Buena Vista Elopement

Karie + Jared's High Alpine Buena Vista Elopement

Buena Vista elopement couple kissing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road

Karie + Jared's Buena Vista Elopement

From my first time chatting with Karie and Jared, I knew documenting their Buena Vista elopement day would be a true adventure. These two are some of the most energetic, kind-hearted, and free-spirited souls I’ve had the honor of meeting. 

It felt like half of our time during their elopement was spent adventuring and the other half was spent having the best conversations as we hiked and wandered through the mountains outside Buena Vista. And I’m not the only one who absolutely fell in love with Karie and Jared’s Buena Vista elopement. They elopement story was recently featured on Rock n Roll Bride.

Pre-Ceremony Adventures In The Mountains Near Buena Vista

When we first arrived at the trailhead parking lot, an wild fog was hovering over the mountains. There were intense, moody skies in one direction, as the sun was shining in the other. Classic Colorado, throwing literally every weather scenario out all at once.

We wandered up the hiking trail, to adventure on an overlook just down the path from where Karie and Jared were going to share their vows. Karie’s Chantel Lauren wedding dress, with its insanely gorgeous and flowy skirt (y’all the blue skirt of her dress was HAND PAINTED!), was basically asking to play around in the wind. So naturally we had to show it off. And y’all, let me tell you, Karie was an absolute show-stopper in her gown. Literally the most perfect dress for a mountain elopement.

fog enveloping the mountains near Buena Vista Colorado
the mountains near Buena Vista Colorado on the day of Karie and Jared's elopement
the mountains near Buena Vista Colorado on the day of Karie and Jared's elopement
the mountains near Buena Vista Colorado on the day of Karie and Jared's elopement
the mountains near Buena Vista Colorado on the day of Karie and Jared's elopement
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple kissing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony | bride waving her dress in the wind
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony | bride waving her dress in the wind
couple standing on the edge of a cliff in the mountains before their Buena Vista elopement ceremony | bride waving her dress in the wind

Buena Vista Elopement Ceremony Overlooking The Mountains

After hanging out at the overlook, we made our way down to Karie and Jared’s Buena Vista elopement ceremony spot. Since they eloped in Colorado, where self-uniting marriage is legal, K+J married themselves, without an officiant and any other witnesses present. 

Quite possibly my favorite part of their ceremony was right after they pronounced themselves married and they both screamed up into the sky in celebration. Not only was it super cute, but you could just see the joy in their faces the entire time. Such an awesome way to wrap up their Buena Vista elopement ceremony.

Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
bride reading her vows during her Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
bride reading her vows during her Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
groom smiling at bride while she reads her vows
groom smiling at bride while she reads her vows
bride and groom standing together in the mountains during their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
bride and groom standing together in the mountains during their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
groom smiling at bride while she reads her vows
groom smiling at bride while she reads her vows
bride reading her vows to the groom
Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
Buena Vista elopement ceremony overlooking the mountains
groom reading his vows during his Buena Vista elopement ceremony
groom reading his vows during his Buena Vista elopement ceremony
groom reading his vows during his Buena Vista elopement ceremony
bride smiling as groom reads his vows
Buena Vista elopement ceremony ring exchange
Buena Vista elopement ceremony ring exchange
Buena Vista elopement ceremony ring exchange
Buena Vista elopement ceremony ring exchange
Buena Vista elopement ceremony ring exchange
couple screaming in celebration at the sky during their Buena Vista elopement ceremony
Buena Vista elopement couple going in for their first kiss
Buena Vista elopement ceremony first kiss
Buena Vista elopement ceremony first kiss
Buena Vista elopement ceremony first kiss
Buena Vista elopement ceremony first kiss
Buena Vista elopement ceremony first kiss

The Mountain Excursion Continues

After their Buena Vista elopement ceremony, we wandered to a few of my favorite spots on the trail, where these two took in the gorgeous mountain views and soaked in their first few moments as a married couple.

