One of my favorite things about being a non-traditional wedding photographer is getting to help couples where traditional planning blogs fall short. Having hosted a camping wedding myself, I have been in your shoes! However at that time, I had never seen another couple camp for their wedding before, and now I have helped a large handful capture their camping wedding day or weekend. It’s such a blast to camp for your wedding or have a camping themed day, but if you’re like me you probably have a ton of questions about pulling it off. Fear not, friend, I’ve got you:
Camping Wedding Logistics: What to Consider in Planning
When you decide to have a camping wedding, you may think you’re planning an easy, laid back wedding day that will be so much simpler than a traditional wedding. I really hate to be the one to tell you this, but that couldn’t be less true. Camping for your wedding involves a lot more logistics in planning than just booking a venue where everything is taken care of for you! You are building your venue and space practically from scratch in a lot of cases, and you’ll have a lot more to consider as you plan. So let’s start like you are: from the basics and the beginning.
Creating Your Camping Wedding Space
Tents/Shelter
The logistics of creating your camping wedding space involve how to host your guests in a more wild or remote space than a formal venue. You will need to think about whether to rent tents or having guests bring canopies. These can be essential in case of rain or extreme heat. Renting wedding tents can also be a great way to create a wedding space in an informal area, offering shelter, lighting, and a space that can be heated if needed. If you’re hoping to keep things more simple than renting a tent, that’s fine, but be sure to consider what your full wedding space will be as you begin the process and find a location. Some campgrounds include a shelter or pavilion that you can use too!
Restrooms
Another piece of creating your space is often overlooked when planning a camping wedding. Do you expect all your guests to just use the woods? Not only is that uncomfortable for many guests, it can also be a huge toll on the area. The good news is you can rent port-a-potties for your camping weekend to offer relief to both your guests and the environment.
Power
When planning a camping wedding you will need to consider power. Whether you’re planning for everything to be run on solar panels, you’re bringing in a generator, or you’re at an on-grid location that has power hookups, this is something you should figure out as early as possible. Some pieces of your day may require power, depending on how involved you decide to get. Things like DJs, lights, caterers, some restrooms, and other pieces of your day may require a way to power their equipment.
Tables & Chairs
Finally you should consider tables and chairs for your guests, both at the ceremony if needed and at the reception, whatever that looks like for your celebration. Are you just going to use camp chairs and tables? That can certainly work, especially for a smaller group of people, but be sure everyone who needs to be responsible for bringing those items is aware and follows through.
Planning Comfort for a Camping Wedding
Not every guest at your camping wedding, unless you are keeping it super small with only those folks you know are on board, may want to be as rugged and rustic as you for your weekend. Plan for the following to ensure everyone has the best time:
Lighting
Some great camping wedding lighting I’ve seen in the past include solar stake lights, headlamps, string lights strung around, and lanterns. Be sure to include good lighting to your mobile bar, around any games you have set up, and to the restrooms! As a photographer, I highly recommend having any dancefloor sort of area well-lit with string lights or something similar as cameras have a much harder time focusing in the pitch dark.
Weather Plans
When you’re having your wedding totally outdoors, it helps guests feel comfortable and relieves your own stress to have plans in place for every weather extreme that could happen. In the case of Colorado, it could rain, snow and have extreme heat/sun all in the same weekend!
Music
Not many people would love a silent wedding, so don’t forget to plan for music! Consider, first, if you’re in an area where music is allowed an appropriate. In the backwoods, on a public trail, where there is an expectation of quiet and privacy would not be a good option if you intend to have loud music. Similarly, National Parks typically have a “no amplified music” policy! Your campground could have quiet hours you need to consider too. Once you know music is allowed and appropriate, consider what you want for music. A karaoke speaker for tunes and toasts can be sufficient. You could have some buddies play their guitar while you walk down the aisle. Finally, if you’re in a more on-grid space for the day, you may choose to hire a DJ to keep the party going!
