Vow Renewals in western Colorado & Moab
Do it again. Do it better. Do it for you.
Vow Renewals
You've been married for a while now. And something is pulling you back — to a mountain top, to the desert canyons, to a meaningful ceremony, to each other.
Maybe your wedding day was exactly what everyone else wanted it to be.
Maybe it was perfect, but you've been chasing a wilder version of it ever since.
Or maybe you eloped years ago and the only problem was that it ended.
Whatever brought you here, vow renewals aren't about recreating a wedding. They're about choosing each other again — this time with everything you've learned through your years together, in exactly the place you want to be.
Honor the journey that you've been on already, while rejuvenating your relationship for more adventures.
I work with three kinds of couples:
The "We Regret Our Traditional Wedding" Couple
Your wedding was lovely. Your in-laws were thrilled. You spent the whole day wondering why none of it felt like you. A vow renewal is your chance to get it right — just the two of you, somewhere that actually makes your heart race, with no one to perform for.
The "We Loved Our Wedding but We Want More" Couple
You had the best day of your lives with a traditional wedding, but you've been looking for an excuse to do something more wild this time. Ten or twenty years later, you're still that couple. Let's celebrate that.
The "We Eloped and We're Addicted" Couple
You ran off to a canyon or a mountain basin or a courthouse and never looked back. The only thing better than doing it once is doing it again — older, wiser, and with more miles on your relationship odometer.
Vow Renewal Planning Services
Comprehensive support
because your day should feel as good as it looks.
Location Scouting
So you can stop googling, posting to forums, and wasting your time trying to find the perfect spot. I've spent countless hours driving the back roads or with my nose in a map (you should see how many spots I've flagged) to help you narrow down and find the best spot for you to spend your day.
Timeline Planning
So we're in the best places at the best times - because lighting isn't your job to know about! Whether you’re planning activities for your vow renewal day or just need help with timing the perfect sunset ceremony, I love to help my couples with creating the perfect timeline for the day. I’ll create an agenda, with as much specific or general timing as we want, and what spots and activities we’ll be doing there.
Permit Guidance
Photographing in the west means navigating permits and other legal requirements. OOF right? You can rest easy, though. I know alllll the requirements and what we need to do.
Activity Ideas
From helping you brainstorm ideas you’ve never considered, to helping you with the logistics of making those ideas happen, consider me your go-to person to bounce things off of so you can craft the most amazing day you can imagine!
Vendor Recommendations
Small mountain and desert towns can be hard to find vendors at all, let alone ones who show up in an online search. Having helped couples elope and marry in these areas for 10 years now, I’ve gotten to know all the pros to recommend to help bring your visions to life.
Group Photo List Creation
If you’re having guests along for the day, I will help create a formals list so that we have a list of groups to make sure we’re not missing any combos on the day-of.
Location Expertise
So you can stop googling, posting to forums, and wasting your time trying to find the perfect spot. I've spent countless hours driving the back roads or with my nose in a map (you should see how many spots I've flagged) to help you narrow down and find the best spot for you to spend your day.
Timeline Planning
From sunrise ceremonies to multi-location days, I'll create a timeline that gets you to the best spots at the best times—with buffer room so you're never rushing. I’ll create an agenda, with as much specific or general timing as we want, and what spots and activities we’ll be doing there.
Permit Navigation
Celebrating in the west means navigating permits and other legal requirements. OOF right? You can rest easy, though. I know alllll the requirements and will walk you through every step.
Activity Ideas
Whether you want a picnic, a hot springs soak, a vineyard toast, or just stunning photos with minimal hiking—I'll help you design a day that feels authentically you.
Vendor Recommendations
Small mountain and desert towns can be hard to find vendors at all, let alone ones who show up in an online search. Having helped couples elope in these areas for over nine years now, I’ve gotten to know all the pros to recommend to help bring your visions to life.
Group Photo List Creation
If you’re having guests along for the day, I will help create a formals list so that we have a list of groups to make sure we’re not missing any combos on the day-of.
These planning services are included in all my vow renewal photography packages because I believe vow renewals deserve the same respect and planning as your original wedding did, even if it's much simpler!
Your wedding day but better.
I help couples create days that are private, intentional, and completely stress-free.
You are going to renew your vows - with new eyes and souls who have traveled farther together than you had at your wedding. Vow renewals are like your wedding day - but better.
Whether you need comprehensive planning support or just want award-winning photography of the day you've already designed, I'm here to make sure your experience is as incredible as the scenery because your relationship growing together like this deserves to be celebrated!
Vow Renewal Photo Gallery
I hear this constantly.
And after spending the day together, couples always tell me how natural and easy it felt.
"We're awkward in Photos"
When you're comfortable with the people you're with and genuinely enjoying yourself, everything else falls into place.
I'm not here to pose you for hours or make you perform.
I'm here to document your day as it unfolds—the real moments, the in-between glances, the way it actually felt to be there.
And here's what matters most:
You don't have to be extreme athletes.
You don't have to look a certain way.
You don't have to hike 10 miles for incredible images.
Come as you are. You're welcome here.
“When we got the photos, my husband said, 'She made us look like models!' She really did.”
