Estes Park Microwedding
Shelby and Michelle’s Estes Park microwedding balanced elements of a traditional wedding with loved ones and an intimate adventure elopement in nature for a super personal, fun celebration.
This microwedding checked all the boxes: a beautiful location, a private hike to an alpine lake, a marriage license with their dog’s paw print, and lots of sweet, personalized details. The whole day felt so special, relaxed, and joyful.
The couple hired me as their planner, photographer, and videographer, so I got to be super involved in the process of bringing this fun event together!
Planning a Rocky Mountain Microwedding
Sometimes a microwedding is the perfect in-between of a traditional wedding with lots of guests and an elopement just the two of you.
That was definitely the case with Shelby and Michelle, who invited just 16 of their closest friends and family to their ceremony and reception in Estes Park.
Because they were planning their Rocky Mountain National Park microwedding at the end of the park’s peak season, it was easier to secure a permit!
Check out my comprehensive guide on elopements and microweddings in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Guide
Getting Ready & First Look
Shelby and Michelle got ready for their day at their Airbnb in Estes Park, surrounded by their loved ones.
They shared a sweet first look on the balcony, with Estes Valley in the background on a perfect blue-sky morning.
Before heading out for the day’s adventures, Shelby and Michelle signed their marriage license on the balcony, and their dog stamped his paw print as a witness.
Did you know?
Colorado is a self-solemnization state, meaning an officiant and witnesses aren’t legally required to get married, so in most counties your dog (or other kind of furry friend) can sign your marriage license!
Meadow Portraits &
Private Hike
We headed into Rocky Mountain National Park, first stopping in a meadow to take some portraits of Shelby & Michelle with their families and their dogs.
Next, we headed for the Bear Lake trailhead, where the couple got ready for a private hike up to Dream Lake. This was a great way to carve out some time in the day for just the two of them, and resulted in so many adorable hiking shots.
The views at the top of Dream Lake were stunning with Hallett Peak in the background and golden light illuminating the rocky shore.
After lots of fun picture-taking, Shelby and Michelle shared private vows at their ceremony location before being joined by family and friends.
Lakeside Ceremony
With Loved Ones
The rest of Shelby and Michelle’s guests arrived for their ceremony on the edge of Bear Lake as the couple made their entrance from their hike.
The ceremony incorporated their loved ones in such sweet ways, as members of their family officiated, gave readings, and helped them exchange rings.
After the ceremony, we took lots of group photos and couples portraits with Bear Lake as the stunning backdrop. We were lucky to find amazing light all day that perfectly highlighted the joy on the faces of Shelby and Michelle’s friends and family.
We headed back to the parking lot as the temperatures started to dip, and Shelby and Michelle revealed one final fun surprise in their Estes Park microwedding: personalized coffee cups and a thermos of hot water to make tailgate hot chocolate and share a celebratory toast with their guests.
Shelby & Michelle’s Review
We had an incredible experience with Sam as our adventure elopement photographer! From the very beginning, she was extremely helpful in the planning process, always responding quickly and offering valuable advice. Her friendly and easygoing nature made her a joy to work with.
On the day of our elopement/microwedding, she went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly. She took so much stress off our plate, allowing us to fully enjoy our special day. Her knowledge of Rocky Mountain National Park, including the rules, hiking trails, and best photo spots, was invaluable. She truly is like a walking Google and makes the whole process so easy. She even took care of returning our marriage license for us!
We had mentioned considering hiring a videographer, and she went out of her way to capture some video footage of our day and put together a beautiful highlight reel. This extra effort truly made our experience unforgettable.
The photos turned out better than we could have ever expected, and we received numerous compliments from family and friends. Many even commented that our photos looked like they belonged in a magazine!
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer to capture our adventure. Highly recommend Sam for anyone looking for a professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely wonderful photographer!
Ready to plan your own Elopement Or Microwedding?
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.
Hey there, the name’s Sam! I cannot wait to chat with you.
This is gonna be epic.
