From “Just Out” to Fully Seen: The Elopement That Honored Their Whole Selves | Kayla & Lauren

If we could bottle the feeling of an early fall afternoon in the San Juans – the crisp air, the leaves just on the cusp of changing, that soft quiet that only comes with being somewhere truly wild – this day would be it. Kayla and Lauren planned an elopement that felt like a deep breath. Not rushed. Not overdone. Just thoughtful moments, beautiful scenery, and their dog Charlie, who may or may not have stolen the show more than once.

We met up at their cabin while the final touches of hair and makeup wrapped up. Gregory Alan Isakov playing on their record player, coffee being sipped, and the kind of calm you only get when two people are exactly where they’re supposed to be. Charlie trotted in and out of the room, checking in on both of them like the world’s fluffiest wedding planner.

One of my favorite moments of the day happened right there at their Airbnb: Charlie’s first look. And let’s just say he nailed his reaction. Ears perked, tail wagging, tongue out. Perfect 10.

We loaded up the car and made the drive toward one of Telluride’s tucked-away alpine lakes. The kind of spot that makes you want to whisper when you arrive, just out of respect for how beautiful it is. They exchanged their personal vows that had all three of us blinking fast and pretending it was just the altitude. Charlie was on officiant duty too. He even helped sign the marriage license with a very official paw print.

They celebrated with a lakeside picnic and popped champagne while the mountains glowed around them. Portraits at the lake felt effortless. No one was rushing. No one was posing too hard. It was just the three of them, surrounded by nature, laughing and soaking it in.

As the light shifted, we headed back into town and took the gondola up to one of the best views in Telluride. We caught golden hour at its absolute best and stayed long enough to watch the sky shift into blue hour. The kind of light that makes everything feel cinematic.

Once the gondola brought us back down to town, the evening closed out exactly how it should’ve: back at their cabin, roasting s’mores, and stargazing in the cool night air.

Kayla and Lauren’s day wasn’t just beautiful, it was intentional. Every choice, every moment, every dog paw print said, “this is us.” And that’s what makes a day like this unforgettable.

When we booked our elopement over a year ago, we were just little bebes who had BARELY come out. We hadn’t even really understood what it meant or what we deserved for our marriage celebration.

Through our engagement pictures, and all the steps along the way, Bailey helped guide us in discovering what we wanted. The intentional planning, questionnaires, and encouraged date nights made the whole experience so special and continued to bring us back to ourselves and our relationship.

The process was so smooth and well thought out. We are so grateful for all the thoughtfulness put into the location guides, questionnaires, and information. We didn’t have to worry about anything because Bailey had thought of it all!

Not only was the entire journey wonderful, but the pictures were STUNNING!!! Bailey truly is a talented photographer and has an eye for getting incredible pictures, both digital and film! We could not get over how happy we look in all our pictures!! The entire day was so full of love and joy! It was truly the best day of our lives! She did such an incredible job leading us through, helping us stop to take it all in, and celebrating us! It felt like we were hanging out with our friends all day who happened to just be so incredibly talented!!!

Lauren & Kayla

It will never not be a privilege to be a part of such a sacred day. Kayla and Lauren, thank you for trusting me with your story. It is truly one that I will never forget!

Considering eloping in Telluride? Don’t miss our Telluride Elopement Guide!

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NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR Telluride Elopement?

Meet Larissa + Bailey! As two born and raised Coloradans who have photographed 250+ 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 Telluride elopement photographer today!