Your Guide to a Sunrise Amphitheater Wedding in Boulder 

Do you want a wedding venue in Boulder that’s affordable, has intimate mountain wedding vibes, with views of Downtown Boulder, and is a magical spot for either a sunrise or sunset ceremony? Then it sounds like a Sunrise Amphitheater wedding might just be everything you’re searching for. 

As a Colorado wedding photographer, there’s nothing quite like a wedding celebration in the mountains with those you love the most. The Sunrise Amphitheater gives an iconic and unforgettable backdrop for your celebration, which is why it’s one of my favorite venues in Boulder. 

Let’s dive into what you need to know about planning a Sunrise Amphitheater wedding and if this is the perfect location for you to tie the knot. 

A couple having their wedding ceremony next to a stone wall overlooking a valley one is wearing a white wedding dress and a tiara and glasses and the other person is wearing a suit the person is the white wedding dress is placing a ring on the hand of the person wearing a suit

Boulder Wedding and Elopement Venue: Sunrise Amphitheater Guide

How to get here 

One of the first things to know is how to get to this venue. If you have any out-of-town guests, the Denver airport is going to be your best bet. From the Denver airport, it’s an easy 45-minute drive to Boulder. 

The Sunrise Amphitheater is located around 25 minutes away from downtown Boulder, and you and your guests can drive right up to the venue. You’ll find the Sunrise Amphitheater at the east end of the Flagstaff summit area beneath the large flagpole. 

Price

When you find the perfect venue, the burning question we all have is if it’s the perfect price, too. Thankfully, the cost to get married at Sunrise Amphitheater starts at just $100. The price varies from $100 – $400 depending on the time you choose to book, how long you choose to book, and whether you’re a local resident or not.  

Something to take note of if you want to plan your wedding here is that the Sunrise Amphitheater is only available from May 1st to October 30th each year. There are six one-hour time blocks and three three-hour time blocks available at Sunrise Amphitheater each day. The time blocks available are 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. You can check out the different time blocks here. 

A couple having a wedding ceremony one is holding a bouquet of flowers and is wearing a white wedding dress and a tiara and the other is wearing a white turtleneck and green suit and is reading their vows
A couple walking up to a spot next to a rock wall where they will have their wedding ceremony one is wearing a white wedding dress and is being assisted by their partner who is wearing a green suit and helping them walk up the steps

Capacity 

The venue can accommodate up to 100 people, has parking spaces, and is easily accessible—only a short walk from the parking lot. The seating area is also wheelchair accessible. 

This is the perfect size for an intimate to medium-sized wedding, so you don’t have to stress too much about cutting down your guest list when it comes to a wedding here. 

Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, but, you can pre-purchase spots online or at the site with cash. 

If you do decide to fill the amphitheater to the max, one thing to keep in mind is that there’s no electricity here. If you want to make sure that everyone can hear you throughout the day, I’d definitely suggest getting a battery-powered speaker and mic. 

A couple kissing next to a rock wall one is wearing a white dress and a tiara and glasses and the other is wearing a green tuxedo
A couple smiling at each other next to a rock wall and holding hands one is wearing a white wedding dress, glasses, and a tiara and the other is wearing a green suit

How you can rent the Sunrise Amphitheater

The great news about this venue is that it’s a suuuper easy and simple process to rent the amphitheater. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

  • Go to the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks website
  • Select Sunrise Amphitheater from Shelter Rentals 
  • Pick your date and time
  • Select the approximate number of guests who will be attending 
  • Fill out the form, pay the rental fee, and then you’re good to go! 
A couple walking next to a field of dry grass one of them is wearing a green suit and a white turtleneck and helping their partner by holding their hand and their partner is wearing a white wedding dress and a tiara
A couple smiling and holding champagne glasses one is wearing a white wedding dress, glasses and a tiara and the other is wearing a green suit and a white turtleneck

Rules and Regulations 

There are a few different rules and regulations that you are required to follow while using this venue. 

Here are some of the big ones you’ll want to keep in mind: 

  • No structures are allowed at the location this includes tents, shade tents, canopies, nets, barrels, and freestanding arches 
  • You are not allowed to use or leave any materials such as flower petals, rice, confetti, etc.
  • No drones allowed 
  • No glass of any kind is permitted unless used in a religious ceremony and the glass is contained.
  • Only battery-operated music devices are allowed. 
  • Be prepared to pack out all trash. Anyone who knows me knows we follow the Leave No Trace principle here, but it is also a rule here so make sure you are packing out everything you pack in. 

For a full list of the rules and regulations, you can learn more here. 

A couple sipping champagne on an overlook surrounded by mountains one is wearing a white wedding dress, glasses, and a tiara and the other is wearing a green suit
A couple looking at each other and smiling one is holding a bouquet of flowers and wearing a white wedding dress and glasses and a tiara and the other is wearing a green suit

Reception Venues close to Sunrise Amphitheater

After your ceremony, these are some of the potential options as to where you could consider having your reception that are all really close to the Amphitheater and have incredible vibes: 

A couple holding champagne glasses and smiling at each other on an overlook surrounded by green pine trees and the moutnains and one is wearing a white wedding dress and glasses and a tiara and the other is wearing a green suit and white turtleneck and is touching their partner's backside

Why You Should Get Married at the Sunrise Amphitheater

There are so many amazing reasons why you should get married here! I know there are lots of different, incredible places you could choose for your wedding or elopement in Boulder, but if you’re looking for the best of both worlds—wide sweeping views of Boulder city and the feeling of being immersed in nature—you really couldn’t pick a better wedding venue than the Sunrise Amphitheater. 

I also love this venue because it’s a short drive to so many great spots for wedding portraits, including Lost Gulch Overlook, Chautauqua Park, and even Downtown Boulder. 

Even though this venue is called Sunrise Amphitheater, I promise it’s just as beautiful in the evening or afternoon. So if getting up for a 6 a.m. wedding is just not something you want to do, you can just plan a sunset wedding instead! 

Here are some additional perks of getting married here: 

  1. It’s a DIY venue  (you can bring your own decor, catering, alcohol with an additional permit, basically everything you could want and more). 
  2. You can comfortably accommodate all of your guests as it has built-in seating (stone risers) for a very affordable price
  3. It has so many different views on-site at the amphitheater (flatirons, pine trees, city views, and more) 
  4. Some of the most stunning views in Boulder can be found up Flagstaff Mountain at the Sunrise Amphitheater 
A couple where one is wearing a white wedding dress, has glasses and a tiara and is holding a bouquet of flowers and is smiling  the other is kissing their forehead and wearing a green suit and a white turtleneck

Ready to plan a Sunrise Amphitheater Wedding? 

I hope you found this guide for planning a Sunrise Amphitheater wedding helpful – I may be a little biased, but I think that this is one of the top venues in Boulder for your wedding. 

If you choose to have a wedding here, you’ll be picking an easily accessible venue in a beautiful location surrounded by stunning nature, making for an unforgettable celebration. 

And… if you’re still looking for the perfect photographer to take your wedding photos, I’d love to talk. You can learn more about my services here or contact me here.

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