Travel and Transportation
If your ceremony will be out in nature and away from the camping area, you should plan for the travel and transportation of your guests. Do you need to rent a shuttle or Jeep tour vehicles? Is there enough parking there? How accessible does the ceremony spot need to be? How will you be getting chairs there, if you are bringing any (and they’re allowed)? Consider all these possibilities and needs as you’re planning.
Communication with Guests
Camping means something different to everyone, so be sure to be clear and upfront with your invitees about just how rustic or remote your camping wedding will be. Give them clear expectations about what they should bring, what lodging is available, what to wear, what will be happening throughout the stay, and what the area is like. You cannot overcommunicate in a camping wedding scenario – the more information you relay to your guests the better time everyone will have!
Food & Drink for Your Camping Wedding
One of the trickiest parts of planning a wedding while camping is the food and drink for you and your guests. It’s stressful enough to be sure you have enough water for yourself when you’re camping and hiking, nevermind when you’re hosting a larger group of people!
Water
First, find out if your space has potable water access. If not, you’ll need to plan to bring allll your water in! Guests water bottles, water for flower vases, water to wash dishes, water for cooking, water for hiking, water for the dogs… it all adds up! They make lots of great ways to haul in water, as you probably know, and even some great accessories for water jugs to make it easier to dispense water to guests.
Coolers & Ice
It’s wise to have as many coolers as possible on site for your camping wedding as possible. They will be used for drinks, keeping desserts cool, food, and so much more. With those coolers, be sure you have a big enough supply of ice!
Food & Catering
Finally, the issue of food is important to plan. If you were hoping to have catering on site, you need to find a caterer that is willing to work without a catering kitchen on site. They would also probably need to be located nearby your campsite. Alternatively you could bring a griddle or plenty of camp stoves to DIY your food for guests, especially if you have fewer people invited. Cook around the bonfire. Another fun option is to get a food truck to come by if you’re somewhere that would allow. Order pizza if you’re within distance! There are a lot of creative options.
Mobile Bar
There are a number of great mobile bars in the area that can serve your camping wedding if you’re somewhere accessible enough and you want to plan a more formalized celebration. They can set up in more wild and remote spots and still offer a diverse array of drinks for you and your guests to match the camp vibe but more elevated!
Dishware
You’ll need plates, napkins, silverware and cups for you and your guests. You can use camping dishware, gift backpacking utensils as guest favors, or bring in disposables to pack out. Be sure you have some kind of knife for cutting the cake if you plan to as well!
Leave No Trace with a Camping Wedding
If you’re planning a camping wedding in Colorado or Moab you probably already love the outdoors and yearn to care for the environment. These are some tips to keep your camping wedding as low-trace as possible so that no areas are harmed by your event.
Guest Count
Keeping a lower guest count reduces the impact on the area and makes it easier to wrangle and communicate with everyone. Many camping wedding venues are likely to be smaller by nature, too. If you’re unable to keep it small and plan on having more than a small group of guests, ensure you have somewhere in the area to gather that many people. You won’t be as free to set up a ceremony in a campsite with 50 people as you would with 10. You’ll need to find a spacious setting that can host and withstand a larger group of people.
Flowers
Research the area you’re camping for your wedding to see if there are any recommendations on flowers to avoid bringing into the area. Some plants are highly invasive and can be damaging to the fragile ecosystems in places around Colorado and Moab. Local florists may have some insights too. Using local in-season flowers can greatly reduce the footprint of your wedding flowers as well, so if you can use seasonal flowers that’s a great option. Be sure to skip the floral foam, too!
Camping Wedding Weekend Activities
With a camping wedding there’s so much room for activities! (heh.) But seriously, if you’re all camping together as a group, it is an awesome idea for all involved to plan some group activities for your stay. You can keep it on theme with tie-dye parties, swimming afternoons, or hiking outings. Or explore the local area more deeply with mine tours, off-roading, wine tours, exploring museums, paddle boarding, floating the river, or even shopping.
