Nicole and Steven contacted me about a spring elopement...

Spring in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains can be wildly unpredictable, snow one day, sunshine the next. Nicole and Steven were determined to elope in April, so with thoughtful planning and a little flexibility, we created a day that felt intimate, adventurous, and deeply meaningful. Though they live in Texas, they had long felt connected to the rugged beauty of Colorado’s mountains and fell in love with the remote landscapes surrounding Ouray. Thankfully, a light winter snowpack gave us several beautiful location options, even with only a month to plan.

The day began slowly and peacefully at their Airbnb, filled with soft natural light pouring through large windows. Nicole included meaningful heirlooms in her details, including jewelry and a hand-crocheted blanket made by her grandmother. Steven completed his look with cowboy boots and a hat that reflected his Texas roots.

For their first look, we drove to Top of the Pines, where the San Juan peaks stretched across the horizon behind us. Nicole walked quietly toward Steven as he waited in the meadow, and the two shared private vows surrounded by snowcapped mountains and fresh spring greens. Their words were soft and emotional, and even from behind the camera, the depth of their connection was impossible not to feel. There was no audience, no performance, just two people fully present with each other.

After portraits in the meadow, they signed their marriage license beneath the pines before heading to the courthouse in Ouray to officially make it all legal. Later, we met again in one of my favorite mountain basins where they celebrated with a private picnic and wine among the peaks. Wrapped in her grandmother’s blanket, Nicole sat beside Steven as they soaked in the stillness and quiet beauty of the mountains together.



As sunset approached, we returned to Ouray for golden hour portraits overlooking the amphitheater. Warm alpenglow lit the cliffs around us while Nicole and Steven shared milk and cookies beneath the fading light, ending the evening with lantern portraits and cold spring air settling into the mountains.

The next morning, I convinced them to meet one more time for sunrise on Red Mountain Pass. Snow still covered the peaks, and the calm alpine lake reflected the glowing mountains perfectly. Dressed more casually and relaxed from the day before, Nicole and Steven laughed, played, and fully embraced the quiet joy of the morning. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable San Juan Mountain elopement.