Not everyone has a clear and straight path to their wedding day. This was definitely the case for Steph and Deric. Originally, they dreamed of eloping in Ireland, but that didn't happen. Then they started planning a wedding in Asheville, but that didn't happen. Then Colorado, but that still didn't happen. Then St. Louis, but the pandemic ruined that one. So FINALLY, they eloped in Colorado, 3 years later. And while eloping at sunrise surrounded by golden aspen trees in the mountains of Colorado was not what they expected, it’s hard to imagine anything different.

On the morning of Steph and Deric’s elopement, they got up before the sun and got ready in separate rooms of the cabin they rented. Steph had herself tucked away upstairs while she made sure her flower crown was positioned just right and that her vows were scribed into her vow book. Deric stayed downstairs and finished writing his vows in the kitchen with music playing in the background.

Right before their first look, Steph made time to FaceTime with her dad and stepmom. Her dad was getting emotional, Steph was, her stepmom was, and we sure weren't crying. No way. * shifty eyes * At the same time, Deric talked to his family as well. While their families weren’t there in person, it was so much fun for Steph and Deric to still include them in the build-up to their ceremony.

As the sun started to peek over the tops of the surrounding trees, it was time for Steph and Deric to have their first look. Deric waited for Steph on the wooden deck of their cabin. The deck was littered with fallen aspen leaves and Steph walked through them on her way to Deric. When it was finally time for Deric to turn around, you could see the relief flood over both of them. They grinned and they wrapped their arms around each other.

They held their ceremony on the property of their cabin, in a gorgeous aspen grove. They set up battery-powered candles in a semi-circle surrounding them and Steph gently laid her bouquet at her feet. Like with many of our elopement ceremonies, Alex started things out by giving a short reading. Then it was time for Steph and Deric to read their vows to each other. After three years of thinking about what to say to each other, Steph and Deric’s vows did not disappoint. All of us were grinning and crying all at the same time.

After the ceremony, they took their homemade breakfast burritos out of the oven and packed their picnic basket and we set off down a hiking trail. They set up their picnic blanket along the shores of a lake, drank coffee from a thermos, and ate their warm breakfast burritos. Deric brought up how bad he wanted to see a moose during their trip to Colorado, and we spent the next 3 minutes listing all of our favorite spots and strategies for moose watching. Then, as soon as we mentioned that we probably wouldn’t see a moose in this area, one strolled right up to the picnic.

Any time we are near a wild animal (even those friendly chipmunks that like to run circles around your feet), we are always sure to give it enough space. We never want an animal to feel threatened by our presence. Most often, we can watch moose from a safe distance and they ignore us for the most part. But this moose was interested in us, too interested in us. He walked along the edge of the lake and then stopped to stare at us. We backed up into a nearby grove of aspens and held our breath. Luckily, eventually, he got bored with us and wandered away.

We ended their elopement morning on a windy Colorado mountaintop. While they enjoyed the top-of-the-world views, Steph and Deric cuddled close to keep warm. Deric held Steph in his arms and gave her many many kisses on her temple… Judging by the laughs from Steph, it may have been too many kisses. We reminded him that he has the rest of his life for kisses, but 5 or 10 more right now won’t hurt.

This elopement took place on Ute and Cheyenne Land.

Photographs

Colorado Elopements

Destination Elopements