Lodging for Camping Weddings
While most camping weddings involve, well, camping – not all do! And even when camping there is a host of options for finding your campsite, especially if you’re a smaller group for the event.
Campgrounds
Campgrounds are the most obvious choice for a camping wedding. They can be reserved in advance in some cases, may offer bathrooms and showers, and some even have shelters or pavilions you can rent to have a covered space and hub for the wedding day. Most campgrounds do cost money to stay in.
Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping is first come, first served less-overseen camping in more remote areas. This can be harder to find enough spaces for all of you to stay near each other, but there are typically no fees involved.
Camp Apps
Hipcamp, Campendium, The Dyrt and other similar camping apps/websites can provide you with unique spaces that may host most or all of your guests for the stay. Some sites on these apps could also work as your wedding “venue” while guests are welcome to stay anywhere they please if you don’t need to all stay together.
Traditional Lodging
Along those lines, if you don’t need everyone to be staying at camp with you, traditional lodging is always an option for your guests. This is the best option when you have loved ones who don’t like or are unable to camp. Be sure to convey this expectation when you’re communicating with guests!
State or National Parks
Many State Parks and National Parks have campgrounds that you can reserve spaces in. If you’re lucky enough to snag spots for a lot or all of your guests, these can be a beautiful option for hosting your camping wedding in a scenic and memorable space.
Lodges and Cabins
To make the logistics of your camping wedding easier, planning to stay in a lodge or a bunch of cabins in an area can make things a lot smoother. You don’t need to worry as much about rain plans, power, comfort and other nitty gritty things that you would in totally off-grid camping spaces.
Camping Wedding Venues in Colorado (and Moab!)
There are so many amazing spaces in Colorado to host your camping wedding. Some of these I’ve worked in before, stayed in before, or just have heard about through the grapevine. Since my specialty is Western Colorado and Moab, I’m including some of my favorite camping wedding venues in those two areas.
Campgrounds
Located over 10,000 feet of elevation, Molas Campground is dubbed “the most scenic campground in Colorado” and it’s easy to see why! You can reserve the campground’s 58 sites and host your ceremony with lake and mountain views. There is some dispersed camping nearby for those who prefer, and some traditional lodging in Silverton within a 20 minute drive.
This campground in Colorado’s wine country is located along the Colorado River with beautiful views of the rugged desert cliffs, green vineyards, and blue river. You can get married in a designated ceremony space beneath the large shade trees and stay with your guests in spaces from RVs to tents to a few small cabins for booking. There’s also a number of traditional lodging options just a short drive away!
Reservations for Maroon Bells Amphitheater are hard to come by these days, so reserve the East Maroon Portal Picnic Site instead! With the mountains peaking over the quivering aspen trees and overseeing your ceremony, you can camp nearby at the campgrounds along this road and at the East Maroon Portal campground itself. You get the amenities of Aspen alongside the beauty and remoteness of camping near Maroon Bells.
This campground is located in the mountains outside of Silverton at the now-extinct mining town of Eureka. Rent a cabin or bring in your own tents/campers for your camping wedding here! You can also camp here and host your wedding at the nearby Eureka Lodge for a more established venue with the privacy of camping afterward.
This gorgeous mountain lake is located near Leadville and has multiple campgrounds around the lake to stay at and enjoy. There are some picnic areas around the lake that can also accommodate a small gathering for your reception if you wish.
Grand Mesa
The Grand Mesa is host to a number of campgrounds atop this large flattop mountain. With over 300 lakes in total, there is no shortage of beautiful spaces up here. If you want something more established, there are a few great lodges and cabins for rent too – scroll to the Glamping and Cabins section below for more!
Located between Durango and Silverton, this campground is a huge win for its gorgeous picnic shelter that offers a more established reception space (and rain plan all in one!) Get married among the pine tree forests and enjoy the recreation of the area for your camping wedding weekend.
