When Alison and Hannah first contacted their wedding photographers, Vow of the Wild, the couple told them that they couldn’t imagine having a big wedding. Between the money, the stress and the possible drama, an elopement seemed like a much better fit.
We spoke with their elopement photographer about planning the details and logistics a Colorado elopement. It ended up being quite the galactic experience!
“They dreamed of their wedding day being an experience,” says Lisa, co-owner of Vow of the Wild, “not just a giant, expensive party. They dreamed of starting their elopement day long before sunrise, taking star photos underneath the Milky Way, then going for a sunrise hike to an alpine lake, then ending the morning with a ceremony with a few guests. And that’s exactly what we did!
“After brainstorming locations, Alison and Hannah fell in love with Rocky Mountain National Park. On their elopement day, we met in the dark parking lot of the visitor’s center before driving to one of our favorite locations for star photos in the park. The Milky Way will generally appear within the southern skies, but its exact position changes throughout the night. We love this location because it has expansive south-facing views so we can properly see the Milky Way no matter where it is! We hiked out with headlamps and lanterns and then allowed our eyes to adjust to the darkness. It was a new moon and we were lucky enough to have a cloudless sky, so the view was incredible!
“Next, we drove to the Bear Lake Trailhead to do our favorite hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. We hiked up to Dream Lake in complete darkness. As we gained elevation, we watched the glow of sunrise along the horizon. Once we arrived at Dream Lake, Alison and Hannah changed into their wedding attire and then had their first look right as the mountains lit up with gorgeous, pink alpenglow light.
“After exploring Dream Lake, we headed to Sprague Lake, which is one of our favorite designated ceremony sites within Rocky Mountain National Park. There, we met up with Alison’s sister and her partner, as well as Hannah’s close friend. The ceremony was held on the dock at Sprague Lake and even included some moose and elk wedding crashers! After the ceremony, Alison and Hannah celebrated with a delicious charcuterie picnic, complete with cake!” 
Search the Equally Wed directory of LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding vendors.
FEATURED WEDDING VENDORS
Apparel: David’s Bridal
Photographer: Vow of the Wild
More wedding details
Color palette: Blue, pink, white
Photography style: Natural Light, Bright-Vivid
Setting: Mountains, Outdoors
Style: Casual, DIY, elopement, eco-friendly, sustainable
Season: summer
Culture: Lesbian wedding
