Durango Elopement
Caitlin & Johnny's all-day elopement near Durango, Colorado included some intense hiking, cozy cabin vibes, and cute moments with their dogs.
The couple are avid hikers, so we braved some more strenuous trails to reach absolutely insane panoramic views of the San Juan mountains.
Hey there! I'm Sam, Your Colorado Elopement Photographer & Planner
I know and adore Durango (and the rest of the San Juan Mountains!), and I would be thrilled to help make your wedding or elopement just as amazing as Caitlin & Johnny's.
Trailhead at Dawn
Caitlin and Johnny took their all-day Durango elopement to the absolute max! We met up at the trailhead before sunrise to get ready for an elopement day jam-packed with adventure.
The couple showed up in the cutest matching PJs. They got dressed on opposite sides of the car, because Johnny hadn't seen Caitlin's dress yet. Then they shared a sweet first look and finished preparing for their hike together.
Private, Joyful Ceremony
We hiked up to the hillside above the lake for the couple's ceremony (and saw a marmot along the way, which I'm pretty sure is good luck!).
One of my favorite moments from the day was when Caitlin asked Johnny if they could spend a few minutes before sharing vows just taking in the stunning mountains where they were getting married.
Caitlin and Johnny's ceremony was so sweet and full of laughter. I absolutely love elopement ceremonies because you can be 100% yourself with no fear of judgement – the laughs, the tears, and the sweet moments between the two of you.
Portraits Around the Lake
After the ceremony, we took our time exploring the hillside, taking photos, and enjoying the literally perfect lighting. I love getting to plan elopements, as well as photograph them, because it means I put us in the right place in the right time for incredible light!
Caitlin and Johnny hiked the loop around the lake, which had the coolest reflections of the mountains. I love the photo I caught where it looks like the bride and groom are almost blending into the rocks and snow. It reminded me of paintings by Bev Doolittle, I grew up with her paintings of paint horses in snow covered rocks on our living room walls.
Elopement Day Fuel
Caitlin and Johnny made breakfast burritos with their fancy camp kitchen setup. The couple loves coffee (and didn't want to cut any corners on their wedding day), so Caitlin hand-ground the beans and used a French press to make the best coffee to fuel them for the rest of their adventures.
I love when couples take time in their elopement day to include a ritual – like making really good coffee or their favorite cocktail – that feels exactly like them!
Durango Hiking Elopement
The next item on Caitlin and Johnny's elopement day itinerary was an intense hike to reach even better views of the mountains and the lake below.
The couple are avid hikers, so they weren't put off by the extreme elevation gain (pretty much straight up the mountain) – and it felt like the perfect "them" activity for their elopement.
Our effort paid off with insane views – and wildflowers, which we carefully explored while following Leave No Trace rules.
First (and Second) Dance
Caitlin and Johnny had their first dance during the hike. They started with a cute slow song – but as soon as it ended, another more upbeat song started playing, and they just went with it! They had so much fun jumping around and singing together that I actually recommend this to all my couples now. An upbeat "second dance" song gives you an opportunity for fun, authentic photos of the two of you goofing off a little.
After the dances, we hiked back down and caught some cool photos of the couple high above the lake – and a really cute shot of Caitlin celebrating their elopement with her bouquet in the air.
Cake + Paw Prints
After the hike, we all took a (very needed) nap. We met back up in the afternoon at Caitlin and Johnny's cabin for a cake cutting, champagne toast, and to sign their marriage license.
At the cabin, I also met the couple's dogs – Monica and Bill – who had custom bandanas that matched Caitlin's shawl and Johnny's tie.
The dogs got to sign Caitlin and Johnny's marriage license as the "witnesses" to their Durango elopement!
Hike with the Dogs
After cake and champagne, we embarked on our second hike, this time with Monica and Bill tagging along!
Caitlin and Johnny really wanted to bring their dogs along for their elopement adventures, but they couldn't find a hike that was well-suited to dogs and had the views they wanted. So we planned for two hikes instead!
The dogs had a great time splashing around in the lake, and I caught a photo of a tiny inchworm landing on Johnny's collar.
Early Fall Colors
On the hike back, we found an aspen grove that was already changing colors – which was insane, because Caitlin and Johnny's Durango elopement was in the middle of August!
All day, it felt like nature was cooperating specifically for us to make the couple's elopement day even more magical.
