Fall Elopement in Estes Park, Colorado | Ashley and Stephen — Colorado Wedding and Elopement Photographer

Still life photo of bridal accessories pictured over of a map of Estes Park, Colorado including a diamond ring in a teal box and a gold necklace with a colorful flower bouquet

I could talk at LENGTH about how much I love my Colorado elopements (ok, I kind of already have!), but sometimes it’s better to see firsthand why these are some of my favorite days to document!! That’s why today we’re taking a look at Ashley and Stephen’s incredible elopement in Estes Park, Colorado! From the involvement of their family, to the spectacular portraits in Rocky Mountain National Park, their fall elopement has a lot to FALL in love with (sorry I had to.) I cannot wait to share their story with you all!

Planning Their Elopement

With their elopement in happening in the fall, I knew that the weather was more than likely going to throw a few curveballs our way. This prediction very quickly became a reality as we experienced all 4 of the seasons on their elopement day! It was pretty crazy, but nothing that we couldn’t handle!! If you’re coming from out of state for your elopement like Ashley and Stephen I strongly recommend hiring a local photographer like myself to help guide you through your day, and so do Ashley and Stephen judging from their review:

"Working with Katie was the best decision we made for our wedding!! Planning a ceremony when you live out of state is pretty daunting but from the very beginning of the process, Katie helped us coordinate and plan the perfect day for us…She was always so on top of things which was a big help to us as natural procrastinators. We had practically all four seasons of weather on our wedding day but Katie made us so confident that we could work with whatever that I genuinely didn't have any worries even with our ceremony plans being completely outdoors!”

I’m so happy these two put their trust in me to guide their elopement in Estes Park, Colorado! I think the results speak for themselves, and once you see their photos I think you’ll agree!!

Mother of the bride in a black floral dress pictured zipping champagne wedding dress on a blonde bride before elopement wedding ceremony in Estes Park, Colorado.

Bride buckles her nude wedding Steve Madden shoes as she gets ready for elopement ceremony in Estes Park in Colorado.

Groom poses with his hands holding his grey and black checkered suit and looking out the window of a cabin before elopement in Estes Park, Colorado.

Their Elopement Ceremony in Estes Park, Colorado

Elopements by nature let the couple plan and experience practically anything they want to for their wedding day. Especially in more recent times this even extends to having some guests experience the day alongside the couple, which was part of Ashley and Stephen’s vision! Their ceremony was of course focused on their love, but also on their closest family members being able to celebrate that love alongside them. Add in that the elopement ceremony took place at their Aunt’s home in Estes Park, Colorado, and you have a family focused elopement day like none other! With Colorado allowing self solemnization, Ashley and Stephen were able to have their ceremony without an officiant present, making things just that much more personal! From there the two signed their marriage license and took some family photos before it was time to make our way into RMNP!!

Groom in checkered black suit jacket gets emotional during elopement ceremony surrounded by grassy plains and trees in the background.

Family of the bride and groom stand during elopement ceremony with grassy plains in the background and trees in the background during elopement ceremony.

Bride in champagne lace dress stands across from groom during elopement ceremonywith mountain tops and forest trees and grassy plains in the background in Estes Park in Colorado.

Groom reads vows from a small booklet as bride holding autumn bouquet in her hands looking down. There are grassy plains and forest trees in the background during outdoor elopement ceremony in Estes Park in Colorado.

Groom reads vows aloud to tearful bride holding autumn flower bouquet with grassy plains and trees in the background in Estes Park in Colorado.

Bride reads vows out loud to groom has he smiles with plains and trees and mountains in the background in outdoor elopement ceremony in Colorado.

Elopement Portraits in RMNP

If you’ve been following along with my blog for a bit then you know that I absolutely ADORE Rocky Mountain National Park for elopements and photos in general! The park is overflowing with stunning locations to explore, experience, and document alongside your love, and that’s exactly what Ashley, Stephen and I were able to do for their portraits. We headed up to the top of Trail Ridge Road for their portraits, and BOY did we get some moody photos! Remember that fall weather I mentioned earlier? While it didn’t exactly make things easier for us, it most definitely changed the feeling of Ashley and Stephen’s portraits and I am SO here for it!! Talk about a perfect way to cap off their Colorado elopement!

Groom holds bride's lace wedding dress as they walk along forests in the background in Estes Park in Colorado.

Groom holds bride's lace wedding dress as they scale down a mountain side with forests in the background in Estes Park in Colorado.

Bride in champagne lace dress holds Grooms face as he dips her backwards leaning in for a kiss while Estes Park with forest background in Colorado.

Bride in lace champagne dress embraces Groom with the back to the camera on the top of a brick wall with Estes Park mountains in the background.

Bride in lace champagne dress stairs in the Groom with the back to the camera on the top of a brick wall with Estes Park mountains in the background.

Bride in lace champagne dress looks back at Groom as they embrace and smiles at him. Colorado mountains are in the background.

Bride in a champagne lace dress walks behind groom in black suit on a brick wall with Estes Park mountains in the backdrop in Colorado.

Bride in a champagne lace dress walks arm in arm with groom in black suit while smiling with Estes Park Mountains and autumn forest trees below in the background.

Bride and Groom kiss on the top of a cliffside overlooking Estes Park Mountains in Colorado. There is snow around them from the mountain tops.

Bride holding a beautiful colorful autumn flower bouquet and Groom stare at each other on the top of a cliffside overlooking Estes Park Mountains in Colorado. There is snow around them from the mountain tops.

Bride and Groom embrace on top of a cliff with the Estes Park Mountains in the backdrop for wedding elopement photos in Colorado.

Groom in black suit places his hand on bride's face who is in a lace wedding dress. Grey skies and clouds are behind them.

Bride and groom stand in embrace on top of a cliffside in the Estes Park Mountains with fog and grey skies behind them.

bride in a v-cut champagne dress holding colorful fall flower bouquet stands with groom behind her staring at him. In the background, mountain tops and fog cover half the sky looking out on Estes Park in Colorado.

Bride in a champagne dress hugs groom in black suit on top of a cliff for elopement photos with Estes Park Mountains in the backdrop in Colorado.

Bride in a lace champagne dress is hugged from behind by Groom in a black suit on top of a cliffside surrounded by smoke with mountains in the background in Estes Park, Colorado.

Bride and Groom pose on a bridge surrounded by trees with mountains in the background in Estes Park, Colorado.

Bride and Groom walk together on a bridge towards the camera surrounded by bushes with mountains in the background.

Bride in champagne lace dress leans in for a kiss to the groom in a suit. The photo is black and white. The couple stands on a bridge surrounded by bushes with mountains and fog in the background in Estes Park, Colorado.

Bride in lace champagne wedding dress walking down bridge holding hands with groom walking towards mountains in the background surrounded by tree.

I’m so happy that Ashley and Stephen chose me to document their fall elopement in Estes Park, Colorado! Their day was so special and so personal to them, just how an elopement should be!! If you’re looking for more elopement inspo you can check out the elopements tab of my blog, and if you’re looking to have me document your elopement (YAY!) be sure to head to my contact page to send over an inquiry!