How to Officiate a Wedding in Fort Collins, Colorado

What is there not to love about Fort Collins? With its big city cultural scene, small town vibe, and close proximity to some outstanding outdoor adventure spots, it’s the perfect place to live. And as it happens, it’s also a great place to get married! Whether you want a rustic, Colarodian celebration or a glamorous celebration in the middle of town, Choice City has you covered.

We’ll break down some of the area’s best spots to get hitched, but before we get there, let’s take care of all of the legal to-do’s -- from getting your officiant of choice ordained to obtaining and completing your marriage license correctly.

Step 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to Colorado Revised Statute 14-2-109, a marriage may be solemnized by:

• A judge of a court
• A court magistrate
• A retired judge of the court
• A public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages.
• Indian tribe officials.
• Clergy
• The parties to the marriage

If you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can sign up with us to become ordained through AMM. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Larimer County

Now that the easy part is out of the way, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but can feel like a lot of pressure. You will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a library of information to help you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly. 

Here you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to  brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

The person solemnizing the marriage (that’s you, officiant!) needs to complete the marriage certificate. Be sure the certificate is filled out entirely, including county, date of ceremony, time of the ceremony, physical location of ceremony, the officiant signature, the officiant's title, and the signature of both members of the couple.

It is also your responsibility to return it to the county clerk’s office within 63 days of the ceremony. If you fail to return the civil union or the marriage certificate on time, you’ll be required to pay a $20 late fee and an additional $5 late fee may be assessed for each additional day of failure to comply up to a maximum of $50.

File for the Marriage License from the Larimer County Clerk's Office.

Now let’s turn our attention to the couple’s responsibilities. First things first! Before you go into the county clerk’s office to pick up your marriage license, fill out the application online here. Then, book an appointment by calling 970-498-7860 and choosing option 1.

When your appointment day comes, both members of the couple will have to visit the county clerk’s office at 200 West Oak St. on the first floor. (There are also locations in Loveland and Estes Park, if you prefer.)

When you go, just remember to bring:

• Valid IDs (driver’s license or passport)
• Payment of $30 for marriage license fee
• Transaction number given upon completion of application (not required, but helpful)

That’s it! Once you complete your appointment, you and your partner are free to get married anytime within the next 35 days, which is when the marriage license expires for use. After the wedding, your officiant will be responsible for returning the license to the county clerk’s office so that it can be recorded.

If you haven't received your original license via mail within 14 days after it has been recorded, you can call the office at 970-498-7860 to inquire.

The Basics

If you’re looking to take advantage of the beautiful views and wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park, The Della Terra Mountain Chateau, The Landing at Estes Park, and the Taharaa Mountain Lodge are all beautiful mountain resorts -- each just about an hour outside of Fort Collins.

However, if you prefer to keep your wedding central to Fort Collins, there are plenty of great venues located right in town. One of the most elegant spots in Fort Collins is Edwards House, a beautiful historic mansion with lavish decorations.

Before committing to a venue, just make sure you have checked some local events calendars to make sure that your wedding date is not overlapping with any of the major local events around town, like university games or festivals. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a traffic jam on the big day.

Transportation

Getting around Fort Collins is a breeze. Their public  transportation, Transport, is pretty trustworthy and reliable. You can even take the refurbished Birney streetcar, which operates in the summer. You can also navigate the town by bike, which is what many locals choose to do. However, if you’re planning a wedding, you might want to take advantage of one of the many limousine services offered in town for your transportation on the big day.

Weather

Any season you choose will make for a perfect wedding, depending on what your priorities are -- weather in Fort Collins is pretty ideal. It’s quite mild in the spring and fall, stays in the 70s and 80s in the summer, and usually doesn’t go below the 30s in the winter. December through February, there is the possibility of snow, but it rarely sticks on the ground and usually doesn’t stay for more than a week.

Summers are a good time for a wedding because the town is empty of college students, so there is a more relaxed vibe and less traffic, but spring and fall are arguably the most pleasant times of year, temperature wise. However, if you are dreaming of a white wedding, then an early winter wedding at one of the Rocky Mountain lodges may be just the ticket.