Andrea & McKade | Elopement in Ouray

Andrea and McKade first approached me about their elopement in Ouray this spring after following my work online for a while. They were most drawn to the work I’ve done in the Ouray area and knew that they wanted those incredible backdrops for their big day! One of the biggest considerations around timing their elopement in Ouray was finding the delicate balance between wildflowers and greenery, and the ever-growing wildfire season we now have annually. We ultimately didn’t want the hazy smoke to ruin the views (or our lungs lol) and settled on early June as the best chance for flora without fear of fire.

I met Andrea outside their vacation rental to carpool to the park where McKade would be waiting for us for their first look. I always warn my couples beforehand that the first look will go by fast, and remind them that it’s their moment to start their wedding day together and to enjoy every second. They agreed afterward that it did go by so fast! Before we knew it we were headed into the mountains for their festivities. We started with an overlook for views of Mt. Abrams where we did portraits and took in the sights before heading further into the mountains for their ceremony.

The two opted for Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who would have to read their vows first (a personal favorite option of mine!) and Andrea lost and had to begin. With views of the red mountains and lake in the back, they shared laughs and tears through their promises to one another before exchanging their rings and a first kiss. Their cats signed their certificate as their witnesses back home, and I loved that they were part of the day still in that way! After the formalities they shared in a shot ski and a champagne toast before we made our way back into town for some waterfall exploring and photos with the town itself. It was the best end to a fantastic day! Take a peek at some of my favorite moments from their elopement in Ouray:

Vendors:

Flowers: Something Borrowed Blooms

Hair/Makeup: Salon Envy

Ski Shot: BlankCanvasbyPotter, (etsy)

Earrings: DarethColburnDesigns (etsy)