From a Wrong Turn to the Perfect First Look—A Destination Elopement Story | Brooke & Hunter

 

Holy guacamole, I don’t think I have ever been so thankful in my life as I was the day I got to tag along with Brooke and Hunter on their destination elopement at Loveland Pass. Seriously, people, I have the BEST JOB EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I drove up to Loveland Pass about four hours before Brooke and Hunter were supposed to meet me. As a part of being an adventure photographer in Colorado, I want to make sure that my couples get the most epic locations possible (that also give them intimacy to share their vows privately). Brooke and Hunter had a first look scheduled first thing, so I had my eyes peeled as I was driving up to Loveland Pass. As I was listening to my podcasts in the car I actually got turned around and ended up going the opposite direction I meant to be going. Trying to figure out where I could turn around, I ended up at a little trailhead. “Huh!?!” I thought to myself, “this could be a really cool spot for their first look!”. So I hopped out of my car and explored the area. It. Was. PERFECT!

I immediately called Brooke and told her that we are changing up our meeting spot because I found an even better spot! As I was getting ready to hang up the phone, Brooke asked me for a favor: Hunter didn’t want to see Brooke’s dress before they had their first look. He had tried to button up the back of Brooke’s dress with his eye’s closed but was having a hard time. So Brooke asked me to help her button up her dress as soon as they go there. Not a problem! And, after I gave Brooke and Hunter a hug, and hid Brooke behind the door of their rental truck, I realized why Hunter had such a hard time. The back of Brooke’s dress had about 50 little buttons that crawled all the way up the back of her dress. Bless Hunter’s soul for attempting to button all those with his eyes closed!

After I buttoned up Brooke’s dress, we headed down the path I found earlier and did a short hike up to the spot I had scouted earlier. As Hunter faced the opposite direction, Brooke took off the fur jacket she had borrowed from a co-worker and walked up behind Hunter and tapped him on the shoulder. Their first look was sweet and intimate. Brooke had her hand warmers with her and warmed up Hunter’s hands as she held on to them.

After their first look, Brooke and Hunter hopped in my car and we drove up to the top of Loveland Pass together. As we got out at the top, I pointed to an outcrop of rocks that was across a snowfield. If they were up for it, that was THE spot I had picked out to share their vows. Brooke and Hunter, knowing they signed up for a destination elopement in Colorado, said “heck yes!” and we started our little treck across the snowfield.

There is something magical about being surrounded by the most beautiful place in the world. There’s something even more magical about sharing that beautiful place with two people who are committing their lives to each other. Brooke and Hunter decided to elope just the two of them near Breckenridge, CO. No friends. No family. This marriage they were entering into was about them two and their commitment to one another. As I walked around that magical mountain top watching the biggest, most genuine smile on Brooke’s face and the fleeting tear that graced Hunter’s, I couldn’t help but feel like I have the best job on this planet.

After exchanging rings and reading their vows, we snapped a few more pictures at the top of Loveland Pass before heading to the next spot I scoped out beforehand. We frolicked through the snow (a.k.a. Fell all over in the snow), took many warm-up breaks and just had a fun time as the sun dipped lower towards the horizon.

Brooke and Hunter sat on a snow bank and filled out the Colorado Marriage License that they picked up earlier that morning. After they both signed it, they asked me to sign as their witness. I told them, “you know you don’t have to have a witness in Colorado to get married?”. They said they knew that, but they wanted me to be a part of it so they could remember this day. Ya’ll my heart was laying on the ground by that point.

These two are people who randomly found me on Google. They reached out with an idea to elope in Colorado. They trusted me to find the perfect spot. They believed in me to capture all the moments. We laughed together. We talked about everything under the sun (including the smell of blooming trees where they are from in Tennessee!). I went in knowing they were an awesome couple and I drove away with two friends. I don’t say that lightly. I say it with a full heart for this couple and witnessing one of the most important days of Brooke and Hunter’s life.

Enjoy all of the big and small moments from Brooke and Hunter’s adventure elopement on Loveland Pass!

 

 

Need a Colorado Adventure Elopement Photographer?

Meet Larissa. Larissa is an adventure elopement photographer based out of Colorado. She’d take an adventure in the mountains over shopping any day and prefers and date night snuggling on the couch over dinner and a movie. Larissa’s obsessed with: morning snuggles with her rescue pup, Hazel, hot chocolate, a good book and yoga pants. She believes in making you forget a camera’s even there, that your story is the actual thing she wants to capture on camera and that real, raw moments are more important than perfectly curated poses. Book your Colorado adventure elopement photographer today!