We talk all the time about the benefits of eloping: you can spend more quality time with your partner and loved ones, you can craft an experience that is unique to you and your relationship, you can make your day an adventure, it’s overall more relaxing than a big wedding, and you can often save a lot of money. But one thing we don’t often emphasize is the flexibility that eloping gives you. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that there is so much value to the ability to be flexible, and pivot, if necessary.

Kate and Matt originally planned to get married at the Maroon Bells in Aspen, Colorado. But a few months before their elopement, during a meeting with Kate’s pediatrician, it was suggested that they don’t take their newborn son (who would be just over a month old on their wedding day) up to such high elevations. So we worked together to come up with a new plan that would be safe for their sweet little son, but also give them the elopement experience they craved. Their flexibility paid off. We swapped Maroon Bells for Garden of the Gods and celebrated the official joining of their families. Although, we would argue that their families have been one for quite a while now!

We started Kate and Matt’s elopement day with a short hike to their first look. Matt hiked up to the top first, while Kate changed into her wedding dress in the trailhead parking lot. Once Kate was dressed, she made the hike up to one of the iconic rock formations at Garden of the Gods. It was a sweltering August day and we all found ourselves searching for shade, and wishing for some clouds and a breeze. Kate and Matt’s first look was one of our favorites! They both had so much excitement and Matt even twirled Kate in to see a full 360 of her wedding dress.

After their first look, they exchanged their vows privately. They decided who would go first by playing a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Kate went first and then Matt. We love when our couples choose to have a private vow exchange in addition to a more “formal” ceremony with their guests. It not only allows our couples to have an intimate moment with each other, but it also relieves some of the nerves of reading personal vows in front of other people. And most importantly, it allows our couples to feel like they don’t have to edit their vows down based on their audience.

Next, we met up with their families for their ceremony at the High Point ceremony site at Garden of the Gods. We all climbed down some rocks and their guests gathered around Kate and Matt. Their close friend officiated the short ceremony, and we’re pretty sure everyone was laughing the entire time!

After the ceremony, we snuck off with Kate and Matt to climb some rocks and explore a little bit more while their guests headed to set up their picnic dinner. Together, we enjoyed the incredible views at Garden of the Gods as the sun started to dip below the mountains.

They planned to have a casual picnic with all of their guests in Garden of the Gods and ordered sandwiches for everyone. The kids played while the adults hung out. Kate and Matt both had young daughters who were exactly the same age when they met. The girls have since grown up together, and it is so much fun seeing them interact with each other! The highlight of the evening for the girls were these tiny greenish beetles that they found on a bush. They carried the bugs around for most of the evening! As the sun continued to set, the little valley that we were in began to glow with beautiful light. After some coaxing, Kate and Matt had their first dance.

They ended their wedding night by returning to their rental house in Colorado Springs and eating cake. It was such an amazing evening and we feel so lucky that Kate and Matt invited us to be a part of it!

This elopement took place on Ute and Cheyenne Land.

Photographs

Colorado Elopements

Destination Elopements