White Star is a campground at Twin lakes outside Buena Vista with unbelievable views as you walk out of your tent or camper. There is convenient access to the lake itself as well, for fun recreation or waterside photos. This is a good one up at Twin Lakes because it has potable water during the summer season and can be reserved!
Okay, okay, so this and the next one are in Moab, but as a photographer who works in Western Colorado and Moab, these two are not to be skipped! Gold Bar sits along the river in Moab and has amazing views of the red rock cliffs around it. The group camping sites make it a perfect option for gathering, and reduce the impact your group has on the area since it’s built for hosting more people! This is a BLM campground, and all vendors on site will need to be permitted with the Moab BLM to work here. You’ll also need to get permission from the BLM by submitting your plan to them in advance. They will assign you a permit for your event that you may need to show to authorities.
Another Moab group camping site, Lone Mesa is located above Moab with views of the La Sals and the Lone Mesa red rock structure standing over your celebration. The group camping, much like Gold Bar, keeps your larger group gathering from negatively impacting the area since it’s built to host groups. This is a BLM campground, and all vendors on site will need to be permitted with the Moab BLM to work here. You’ll also need to get permission from the BLM by submitting your plan to them in advance. They will assign you a permit for your event that you may need to show to authorities.
Wedding Venues
There are some great wedding venues in western Colorado that allow camping, have camping nearby, or encompass the camping theme well. If you’re looking for a camping wedding venue that has all the vibes with less of the work of creating your space from the ground up, check out these options!
Located outside Ridgway, Top of the Pines is essentially an open-concept venue with a meadow and small indoor pavilion to create your wedding space. You can bring in event tents, and there is camping available on site! Create a camping wedding vibe as rustic or as elevated as you like, while Mt. Sneffels and the San Juans watch over your big day.
This large open space at the outskirts of Silverton is a ski area in the winter and a beautiful meadow and wood log lodge in the summer. With the right permits and plan you can camp on site and bring the camping wedding right to your venue. Hike into the woods for photos, have a ceremony with the pond and mountains as your backdrop, and dance under the stars all night long!
This wedding venue in Crested Butte does not allow camping on site, but offers the rustic open space that allows you to bring a camping theme wedding to life with all the right vibes. While the space is totally a blank slate it does come with amenities like restrooms and power!
The Observatory at Alta Lakes is a backcountry cabin available for weddings and events with up to 45 guests. There is nearby camping at the Alta Lakes campgrounds, both official and dispersed, so you can all stay in the area as well.
One of the prettiest “rustic” venues in Colorado, in my opinion, T-Lazy-7 is located on the road to Maroon Bells outside of Aspen. There are multiple spaces to host your camping themed wedding, including the Meadow with views of Pyramid Peak, the Chuckwagon Grounds with cozy campfire, and the Lodge with elevated log cabin vibes.
The Aldasoro Ranch was established in the early 1920s. Located approximately 2o minutes from downtown Telluride, the Aldasoro family has only recently opened up this special property to the public. With incredible views and a down-to-earth vibe, this could be the perfect venue for your camping themed wedding.
Parks
Established parks can be a great way to host a camping wedding with a little more infrastructure built in, but not quite a full wedding venue.
Located as the name implies, in Ridgway, this state park hosts weddings at the sweetest little overlook with the San Juans and reservoir below as your backdrop. Stay in one of the park’s yurts or your own camping situation. These can all be reserved, making it easy to plan ahead for your event. There are also multiple parts of the park for camping, and it’s so close to town in case you need a last minute ice run or other logistical needs.
Colorado River State Park – Fruita
Part of the James M. Robb State Park system, this state park is located outside Fruita. There are 57 sites you can reserve up to 6 months in advance. There are even group camping sites available to make it easier to host your reception and ceremony with the Monument and lake/river as your backdrops.
