Erika El Photography - Wedding and Elopement Photographer based in the North Carolina Mountains

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Crested Butte Colorado Wildflower Wedding / Haley + Ross

Right off the bat, Haley and Ross made it clear to me that the most important thing to them about their Crested Butte wedding was being present and in the moment with each other and their family; next on their list was the opportunity to spend time together in nature and frolic through the Colorado wildflower fields. Their intimate wedding in Colorado achieved exactly that, and I am still so honored they brought me along on their beautifully adventurous day. 

Haley and Ross had their sights set on having their first look and ceremony at Emerald Lake, one of many absolute gems to consider for a Crested Butte wedding. The road out to the lake can be tricky depending on snow melt and time of year--and there’s also very limited cell phone service--so to ensure we were all on the same page about a great ceremony spot and knew where to find each other, Haley, Ross, and I had a mini-adventure the day before to scout locations and talk through the details of the day! I always scout locations myself before the wedding to check current trail conditions to get an idea of what to expect, but it was special to have Haley and Ross alongside for this process and feel their building excitement for their day as we previewed Emerald Lake and found the perfect, private spot for their ceremony. 

My favorite thing about this wedding day is that the couple had both sets of their parents officiate the ceremony together. I had never seen that done before, and it was such a sweet and brilliant idea of togetherness; why have a stranger marry you when you could have the people you know best--and who know you best--do the honors? Something special about Crested Butte weddings and elopements is that in the state of Colorado, anyone (even your dog!) can officiate your ceremony. 

Speaking of: the couple’s precious dog, Minnie, was included, too! They had initially planned for Minnie to sign the marriage license, and even though she didn’t cooperate long enough to do that, it was fun to see a furry family member involved in the ceremony. Pro tip--if you want to have your pup sign your marriage license at your Crested Butte wedding (or anywhere!), practice with them in the days and weeks leading up! Having to stamp their paw on paper can feel weird, especially in a new environment, so giving your dog the opportunity to try it out can make the process a little smoother on the day-of. As a dog mom, I absolutely love when couples include their pups in their big day; you can read my blog post here https://erikaelphotography.com/journal2/7-ways-to-incorporate-your-dog-in-your-wedding for 7 ideas on how to incorporate your furry friends into your wedding!

After the ceremony, the couple and their guests shared a shot of tequila together as a nod to how Haley and Ross first met (at a housewarming party!), and the two shared a bite of cake before we made our way to take portraits among the Colorado wildflower fields that Crested Butte is known for. Every moment of Haley and Ross’s day was intentional, thoughtful, and true-to-them, spent focused on each other and the people they love amongst a beautiful Colorado backdrop. 

Here’s what Haley + Ross had to say:
"Thank you so much for being such an incredible part of our wedding journey. From helping us plan and create timelines to meeting us the day before, your support and energy were truly so much appreciated. Ross and I are so grateful we found you- you perfectly embodied the values we wanted for our day: intimacy, nature, focusing on each other, and, of course, including Minnie. We couldn't have asked for a better photographer to capture these magical moments. You have such a gift in your talent not only as a bomb photographer, but in your joyful presence in making the best day ever even more special."

Vendor Team: 

FLORALS: The Perfect Petal

MAKEUP: Face of Makeup

CAKE: Tin Cup

RECEPTION: Elk Avenue Prime

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