Hike Climb & Backpack | November 30, 2017

This Off-Roading Colorado Elopement Was “Perfectly” Joy & Clint

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    Most of the time, when people contact me about photographing their intimate wedding or elopement, they have no idea what they want their day to look like. I absolutely LOVE working with couples in this dreaming and planning stage of envisioning what their wedding day could be, and enjoy sharing any experience or advice I have that could help make their vision happen. 

    I fully believe that intimate weddings & elopements are the absolute best way to get married. In addition to only having the people that you are closest to witness the powerful and personal moment of committing your life to your partner — you have the freedom to create whatever kind of wedding day is the most “you.” Joy, Clint, & I went through so many different ideas, locations, and visions and we were still chatting and collaborating a week before their amazing elopement. They ended up driving Ophir Pass the day before their elopement and deciding that’s where they wanted to do their “first look” at sunrise and exchange gifts. I absolutely love the spontaneity and freedom that intimate weddings entail — each couple can create their own adventure and design a day that truly reflects their relationship.

    On Joy & Clint’s wedding day, we met before sunrise, headed up a fun & sketchy 4×4 road in the dark, and reach the top of the pass just as the sun was starting to turn the mountains pink. Joy changed into her dress at the back of the Jeep, and they saw each other for the first time in their wedding attire just as the sunburst over the horizon and began their incredible adventurous wedding day. They cuddled & cried, danced, and gave piggyback rides all over the top of the pass, and then we drove back into telluride to meet the family for their ceremony. We headed up Telluride Ski resort via the gondola, and they said their vows with their closest family members at San Sophia Overlook. We rode the gondola back down, hopped back in their Jeep Rubicon, and headed up another 4×4 road to Bridal Veil Falls. They wrapped up their day cuddling under the mist of the tallest free-flowing waterfall in Colorado — everything was so perfectly “Joy & Clint.”

    Inviting me to be a part of your elopement means more than just photos. If you’re planning your own elopement adventure (in Colorado or elsewhere), get in touch and I’d be happy to share location, suggestions, and other planning ideas.

    Driving on a 4x4 road at sunrise in Colorado.
    Landscape of mountains from Ophir Pass at sunrise in Colorado.
    Jeep parked at Ophir Pass in Colorado.
    Bride standing behind Jeep at Ophir Pass in Colorado. She is wearing a white dress, white boots, and a flower crown.
    Bride approaches groom during sunrise for a first look on their elopement day. They are at Ophir Pass in Colorado.
    Bride and groom share a first look on their elopement day at sunrise at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom kiss on their elopement day at sunrise at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom share a first look at sunrise at Ophir Pass, Colorado.
    Bride and groom share a first look at sunrise at Ophir Pass, Colorado.
    Bride and groom share a first look at sunrise at Ophir Pass, Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other at sunrise at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom on their elopement day at sunrise at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom on their elopement day at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom on their elopement day at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom on their elopement day at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom embrace on their elopement day at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and run at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom standing next to Jeep at Ophir Pass, in Colorado. The sun is shining behind them as bride holds up her white dress.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk on trail at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk on trail at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Groom holds up bride and they wrap their arms around each other at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom lean in for a kiss at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom dance on their elopement day at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom dance on their elopement day at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom run at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk together at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk at Ophir Pass, in Colorado.
    Groom lifts up bride in front of a Jeep at Ophir Pass, in Colorado. There are mountains in the background.
    Bride and groom standing outside of a Jeep, about to get inside, at Ophir Pass in Colorado.
    Bride standing on rock while her dress flows in the wind at Ophir Pass, in Colorado. There are mountains in the background.
    Bride and groom standing on a rock together while the brides dress flows in the wind at Ophir Pass, in Colorado. There are mountains in the background.
    Bride and groom embrace while standing on a rock together. The brides dress flows in the wind at Ophir Pass, in Colorado. There are mountains in the background.
    Landscape of mountains at Ophir Pass in Colorado.
    bride and groom smile at each other while driving in a car on their elopement day in Telluride, Colorado.
    Landscape of forest and mountains at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom entering gondola at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom riding in gondola while looking out the window at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Aerial view of mountains and reserot from gondola at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Gondolas at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Landscape of forest and mountains at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride, groom, friends, and family hike on trail at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom surrounded by their friends and family during intimate elopement ceremony at the San Sophia Overlook at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands during intimate elopement ceremony at the San Sophia Overlook at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    bride wipes away tear during intimate elopement ceremony at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands during intimate elopement ceremony at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom get emotional during intimate elopement ceremony at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Close-up of bride holding grooms hand. Light is shining on on the ring on his ring finger.
    Close-up of groom placing gold ring on brides ring finger.
    Bride and groom surrounded by friends and family on their elopement day at the San Sophia Overlook at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Officiant wraps cloth braid around bride and grooms arms during intimate elopement ceremony at the Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom surrounded by friends and family during intimate elopement ceremony at the San Sophia Overlook at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    bride and groom share a kiss, surrounded by friends and family during their intimate elopement ceremony at the San Sophia Overlook at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Groom gives bride a piggy-back ride while they kiss at the Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Bride and groom pose in front of trailhead on their elopement day in Colorado. there are trees in the background.
    Gondola with people sitting inside at the Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
    Trailhead marker and mountain landscape in Telluride, Colorado.
    Waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bride and groom holds hands while smiling at each other at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk through yellow wildflowers at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk near waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bride and groom embrace in front of waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bride and groom embrace in front of waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bride and groom hold hands and walk near waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
    Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.

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