Winter Bear Lake Wedding in Rocky Mountain National Park
Table of Contents
Bear Lake is one of my very favorite winter wedding ceremony sites in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Why? Well, it’s incredibly easily accessible, offers amazing mountain views, and is typically snowy (and frozen) most of winter.
Be inspired by this REAL wedding on New Years Eve, and learn about to have your own wedding ceremony there below!
How to Have a Wedding Ceremony at Bear Lake
Weddings are permittable here on weekdays between Memorial day and early October. Which honestly is when Bear Lake is not overly busy!
You can have up to 20 people at Bear Lake for your ceremony (including vendors) with up to 5 vehicles.
Rocky Mountain National Park wedding permits sell out fast. You can apply for yours for up to 1 year in advance from your desired wedding month. So, if you want to have your ceremony on January 13, 2028, then apply for your permit as early as January 1, 2027. The permit cost is $300.
Check out all the info you need in this Rocky Mountain Wedding Guide and apply for your wedding permit here.
Where to Have a Ceremony at Bear Lake
When you receive the approval for your wedding permit at Bear Lake, you have the freedom to choose a spot along the trail that speaks to you. In the winter months, you can actually walk right out on the frozen lake to marry your person. That’s what these two chose to do!
I also highly recommend the viewpoints from the North side of the lake. Here you can get beautiful views of Longs Peak, and it’s not as congested as the start of the trail.
Pro tip: Don’t forget your micro spikes! You can always rent some from the Estes Park Mountain Shop if needed.
Including Your Dog in Your Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding
Dog lover like me? Absolutely MUST include your dog(s) in your wedding photos but planning to marry in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Well, here’s how we can still make that happen!
While the only wedding ceremony site in RMNP that allows dogs to attend is at Moraine Park Amphitheater, dogs on leash are able to walk along the roadways in the park.
And the great news? Some of those roadways including Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Trail Ridge Road, and Old Fall River Road offer amazing views and photo opportunities.
After this couple had their wedding ceremony, we met up with an attendant from the Estes Park Pet Lodge. They brought their 2 dogs to meet us at Moraine Park for wedding photos. It was the best of both worlds! Why? Because the couple got to share photos with their dogs on their wedding day, and the dogs never had to be left in a car or unattended.
Plus the Pups and Here Comes the Floof also offer this service for your dogs during weddings days and I highly recommend them!
For more info on this topic, check out How to Include Your Dog in Your Estes Park Wedding or Elopement.
Meet Your Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding Photographer
Hey, I’m Amber!
I’m an Estes Park, Colorado-based elopement and micro wedding photographer who’s all about capturing your day in a way that feels laid-back, fun, and so you.
Beyond being there to beautifully photograph your day, I’m also here to make the entire process exciting and stress-free—helping you plan, explore incredible locations, activities, and to help feel completely at ease every step of the way.
Think we might be a good fit? Then fill out the inquiry form below to get started!
RELATED POSTS
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.
Be the first to comment