Adventure Wedding in Grand Lake, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park Adventure Wedding
Love, Lorraine Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographers
Tara and Alec’s Rocky Mountain Elopement in Grand Lake was the perfect blend of an adventure elopement and a small wedding. After a short hike to an epic view, they shared their vows in privacy before returning to their actual ceremony. They rented a mountain house in Grand Lake, CO, overlooking the Rockies, offering their family and friends an experience they’ll never forget. These two planned the perfect wedding that was true to them!
Tara & Alec
We first met Tara and Alec in downtown Denver for what was supposed to be a few beers to talk about their wedding plans. Let’s just say a few beers turned into a few too many, as we instantly connected with these two on too many levels to write in a single blog post. Suffice it to say, we made a great fit.
Alec and Tara are from Michigan, one of Travis’s personal favorite sleeper states. Northern Michigan is full of lakes and beautiful landscapes that rarely get the attention they deserve from travelers. His dad grew up there, so he may be a bit biased having visited so many times in his early childhood. I have yet to visit Michigan but would like to someday! Sounds like a trip for the Airstream… Why are we still talking about lakes? Well, Tara and Alec chose an incredible Colorado town for their Airbnb wedding, Grand Lake.
Just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is on the opposite side of the park that most people visit. We had never been to Grand Lake before, and after hitting it off with Tara and Alec in Denver, we couldn’t say no to their invitation to visit the town and location scout with them earlier this year. What a gem Grand Lake is. If you’re not entirely sure where Grand Lake is, think north of Winter Park, and just north of Granby. The drives out this way are beautiful, between the mountain passes and the aspen trees, there is no way to not enjoy drives along the Rocky Mountains.
These two knew they wanted to host a decent amount of family and friends at their wedding, so they immediately started to consider wedding venues. The cost of wedding venues here was astronomical, and they were easily turned off by the idea of having a venue. Luckily there was a great Airbnb rental that could accommodate their guests, and it even offered views of the Rockies. This is one of the reasons why we love working with our couples on the details of their day, especially in the early planning stages! Sometimes a quick Airbnb or VRBO search opens a whole world of possibilities. Tara and Alec were able to find this gem of a “venue” and it was perfect for their day.
When first discussing their wedding day plans, these two surprised us with an idea. They chose to go on a short hike before their small ceremony, so that they could spend some quality time alone together and share some unwritten vows, “from the heart” as Tara put it. Just outside of Grand Lake, this trail barely scrapes the edges of Rocky Mountain National Park. Before we started our hike, we did a quick first look along the lake side. An emotional moment for all of us. Since we spend so much time working with our couples ahead of time, and become friends with them, we often tend to shed a tear of joy. Especially in the short and sweet moments that are intimate. Away we went on our hike, and a beautiful walk alongside the river led us to our destination, an overlook of the Rockies.
Not going to lie, active hiking photos are some of our favorites. Fortunately, Tara was about ready to fully wreck her dress ahead of the ceremony. After lots of laughs, running, and rock scrambling, we got some epic photos and hurried back to the Airbnb for the start of their ceremony. An extended cocktail hour was the perfect pregame for their sunset session along the lake. We love when our couples are willing to scoot away quickly to go to an awesome spot, especially when the light cooperates. After a short and very sweet portrait session on the beach, we re-returned (yes, it’s a word, made famous by Barney Stinson of How I Met Your Mother) to the Airbnb for a full-on dance party.
When thinking about the idea of eloping or hosting a small wedding, it is important to remember that there are endless options. Not having a traditional wedding is 100% your decision, and if you choose Love, Lorraine to be a part of your day, you will have our full support!
How to make your elopement day authentic
When dreaming up the perfect day for you and your partner, imagine there are no limits. Try and picture yourself where you want to share your vows. Where are you standing? What are you surrounded by? Is anybody else there with you? Let this vision guide you in your planning. The best thing you can do is to take your time with this brainstorming stage, and ask yourself those hard to decide on questions. Not only will this help you to have the exact kind of day you want, but it will allow authenticity to happen naturally throughout your day.
