.
Here are a few friendly reminders for your wedding website:
Encourage guests to arrive one to two days early if they can, drink plenty of water, and go easy on alcohol the night before. Layers are a must, since mountain weather changes quickly. And expect very limited cell service—the area is remote, peaceful, and pretty disconnected from the rest of the world.
There are accessible vault toilets onsite and a water fountain near the visitor center. There are no electrical outlets and no phone service at the amphitheater, so plan ahead for music, timelines, communication, and vendor coordination.
Are There Any Decoration Rules for a Maroon Bells Wedding?
Yes, and they’re important. Decorations are allowed, but they must be minimal, fully removable, and respectful of the environment. The Forest Service prohibits anything that could damage the landscape, create waste, or introduce a disturbance.
Large structures like arches are not allowed, and neither are items that get thrown or released, such as petals, rice, confetti, or doves. You also cannot hang lights from trees, use PA systems or amplified sound, collect natural materials from the surroundings, or bring anything like fireworks or floating lanterns. Even small traditions like dragging aluminum cans behind a getaway car are not permitted within the scenic area.
The goal is to preserve the wilderness and leave no trace, and it’s a beautiful guideline that keeps the area pristine for everyone to enjoy.
Can You Have a Wedding Reception at Maroon Bells?
The Maroon Bells Amphitheater is strictly ceremony only.
However, there is a lesser-known option nearby that some couples enjoy for a casual gathering: the East Maroon Portal Picnic Site. It sits along Maroon Creek and can accommodate up to 75 people. You can reserve it for the morning (10 AM–2 PM), afternoon (3 PM–7 PM), or both, and it includes a bear-proof food locker for proper storage. It’s ideal for a relaxed post-ceremony picnic or toasts surrounded by nature.
For a more elevated reception experience, Aspen and Snowmass offer endless possibilities.
Best Reception Venues Near Maroon Bells
Can You Take Wedding Photos Anywhere at Maroon Bells?
You can take photos throughout the Maroon Bells Scenic Area as long as you remain on designated trails and follow Leave No Trace principles. The area is rich with wildflowers, aspen groves, evergreen trees, and uninterrupted views of the mountains.
There’s no additional photography permit required, which is a bonus for couples wanting portraits by the lake, in the meadow, or along the scenic trail.
Maroon Bells Wedding Photographer
If you have booked your Maroon Bells wedding and are looking for thoughtful, artful documentation of your ceremony and your full wedding-weekend experience in Aspen, I would love to connect with you!
Your wedding weekend is shaped not only by your vows, but by the celebrations surrounding your ceremony, and I want you to be able to remember all of it. The welcome party where everyone finally arrives into town. The emotional toasts at your rehearsal dinner. The après ski cocktail hour on the mountainside. The custom hat bar your guests cannot stop talking about. The still moments and the big ones. The kind of atmosphere that only Aspen can create.
My approach to photographing your weekend centers on presence, connection, and intentional storytelling. I want you to fully experience your wedding weekend while I take care of documenting it. Whether it’s your ceremony at Maroon Bells, rehearsal dinner at The Little Nell, a late night celebration at Hotel Jerome, or a relaxed brunch the next morning, I’ll photograph every part of your weekend with the same care and artistry you put into planning it.
You can read more about my Colorado wedding photography packages to learn what it’s like to work together, my pricing, and additional offerings like 35mm film photography. When you’ve booked your wedding weekend in Aspen, you can inquire here to hire me as your photographer!
