Sunrise Elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

Allison + Nancy

Forrest Gump once said that April in Colorado is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Okay, that’s not what he said, but it is still true. On some days, April can feel like springtime, while on other days, April can feel like winter. As Allison and Nancy’s elopement day approached, we kept a close eye on the weather. The entire week was expected to be rainy, which can easily become snow in the mountains. But we lucked out and dodged the rain and snow, we just had to endure chilly temperatures and high winds.

We met up with Allison and Nancy just before sunrise at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Nancy was driving and Allison was tucked away in the backseat so they wouldn’t see each other. Together, we drove to one of our favorite overlooks in the park for their first look. When we arrived, there were two moose across the parking lot, so we kept a careful eye on them while we got our cameras set up. Allison and Nancy’s first look was so cute and they both had huge smiles when they finally saw each other. Nancy wore a black suit with pops of green and Allison wore a gray-toned tulle dress with a loooong veil (at Nancy’s request).

It was finally time for their ceremony! We drove to 3M Curve and walked down the dirt path to the rocky overlook. The view in the spring and early summer is so beautiful with all of the surrounding mountains covered in snow. The temperatures still hovered around freezing and the gusts of wind only made the cold feel worse, so Allison wrapped herself up in their custom wedding blanket during their vows. Nancy went first and really set the tone with her beautifully written words and then Allison read her vows next. One of our favorite parts about our job is hearing our couples’ vows. And so often, there are similarities between the words they write to each other. This was the case for Allison and Nancy as well. They exchanged rings, had their first kiss, and were officially married!

In order to honor their shared Mexican culture, they had a quick attire change. Nancy wore beautiful cowboy boots with a black cowboy hat, and Allison wrapped up in a stunning blanket. Nancy’s father had purchased these items in Mexico for them to wear on their wedding day.

By this time, the sun was out and the temperature was rising. We headed deeper into the park for their breakfast picnic. Upon arrival, the winds were so strong that we decided to go to a different picnic area that would provide more protection from the winds and we’re glad we did! Allison and Nancy brought the most delicious breakfast charcuterie board, filled with fruit, pastries, and donuts.

We ended the morning with one last stop in a meadow with beautiful mountain views. It was the perfect way to cap off such an amazing day!

This elopement took place on Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Land.

Photographs

Elopement Location: Estes Park, Colorado
Elopement Photographer + Videographer: Vow of the Wild

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