Tara and Alec have a lot of great relationships in their lives. They have a ton of friends, and they are close with their families. It was important to them that they were able to include their friends and family as a part of their day. However, they also knew that they wanted to experience some privacy during their elopement. They chose to share their vows alone, with views of the Rocky Mountains behind them. This was after a short hike, which was another thing they definitely wanted to do. Alec and Tara often spend time enjoying the outdoors in their free time, and finding a short hike to get outside was all at the core of their plan. Tara wasn’t concerned with her dress the entire hike, proving it to us by running around while dragging it in the dirt. We LOVE when a bride is willing to get their dress dirty.
Another thing we noticed at Alec and Tara’s wedding was that they weren’t concerned about their guests. They did a great job of separating what they wanted out of their day from what their guests were up to. With a great plan in place, the guests had plenty to do to keep themselves busy while waiting for the ceremony and the after party to commence.
Keeping your wedding authentic is much easier than it may seem. We completely understand that it is easy to fall into the formalities that most weddings have. The coordinated portraits with family members and the planned toasts around dinner. Tara and Alec wanted none of it. Their family portraits were completely candid, we didn’t coordinate groups on site. The toasts occurred with all of their guests standing outside under the market lights with views of the mountain range. The natural flow of everything felt so true to them. We are so grateful to have clients that trust us to capture these moments naturally, as if we weren’t even there at all. These are our favorite photos to take.
Click the button below to read more on how to make your elopement day authentic!
Reasons to choose a rental property (Airbnb/VRBO, etc) to host your Elopement
Talk about making your elopement day authentic, what better way than choosing the perfect Airbnb, VRBO, or other property that fits the bill! Choosing a property unique to your day is going to add a ton of life to your wedding day. We love when couples make the extra effort to find a place that offers them everything (and more) that they want for their day. Choosing a rental property, or even a family’s property, allows you the flexibility to do what you want with the space, creating your perfect wedding environment.
Did you know that on average a couple spends between $6,000 and $13,000 for their wedding venue? That may or may not include the ceremony space, reception space, catering service, plate per guest, tables, chairs, linens, bar service and any other additional costs. By ditching these traditional wedding venue options, you can save money by putting your money towards a non-traditional wedding venue, like an Airbnb, VRBO, or other rental property. You can also choose to host your guests making for an intimate gathering of loved ones and friends!
Most Airbnb’s have a “host event” option. Let your host know that you are in town for your elopement, and that you are using the space for your ceremony and/or reception. Some rentals may have to pay an additional fee for this, but don’t fret, this is still a more valuable use of your money. Find an Airbnb that overlooks the mountains, have your ceremony in the backyard, and enjoy a celebratory dinner with guests in the same space!
Pro Tip: Tackling a few (or many!) DIY projects add a personal touch to your day no venue could match. Tablescapes may seem overwhelming at first glance on Pinterest, but they are actually pretty simple to DIY and add a great touch of authenticity to your day. Not having guests? You can still hand pick all the elements for your cozy cabin! What about a s’more session, an intimate dinner post adventure, or an adventure elopement picnic! No matter what your elopement looks like, there is always an opportunity to add your own personal touches to your day.
Meet Your Colorado Elopement Photographers
We spent three years living on the road full-time, exploring and adventuring throughout the United States. Colorado quickly became one of our favorite states, and we knew it was a place that we always wanted to come back to. Over the course of three years, we found ourselves back in Colorado time and time again. After selling our van in 2020 in response to the pandemic, we packed up all of our things back east and moved to Colorado. We quickly realized that house life wasn’t our thing, so we bought an Airstream and are now converting it into our second tiny home on wheels.
You can find us all over Colorado exploring and finding the next best elopement location for our couples. We have spent so much time in the beautiful states that we know it like the back of our hand. If you are ready to plan your epic Colorado Elopement, you’ve come to the right place! Inquire with us to start planning your dream Colorado Elopement!