6 Things to Keep in Mind to Create a Memorable Colorado Elopement
Elopements are a uniquely special type of wedding shoot. I love the adventure and intimacy of an elopement versus a traditional wedding. It seems to me that the elopements I shoot are more focused on the couple and their unique relationship, interests, or personality, where the typical wedding ceremony in a venue with a big crowd is a result of family traditions and relationships coming together to represent all who are celebrating.
Both are a lovely way to spend your big day and memorialize your love for each other! But if you fall into the group of a more adventurous couple, looking for a way to create a unique and memorable wedding experience, an elopement might be your best bet.
Colorado is a beautiful place for elopements and I love shooting here! Today I wanted to pull together some of my favorite ideas for Colorado couples to plan on for their elopement day, whether that’s an activity that highlights the local terrain or simply a special way to highlight your love that you wouldn’t be able to do during a traditional wedding ceremony.
Consider the elopement location
Planning your elopement ceremony spot gives you the option to include a little bit of adventure for the two of you and however many guests attend. You can get adventurous by hiking around to find a remote, hard-to-reach location that’s all yours, or stick to some hiking trails that are sure to pass a gorgeous lookout point that would work great for a brilliant background.
If you choose something a little more remote, you might try turning your elopement and honeymoon into a sort of backpacking trip in the backcountry! There are lots of beautiful, multi-day hiking trails like Devil’s Thumb to King Lake Loop or the Colorado Trail that would create a lovely experience.
Either way, including an activity like exploring a hiking trail or walking trail will allow you (and your guests) to create a more lasting memory of the elopement location.
Try a yurt!
You may have heard of a yurt (an elaborate, beautiful teepee-like tent) and let me tell you: these are worth consideration for your elopement planning! I especially love these Sleep Yurts at Tennessee Pass! They provide the option to also order dinner and have it delivered to your yurt, a wonderful choice after a day of adventuring!
Invite your own private chef
In addition to your wedding photographer and officiant, consider who else might be a good addition to your elopement experience. I’ve worked with Summit Brunch multiple times and his private meals catered to the couple add a wonderfully unique and personal touch to the elopement adventure.
Winter activities
Planning a winter elopement? You’ve got tons of options across the state for remote, snow-filled elopement opportunities that naturally lend themselves to some adventurous snow sporting as part of the experience! Enhance your elopement and create special memories by snow showing, renting snowmobiles, spending the day at a ski resort, or anything else!
Explore Jeep trails
Another way to make your elopement even more memorable by turning it into a short trip just the two of you is to plan an off-roading trip through some of Colorado’s gorgeous Jeep Trails. The Colorado Rockies are definitely an off-roader’s dream, so why not take advantage of the local landscape when you’re planning your elopement?
Create your own symbolic tradition
Just because you’re not having a wedding ceremony that follows a more common tradition doesn’t mean you can’t create your own! As I mentioned before, I love the idea of elopements for creating a more personalized, unique wedding experience, and one idea of an activity I’d LOVE to be witness to is a Whiskey Ceremony.
It’s super common to add a symbolic tradition with the recitation of marriage vows, and whiskey blending is a new trend! Guests (or just the bride and groom) combine unaged liquor to mature over time and blending together to create a unique whiskey flavor that’s all their own. I love this idea because the couple can form their own tradition around drinking this whiskey on a special occasion to bring back the memories of their elopement.
Are there any other activities or ideas of things to remember that you’d recommend to others planning their elopement? Let me know what I should add to this list!
