“This is awesome! It’s like a whole experience, instead of just wedding photos!” he said.
I couldn’t agree more.
Skyler’s dad uttered those words while we were at the trailhead for Skyler and Blayke’s epic mountain portraits. He got it. And so did everyone else.
Surrounded only by their immediate families and closest friends, Skyler and Blayke exchanged their vows in a beautiful forest ceremony officiated by the groom’s father. In the days leading up to their wedding, they flew in from Oklahoma and rented an awesome Airbnb (like these!) in a tiny Colorado mountain town. The friends and family members had been playing in the great outdoors ’till all their hearts were content. When I showed up, it was clear that there was life and love and joyous energy in the air.
The guys played pool in the basement, while the ladies put the finishing touches on their hair and makeup upstairs. In between, on the main level of the home, Skyler had set a long, beautiful table and chairs for their special dinner.
Tucked away in the evergreens behind the house was the ceremony site, with just a handful of chairs for their parents, grandparents and grandpa’s video recorder. Simply and beautifully decorated with fallen tree branches and fresh flowers, the spot felt close, sweet, intimate and absolutely enchanted.
I don’t think I’ve witnessed a sweeter ceremony.
Each of Skyler and Blayke’s friends and siblings wrapped Blayke in a giant hug when they got to the end of the “aisle.” And he was all tears of joy and tenderness when he finally laid eyes on his gorgeous bride. Their love for one another, the love they were surrounded by, their excitement and their readiness for the adventures ahead was palpable throughout.
Following the ceremony, we piled in vehicles and hit the 30 minutes of dirt, gravel, potholes and winding turns that separated us from the trailhead. But their epic mountain portraits were worth every bump and hairpin turn. The skies remained overcast for some moody, playful frolicking until our very last shot when the clouds parted and the mountains beamed with their signature alpenglow. And I think we were all okay with that, too.
Thank you, Blayke and Skyler, the newly minted Mr. & Mrs. Storm, for allowing me to step into your world, document your wedding day and entrusting me with your love story right in my very own backyard. Cheers y’all!
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What a sweet little elopement in the mountains!
You captured in both your words and your photos all of the best reasons to plan an intimate Colorado wedding!
What a sweet intimate mountain wedding! And youncaptured it so beautifully! It’s making me even more excited to be back in Colorado in a couple weeks 🙂