A Sublime Sunrise Elopement Near Vail

Newlyweds hold each other tightly and kiss under the afternoon sun in Vail, CO with the snow-covered mountains fill the background.
 

 S + C snowshoe through a wintery wonderland and exchange vows atop a ridge near Vail, Colorado.

S and C are one of those rare couples who were so struck by one another upon meeting that they essentially decided to get married after their first date. 

And since mountains, alpine scenery, early mornings, and long, challenging hikes all interweave throughout S and C’s entire love story, it is fitting that these two lovebirds got engaged on top of a mountain in Banff, Canada, in the middle of a snow storm, after a 3 a.m. wake up and a strenuous, solitary 8-mile hike to the top of a mountain ridge. 

Desiring to carry on with these themes, and to celebrate all the things they cherish in life (each other, mountains, and arduous activities), S and C chose a late fall elopement on a snowy alpine promontory near Vail, Colorado. 

Waking with the sunrise, and accompanied by S’s parents, S and C snowshoed through a white, wintery wonderland (the first snowfall of November) and ascended the ridge which they had deemed the perfect spot for their union . The bracing 15 degree temperatures were blessedly alleviated by the sun’s ray’s, which pierced down through the morning sky as S and C recited their vows and exchanged rings.

C gamely carried up their belongings (including a gossamer Anthropologie dress for the bride and the groom’s custom Italian Zegna suit), and the couple changed into their wedding attire amongst the serene alpines, which were beautifully cloaked in snow. 

S emerged from the trees, holding a clutch of red and white roses and ensconced in a furry wrap, to meet her beaming (and dapper) husband-to-be. Against the backdrop of the jagged Rockies, S and C exchanged rings and I-Dos. It was calm, serene, intimate, laid-back– exactly what they had always dreamed of. 

Afterwards, they shared draughts from a very old bottle of Kahlua– just the perfect thing to warm their bones– and listened gleefully to ‘their’ song: “All I See is You”. 

S and C relished celebrating the rest of the perfect day with cocktails and cake alongside S’s parents, back at the cozy Ritz-Carlton in Bachelor Gulch.

Check out my recommended vendors, venues, and BnB’s in my complete

…and be sure to see how this venue totally transforms in different seasons:

Itzel + Devin’s Midsummer Micro-Wedding

On a cold November morning, 11/11 to be exact, a vintage-inspired wedding gown hands from a huge evergreen tree. Surrounded by a fresh blanket of snow, this photo was taken at dawn as the sky gradients from lavender to a peachy red.
Ready to start the adventure elopement journey, the groom, wearing a black suit, hiking shoes, and showshoes, packs the bride's bouquet in his backpack.
Setting the scene for this snowy November morning in Vail, CO, elopement photographer Andrea Enger captures the snow covered mountain before the sun touches it. The level of detail is impeccable.
With the background out of focus, the bride stands several yards away from her groom before she takes her final steps to their snowy altar. She is holding a beautiful green and green bouquet with pops of white which pops against her off-white outfit.
Eloping couple kiss to seal the deal after exchanging vows in the middle of the snow, surrounded by trees and mountains in Vail.
After their "I dos", S and C leave hand-in-hand wearing their snowshoes. The bride holds her red, green, and white bouquet in the air as the groom looks up at the mountain before them.
The bride and groom have their alone time while snowshoeing through the spruce trees of Vail. Behind the trees, the towering mountain fills half of the sky.
A wide-shot of the couple kissing in the middle of the snow field as they mountains of Vail layer behind them, peaks dusted with snow.
Shot from behind, the newlyweds hold hands as they stand in a fresh layer of snow during their Vail elopement.
This freshly eloped couple stand in the middle of a snow-covered meadow, the brides turning her body to kiss her new husband who is standing behind her. Her gown has a beautiful, vintage look and is perfect for this snowshoeing adventure elopement.
A close-up photo of the couple from behind while they stand in the snow. The groom has his hand on the bride's butt as she gently holds his arm. Her dress has delicate white floral beading details.
In what could only be described as "pink hour", newlyweds gaze into each other's eyes while the sun shines brightly above. The white mountain in the background is the perfect backdrop, mother nature is truly magnificent.
A far away shot of the bride and groom walking through the snow in Vail, CO, leaving behind a wide trail from their snowshoes.
Newlyweds snowshoeing through fresh powder towards the mountains of Vail in the distance. The groom is holding the bouquet in one hand and his wife's hand in the other. The bride holds the train of her dress with her right hand.

Congratulations, S+C!

Lodging: Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch 

Dress: Anthropologie

Suit: Zegna

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Ready to Celebrate Your Day Your Way?

Elopement Photographer Andrea Enger (Portrait by Realm Studios)

If you’re ready to get the ball rolling to secure your photographer, let’s do it!

You can do that by filling out the form below, emailing me directly at andrea@andreaengerphotography.com, or by calling or texting me at (720) 739-0784. I look forward to hearing from you!

If you’re still in the research phase, I hear ya! Here are some more resources that my couples have found helpful. I hope you do, too!

Colorado Elopement Guide

Elopement Planning Toolkit (free download)

More Photo Galleries:

 
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