San Juan Mountains Elopement

Hannah + Anthony’s San Juan Mountains elopement is one of those core memories that stays with you forever. When they first inquired about their Colorado elopement, one question immediately stood out: “How fast can you hike?” I won’t lie—that question alone had me a little intimidated. But the way they described their favorite place in the San Juan Mountains instantly hooked me. They spoke with so much love and reverence for this rugged, wild corner of Colorado. I knew their San Juan Mountains elopement was going to be something special. I even trained specifically for their elopement hike—hours of incline walking, treadmill running, and far too much time on the stair master. I just wanted to be ready to document their day in the way it deserved.

Hannah and Anthony are seasoned adventurers and avid hikers, having completed all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers in just over a year. (If you’re not from Colorado, a “14er” is a mountain that rises above 14,000 feet in elevation—and Colorado has more of them than any other state.) These hikes are no small feat, and their shared love for high-alpine terrain made the San Juan Mountains the perfect backdrop for their elopement. Their experience and confidence in the mountains allowed them to dream up a truly adventurous San Juan Mountains elopement that felt deeply personal.

On one of their hikes in the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, they discovered a striking, bright-blue alpine lake tucked high in the San Juan Mountains. From that moment on, they knew they wanted to exchange vows above the lake as the sun rose over the water. Many alpine lakes throughout the San Juan Mountain Range are known for their vivid blue color, created by fine mineral sediment—often called glacial flour—suspended in the water and reflecting the morning light. As a San Juan Mountains elopement photographer, witnessing Hannah and Anthony say their vows in such an iconic Colorado landscape was nothing short of magical.

Midnight Start in the San Juan Mountains

Their elopement day began long before sunrise. At 12:30am near Ouray, Colorado, Hannah quietly had her hair and makeup done in their hotel room while the mountains slept outside. By around 3:45am, we were packed up and headed out the door, racing first light in the San Juan Mountains. I climbed into the back of Anthony’s car alongside their pup, Lucy, and we made our way to the trailhead in complete darkness.

We started our ascent under a sky full of stars, headlamps guiding the way through the quiet alpine terrain. Despite the crisp late-September mountain air, Hannah hiked in biker shorts and a lightweight jacket—strategically staying cool before slipping into her wedding dress later on. We paused only a handful of times to shed layers and hydrate, moving steadily toward the alpine lake above. Reaching their vow spot with time to spare before sunrise was a huge relief—early is always better than late in the mountains. As dawn slowly approached, Hannah and Anthony changed into their wedding attire, ready to begin their San Juan Mountains elopement ceremony as the first light touched the peaks.

A Quiet First Look at Sunrise

Hannah was especially excited to see Anthony’s reaction to the wedding dress she chose for their sunrise San Juan Mountains elopement. Tucked away in the stillness of the early morning, they shared a soft, emotional first look—just the two of them, with the mountains standing watch. Afterward, we lingered for a few more moments, letting the anticipation build as we waited for the sun to rise a little bit higher.

Surrounded by the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountain Range, the light took its time. The sun slowly climbed toward the ridge line, stretching the morning and making the moment feel even more intentional. In a landscape this dramatic, sunrise doesn’t rush—and neither did they.

Saying Vows Above a Blue Alpine Lake

When the light was finally right, Hannah and Anthony—Lucy happily in tow—made their way to a small cliff edge overlooking the brilliant blue alpine lake below. This was the exact spot they had chosen for their San Juan Mountains elopement ceremony the first time they hiked this trail together, high above the bright blue water and surrounded by endless peaks. The moment felt intimate and intentional, perfectly in tune with the quiet of the mountains.

Their ceremony was beautifully simple, lasting only about seven minutes—just enough time for heartfelt vows and, selfishly, plenty of opportunities for me to document every angle. As the sun finally crested the ridge and spilled across the landscape, the surrounding San Juan Mountain Range reflected in the lake’s glassy surface. Those mountain reflections in the bright blue water were pure magic—and easily one of my favorite moments of this sunrise elopement.

Celebrating the Summit (and the Little Details)

Once the vows were sealed, it was officially time to celebrate. Hannah and Anthony popped a bottle of champagne to mark the first moment of their marriage, and they even brought along a toy “champagne” bottle for Lucy so she could join in on the fun. Truly iconic behavior.

Of course, I couldn’t resist documenting Lucy’s hiking booties—dogs in shoes will forever have my heart. Hannah and Anthony leaned fully into the Colorado elopement aesthetic with their Colorado-themed socks, which meant we had to capture the classic elopement hiking boot photo. It’s one of my favorite details to photograph at every adventure elopement, and this one felt especially fitting after a sunrise hike in the San Juan Mountains.

They donned their hiking packs and we started the steep trek to the lake’s edge. TG for hiking poles, am I right? This descent and the river crossing were the only parts I was nervous about hiking with my cameras out of my pack, but you gotta risk it for the biscuit.

A First Dance and Cake by the Lake

Once we reached the water’s edge, Hannah and Anthony shared their first dance beside the alpine lake—set to an EDM love ballad by Illenium. Their dance moves were unmatched. I caught myself smiling behind the camera as they fully leaned into the moment, just being themselves: dancing to EDM music beside a blue alpine lake we had hiked to in complete darkness hours earlier. It was such an authentic, joy-filled moment—one that felt perfectly aligned with their relationship and the spirit of their secluded San Juan Mountains elopement.

This is always where I encourage couples to make their elopement their own by incorporating fun, meaningful activities into the day. Hannah ordered tiny cakes from Etsy so they could still include the cake-cutting tradition as part of their Colorado elopement—and the result was unforgettable. The cake was so cold that when they tried to cut it, it split sideways instead of straight down the middle. We all burst out laughing, and the resulting “what just happened?” moment was pure magic. Honestly, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

The Hike Down and a Perfect Send-Off

As our time together came to an end, we shouldered our hiking packs once more and began the descent back down the mountain. The hike down revealed an entirely new side of the San Juan Mountains—details we’d missed in the dark on the way up. The peaks were already lightly snow-capped, and we passed endless stretches of golden aspen trees glowing in the morning light. The contrast between the yellow leaves and Hannah and Anthony’s hiking packs was too good to pass up, so of course we stopped for a few more photos. Hannah even hiked down in her wedding dress, fully embracing the adventure of her San Juan Mountains elopement.

By this point in the day, the trail had come alive with other hikers heading up the mountain. One by one, they offered congratulations to the newlyweds as they passed—small, unexpected moments that made the experience feel even more special.

This truly was an adventure elopement of a lifetime. Not long after their wedding day, Hannah and Anthony moved back to Minnesota, but I hope these photos always bring them back to this place—to the sunrise, the alpine lake, and the magic they created together in the San Juan Mountains. It’s the kind of elopement day that stays with you forever.

As a Colorado elopement photographer, I offer San Juan elopement packages with travel included. From suggestions during the planning process to documenting your elopement day, I’m here to help you create a unique wedding experience. If you love the idea of sharing an intimate and intentional wedding day with your partner, reach out and we’ll start the planning process. I would LOVE to help you dream up your beautiful day!

Note: This location now requires a bit of advanced planning as a permit system has been put into place.

Late 2025 edit: I travel to the San Juans on a travel schedule and have dates set for June, mid- and late-September, 2026. August and September are the two BEST months to get married in the San Juan Mountains, so let’s get to planning!

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