The Colorado National Monument campground sits on the Fruita side of this red rock canyon park, with incredible views of the desert pillars and canyons just a short walk from your campsite. There’s an amphitheater nearby as well as a picnic area overlook that you can book, or just get married at the nearby Bookcliffs View area if you only have a small handful of guests.
This national park offers a couple different campgrounds. The North Rim and South Rim have their own separate campgrounds for booking, though the North Rim has a shorter season than the South Rim typically. The South Rim campground also has an amphitheater you can use, though it’s nothing super special. There’s no group campsites here, so you’d need to be sure to have enough reserved near each other to host a celebration.
Mesa Verde is located near Durango, and is home to the famous cliff dwellings of indigenous peoples. Because of its remote location, the campground at the park has a cafe and grocery store on site for last-minute necessities. There are group camping sites as well as an amphitheater at the campground that can host your celebration.
Possibly the most sought-after national park to camp in, Arches requires reservations and they are not easy to come by in the busy season (April-October). Luckily, it’s not very comfortable to camp in Moab during the summer, so plan accordingly by coming in spring or fall.
Dead Horse is located above Moab at a slightly higher elevation and is nowhere near as well-known as the national parks. The heat of the summer is still wise to avoid. You can camp here with your own camping setup or rent some of the park’s yurts for a unique lodging experience. The views for your ceremony here are incredible, but if you want the famous views you’ll want to consider how to carpool or shuttle everyone over to them!
Nestled within the breathtaking landscapes of Canyonlands National Park, the campgrounds offer a perfect blend of natural beauty and serenity for your outdoor wedding. Imagine exchanging vows under the expansive desert skies, surrounded by towering mesas and rugged canyons. Once again, it’s best to avoid this space in the summer, and reservations are very needed!
Glamping & Cabins
Kiser Creek Cabins are located on the side of the Grand Mesa near Cedaredge, and a short jaunt up to the top of the Mesa and several nearby lakes for the ultimate recreation spaces and escape from the summer heat of the Grand Valley below. They host small camping weddings on a fairly regular basis and have room for a reception and ceremony on site.
Thunder Mountain Lodge is another set of cabins for rent on the top of the Grand Mesa. Your ceremony backdrop can be a lake and the wild woods around you. As they say on their site, “Hosting a wedding at Thunder Mountain Lodge is a little bit different than other locations. You have the freedom to do whatever you would like with the area for the weekend. You can set up a large event tent, bring up a food truck, port-a-potties, and whatever you would like!”
Ranger Cabins on the Grand Mesa
These forest service ranger cabins are located near Mesa Lakes Lodge, and offer a beautiful field for your ceremony (or you can hike somewhere more remote if you wish). There is camping nearby at Mesa Lakes and Jumbo Campground, too, so there’s plenty of room for everyone.
Matterhorn Campground – Priest Lake Campground
These neighboring campgrounds south of Telluride offer amazing views and access to some incredibly scenic ceremony and reception backdrops. With nearby lakes and rugged mountain peaks, you’ll be surrounded by beauty while enjoying the established campgrounds with showers and other perks.
This glamping campground is located south of Moab near the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. For some, that is too remote, while others desperately crave the privacy this space offers! You can get the Moab vibes without the crowds, while staying in a really unique and cool place. There’s plenty of space for a ceremony and reception, and your guests can stay on site, in dispersed camping, or up in Moab for more traditional lodging. As with the other Moab spots, it’s wise to avoid this one in the heat of the summer.
If you’re looking for a camping wedding venue in Colorado that gives you Moab views and vibes, Gateway is a great option for privacy and red rock canyons. This is an intimate space but has access to some amazing public lands nearby, and your guests can treat themselves to a luxurious experience at Gateway Canyons Resort if they choose!
