Colorado Elopement Photographer

I’ve never seen such a vast display of wildflowers in my life.

Colorado had an exceptionally wet and late winter last year, which pushed all the seasons back by about a month. When we planned for Sam and Gabe’s elopement in the mountains of Colorado, I was expecting that by late August the wildflowers would have peaked and begun to die off and hints of Fall would be on the horizon. I was wrong. The wildflowers were more widespread than I have ever seen. Queen Anne’s Lace up to our heads, Columbines in troves, bright purple Lupines dotting the landscape, Larkspur absolutely everywhere—there was more diversity and color in this year’s wildflower display than I’ve ever seen. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect time to adventure up into the high backcountry and elope.

Most of the weddings that we're part of don't happen at traditional venues. Typically we're photographing couples getting married in National Parks, on public land, at vacation rentals, and in their friend's backyard. You don't have to have a wedding at a multi-thousand dollar venue to have an inspiring wedding day, and in fact, I think the more stunning places tend to be the ones that are free of buildings and rules and a wait staff. 

We met Mary and Joe in Telluride, Colorado at their hotel and started their day by driving up a bumpy dirt road and hiking out to a waterfall for their first look. From there, we continued up the road and started our 6 mile hike to an epic and secluded alpine lake. Mary changed out of her dress for the hike up and packed it in her backpack to put on again once we made it to the lake. Then she strapped her flowers to the outside of her backpack and we started up the mountain. The hike up was steep, but beautiful, with the landscape in the middle of its transition from summer to fall. Warm yellows and golds dotted the hillsides.

There is so much to admire about these women. Kate and Ellen (and their daughter Adelaide) are the women behind The Modern Caravan, a custom Airstream renovation and design duo. We’ve been following their work since before we started on our own Airstream renovation and have found endless inspiration in their craftsmanship and eye for design.

We started Anna and Martin’s elopement with a first look in a wooded forest near Aspen, Colorado. From there we followed the two of them as they explored a granite cave carved out by ice, and walked along the wild, undulating curves of the cascades on the Roaring Fork River. We continued up the pass from there to the top of a mountain where we met their friends and dogs to have their ceremony.

Of all the weddings we’ve been part of, this one takes the cake for most adventurous. Since starting our business, I’ve dreamed of shooting a wedding on the summit of a Colorado “Fourteener” (local verbiage for mountains that extend above 14,000 feet in elevation). Colorado Fourteeners can be intense – they generally require an alpine start in the cold before the sun is up, there can be afternoon thunderstorms, they can involve scrambling and technical climbing, and the hikes are always unrelentingly steep. In other words, the perfect spot for an adventurous elopement for some Colorado locals like Monique and Craig.

Danielle & Cody eloped at Sapphire Point, an overlook on Lake Dillon with wide open views of the 10 Mile Range surrounding Breckenridge. They said their vows in front of their parents and Danielle’s three girls. 

Kelsey and Cody and came from Nebraska, along with their friends & family, to say their vows amidst the alpine tundra and tall pine trees that make up the landscape above 11,000 ft in the Rocky Mountains. Arapahoe Basin is a busy ski resort in the winter, and in the summer they allow weddings at a restaurant high up on the mountain, accessible by chair lift. Its an experience all of its own to be there

Never has a wedding felt more wildly adventurous and still so intimately personal at the same time.

Kylie and Eitan's family traveled from all over the U.S. to a secret little corner of the mountains in Ouray, Colorado to explore dirt roads, hike through wildflowers, and ford a creek – all in suits and dresses. 

We met Jonathan & Kathleen several months back at a brewery. We talked about work and life and we walked away that evening inspired by the lightness and humility these two carry with them. Their wedding reflected all of that just the same. It was simple, yet stunning. Small & intimate, yet warm & important. Kathleen & Jonathan curated their wedding day to represent the most special parts of their lives—their families, their love for food & wine, and their adventurous & lighthearted love for each other.

Elizabeth and Tyler chose to get married at what might be the most beautiful wedding venue in Colorado – Dunton Hot Springs – where they housed all of their guests, soaked in hot springs, hiked around the mountains, and ate the most incredible food all weekend. Dunton is a legendary place. Its an old ghost town that's been completely renovated. Set way back in the mountains several miles down a dirt road, it feels rustic & secluded, while also nodding to modern taste – the collection of contemporary photography hanging on the walls made my art student heart so happy. The place is stunning in all aspects.

When Heather & Emerson reached out to us for their anniversary session, I asked what they were hoping the day would look like. She described wanting to maybe do a hike and read letters to each other somewhere along the way. I sent a few location options, and the one they decided on was probably the most difficult option. They knew full-well what they were getting into--hiking several miles up to a summit almost 12,000ft above sea level. 

There is truly nothing like standing in the snow above treeline in Colorado. Feeling the wind whip through your hair, the biting cold on your skin, and seeing mountaintops that go on for miles is a humbling experience all of its own. Add to that reading your vows at 12,000 ft and its difficult to not have an overwhelming emotional response. Charlie & Larissa strapped snow spikes on their hiking boots, threw a bottle of champagne in their daypack, and hiked up the ridge to an overlook above Loveland Pass, Colorado where they said their vows. It was equally beautiful and adventurous.

Colorado is wild. Its weather is unpredictable, its mountains are inspiring, and in the spring it shows off that untamed beauty all at once with windy storms and swollen rivers and snow that seems like it came from nowhere. When it comes to the weather, there are two types of people--those who are reasonably cautious and stay indoors when there are storms, and those who strap on their boots, grab their skis, and head up the mountains. Marisa and John are definitely the latter.