| September 27, 2016

Erin & Graham’s Wedding on 3M Curve in RMNP’s Trail Ridge Road

Table of Contents

One of the weddings that will forever stick out in my mind as a mind-blowing journey is Erin & Graham’s intimate wedding in Rocky Mountain National Park. Discover their story!

None of the couples I’ve ever photographed have been models. Most humans are scared of cameras — but there’s nothing more fulling than helping a couple get lost in their love for each other in front of my camera. It’s the most incredible part of what I do as a photographer. 

Almost every single couple I’ve ever photographed has said to me, “We’re not super photogenic” or “We’re awkward in front of the camera,” or sometimes even “We really hate having our photo taken.” And rather than put me off… I absolutely love hearing comments like these, because there’s so much room for transformation. A couple who has never been photographed professionally before is a completely blank canvas and it’s the most fulfilling experience to take a couple on a journey to being completely vulnerable, relaxed, and purely themselves in front of my camera. 

One of the weddings that will forever stick out in my mind as a mind-blowing journey is Erin and Graham’s intimate wedding in Rocky Mountain National Park. Through intentionally getting to know Erin & Graham and planning an elopement from start to finish that would reflect their relationship, it was incredible to see the walls tumble down, and see their hearts unfold in front of my camera on their wedding day. The stars truly aligned and the scenery, the light, the weather, the location, and the emotion perfectly blended to create one of the most magical wedding days I’ve ever experienced. Watching these two cuddles in the morning light in the mountains was awe-inspiring. Their love is passionate, magnetic, free-spirited, and completely unhindered. 

The combination of fearless adventure & passionate intimacy is what drives me from the core of my photographic soul. From their intimate first look on Trail Ridge Road to their beautiful elopement ceremony at 3M curve in Rocky Mountain National park, and ending with a casual picnic at a cabin in Grand Lake, Erin & Graham’s wedding represents the perfect type of wedding that I love being a part of — and the one I imagine having myself someday. 

Cabin in Grand Lake, Colorado.
Bride's white dress handing from tree in Colorado forest.
Bride sits while getting her makeup done.
Bride puts on her dress on her elopement day.
Bride puts on her shoes on her elopement day in Colorado.
Bride walks down steps of cabin, smiling and carrying a white shawl, on her elopement day in Colorado.
Groom getting ready outside of cabin on his elopement day in Colorado.
Herd of deer in a meadow with yellow wildflowers in Colorado.
Herd of deer in a meadow with yellow wildflowers in Colorado. There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Groom stands on rocks while looking out at mountains at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride hikes up trail at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride approaches groom for first look on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride approaches groom for first look on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom share a first look at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom kiss while holding hands at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom wrap their arms around each other while looking out at the mountains at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom embrace while standing on rocks at Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom stand on rocks while holding hands and smiling at each other at Trail Ridge Road in Colorado. There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands while walking at Trail Ridge Road in Colorado. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom embrace on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands while walking at Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands while walking around Trail Ridge Road, Colorado.
Bride and groom embrace while touching their foreheads together on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road, Colorado.
Bride and groom embrace while touching their foreheads together on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road, Colorado.
Bride and groom hold hands while smiling at each other and walking around Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands and walk around Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands and walk around Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands and walk around Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands and walk around Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom embrace at the top of a cliff on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are mountains in the background.
Bride and groom embrace at the top of a cliff on their elopement day at Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. There are mountains in the background.
Bride and groom hold hands and walk around Trial Ridge Road, Colorado. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Friends and family stand around groom for ceremony at 3M Curse in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and her father walk down the aisle, surrounded by friends and family, during intimate elopement ceremony. At 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Groom kisses bride's hands during intimate elopement ceremony at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride wipes away tear while groom smiles at her during intimate elopement ceremony at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Friends and family gather around bride and groom during intimate elopement ceremony at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride places ring on grooms finger during intimate elopement ceremony at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom kiss during intimate elopement ceremony, surrounded by friends and family, at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom kiss during intimate elopement ceremony, surrounded by friends and family, at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other on their elopement day at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. The bride is holding a black and white cat.
Bride and groom climb up rocks on their elopement day at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom embrace while standing on top of rocks on their elopement day at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other on their elopement day. There are mountains in the background at 3M Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bride, groom, and their friends and family stand on the deck of cabin in Grand Lake, Colorado.
Bride, groom, friends, family have ceremony on deck of cabin in Grand Lake, Colorado.
Groom holds black and white cat, with trees in the background, in Grand Lake, Colorado.
Bride and groom have reception with friends and family at a cabin in Grand Lake, Colorado.
Bride and groom have reception with friends and family at a cabin in Grand Lake, Colorado.

Vendor Credits:
Flowers: Lace and Lillies
Ceremony: 3M Curve, Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

Any couple looking to elope in the rocky mountains near Estes Park should consider Rocky Mountain National Park, with only a $150 permit to get married up there… it contains some of the most jaw-dropping mountain views I’ve ever seen. Contact me for special elopement packages in RMNP.  I’ve photographed over 20 weddings in RMNP and I would love to help you find the perfect spot for your intimate wedding ceremony!

Profile Pic

Maddie Mae

Elopement Photographer

& Planning Consultant

Three photographers

About us

Adventure Instead

Your Elopement Photographers & Planning Consultants. We are Maddie Mae, Amber, and Tori. We're your photographers, your elopement consultants, your cheerleaders, and your go-to adventure buddy on the day you say your vows.

Free guide

Get your free guide

To elopement planning

Download Now