Jennie + Rob’s Colorado Hiking Elopement
Jennie and Rob are both doctors who met during residency … after swearing they wouldn’t marry another doctor. A few years later they called me up asking about a Colorado hiking elopement so we see how that worked out. 😉
As soon as they got engaged they knew a big wedding wasn’t for them. They wanted a day that was intimate, adventurous, and celebrated all the things they loved – including big mountains, beautiful scenery, and epic adventures. Their elopement ended up being all of that and so much more!
We started planning their Colorado elopement last summer after they reached out with some ideas for what they wanted to do for their day. After tossing around lots of ideas we ended up picking one of my favorite local hikes in the mountains above Boulder. I LOVE this spot for elopements because its full value – BIG mountain scenery, nice and quiet (if you know when to go!), and a chance to see wildlife without being a super grueling hike. It’s basically the PERFECT spot for a Colorado hiking elopement!
We met up at their AirBnB in Golden (where Jennie was getting her makeup done) and then hopped in the car for the drive to the mountains. They decided they wanted to hike int heir regular clothes (except their “regular clothes” were cute bride and groom shirts!) and then changed near the end of the hike for their first look. We hooked Rob’s suit to his backpack, rolled Jennie’s dress up and put it in hers, and made our way up the mountan in PERFECT weather! A couple raindrops fell (just enough to keep it cool) and there was some thunder rumbling in the distance (but not close enough to be worrisome) and the whole thing was pretty much perfect.
We were chatting away on our way up the trail when someone coming down mentioned that there were a couple moose munching on willows in the field next to us. Sure enough, mama moose was out there getting fattened up for the winter! It doesn’t matter how many times I see moose (and I see them a ton) it still feels super special every time! I was so glad Jennie and Rob got to see them too.
nce we made it to their final destination they got dressed and ready before their first look, which happened in a quiet little grove of trees. Right before their first look Jennie surprised Rob by singing him a song and I’m pretty sure all of us (including the moose and chipmunks) were in tears. It was the sweetest.
They said their vows on a rock next to the lake and then it was time to celebrate! After having to cancel their receptions due to Covid it was REALLY important to them that the evening felt like a celebration – which included hiking two bottles of champagne and a cake up the mountain. It was worth it!
We ended the evening with a picnic next to the lake, the sweetest first dance on a giant boulder with a waterfall flowing in the background, and a good chunk of time spent just enjoying the most perfect day in the most perfect place. We hiked out by headlamp under the stars to end an incredible evening.
I had an AMAZING time with these two at their Colorado hiking elopement and I am so so so stoked about how these photos turned out! Jennie and Rob, thanks for being so awesome!
Also, big thanks to these folks who helped make their day perfect:
Jennie’s Hair and Makeup: Wedlocks Bridal
Jennie’s Dress: Truvelle
Bouquet: Plum Sage
Cake: Ruby Jean Patisserie
Venue: Mother Nature 🙂