There are so many benefits to having your wedding in the desert. For one, you can easily get married in the “off-season” months, of March, April, October, and November, when more wedding vendors have availability and travel and accommodations are cheaper. And if the location being secluded is important to you, you have your pick of absolutely incredible epic spots where you won’t find a soul in site—after all, eloping is usually about not having 100 people around to watch you say your vows, so why do it in an overcrowded view? The desert weather at certain times of year can be pretty mild compared to other places, and when it does rain in the desert, it’s a stunning thing to experience.

The day after their wedding at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, we adventured with Carly and Jon to the top of Rocky Mountain National Park for some wild portraits in the windswept landscape.

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.

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

Utah is full of hidden arches, funky rock formations, and endless corners of sandstone to explore. I'm so inspired every time we're there because of the vast, unique landscapes around every bend in the road. This time we got to explore a part of Utah we'd never been to before: Capitol Reef National Park.

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.

Emma & David's intimate wedding at Blackstone Rivers Ranch represented the transition into spring all the same--trees beginning to bud, the creek running through the property starting to melt, warm string lights being turned on at the beginning of wedding season. Emma & David seemed relaxed, yet excited, and filled to the brim with all the emotion that comes with a day as important as their wedding. We watched from corners of bedrooms and the middle of pine forests, capturing photos as these two experienced the fullness of joy, passion, and gratitude as they entered into a new life together.

Mandy & Corey told me that their favorite national park they’d visited was Joshua Tree National Park, and I knew exactly where to suggest for their Colorado elopement. I sent them a few photos of Great Sand Dunes National Park and their response was sweeter than I could’ve expected. Mandy said she cried seeing the photos, knowing it was a perfect spot for them to say their vows. A mix of desert sand dunes and snow-capped peaks, Great Sand Dunes sits at the base of the snowy & prominent Sangre De Cristo mountains, a perplexing landscape even for the most well-traveled person. Its a truly unique place that remains sort of a well-kept secret in Colorado because of its distance from the major resort towns. For the person who wants a truly wild & secluded experience for their wedding, this spot is ideal. 

We drove over Independence Pass on last day it was open before closing for the winter. We woke up before the sun in order to give ourselves plenty of time to make it to Aspen before the incoming snowstorm might prevent us from getting over the windy mountain road. Kaitlin & Eason were in town for the weekend and wanted some photos to announce their engagement to their friends and family, so we met them in one of our favorite places to explore and take photos.