I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. If you’re looking to have a lake wedding, Colorado is pretty much the best state for it. Sure, we’re certainly biased, being based in Colorado and all, but honestly the lakes we have out here make for the most epic locations for tiny lake weddings. You get some of the most dramatic mountain views the US has to offer, along with cooler temps in the summer months, which makes that July lake wedding actually comfortable, unlike many of the lakes on the east coast.
So when Aspen and Hans reached out to us about wanting to elope in Colorado, we knew that this spot would be perfect for their tiny lake wedding. It’s one of our favorite locations because of its accessibility to some of the best mountain towns in Colorado, and it’s also a hidden gem that so many people have no idea about. Which ultimately means having your tiny lake wedding here will give you much more privacy than one of the more popular trails in the area.
Aspen and Hans knew they wanted a mix of a foresty, woodsy vibe along with the expansive mountain views and alpine lakes that Colorado is known for. And this location checked all those boxes. They chose to elope at sunrise (my favorite time of day!), since that would allow them the most privacy when saying their vows. And holy cow, this lake wedding location did not disappoint. We started their day at blue hour, before the sun had come up over the mountains, headlamps and lanterns in tow. And as the sun began to rise, we noticed that the entire lake was covered in a crazy cool layer of fog and steam due to the drastic temperature change that happens at high elevation between sunset and sunrise.
It had rained earlier that morning before we arrived, and the humidity coated the nearby plants with a gorgeous dew as well. Honestly, I’ve never seen this spot look prettier than it did for this small lake wedding.
After taking some photos at blue hour, Aspen and Hans began their small lake wedding ceremony, with Aspen’s dad as the officiant. These two said their vows on a grassy section beside the trail, right alongside the water. As they shared their story, the sun rose up and displayed the most lovely alpenglow on the mountains behind them.
We gave these two some time to soak in the fact they they just got married and enjoy some time hanging around their lakeside ceremony site before continuing on our adventure.
Once they wrapped up their lake wedding ceremony, we wandered down the trail alongside the lake, where we came across the most lovely little spots on the route to stop by. From a fallen log to a rock that looked out onto the surrounding mountains, there were no shortage of epic views.
Y’all Colorado lakes are COLD. Even in the summer months, and especially at this elevation. But these two troopers were so dang excited to get into the water after their lake wedding…I mean, it isn’t a true lake wedding until you go for a dip, right?!
After walking into the lake for a dip, Aspen and Hans decided to leave their shoes by the shore and wander barefoot down the trail and into the woods. One of the things I love about this specific lake wedding location is the diversity of landscapes on a single trail. You can have both expansive mountain views, water, and a lush green forest too. And man, did this forest show off for these two.
P.S. As an elopement photographer, I specialize in adventurous weddings like this lake wedding. I’m a firm believer that your wedding day should be an adventure, and not dictated by the strict rules of the wedding industry…it should be a day where you get to have fun together and make the day your own. Just like Aspen and Hans did. If that sounds like your vibe, I’d love to chat with you about your dream lake wedding.
Check out some of our favorite elopement and adventure wedding planning resources:
Empowering You To Have Your Adventure Elopement, Your Way
Colorado Elopement Photographers + Adventure Wedding Photographers