Maroon Bells Wedding
Selena and Kris's Maroon Bells wedding included a stunning ceremony, a wild party with friends and family, and a genuine weather miracle.
The couple started their wedding day concerned about one of the worst forecasted rain days of the year – and ended it by jumping into the pool with their bridal party after an incredibly fun day.
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 day just as amazing as Selena & Kris's.
Getting Ready With Loved Ones
Selena and Kris got ready for their Maroon Bells wedding day separately with their wedding parties. The couple spent the morning truly surrounded by loved ones – they had eight bridesmaids and eight groomsmen!
Selena's mom helped her into her dress, and then Selena did a first look with her bridesmaids, and one with her dad and brothers.
After lots of sweet moments between the couple and their friends and family, we all headed to Maroon Bells for the ceremony.
First Look at the Bells
Selena and Kris did their first look in front of the insane mountain views at Maroon Bells.
We took some portraits, and the couple spent a few minutes just enjoying the moment together and soaking in the fact that they were about to get married!
Earlier that morning, I had honestly been worried this moment wouldn't happen – the forecast was so rainy that I thought we might get stormed out of the high-elevation venue.
But it barely rained all day, the wispy clouds looked magical in front of the mountain peaks...and we even got some blue sky by the end of the day!
Maroon Bells Ceremony
Selena and Kris had their wedding ceremony at Maroon Bells Amphitheater with all their friends and family.
Maroon Bells is one of the coolest wedding venues in Colorado – and also one of the hardest to book! The couple was insanely lucky to secure a date in late August, with the aspens just starting to turn gold in the background.
One of the reasons Maroon Bells is so popular is it has bench seating and can hold up to 50 guests – perfect for a microwedding like Selena and Kris's!
Fun Group Portraits
After the ceremony, we took lots of group portraits with the couple's friends and family. Selena and Kris wanted to prioritize photos with loved ones, so we made sure to get some individuals with each wedding party member.
A wedding is a great excuse to get some cute photos with friends and family all dressed up (especially people you don't see often)! I always try to take some silly, fun photos that really capture a couple's relationship with their friends, in addition to the formal group portraits.
Stunning Bridals
Before heading to the reception venue, I captured a few more portraits of Selena and Kris exploring Maroon Bells.
The weather and lighting could not have been cooperating better considering the forecast. And the bright greens and golds at the end of summer were truly a stunning backdrop for the couple's Maroon Bells wedding day!
Reception in Snowmass
After taking some bridal portraits, Selena and Kris rejoined their guests at Top of the Village in Snowmass for their reception. The couple decorated the venue themselves the day before with tons of beautiful, personal details.
Top of the Village is a perfect reception venue for a Maroon Bells wedding because all your guests can stay on site! That makes it super easy to have a big party without worrying about drinking and transportation.
Champagne + Dancing
The couple mingled with their guests during cocktail hour, outside on the tented deck surrounded by aspens.
There were so many cool details and hilarious moments throughout Selena and Kris's reception – like their champagne tower, and the speeches that got all the guests laughing hysterically.
After dinner, Selena and Kris had the most sentimental set of first dances. After a first dance together and father-daughter/mother-son dances, the couple's parents danced to the first dance songs from their own weddings.
Wild Party
The highlight of Selena and Kris's wedding was definitely the rager of a party that kicked off after dinner!
Everyone was dancing, drinking, and having a great time. Two of the bridesmaids competed to see who could collect the most ties from groomsmen and other guests - hilarious!
Originally, we'd chatted about doing some star photos at night, but it was super cloudy and I worried we wouldn't see any stars. So instead, Selena and Kris ended the night by jumping into the pool – along with all their family and friends!
Bridal Portraits in Aspen
The day after Selena and Kris's wedding, we met up for a bridal session near Aspen, CO. We explored a ghost town and a stunning mountain overlook – and had so much fun in the process!