bride tossing and twirling her dress
bride tossing and twirling her dress
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom sitting together on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom sitting together on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom sitting together on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom sitting together on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom sitting together on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom hugging each other on the edge of a cliff on their elopement day in Buena Vista Colorado
bride and groom hugging each other on the edge of a cliff on their elopement day in Buena Vista Colorado
bride and groom hugging each other on the edge of a cliff on their elopement day in Buena Vista Colorado
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
bride and groom standing on a cliffside as the wind blows by on their Buena Vista elopement day
groom lifting bride and spinning her around on the top of a mountain in Buena Vista Colorado
bride and groom hiking down the trail during their Buena Vista elopement
bride and groom hiking down the trail during their Buena Vista elopement
bride and groom hiking down the trail during their Buena Vista elopement
bride and groom hiking down the trail during their Buena Vista elopement
bride and groom hiking down the trail during their Buena Vista elopement
bride and groom hiking down the trail during their Buena Vista elopement

Signing The Marriage License For Their Buena Vista Elopement

After a bit of hiking, we made our way back to the trailhead parking lot, where Karie and Jared signed their marriage license on the hood of their car. 

Fun random fact about their day: Karie decided that since she was going to be a wearing a colorful dress for her elopement that she’d also dye the ends of her hair her favorite color purple. Pretty sure these two couldn’t be more fun.

Buena Vista elopement marriage license signing
Buena Vista elopement marriage license signing
Buena Vista elopement marriage license signing
Buena Vista elopement marriage license signing
Buena Vista elopement marriage license signing

Champagne Celebration + First Dance + Hot Cocoa

As the sunset started to approach, we hopped back on the trail and over to a little lake, where Karie and Jared popped a celebratory bottle of champagne, shared their first dance together as a newly eloped couple, and drank hot cocoa on a picnic blanket with the mountains surrounding them.

eloping couple popping champagne
eloping couple popping champagne
eloping couple popping champagne
eloping couple popping champagne
eloping couple popping champagne
eloping couple popping champagne
eloping couple popping champagne
bride drinking champagne from the bottle
groom drinking champagne from the bottle
bride and groom walking down a hiking trail alongside a lake in the mountains of Buena Vista Colorado
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
couple sharing their first dance during their Buena Vista elopement
eloping couple drinking hot cocoa while sitting on a picnic blanket in the mountains
eloping couple drinking hot cocoa while sitting on a picnic blanket in the mountains
eloping couple drinking hot cocoa while sitting on a picnic blanket in the mountains
eloping couple drinking hot cocoa while sitting on a picnic blanket in the mountains

Sunset + Blue Hour Mountain Adventures

We wrapped up Karie and Jared’s Buena Vista elopement day and made our way to the mountain pass, where we had some roadside adventures as the most insanely beautiful and colorful sunset painted its way across the mountains and sky. 

And once the sky had cooled off, we swung by my favorite overlook spot in the area, where we watched the last bits of alpenglow kissing the tips of the mountains and awaited the transition from golden hour to blue hour.

bride walking down a mountain road in Buena Vista Colorado in her flowy wedding dress
bride walking down a mountain road in Buena Vista Colorado in her flowy wedding dress
bride walking down a mountain road in Buena Vista Colorado in her flowy wedding dress
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
bride and groom walking down a mountain road at sunset near their Buena Vista elopement location
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
couple enjoying the view of the mountains after their Buena Vista elopement
groom whispering something funny into bride's ear
groom whispering something funny into bride's ear
groom whispering something funny into bride's ear
bride smiling and laughing at groom
Buena Vista elopement couple kissing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple kissing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the mountains
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple kissing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road
Buena Vista elopement couple standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a giant switchback curve in the road

P.S. As an adventure elopement and adventure wedding photographer, I believe in being more than just a documenter of your elopement day. I pride myself on helping you navigate all the little details as well — like helping you figure out the perfect time of year for your Buena Vista elopement.

As someone who also eloped, I’ve been in your shoes. I know what you’re doing through, and I’m here to help.

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