Mary & James – Aspen, Colorado – Adventure Elopement Photographer

When Mary contacted me over a year ago, she had her heart set on a Colorado elopement. Something small, simple, with just their immediate family in attendance. And more than anything, she wanted fall colors and spectacular views. Living in Arizona, they weren’t sure exactly when to time the elopement for the fall colors, but that was the beauty of eloping with just a handful of loved ones. They could wait and see when the colors were starting to turn in September of 2016 before picking their date for 2017. I spend most of my time in the mountains during the summer and fall since that is peak wedding season. This allowed me the ability to able to give Mary and James an idea of what the leaves were starting to look like as I made my way into the Rockies each weekend to shoot a wedding. Finally, we settled on a date for 2017 and plans were underway.

Initially, Mary expressed that maybe they’d like to get married a the iconic Maroon Bells. However, she also expressed to me that she wanted somewhere intimate, secluded and special. Unfortunately, if you’ve ever gone to the Maroon Bells during the peak of changing aspen trees, you know that secluded and special are not exactly words you could use to describe this gorgeous place. Even this fall, I shot an engagement session there with about two hundred other tourists. One of my favorite parts about elopements though is the adventure and spontaneity that comes along with it. Both of which spark my own creativity and allow me to help create an amazing and special experience for each couple. So, with the trust of my amazing bride, my assistant and I set out to Aspen, Colorado a couple weeks before Mary and James’ big day to scope out the perfect place. When we came across this gorgeous teal lake and hidden waterfall tucked back deep into the mountains, I knew it was the spot! I also knew Mary and James would have to be up for a little bit of trekking, both on a bumpy dirt road and by foot, over rushing rivers on logs. Luckily, Mary was thrilled and packed her Nikes to go along for the ride. Of course the location was to die for, but the adventure itself made for a unique, one-of-a-kind experience for these two beautiful souls. What better way to commit their love to each other?