A Last Dollar Road Elopement With Dogs, Vows & a Sky Full of Stars | Erin & Creighton

Erin and Creighton’s Last Dollar Road elopement day felt like time had slowed down just for them. The morning began quietly at a sprawling ranch outside of Telluride, with sunlight spilling through the cabin windows and the kind of calm that only happens when there’s no rush, no audience—just love taking its time. Crystal from Wild Brides Backcountry finished the last touches on Erin’s hair and makeup while Creighton, in true multitasker mode, decorated their wedding cake. They split up to copy their vows into their vow books, each carefully writing the words they’d soon promise one another. Their pups, Harlow and Gaia, watched the morning unfold with the kind of curiosity only dogs can pull off—part excitement, part nap. Between moments of laughter and nerves, they each FaceTimed their families, sharing little glimpses of the day that was theirs alone.

When they finally stepped outside for their first look, the emotion hit hard. The quiet of the ranch, the soft breeze, the way Creighton turned to see Erin for the first time—it was one of those pauses in life that stays suspended in your memory forever.

Afterward, we loaded up the car. The winding roads led us to a sweeping overlook along Lost Dollar Road where mountains rolled endlessly in every direction. Erin and Creighton walked hand in hand to the spot they’d chosen to exchange their vows. Harlow and Gaia sat nearby, tails thumping in approval, as their humans promised forever. They traded rings, tied the handfasting cord, and sealed their marriage with paw prints on the license—a detail that felt perfectly them.

After the ceremony, we lingered in a nearby field where the wildflowers were showing off, the mountains surrounding us in every direction. 

From there, we headed a bit down the road. Champagne popped, bubbles caught the sunlight, and Erin and Creighton shared their first dance as a married couple under an open sky. Crystal headed back with the pups while the rest of us took the gondola up to Allred’s, where a three-course tasting menu waited. Dinner felt celebratory but calm—slow bites, clinking glasses, laughter that came easy. The kind of meal you don’t rush because the moment deserves to linger.

As the sun started to dip, we wandered out for golden hour photos, soaking up the soft light that turned everything to gold, then blue. The mountains glowed, the air cooled, and it felt like the world was quietly applauding their day.

Later, we took the gondola back down, winding through the night toward the ranch. The final moments of the day were spent cutting their wedding cake before heading outside to a sky so full of stars it barely looked real. The Milky Way rose in the east, shooting stars darted across the sky, and the night ended exactly how it began—just the two of them, their dogs nearby, surrounded by peace and everything they’d hoped for.

NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR Last Dollar Road 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 Last Dollar Road elopement photographer today!