-Rachel & Loren
The secret?
heirloom Albums
Want to add on an Heirloom Album, full of photos that tell the story of your day? You can flip through its pages and relive those moments you long for from the day. No more realizing years later (as you're planning a vow renewal, perhaps?) that you never made that album from your wedding!
PLUS you'll get professional design assistance, so you're not stranded doing all the work yourself, picking out hundreds of images and maneuvering software you're not used to. We're all about easy around here, if you haven't noticed!
"We have been passing around our photo album with family over the last couple days and everyone is loving it. We wanted to thank you again for your work!"
-Clinton & Ruth
Location Database
Exclusive Access to My
Based on your vision and needs, I'll hand select the best options from my extensive Location Database for you to peruse. Get intel like elevation, distance & difficulty, trail videos, coordinates, things to do nearby, and photo examples from the space!
Since starting my business in 2012 and moving here in 2015, I've been helping couples navigate the beautiful chaos of planning and photographing elopements across Colorado's Western Slope, San Juan Mountains, and Moab, Utah.
I believe your wedding day should feel as beautiful as it looks—which means comfortable, stress-free, and entirely true to who you are.
Whether you need comprehensive planning support, photography that captures the story and scenery of your day, or both—I'm here to make sure the experience is exactly what you hoped for.
When I'm not helping couples, you can find me with a chai latte, binge-watching Gilmore Girls & Grey's Anatomy - again.
Hey there, I'm Amanda
she/her
Western Colorado & Moab elopement specialist
Couples I've worked with
350+
States I've visited
27
(and counting!)
Moose I've seen
8
Episodes of Gilmore Girls binged
100%
featured on
-Allison & Ethan
Amanda is the perfect wedding photographer. The photos perfectly captured the whole day and I feel like I can easily relive it just by looking back at the photos. I highly recommend Amanda.
"The Perfect Wedding Photographer"
-Megan & Jordan
Amanda was the best decision we made for our wedding day! The photos are exceptional and perfectly capture the scenery and vibe we were going for, but that’s only a portion of what Amanda provided. She helped give us planning guidance, organization, and reassurance throughout, which alleviated all the worries we had about eloping in a place we’d never been before.
"the best decision we made"
-Beth & Dustin
We used Amanda for our wedding and she is the BEST! Our photos turned out amazing and she captured the feel of our night perfectly. She’s also really fun to hang with. We didn’t want her to leave at the end of the night!
"She captured the feel of our night perfectly."
- Kylie & Murat
Amanda did an amazing job on our elopement photos! She was incredibly organized during all the planning and sent incredibly helpful tips and ideas in the months leading up.
"Incredibly organized & helpful"
wondering where to explore?
My Favorite Locations Include:
Ouray
Moab
Crested Butte
Grand Junction
Grand Mesa
Gateway
Travel Schedule
I'm based in Grand Junction, CO which means I get the best of both the desert and mountains each year! As such, I work specific areas during different parts of the year to give you the best experience in these locations. Take a look at where I spend my time below to find out the best times to book:
If you don't see your location on here, please still reach out! There's always a chance the stars will align.
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
Grand Junction
Palisade (tree blossoms)
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
Grand Junction
Palisade
Western CO
Moab
Gateway
Western Co
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Western Co
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Twin Lakes
Western Co
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Twin Lakes
(Fall Colors!)
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Twin Lakes
(Fall at lower elevation)
Grand Junction
Palisade
Western CO
Moab
Gateway
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
Limited Openings
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
We're in... what now?
LET'S MEET
We'll hop on the phone or Zoom (or grab coffee!) to get to know each other and talk all about your dreams and ideas for the big day, and how I can help make your life easier.
PLANNING JOURNEY
From there I'll send you location ideas, emergency kit info, permit guidance, activity suggestions, local vendor recommendations, timeline creation, group photo lists, and so so much more. I will help you craft the most incredible day, with backup plans because life is life. You'll feel like you've never been so excited or prepared for anything before.
THE BIG DAY & AFTER
The day is here and you're surprised you're nervous after all this time. I will capture your vow renewal in a way that tells the story for you to relive forever. You'll have sneak peaks within 24-48 hours and a full gallery of the whole day within a month or so.
Hold up!
We have a question...
Do we need an officiant?
How is this different from an anniversary session?
What if we've never done anything adventurous?
Can we bring our kids? Friends? Dogs?
An anniversary session is portraits. A vow renewal has intention behind it — a ceremony, however small, and a day built around that moment. Some couples do a full elopement-style day; others keep it simple. We'll figure out what fits you.
Yes, yes, and absolutely yes.
You don't have to be a hiker or an outdoorsy person to have a beautiful vow renewal in the mountains or desert. I'm good at finding locations that feel epic without requiring training.
Not necessarily — vow renewals aren't legally binding, so there's no license or officiant required unless you want one. Many couples simply read their own words to each other.
Ready to save your date?
Let's do this
Thank you!
I'll be in touch within 24-48 hours.
If you don’t hear from me soon, I’m probably in the mountains or desert capturing an adventurous couple.
Please feel free to reach out to me directly:
info@amandamatildaphotography.com
