Samantha and Brendan met in high school and later became very close friends in college. They both had feelings for each other but never confessed it. Eventually they lost touch when Brendan moved away, but years later they reconnected and have been together ever since!

For their Colorado elopement, they wanted to have their first look in a beautiful location, then have a private picnic and first dance before returning to their families and dog for their ceremony. They chose to start the day at an amazing rocky overlook with expansive mountain views. Samantha changed into her wedding dress at the trailhead before taking the short hike to where Brendan was waiting. Upon seeing each other for the first time in their wedding attire, Samantha and Brendan hugged each other and then looked out at the views surrounding them. Once they had a chance to collect themselves, they read short letters to each other. We then retreated back into the forest for their private picnic with a homemade charcuterie board and beers. But before returning to their family, we made our way higher in elevation for a mountaintop first dance along the way, complete with a short hike to a beautiful alpine lake.

Morning adventure complete, we all drove down to Lake Dillon for their ceremony. Their families and their dog Freya were waiting at the pavilion, setting up florals and decor. The wind made it difficult, as name cards and napkins were pushed onto the ground as soon as they were placed. We all resigned to tucking things under cutlery or plates so that their ceremony could begin on a hill overlooking Lake Dillon. They hired an officiant who led them in a handfasting ceremony before Samantha and Brendan read their vows to each other. It was such a beautiful ceremony full of smiles and laughter. Afterward, Samantha and Brendan spent time with their guests before sitting down to a catered dinner.

As the sun started to set, the four of us and Freya hiked down to the shore of Lake Dillon. Freya is such a beautiful dog and she is so loved by her parents! We explored the beach before Samantha asked if there was a nearby aspen grove that we could go to. We thought for a moment before remembering a trailhead that would give us the best shot, but now it was a race against the sunset! We hopped in our cars and rushed (driving the legal speed limit, of course) to the spot we felt confident would be lined with gorgeous yellow aspen trees. And as we pulled up, we were greeted with what must have been the peak day of the year for Fall color in this particular grove.

But their elopement day didn’t end there. As the sky became dark and the stars came out, we drove to our final location for the day. We hiked in the dark to a south-facing mountaintop in hopes of seeing the milky way. Astrophotography is highly dependent on the weather. Even a partly cloudy night can completely block the stars. But we were so lucky and there was not a single cloud in sight! Once we reached the top of the mountain, we turned our headlamps off and let our eyes adjust to the darkness. Samantha was so excited and mentioned that she had never seen the stars as brightly as that night. By now, the temperatures hovered around freezing, but Samantha and Brendan cuddled up together in the darkness, excited about the stars surrounding them. What an amazing way to end their Colorado elopement day!

This elopement took place on Ute and Cheyenne Land.

Photographs

Colorado Elopements

Destination Elopements