Georgetown Lake Elopement
Fate was at work for Hally & Colton's intimate elopement at Georgetown Lake. Despite a few pivots during planning, the whole day came together better than we ever could've imagined.
Hally is also a wedding photographer, and from the couple's first inquiry call we had such a blast chatting and swapping stories. There's seriously no greater honor as a wedding photographer than having another photographer trust you to capture their day!
Hey there! I'm Sam, Your Colorado Elopement Photographer & Planner
I know and adore Georgetown (and the rest of the Colorado Rocky Mountains!), and I would be thrilled to help make your wedding or elopement just as amazing as Hally & Colton's.
I believe the best elopement days feel meant to be.
When we first started chatting about Hally and Colton's elopement, they fell in love with Ouray, Colorado.
They loved the mountain town vibes, but as we got farther into planning, they started to worry about family from across the country having to drive all the way to the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.
And when there was a rockslide on the road to the cabin they'd booked, it felt like the universe was telling us to change direction.
Hally and Colton pivoted to options closer to the Front Range. They almost chose a high alpine spot for their ceremony, but they couldn't bring in chairs for guests.
So we decided on Georgetown Lake – and that ended up being exactly the right choice. Not only was their whole elopement stunning, it was a little rainy all day and would not have been safe at higher elevation.
Don't be afraid to pivot during elopement planning if things don't feel quite right! After Hally and Colton's Georgetown Lake elopement, all we could talk about was how everything came together exactly the way it was meant to.
Details, Details, Details
We kicked off Hally and Colton's Georgetown Lake elopement day with some details shots. They had the cutest details – and of course, as a wedding photographer herself, Hally wanted to capture all of them!
I took a quick video of myself setting up a shot of the couple's wedding rings hanging off the buttons on Hally's dress – and it became my most viral reel in 2025!
The couple's gorgeous, colorful florals were from one of my favorite florists to work with: Marigold Flowers in Idaho Springs.
Getting Ready With Family
There were so many sentimental interactions between Hally and Colton and their family members as they got ready for their elopement. It literally felt like everyone was in happy tears all morning!
Hally's mom helped her into her dress and tied her shoes (which were the coolest – Converse high-tops embroidered with her wedding flowers). I always think this such a cute moment between a bride and her mom, because every mom has probably tied her daughter's shoes thousands of times before – but likely not in years, and this might be the last time!
Hally's grandparents also came in for a sweet first look, a hug, and a prayer before the ceremony. Meanwhile, Colton's dad helped him get ready, and the groom played some ping pong with his groomsmen and nephew.
Hally also made time to include her dad in as many moments as possible. Her dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness right before the wedding, and he wasn't able to travel for the elopement. So she chatted with her dad and stepmom over video throughout the day.
As Hally showed off her dress to her dad before heading to the ceremony, there were lots of happy and sad tears – but I thought it was incredibly special and important how intentional the couple was about including him in their day.
Ceremony at the Lake
Hally and Colton had an intimate ceremony with their immediate family on one of the decks at Georgetown Lake, with Hally's grandpa officiating.
And we avoided near-disaster when Hally got almost to the end of the aisle and realized she forgot her veil. She wanted the veil in ceremony photos, so I quickly ran back to the car to grab it – crisis averted!
We also had an uninvited (but not unwelcome) guest during the ceremony: a chipmunk who popped in and decided to hang out for a bit.
Private Vows and Portraits
After their ceremony, Hally and Colton headed off to exchange private vows and take some bridal portraits around Georgetown Lake. It started drizzling, so I grabbed the clear umbrellas I always keep in my elopement kit.
As we were exploring, there was a cute moment when a stranger stepped out of a building near the lake and started clapping and cheering when he saw the couple.
Having a more traditional ceremony with family and then exchanging private vows is truly the best of both worlds!
Dinner with a Sweet Surprise
We headed to dinner at Mountain Prime (one of my favorite restaurants in Idaho Springs), where Colton ordered an entrée that involved a waiter melting butter directly on top of his steak with a blowtorch. I fully believe your wedding day is the time to order the coolest thing on the menu!
Colton also planned a special surprise for Hally at the restaurant – he had a country artist show up to play guitar and sing during dinner. Hally was completely caught off guard and so excited!
The couple's family also did some sentimental toasts (and a little dancing) during their fun restaurant reception.
Georgetown Lake adventuring
We had originally planned to go on a private hike after dinner. But because of the weather, we pivoted to visiting the iconic water wheel in Idaho Springs, and then adventuring around Georgetown Lake. And the evening truly couldn't have been better if we planned it that way!
Because of the change in plans, we were able to take their e-bikes out for a spin around the lake! They had driven their bikes all the way across the country. So, it felt very meant to be that we ended up back at the lake for a ride.
Hally + Colton's Review
Sam was incredible throughout our entire wedding process. She was a HUGE help right from the start as she shared all of her knowledge with us, helping us choose the perfect date, location, vendors, timeline, and more. The day of, we had one small complication with a reservation that my husband had surprised me with, and she handled it seamlessly, making the surprise a total success!
We received STUNNING sneak peeks within 48 hours, and the most gorgeous gallery I could've imagined less than a month later. As a wedding photographer myself, it was obvious to me that Sam values her clients. She knew how important these photos were to us, and went above and beyond to deliver.
I can't express how much we appreciate Sam, our wedding wouldn't have been the same without her!! If you want the most supportive, down to earth, knowledgeable, and talented photographer, hire Sam. You won't regret it!
- H + C
