All-Day Adventure Elopement in Crested Butte

JD and Gabi’s all-day adventure elopement in Crested Butte was a prime example of just how much you can get out of your elopement day.

High school sweethearts JD and Gabi wanted to celebrate their love of the outdoors and adventuring together by hiking and exploring together on a trail near Crested Butte that promised some very cool Adirondack chairs along the way for pictures.

The couple also wanted to prioritize star photos, so we planned to meet up mid-day. However, the day before we had to pivot due to weather- our only opportunity to get star photos was if we met up much earlier at 2 a.m. instead.

I wasn’t sure how JD and Gabi would feel when I pitched this idea—but they were totally game. A huge benefit of an all-day adventure elopement vs. a traditional wedding is being able to adjust on the fly like this!

Early Start

JD and Gabi’s elopement day started in the middle of the night as we off-roaded to a lake for some epic star photos. Then we off-roaded up to an alpine lake to catch the sunrise. JD and Gabi made breakfast out of the back of the car, and we caught some gorgeous golden hour light.

Before our hike, the couple copied their vows into their vow books. I always think this is a great way to get “in the zone” on your elopement day and have a chance to reflect on your vows one more time before sharing them.

We were originally planning to have their ceremony at the lake, but by sunrise it was getting a little busier than we expected, so we pivoted again and decided to do the ceremony during the hike. This was definitely the right choice – both JD and Gabi said they appreciated how private and beautiful their ceremony was.

Hike & Ceremony

We packed up and started our hike, and found the adorable Adirondack chairs on the way. The summit blew us away with 360-degree mountain views.

JD and Gabi’s ceremony was so sweet and emotional. I like to give couples some time after their ceremony and vows to just take in their surroundings together and be themselves.

After a bit, some hikers came over to congratulate the couple, and we took some more photos before continuing the hike.

We stopped in a wildflower field—Crested Butte is well-known for its incredible wildflowers—and even caught a cool photo of a mountain biker on the trail biking between the couple.

JD and Gabi changed into hiking attire for the hike back up, and I caught some detail photos. I love how they used Field Note notebooks as vow books!

Cocktails at Sunset

After the hike, we split ways for a few hours to nap and get some food. We met back up at sunset and were lucky enough to catch a huge rainbow across the sky.

We headed to another wildflower field for sunset photos. JD and Gabi made their favorite cocktails and shared a piece of cake as the sun disappeared on their epic elopement day.

This elopement definitely took my all-day adventure elopement package to its absolute max – and I loved every second of it! Our ability to pivot at the last second when needed let us pull off an amazing day from sunrise to sunset.

JD & Gabi’s Review

From our very first call with Sam, we knew we had found our perfect elopement photographer. She immediately put us at ease and thoroughly addressed all our questions and concerns – many before we even had to ask them! Though she was the first photographer we interviewed, she set such a high bar that every other photographer we spoke with was measured against her, and she clearly came out on top.

Sam’s involvement in our wedding planning process was absolutely invaluable. She provided us with thoughtfully crafted worksheets for location selection and vendor recommendations, tailored specifically to our vision for our elopement. Her assistance went far beyond just photography – she helped us create a detailed timeline for our day, gave specific vendor recommendations, and guided us through all the necessary legal paperwork for our marriage. Throughout the entire planning process, her communication was exceptional, and she showed incredible patience in accommodating both our minor preferences and major requirements.

On our wedding day, Sam’s dedication and professionalism shone through in countless ways. She kept a close eye on weather and star forecasts, even suggesting a last-minute adjustment to ensure we’d get the best possible photos – a change we’re now incredibly grateful for. She went above and beyond by offering to drive us to our location in her 4×4, and even let us cook breakfast on her tailgate when we realized we didn’t have a table (her car probably still smells like bacon!). She also shared excellent recommendations for local eateries and hiking spots for us to explore during our stay.

As an experienced hiker herself, Sam navigated the trails expertly while maintaining a strong commitment to leave-no-trace principles. What truly set her apart was her ability to be present and engaging without being intrusive. She struck the perfect balance between being friendly and conversational while respecting our private moments, ensuring our day remained as intimate as we wanted.

Sam’s dedication was truly remarkable – we had booked her all-day package, and she worked tirelessly for at least 18 straight hours to capture every moment we wanted. She even worked on sneak peek photo edits while we took a brief nap, delivering them to us that same day!

When we received our final gallery, we were absolutely blown away. The photos are nothing short of spectacular, with Sam’s artistic eye evident in every shot. She captured countless small moments and subtle gestures that help preserve every detail of our special day. The way she laid out our photo album exceeded our highest expectations, telling the complete story of our wedding day in a way we never could have imagined.

We genuinely couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful, stress-free wedding day, and Sam played an enormous role in making that possible. Her combination of professional expertise, genuine care, and attention to detail made her the perfect photographer for our elopement. If you’re looking for an elopement photographer who will go above and beyond to capture your special day while making the entire process enjoyable and stress-free, look no further than Sam.

Ready to plan your own all-day adventure Elopement?

Reach out to me and let’s start chatting about the perfect elopement day for you and your partner—with the views of your dreams and the adventure of a lifetime. No matter what you’re picturing for your wedding day, I’m here to help you execute every last detail.