(Check out Taylor and Anthony’s feature on Rocky Mountain Bride!)
First of all, this is not really an elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park in its strictest definition. But what it actually is is kind of hard to describe. “A Couple in Love Who Called Off Their Elopement Plans And Got Married On A Whim Four Months Early Then Still Wanted Romantic Photos In Their Wedding Attire And A Special Moment” is a ridiculous blog post title as well as a run-on sentence. I’m trying to keep it simple for you here, so I hope you’ll forgive me!
Shall we agree to refer to it as a “not” elopement? Done and done.
Taylor and Anthony are adventurous people. I mean, you HAVE to be adventurous to leave your families and move to a new state together! So it really shouldn’t have surprised me when Taylor told me that in May they had secretly gone to Estes Park in February and exchanged vows on the spot!
I was crushed that I didn’t get to come along and capture it (I’m sure their friends and family can empathize) but so excited that they did what made them happy. It’s hard not to be excited for two people who are THAT in love. So in love that they just didn’t want to wait another four months and want to start their forever NOW!
Of course, when Taylor told me about their change in nuptials we also talked about how we could change their photography plans with me. How best to celebrate their marriage in a new way? Taylor settled on a sunrise “not” elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park with a celebratory brunch. They would also write and share a few words about how they hoped to spend the rest of their lives together.
They didn’t have a bouquet or a dress or suspenders when they impetuously ran away to the mountains. This was the first time Anthony saw Taylor in all her bridal glory. WELL worth the wait I’d say! I can’t get over Taylor’s White Meadow gown and Anthony couldn’t either! “It’s so perfect !” he said over and over! To be fair he did say that about the whole day too. I sort of have to agree with the guy!
Can you believe these amazing florals from Yonder Floral + Decor House?! I love the red, pink, and green color palette. Taylor said that all she completely trusted her floral designer and told her only to “make something beautiful” and BOY did she deliver! Great things happen when you choose awesome vendors and trust them to do their best job for you! I could stare at them and photograph them all. Day. Long!
We had the park almost to ourselves at sunrise, and that’s exactly how we like it!
There is something so dang magical about watching two people in love just be together. If you listen to the letters they wrote to read to each other on this day in the video above their devotion is perfectly obvious. But so much is also said in the way they look at each other and hold and touch each other.
These two also laugh together and joke A LOT! Based on what I can tell from my nine years of marriage and watching my parents who have been married closer to forty, laughter is a big indicator for success.
One of the perks of a sunrise “not” elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park is undoubtedly BRUNCH. Mimosas and chocolate chip muffins (made from scratch by Taylor herself) – yes please!! We did get up at 2:00 AM to be in the park at sunrise, but I’m pretty sure we’d do it again just for those chocolate chip muffins.
Anthony and Taylor wrapped up their “not” elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park with a scenic trail ride and it was the perfect way to end a beautiful not-wedding day! The guide was so knowledgeable and informative and a big help to the photo team too!
Taylor’s love for horses is what brought them both to the trail ride, but fun was had by the whole crew! Oh boy where Nate and I and our gear dusty at the end. Totally worth it for those smiles and these shots!
Seriously though, this Yonder Floral crown! It absolutely shone on Taylor and made my detail loving heart SO HAPPY! The fact that she’s absolutely gorgeous inside and out didn’t exactly hurt the situation either.
When I asked Anthony to bring Taylor close, then tell her something sweet, he knew exactly what to say.
Congratulations to you both, Anthony and Taylor! May your next forty years of marriage look as good on you as your first four months!
Venue: Rocky Mountain National Park
Florals: Yonder Floral + Decor House
Bride’s Attire: White Meadow
Groom’s Attire: JJ Suspenders and The Tie Bar
Bride’s Hair (coloring): VudoHair
Trail ride: National Park Gateway Stables
Absolutely, stunning capture of love! Perfect!!!