Maroon Bells Elopement
Stephanie & Brice had a sweet and simple elopement at Maroon Bells Amphitheater near Aspen, CO with their immediate family.
Their elopement at Maroon Bells was truly meant to be – the couple fell in love with the location, secured a permit for their wedding there (no small feat!), and never even had to consider a Plan B.
Hey there! I'm Sam, Your Maroon Bells Elopement Photographer & Planner
I know and adore Maroon Bells (and the rest of the Colorado Rocky Mountains!), and I would be thrilled to help make your wedding or elopement just as amazing as Stephanie & Brice's.
The Perfect Spot to Elope
When Stephanie and Brice inquired with me about their elopement, they were already planning to get married here. They weren't from Colorado, but they'd seen a video online and fell in love with the location immediately, and just knew this was the spot!
If you're not familiar with Maroon Bells, the views are unmatched – but it's also one of the most difficult ceremony permits to get in Colorado! Fortunately, Stephanie and Brice were able to nab a permit, and everything fell into place from there.
Ceremony at
Maroon Bells
Stephanie and Brice started their elopement with a ceremony at Maroon Bells Amphitheater. They kept their guest count small with just immediate family, and Brice's dad officiated the super sweet, intimate ceremony.
After the ceremony, the couple celebrated with a champagne toast and some dancing. They had a first dance as a married couple, and then dances with their parents.
We also took some family portraits before Stephanie and Brice got ready for their private hike.
Hike to an Alpine Lake
After the ceremony, Stephanie and Brice embarked on a private hike to a higher-elevation alpine lake.
One of the things I love about Maroon Bells is that it's the perfect combo of an accessible venue for friends and family, and a location where you can adventure literally right from your ceremony spot.
The hike was gorgeous, and it happened to be right when the aspens were starting to get a little fall color. We also saw a pika on the way up! (I'm obsessed with pikas, so this was definitely a highlight of the day for me.)
Private Vows
When we reached the lake, Stephanie and Brice had a private vow exchange. Their ceremony included traditional vows led by Brice's dad, but they saved their more personal vows for a private moment (the best of both worlds)!
I always tell my couples not to rush when they're finished with their vows. Just to take some time to soak in the moment and the world around you. I'll keep taking photos from afar and won't talk to you until you talk to me!
And Stephanie and Brice absolutely understood the assignment! When they were finished exchanging vows, the couple sat on a log by the lakeshore and chatted. Then they took a little stroll together before letting me know they were ready for some portraits.
Good Vibes and Beautiful Light
We took a ton of stunning portraits of Stephanie and Brice roaming around the lake. The weather and lighting were absolutely perfect for us! There was a really cool reflection of the mountains on the lake, and insanely beautiful lighting as the sun went behind the mountains.
I even caught a picture of a moth landing on Stephanie's dress. (I like to think that kind of thing is good luck during an elopement!)
Sentimental Details
I loved all the little details the couple included in their elopement planning – like the bandana and heirloom wishbone pin around Stephanie's bouquet, and the cross on Brice's lapel. Stephanie and Brice also both wore cat socks under their hiking boots, which was adorable.
A Perfectly Timed Day
As we finished up our hike the mountains were getting a gorgeous sunset glow, so we stopped to take just a few more photos.
And then we split off, they got pizza in town with their family & I headed home! I always encourage couples to treat their elopement like a full day event, even if I'm not along for the whole thing.
I'm always happy to help you figure out the right amount of photo coverage for your elopement – every couple's priorities are different, so there's no one right answer!
Stephanie + Brice's Review
We hired Sam to photograph our elopement at Maroon Bells in Colorado. She did such a wonderful job at capturing our day beautifully.
She was so personable from the moment we first talked, and communicated well throughout the entire process. She curated a personalized timeline for our day and was beyond helpful with everything, especially considering my husband and I had never been to this part of Colorado.
During our actual elopement, she was kind, professional, and knowledgeable. I've never had professional pictures taken in my adult life and I was nervous about it feeling awkward, but it was anything but. She made it SO easy and fun! Plus she got our gallery back to us so quickly!
We honestly couldn't have picked anyone better for the job. So thankful we have so many beautiful photos to cherish and look back on to remember our special day.
- S + B
