Fall of 2021 is one of the best autumns we have ever had here in Colorado. The fall colors stayed forever. Weeks. That never happens!! We also got so much rain- normally it just switches straight to snow. A couple days before Chandler and Patrick’s elopement day we thought we might not be able to go to our original location because of a nearby fire. We had plan B and C ready to go but thankfully, with all the aforementioned rain, the fire ended being controlled and not interfering with any of the plans.

I met Chandler and Patrick at their Aribnb at 5am as they got ready separately. Just before Chandler was finished getting ready, Patrick headed out to the ceremony location because the couple had opted to do a first look with each other. Chandler’s parents were also there and her mom helped her put on her dress and veil. After pinning her grandmother’s cross to the inside of her dress, Chandler headed out for a first look with her dad. One of the things Chandler told me while we were still in the planning stages was that she wasn’t going to get a real wedding dress, but her dad insisted on buying her one. After trying some on, Chandler fell in love with one and was so glad that she decided to go that route. It made her first look with her dad even more special.

Once Chandler had done the first look with her dad, I drove us to the ceremony location. We arrived and got Patrick all set up for the first look. The clouds were hanging low and obscuring some of the mountains, but it made the yellow aspen leaves pop. The first look was perfect and they had the whole area to themselves. With the first look done and some nerves calmed, it was time for the ceremony! We walked around the lake until Chandler and Patrick found a spot they loved.

It was just the two of them for the ceremony, but they wrote their own vows and had a blessing to read from grandparents. It was intimate, simple, and perfect. As they said their vows the clouds slowly started to lift creating incredible patches that seemed to cling alone to the trees. It was time to explore! We walked all around the lake, back into the aspen trees, and said wow a million times at the clouds. Clouds like that are rare in Colorado because we rarely have enough moisture for them to dissipate in such an interesting way. It was chilly and damp, but beautiful. Chandler’s jacket matched her bouquet and I thought that was such a fun detail!

Finally, after lots of exploring it was time for breakfast. We headed back to the Airbnb where Chandler’s dad was making breakfast. With the cinnamon rolls in the oven, we took a few family photos and Chandler FaceTimed her grandma. Mountains, fall colors, and cinnamon rolls- a great way to celebrate marriage in October.