I first met Alec (the groom) while working at Vail Resorts Marketing; I was on the Resort Marketing Team, and he handled backend website support from the corporate office. In 2019, we both attended a camping trip for my birthday, where he brought his new girlfriend along. We hit it off immediately, and over the years, we stayed in touch through social media, often commenting on each other’s adventures. Last summer, he and Lauren got engaged in Costa Rica, and I was thrilled to see their announcement post online. A few weeks later, Lauren texted me to say they were engaged and wanted me to photograph their adventurous ski elopement in Colorado. I was beyond honored that they chose me to document their special day, especially given the incredible talent in the wedding industry.

Planning the Perfect May Elopement: Embracing Adventure & Family

They immediately knew they wanted a smaller event, opting to elope just the two. We quickly decided on a plan to hike out to an alpine lake and hopefully do some backcountry skiing. Given their preference for a May elopement, I knew it would be a gamble. Colorado’s weather and trail conditions can be unpredictable that time of year. We had a loose plan and a few locations in mind, agreeing to stay in touch as the date approached to assess the weather conditions.

About six months before their day, they reached out to say they’d decided to include family who would travel from Ohio. This didn’t change our plans much; we just added a caterer to serve dinner to everyone after their adventurous day.

P.S. If you’re a skiing enthusiast, you should check out these mountain engagement photos at a Colorado ski resort!

Adjusting Plans for Their Adventurous Ski Elopement

Fast forward to a week before the couple’s elopement, and during our final check-in call, we faced a classic Colorado springtime challenge. After scouting the original trail for their hike and ceremony, we realized it was far too snowy, making the adventure less enjoyable. Recent snowstorms between late April and early May had left the high country with too much snow for hikes above 9,000-10,000 feet in elevation.

With just seven days to plan a new elopement day, we went back to the drawing board. Knowing they still wanted to incorporate skiing, we decided to center the day around Arapahoe Basin, one of the last ski resorts still open. We paired this with other elements they wanted to include:

• Spending time getting ready with their family at an Airbnb
• A ceremony with a lake and mountain view
• Skiing with family post-ceremony
• Skinny dipping in an alpine lake
• A catered dinner at the Airbnb to top off the day

Guess What!? We Made it All Happen

We found the perfect mountain Airbnb for their entire crew nestled in the trees in Breckenridge, where we spent a slow morning getting ready and capturing some preparation photos. Once everyone was ready, we traveled to a stunning overlook called Windy Point. It’s an amazing view of Lake Dillon and the Ten Mile Range. With their adorable dog Mack as the ring bearer and their intimate guest count, the couple shared beautiful vows.

Before the next adventure, the couple and their families celebrated with champagne, mingled, and took family portraits. Next up was skiing! We drove to Arapahoe Basin to celebrate even more, ski some laps, and ultimately have fun. The photos speak for themselves.

On the way back to their Airbnb for a catered dinner by Hippie Chicks Catering, we checked off the last item on their ski elopement day wish list: skinny dipping. These adventurous souls stripped down and jumped into an alpine lake on their wedding day. Cold? Oh, yes. Worth it? 100%.

This is another perfect example of curating a wedding day that truly reflects you as a couple and includes elopement activities and celebrations that are meaningful to your relationship. I am so thrilled we were able to create the perfect wedding day for Lauren and Alec. Involving their loved ones and the activities they are passionate about is what brings days like this together.