Handmade Vows and Wildflower Trails | Dave & Val

Some elopement days are quiet and simple. Others are wild and full of color—literally. Dave and Val’s elopement in Crested Butte fell firmly into that second category. We hiked for miles through waist-high wildflowers that painted the trail like someone had spilled a watercolor palette across the mountains. I’ve done a lot of wildflower hikes, but this one? Easily the most incredible.

The day began in a slopeside condo, windows open to the crisp mountain air and Mount Crested Butte watching over everything. Val was finishing up hair and makeup, Dave was carefully packing their handmade vow books—yes, handmade, complete with a drawing of the mountain on the cover—and there was that buzzing, electric feeling that something unforgettable was about to happen. A few days earlier, they’d visited the local farmers market to pick out flowers for their own bouquet. Simple, intentional, and full of memories, the bouquet came together in the condo kitchen, a tangible piece of the life they were about to celebrate.

When it was time to head out, we piled into a 4×4 jeep and bounced our way up the mountain road. Between water crossings and every bump in the road, laughter was nonstop. At one point, another car passed and, seeing Dave and Val dressed up, couldn’t contain their excitement. Mountain joy, it turns out, is contagious.

The hike itself was a dream: wildflowers stretching as far as the eye could see, gentle ridgelines, and long stretches to pause, snack, and soak it all in. Dave and Val moved in perfect rhythm, teasing and laughing and sharing quiet moments, carrying wedding attire and a bottle of champagne as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

When we reached their ceremony spot, the sun hung low, bathing the peaks and fields in golden light. Val slipped into her dress, Dave adjusted his tie, and everything went quiet. They opened their vow books and spoke words that had been years in the making—ten years, to be exact. Their story started back in 2015 at The Cottage, a weeknight first date where Dave somehow ordered half the menu and two desserts. That night set the tone for their love: laughter, joy, and a little harmless chaos. Over the years, they became “Team Boat Shoes,” a nickname from a Bermuda cruise scavenger hunt that somehow still fits.

Dave has always been Val’s rock, whether pacing her through ultra runs or supporting her through life’s hardest seasons. Val is the spark, the one who drags adventure out of every moment, even a 26.2-mile walk through Boston with zero snacks. Together, they balance humor, grit, and care in a love that is steady, patient, and deeply rooted.

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, champagne was popped, dessert was devoured straight from the box, and photos captured the glow of the moment. Eventually, we began the hike back down. Headlamps illuminated deer eyes in the dark, water crossings felt a touch more dramatic at night, and we navigated an impromptu detour around a creek that had swollen overnight. It was messy, chaotic, and perfect.

By the time we returned to the cars, the stars had taken over the sky. Muddy boots and all, Dave and Val stood together, looking up, content in a peace that only comes from doing something unapologetically your own. No audience, no timeline pressure—just two people, nearly a decade into their story, choosing each other again in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by wildflowers, laughter, and the stars of Crested Butte.

Sometimes love doesn’t need an audience. Just a mountain, a vow book, and someone who will hike through the dark with you.

NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR Crested Butte Elopement?

Meet Larissa + Bailey! As two born and raised Coloradans who have photographed 300+ couples in 100+ locations across Colorado, we specialize in creating a different kind of wedding day that is just as adventurous as you are. We use our experience and knowledge to craft a different kind of wedding day that feels completely authentic to you. Want to hike to a high alpine lake? We can give you trail options for that! Want to canoe along the banks of a mountain lake? We can tell you the best lakes to do it on! Want to watch the sunset from the top of the world? We’ll lead you to our favorite spots for sunset! Book your Crested Butte elopement photographer today!