San Juan Mountains Elopement
Elopement in The San Juan Mountains of Colorado
LOVE, LORRAINE ADVENTURE WEDDING and ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
Breeze and Trent didn’t want a big, fancy wedding. But they did want their family and friends from all over the country to have the opportunity to celebrate with them. Breeze’s family owns a home nestled in the hills overlooking the San Juan mountain range just outside of Ridgway, CO. She grew up visiting this land, and it holds a special place in her family's story. We are so grateful Breeze and Trent chose us to capture their DIY elopement on the land.
Breeze & Trent
Nestled in the Rockies stands a well-known stretch of mountains known as the San Juan’s. Surrounding the towns of Ridgway and Ouray, Colorado, the San Juan’s have incredible diversity to their shape, almost piercing the sky. These mountains are some of our favorites here in CO, and they remind us of the Grand Tetons in a way. Ouray, CO is known as the Switzerland of The United States, and it is obvious why when you first arrive. A short drive south of Ridgway, Ouray provides you with an incredible “mountain town” vibe. You can sit on the rooftop for a meal while staring down the valley, surrounded by the rock ridge walls. I can’t help but remember standing in the street and thinking “where the heck are we?!”. Simply put, this place is breathtaking, and we are grateful that Breeze and Trent picked such a wonderful place to celebrate their love.
We rarely go to Colorado without exploring somewhere new, or revisiting an old favorite (that’s you, Salida). We got into town early and met Breeze and Trent on Breeze’s family’s property in Ridgway. Only 15 minutes outside of town along a few well-maintained gravel roads lies their beautiful 30-acre property overlooking the San Juan Mountain range. Lauren and I gazed at the surrounding lands the entire drive up to the property, curious as to what we were to see upon our arrival.
Breeze grew up on the British Virgin Island of Anguilla, a beautiful Caribbean island frequented less than the Bahamas. Her dad is an island man, a sailor, and a true character. When Breeze was younger, they would leave the island to spend the summers camping in the woods here in Colorado. On one particular camping trip to Colorado, they were on their way to the airport to head back home to the island when their friend asked them to see some land that became available. It only took them seeing the land once to know it was an investment they wanted to make. Mind you, this was back in the early 90s. If I could turn back time and buy this land, I would too! Breeze’s dad laughs as he finishes his story, saying that they actually finalized the transaction while in the car having just left the property, before boarding the flight back to Anguilla.
Now with land to visit when they returned to Colorado every summer, they started to build their camp oasis. Tent camping got an upgrade when Breeze got her first treehouse, and her parents built an outdoor kitchen to add to the property. It was only a matter of time until they had a 5th wheel on the property for more inside space. If it hadn’t been for the storms in Anguilla destroying their island home, they may never have built a formal property here. But her parents eventually made the leap, and now they have a beautiful cabin, a huge garage (filled with ATVs, dirt bikes, and more fun stuff!), and best of all, the view!
Breeze and Trent’s wedding was the perfect amount of DIY and simple. They are the very easy-going type, and we were incredibly grateful for their trust in assisting with planning their day. They invited friends and family from all over the country to come stay on the land, just as she did each year growing up. There was a communal camp set up for those that wanted to spend the night outdoors and gaze up at the stars. A Mexican buffet meal was the perfect fit for the laid-back event. A few kegs from the local Brewery in town were a hit for their guests. After a short ceremony, we took some photos at sunset around the property, and then enjoyed a meal, drinks, and great stories from their friends and family.
Small backyard weddings like these remind us that there is no right or wrong way to get married. The only thing that matters is that you go about it in a way that makes you happy! Celebrating your love isn’t all about traditions or pleasing others. It’s about what you and your loved one would enjoy, and that includes the people that you invite along to be a part of it!
How To Plan an Authentic Elopement
Breeze and Trent both knew that they didn’t want to host a traditional wedding. They thought a lot about what the perfect day looked like, and ultimately decided that they did want to be able to invite guests to celebrate with them. Instead of choosing a venue, they chose to use land they had access to, which not only saved them a bunch of money but also added a unique setting no one else will experience.
These two didn’t force anything on their wedding day, they let the day come to them. Hosting a local food vendor for a mexican buffet and kegs from the local brewery were great touches to the simplicity of their day. They didn’t want a big fancy meal, or to force everyone to gather and sit together. It was much more of a hang out vibe, allowing guests the freedom to enjoy themselves as they saw fit.
As if their wedding day wasn’t epic enough, Breeze and Trent planned their wedding around a music festival they attend annually in Telluride. Your wedding celebration doesn’t have to only be one single day! These two experienced an entire week of fun in the state of Colorado, before returning to their home in Tahoe.
The entire elopement was DIY. Trent is incredibly handy, and he built the arch for their ceremony. Breeze is very organized, and she handled most of the logistics and details. They made a great team, and didn’t have any problem handling the bulk of the planning and the day of preparations. Having family and friends come early was also a huge bonus! One thing we see a lot at these smaller, intimate celebrations is how everyone is always eager to help and lend a hand. It is so different from traditional weddings, where guests show up and are expected to follow the herd from one part of the day to the next.
There are unlimited opportunities when it comes to planning your wedding day celebration. Don’t feel the need to fit the mold, or favor your guests over what you truly want for yourselves. Trust that your gut feeling is the right one, and plan yourself the most epic elopement!
To learn more about planning an authentic wedding day, check out the blog post here!
The San Juan Mountains
Southwest Colorado is an incredible place. The San Juan Mountains are just one focal point of this part of the state of Colorado, their rugged appearance is unlike the rest of the Colorado Rockies. Once a part of the Gold and Silver mining industry, this part of Colorado screams “wild wild west”. If you are looking for the most epic remote adventures, this is the place for you. Ouray and Telluride offer Jeep tours taking you to some of Colorado’s most beautiful views, way away from civilization.
Ready to chat with us about your San Juan Mountains Elopement? Contact us!