I had the honor and privilege of shooting the best Colorado elopement ever, well, at least in my opinion. We started out in GORGEOUS Estes Park, then moved on into Rocky Mountain State Park, featuring private vows at Moraine Park, a glorious wedding ceremony at Sprague Lake with a post wedding photoshoot at the top of the mountain at Forest Canyon Overlook. Added Bonus: A day after photoshoot on the Royal Gorge Train ride AND even more photos the NEXT day at Garden of the Gods. This bride and groom were NOT playing around for their once in a lifetime Colorado Elopement! I don’t even know how I can possibly blog about EVERYTHING all in one post! So let me just show you the magic.
First Up and a MUST Have: Private Vows at Moraine Park
My bride and groom were having the classic wedding planning dilemma of bringing together their personal desires and the desires of their family. They are both more private, introverted people, and their original Colorado elopement plan was meant to be sans family. However, they also both really love their families and wanted to make sure they were included in their wedding day. So we came up with a compromise. Private vows with just the two of them (and lil’ ol’ me) at a separate location, i.e. Moraine Park, and then a small ceremony with more traditional wedding vows that also included their family. It was an absolutely perfect compromise.
As an elopement photographer, this is one of the most meaningful parts of the jobs. These are private vows….private….vows…..plus. ME. Haha! Being welcomed into such an intimate space is so humbling. It truly fills my heart to be allowed involvement in one of the greatest, most intimate, most epic moments of other human beings’ lives. I love it and will always be here for it.
Pro Tip: Skip Out on Bear Lake and Go Straight for Sprague Lake
Ok listen. Everyone and their mom’s wanted to go to Bear Lake. We were told by all the park rangers and locals that Bear Lake was the MUST see spot….welp…we never saw it. I’m sure it was BEAUTIFUL, as seen on the world wide web, BUT, with how much hype it has around it, it also meant that it was going to be PACKED. So on our scouting day, we decided to make a stop on our way to Bear Lake at Sprague Lake and IMMEDIATELY, we were SOLD. We didn’t even bother attempting to go anywhere else after seeing this incredible view and all the bonuses this spot had to offer. Very few people were there because of the Bear Lake hype, and I mean come on…LOOK at that view! I’d say we did just fine. My bride and groom had next to zero unwanted onlookers from those perusing the national, very public park. They also got a nice visit from a friendly moose during their ceremony (#mooseblessings) AND had absolutely no issue snagging this incredible dock with the even more incredible view of the Rocky Mountains. 10/10 would recommend.
No Regrets: Post Ceremony Wedding Photos at Forest Canyon Overlook
You absolutely cannot go all the way to Colorado for your amazing and epic Colorado elopement without taking advantage of absolutely everything Colorado has to offer. #Colorado #SEO…have I said Colorado or Colorado elopement enough for the algorithm yet? One more time. Colorado elopement. Haha ok, I’m done…for this paragraph. But for real, we got the deep valley view, the glorious lake view, so NATURALLY, we needed to top of the day….literally….at Forest Canyon overlook. When I tell you that I was sweating in a tank top at the bottom of this mountain, and then not 20mins later freezing my triple cc thiccc you know what at the top of this mountain. SHEEEESH. It. Was. Crazy. And epic. And freezing. But oh so worth it. I’m not even going to type anything else, I’m just going to show you more photos and let them speak for themselves.
Like what more do I have to say? Go to Colorado. Elope. And let me be your Colorado elopement photographer. Ok actually I have a lot more to say. Because this was NOT the end of our Colorado elopement photography journey. Nay nay. But this blog post is long enough at this point probably. So I’m going to save the rest of what I have to say for a part 2 of this EPIC Colorado elopement photography journey. K, see, I had to get in another SEO plug there. Love you all.
xoxo, Victoria
P.S. As a bonus tip, during peak seasons Rocky Mountain National Park service has timed entries. So you can’t just go visit the park whenever you want to! Plan ahead and get a pass because they WILL sell out. We learned that the hard way. So, you’re welcome.
