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When Ana and Greg got engaged, they first envisioned a big, traditional wedding with all of the usual go-to’s–a stunning reception, a crowd of loved ones, and a beautiful but public vow reading ceremony.
Like most engagement and wedding planning stories that occurred anywhere between 2020 and 2022, the pandemic impacted the original plan. By the time Ana and Greg were ready to kick back into planning mode, they’d shifted their perspectives a bit.
The pandemic interrupting their planning was a blessing in disguise. A big, traditional wedding just didn’t feel like the ideal way for them to get married anymore.
An intimate summer elopement that allowed them to merge the elements of what they love was how they wanted to get married. And they weren’t afraid to go after it.
Ana and Greg decided on a Colorado elopement punctuated by stunning mountain vistas, offroad adventure, and a unique split day that allowed them the intimacy of a private ceremony as well as a celebration among their loved ones.
Ana and Greg’s wedding day in the San Juan Mountain range began before the sun came up. I met with them at their adorable, red A-frame cabin in the mountains early in the morning.
Together, they got halfway ready before they piled into their guide’s jeep (with their trust pup Loki by their side) and took off toward the cliffy mountainside of the San Juan range. Another jeep guide drove Ana’s hair and makeup artist up the mountain (and me, too).
(As a side note, this is one of the best elopement hacks ever. You can have the wedding look of your dreams and get married at the top of a mountain as the sun comes up).
At the top of the mountain, Ana and her hair and makeup artist finished up her look. As the sun began slowly rising, Ana and Greg shared their first look together.
Together, they shared moments of quiet, peace, and bliss–just the two of them among the mountains. They soaked in the sunrise together. This was the moment they wanted for their wedding most of all–a few minutes where they could wholly focus on their love, each other, and the vows they were making–free from distraction, stress, or pressure.
Among the mountaintops and trees, in a clearing overlooking a stunning vista, Ana and Greg read their vows to each other. There’s something so beautiful and intentional about private vow ceremonies like this–and it’s something that Ana and Greg made sure this was part of their day.
After their vows, Ana and Greg took off in the jeeps again, this time going higher up into the misted mountains. There, among the blustering winds, they shared their first dance. Though they chose to self-solemnize, they did decide they wanted the most important witness of all to sign their marriage license–their pup Loki, who was adorably dubbed the dog of honor for their wedding day.
After spending some time among the mountaintops, Ana and Greg wound down the mountain, stopping at a lower point on the mountain to meet up with their immediate family for the second half of their ceremony. Ana and Greg’s family ceremony was unlike any other I’d witnessed.
Instead of simply re-reading vows in front of their family, they brought their loved ones into the ceremony, interweaving them into their beautiful day in the most memorable way. Family members each read from a script, completing part of the wedding ceremony. Each guest was given the opportunity to share an encouraging or meaningful speech, thought, or word with Ana and Greg during this time. There were lots of tears, so many meaningful things said, and overwhelmingly beautiful emotions laced into these moments.
At the end of their day, everyone headed back into the mountain town of Ouray for another distinct part of the day–a small but vibrant reception to celebrate the couple. Friends, family members, and other loved ones gathered at the Ouray Brewery. Friends sang songs, cheered the newlyweds, and kicked off the celebration of a new and exciting adventure.
Ana and Greg’s day perfectly illustrated a point that I wish every person to understand–elopements are for everybody. Even for the people who don’t want to give up certain elements of bigger, traditional weddings.
That’s the beautiful thing about getting married the way you want–you can do exactly what you want.
Ana and Greg are private, intentional people–they wanted intimate moments just for them on their wedding day. But they’re also close with their families, they have a group of core friends they adore, and they didn’t want to miss out on including them on the most important day of their lives.
They did it all–and then some. And every couple out there who’s dreaming of a wedding day that’s perfectly created to fit them can have it all, too.
