It was still dark when we met Renee and Cody at the trailhead. As we all gathered our things for the hike, we noticed that the milky way was visible high above the treetops. With no moon in sight, we started the hike in complete darkness, only the lights from our headlamps to guide the way. Renee and Cody have an adorable Goldendoodle named Bixby (Yes, she was named after the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur!) who acted as their witness and flower girl. Bixby led the way, making sure to stop and sniff frequently. We think she just wanted to make sure we were on the right track.

Even with Bixby’s sniff breaks and Lisa slipping and falling on her butt during one of the trail’s water crossings, we made great time. We reached the alpine lake just as the sun started to light up the Eastern Horizon. Still, in the pre-sunrise blue hour, Renee and Cody snuck away behind different trees to get dressed. Right before the first look is when our couples typically feel the most nervous on their wedding day. But as soon as they see each other, it all melts away. This was the case for Renee and Cody. As Cody waited for Renee to walk to him (her veil catching on the bushes along the way), he clasped his hands together, nervously. And when Cody finally got to turn around and see Renee in her wedding dress, you could see the calm and relief wash over both of their faces.

Next, it was time to do the thing! Together, they walked down to the edge of the water. By then, the sun was lighting up the mountains, turning them the most incredible orange and yellow. Simultaneously, some low hanging clouds moved in and hung over the tops of the mountains. It was such a cool contrast! Renee and Cody got into place and distracted Bixby with a bone to keep her busy during the ceremony. Alex started the ceremony with a reading to set the tone, and then Renee and Cody read their own vows to each other. Even with no one watching, Renee and Cody still felt the nerves and emotions of reading their vows to each other, both needing to pause and compose themselves before starting. As their perfect little ceremony ended with their first kiss, Bixby celebrated by barking and joining Renee and Cody down on the edge of the lake.

Being careful to watch the dark clouds (thunderstorms at high elevations can be very dangerous), Renee and Cody popped some champagne and then we started the hike back down to the trailhead. Our favorite part of sunrise elopements is that we get the ceremony space to yourself, and by the time we’re ready to start the hike back down, other hikers are just coming up. So the hike down is often filled with congratulations and jokes about our couples’ choice in hiking clothes. It’s normal to hike in a wedding dress, right?

Renee and Cody capped off their elopement morning with a beautiful chocolate cake before continuing their mountain adventure in Aspen for their honeymoon (Bixby included, of course).

This elopement took place on Ute and Cheyenne Land.

Photographs

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