Ryan & Lauren | Elope In Colorado | Colorado Mountain Weddings | Guanella Pass | Redrock Portrai

I love this couple! Ryan & Lauren have been together for 10 years already (high school sweethearts)! They've known for awhile they were going to get married, but didn't want to have a big wedding. In fact, they didn't officially get engaged until 3 weeks before they said I-do. Just to give a little back story of how adventurous these two are, Ryan asked Lauren to marry him on top of Half Dome in Yosemite! Talk about bad-A! Also, they casually hiked a 14er the day before their actual wedding day. I'm seriously amazed by these two.

In their wedding vows, they talked about how they've decided to spend all their money on travel, adventures and making memories with each other versus spending it on a big fancy wedding. Lauren even bought her "wedding dress" from lulus.com, which looks absolutely incredible on her! These two planned this wedding/elopement in just 3 short weeks. They got 18 of their closest family & friends to drive all the way from Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri to Breckenridge, Colorado (where they rented a big house) for an extended wedding weekend. They knew they wanted to say I-do on top of a mountain, and Colorado was the perfect place. The days leading up to June 16th, I talked with Ryan & Lauren about planning THE spot. We all agreed Guanella pass just after sunrise would be great! Sure enough, we pulled it off! It was easy, laid back and intimate, just like Ryan and Lauren. This wedding couldn't have been more THEM.

I remember leaving my house at 5 in the morning to make the drive to Guanella pass this day. If anyone knows me personally, you know I am NOT a morning person in any way. The drive is a little rough because I also don't drink coffee. However, as soon as I make my way up the pass, realizing I'm the only car around, and start to see those mountain views, it's already 100% worth it! Then add a couple like Ryan and Lauren, and you have one ecstatic photographer! It was an incredible morning in the mountains, just the right amount of wind with some beautiful sunshine. Just perfect for the perfect wedding photo's! When it's all said and done, I feel like I can't get home fast enough to start looking through and editing their photo's!

If anyone is thinking about a small/intimate wedding, or eloping, I say DO IT! There is nothing that can compare to a day filled with doing exactly what you want, spent with exactly who you want, and most importantly celebrating your love in a stress-free way that can be all about just the two of you. I know eloping isn't for everyone, but there is just something about it that makes not having the hustle and bustle of a big wedding day, worth it.

Congratulations Ryan & Lauren!

-Erinn :)