Camping Wedding Ideas: Ways to Elevate the Camp Theme
For some, the camping wedding theme comes naturally with their event. For others, you may be wanting to elevate the camp theme as much as possible. If you are looking for fun ways to foster the theme I’ve seen some great items to incorporate, ideas to steal, and tips to keep things easy.
Camping Silverware
Since you’ll need silverware for your guests anyway, gifting them a pair of backpacking/camping silverware is a fun way to bring in the theme to fill a need – and they’re relatively cheap for a wedding favor!
Reusable Plates and Cups
If you’re trying to keep your event as Leave No Trace friendly as possible, or just to have less trash to haul out, getting reusable plates and cups makes your tablescapes extra cute. You can gift personalized wedding cups, encourage guests to bring and use camp plates/cups or thrift plates and cups that get donated or gifted afterward.
Bonfires and Smores
Sitting around a bonfire and enjoying smores is not only a great way to spend the evening but it’s a good way to keep warm as the Colorado sun goes down and takes the heat of the day with it. Smores can be the desserts for your guests to save money and logistics on cake or cupcakes.
Mobile Bar
Hiring a mobile bar (think a food truck for drinks) can elevate your bar experience beyond just cans of beers in coolers. While that is a fine option, mobile bars are a better option for camping weddings that are looking to have the camp theme without a very rustic camping experience. You and your guests will be served drinks by certified bartenders, and you can even create signature drinks to honor your pets or your favorite drinks.
Bandana Napkins
One of the cutest things I’ve seen at a camping wedding was the use of bandanas as napkins. The couple bought bandanas to gift all their guests and then set the table with them as napkins. Super cute!
In Season Wildflowers
Incorporating wildflowers for your wedding day is a great way to bring in all that makes summertime camping beautiful. Just as long as they’re not picked from the camp of course!
Camp Chairs
You ceremony can be set up with camp chairs for your camping wedding, if you don’t feel like renting and bringing in tables and chairs (or you’re not allowed to where you are.) Be sure your guests know to bring them and keep a rough count of how many extras you might need. Then have guests take the chairs from ceremony to reception – another cost saved.
Games
Whether it’s summer camp or camping in the woods with friends, games make camp fun! I’ve seen couples create a photo scavenger hunt for guests, set up yard games like cornhole, ladder ball, CanJam, yard Yahtzee, or giant Jenga, and even play summer camp games like Red Rover, Capture the Flag and more!
Camp Maps
Depending on how elaborate your camping wedding is you’ll want to think about giving your guests a map of everything. This is a fun chance to get a customized map created of your wedding sites made by a local artist. I’ve even seen a couple commission an art piece of the skyline of the area’s mountain peaks to use as table assignments for their guests.
Wedding Websites
One of the most important pieces of your camping wedding invitations is a wedding website. There is so much more to communicate with your guests about than traditional weddings, and a wedding website can help you accomplish that more easily!
Camping Favors
Hoodies, blankets, solar power banks and phone chargers, utensils/dishware and personalized wedding cups are just the beginning for camping themed guest favors you can gift your guests. If you’ve got room in your budget for favors get creative and brainstorm what fun ways you can gift your guests something useful for their future camping trips that will always remind them of your big day.
Need a Photographer for Your Camping Wedding?
Hey, I’m Amanda! I specialize in documenting off-beat weddings in Colorado and Moab and hosted a camping wedding for myself back in 2016. I would love to add your camping wedding to my always-growing list of non-traditional weddings I’ve had the honor of documenting. I work to capture the story & scenery of your big day — every non-traditional and beautiful moment.
Browse some past camping weddings I’ve captured:
Audrey & Robert’s VW Mini Bus Wedding
Mark & Rachel’s Camping Wedding in Moab
Tom & Sarah’s Camp Themed Wedding
Jenna & Logan’s Micro Wedding at the Colorado National Monument
Makenna & Jason’s Camping Wedding at Kiser Creek Cabins
Discover more from Amanda Matilda Photography
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