Beautiful Sunrise Wedding in Colorado Mountains

If you’re looking for sunrise hiking elopement inspiration, look no further. Colorado is the place you want to be! Alex and Collin decided to have a very intimate wedding on the top of the alpine lake, Lake Isabelle, with only 4 guests (their parents) as the sun rose behind them as they said their vows . 

Getting ready for their elopement day

Alex never went to bed the night before her wedding. She began her hair and makeup at 1130pm, anticipating a sunrise hike, with a leave time of 330 am. It was important to her that Collin and her didn’t see each other before their first look at sunrise at the summit of Lake Isabelle. (8481 Feet). Can you say love takes you to incredible heights?

The hike to sunrise

Collin began the hike first with his two parents Linda + Steve as my husband Arthur documented their journey up to the top. I continued with Alex in the second group, documenting her and her two parents ( Dale and step mom Holly) up to the top. Each group hiked in complete darkness, before any other critters in the forest even woke up. Only our headlamps led the way. We called it the two mile aisle that her dad was walking her down throughout the entire day. We thought that was the cutest saying and it just stuck.

First look + Sunrise Elopement Ceremony in the Mountains

 At the top, Alex and Collin were able to have their first look with one another, without family watching to keep the moment intimate. Then their families joined them immediately after for their ceremony. In colorado, you can solemnize the marriage yourself, so no officiant was needed. They read their vows aloud to each other + exchanged rings as the alpenglow of the mountains surrounded them in the background and quickly changed colors. Their family gathered with tear filled proud eyes, watching their children make lifetime commitments to one another.  

The Celebration

After their ceremony, they gathered for only a few pictures but instead chose to take in the scenery as the sun rose and nature woke up. They had mimosas and pastries with their families and read letters from friends and family that weren’t there. Everyone laughed as they opened each letter filled with jokes.  Alex & Collin got to explain who each important member was, who wrote them a letter for their wedding day.

Unexpected sentimental moments

After the letters, everyone enjoyed a few hours in nature with the beautiful alpine lake. Collin and his family began their descent to give Alex and her parents a sentimental moment at the top of the mountain. This moment was a welcomed surprise to us, but you can say it was probably the most memorable moment I’ve documented during an elopement to date. Dale, her father had brought Alex’s mother’s ashes to spread on top of the mountain where they got married. The three of them (Alex, Dale and Holly) spread the ashes together and joked that Alex’s mom would either hate it  because of how cold it was or love it for it’s views). It was a really sentimental touch to the day. You could feel her mom’s presence there. The bouquet she carried with her all day also was wrapped in a piece of fabric from her mother’s wedding gown that Holly had sewed together for her.

Collin and his family waited just a few hundred feet down and we all descended the mountain together. On the way down, hiker after hiker confronted them asking them if they had actually just gotten married. They were asked to take pictures with probably over 10 groups of hikers, who were just elated to witness something so beautiful. Although a little unexpected, this made for some great memories.

Alex and Collin took their love to new heights for their sunrise elopement, while spending it with only the most immediate family. Every detail was intentional + so incredibly beautiful. I couldn’t recommend an intimate wedding like this enough. If you need any help planning your destination hiking elopement (or non hiking elopement for that matter, I would LOVE to help you curate your own day as well. Scroll through some of their images from their day to get some inspiration!