What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
Ian grew up going to Colorado as a kid and always dreamed of having a small, intimate wedding surrounded by the natural beauty of Colorado. So when we decided to elope, we knew this was the place we needed to be!
We decided Oct 3, 2022 would be our elopement date as it is the birthday of our favorite musician, Stevie Ray Vaughan. We also invited our families, cat, and dog so no one would be left out!
Did you do any DIY projects or create any handmade items for your weddings?
Miranda and her Mom made the flower bouquet from paper poppy flowers ordered from Valentina Flowers, and mountain sage from Trader Joe’s!
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
The biggest thing we did to save money was eloping in the mountains!
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
For us? Eloping was the stress free secret.
What was your biggest splurge?
Our photographer, but that is to be expected and was absolutely worth it to have the guidance and knowledge of someone with so many hours of experience in the San Juan Mountains. We were so grateful for Sean’s quick thinking as the day of the elopement approached! The forecast changed last minute and called for heavy snow, so we scrapped our original trail plans and headed up a nearby mountain pass where we jumped out for a first look. The fall colors of the trees were muted by the snow, but the snow-capped peaks in the distance were even more breathtaking with the sunrise light hitting through. It was absolutely meant to be!
What was your favorite detail?
One of our favorite parts of the day was having our pets, Tip and Liz, sign our marriage license, which is a cool legal thing you can do in Colorado. The photos were so fun and unique!
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
One of the most memorable moments was stepping out of our truck after a slick snowy climb up the mountain and seeing that initial view across the mountain range. It was absolutely breathtaking and we couldn’t believe we were that lucky to get married in such a beautiful spot!
Share any additional details you’d like us to know about your event!
Our elopement in the mountains of Colorado was a truly unforgettable and magical experience. We left the mountains with full hearts and a fun story to tell!
