Jen and Will live in Colorado and spend their weekends hiking 14’ers and adventuring with a group of friends and their three adorable pups. They knew early on that they wanted to elope at this alpine lake in the San Juans since it was one of their favorite hikes (and the wildflowers would be stunning in early August). I was so excited to guide them through this experience and document their day.
They started their day at 4 am at their cabins in town with a small group of close friends. We hopped in their trucks and took off down a 4WD road to reach the trailhead. It was a gorgeous cool morning and a reminder that fall would be here soon enough.
The hike was really easygoing with wildflowers and even a waterfall as we approached the lake. Most of the friends hiked with us, but they had a few friends who trail ran and caught up to us. The sun was coming over the ridge as Jen and Will got dressed for their ceremony. They had a private first look at the lake before everyone gathered next to the lake for their vows. It was such a sweet moment and Will especially was filled with emotion during their vows. I love it when couples feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable and truly be in the moment together.
After vows, they opened up champagne and celebrated with their friends. We took photos exploring around the lake while a few friends continued on the hike. This alpine lake was absolutely stunning and the mountain behind the lake was so prominent and beautiful. It felt like we were on a different planet! The blues and greens of the lake shimmered in the sunshine and it quickly became a favorite spot of mine too.
The dogs put on their cute wedding outfits and signed the marriage license. They were pretty tuckered out from the hike and I often found them lying in the grass napping. It was quite adorable. We made sure to get plenty of photos with their pups before starting our hike back to the trailhead. It was such a sweet day celebrating Jen and Will. And I’m so glad everyone was up for the sunrise hike to share this experience with them. We made it back to town in the early afternoon so they could cut cake back at their cabins. It was a great way to finish celebrating the day. I can’t thank these two enough for coming down to the San Juans and eloping here! This is such a special place to live and I appreciate couples coming down to these stunning mountains to elope. I hope to hike with them and their dogs again soon!
