Planning your own elopement might feel a little overwhelming, but we're here to help! We've answered our most frequently asked elopement questions and put them in one easy to navigate space. Because you deserve a wedding day that is stress-free, fun, and completely centered around you!
If you have a specific question that isn't answered here, please don't hesitate to reach out directly at hello@alpinevows.com.
This depends largely on the location you choose. Many of the more remote mountain locations that we photograph at contain fragile ecosystems and we prefer not to bring groups larger than 15 people (including the couple) for Leave No Trace purposes. However, we can photograph at reservable locations that can accommodate a larger group size for your intimate wedding, such as Rocky Mountain National Park or Maroon Bells Amphitheater.
This question entirely depends on where you choose to elope, how many people you want to attend, and what activities you want to incorporate into your elopement. We do the heavy lifting here, but if there is somewhere specific you'd like to elope, you can always call the ranger district in that area and inquire!
Yes! It is seriously one of our favorite parts about being elopement photographers in Colorado. We get to watch the cutest pups watch their humans get married and even sign their marriage license with their paw print. Can you picture a cuter witness?!
Nope! Colorado is a self-solemnizing state, which means that you do not need an officiant or any witnesses at your wedding. You essentially act as your own witnesses. If you do want an officiant at your elopement we can provide recommendations! Looking for information on how to officiate your wedding? This blog is for you!
This is such a good question! It entirely depends on how you want your day to look and what activities you want to incorporate into your wedding. We can help you figure out how much time you might need based on your vision!
If you decide that you would just like to book a photo package without video, that is totally fine! Just know that Bailee will be the solo photographer for your whole day as Jake just sticks to elopement videography.
At this time, we are not offering elopement coverage outside of Colorado.
We offer photography and videography coverage for weddings with up to 15 people (including the couple). This allows us a lot of flexibility with location suggestions and keeps the focus on you, the couple! Looking for info on how to include your loved ones in your elopement? Check out this blog!
Every season in Colorado is absolutely beautiful! It entirely depends on what you want for your wedding day. The seasons here in Colorado are a little different than most states. Most people, when they think of spring, think of blossoming trees and budding flowers. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the mountains of Colorado. We usually get the bulk of our snow between January-April, so if you're looking for a winter wonderland elopement those would be your go to months. Spring, or "mud season" is May-June in the mountains (however, June at lower elevations is gorgeous). July-August are our summer months and the wildflowers are out of this world! September-October are gorgeous fall months and November-December are the shoulder season months. Keep in mind the weather can be wildly unpredictable during every month, it can even snow in the summer so it's best to be prepared for anything. Read a more in-depth blog here!
When we're looking at summer elopements, we recommend couples opt for a sunrise elopement because the afternoon thunderstorms are like clockwork here, we can usually predict them every day. Thunderstorms on their own aren't necessarily dangerous, however, thunderstorms above treeline are. When you are above tree line you are extremely exposed and the tallest thing on that mountain, therefore, thunderstorms are dangerous above treeline.
In the summertime we recommend opting for a sunrise elopement as the thunderstorms usually roll in every afternoon and you certainly do not want to be caught in a thunderstorm above treeline. However, you can certainly opt for a sunset elopement in the summer with the caveat that we may have to change locations if the weather does not permit us in your elopement location. Sunrise and sunset also depend on a few things like the location you choose, if you're a morning person or not, and if you have family/friends joining you. We can help you make the best choice for your day!
Every elopement is different, which means every elopement video is different as well. Typically a video's length will depend on a few factors. The largest factor is how long the ceremonies/vows are. I love including as much of the ceremony as possible, and if the vows and ceremony are short and sweet, I can typically fit the entire ceremony into the final video as well as any other coverage we captured on the day and the video may end up around 3-7 minutes. If the vows are long or if there are additional speakers, often I will need to cut down what gets included in the video in order to keep it under 10 minutes.
As a videographer, I love including couple's vows in my videos. Whenever possible, I try to include the entirety of what the couples say to each other during their vow exchange. That being said, if the vows are not too long, I also try to also include as much of the ceremony as possible as well as any other activities from the day. However, we have had some ceremonies that were 30+ minutes long, in which case, I try to ask the couple what part of the ceremony is most important to them so that I can know what makes the most sense to cut as I try to fit the entire wedding day into around 10 minutes for their video.
It totally depends on which package you book and the scope and scale of your elopement. I guarantee 30-50 edited images per hour of photographing.
We have a saying in Colorado that goes, "if you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes." The weather can move out as quickly as it moves in here. We usually have a backup location and timeline to account for any "bad" weather. But usually, if we wait it out it'll pass. For severe or extreme weather that poses safety risks, we'll assess the situation and look at all of our options, even switching days if that is a possibility for both parties. We have never had to do this *knock on wood* but we have certainly had our fair share of location changes due to weather!
Of course! You know your family dynamic better than anyone, so that is totally up to you! One thing that we've seen that is really helpful is bringing along a family member or friend so they can stay with your kids when it's time to do portraits of just the two of you.
Yes! Your fur friends are welcome to join in on the wedding adventure! There are a few companies in Colorado that specialize in tagging along with you for your elopement just to hold your dogs when needed. Or you can have a family member or friend tag along for this part, too. This is especially helpful during the ceremony if you're adding video.
We recommend shoes that you feel comfortable in. If you are hiking at all, even if it's just a little bit, we recommend hiking boots with wool socks or hiking sandals. You can always bring a change of shoes along for the ceremony if you want! We are firm believers in comfort over everything. You'll also want to make sure that you have adequate time to break in your shoes if you are buying new ones for your elopement because blisters are no fun!
Totally up to you! You can certainly pack your wedding attire in or on your backpack and change when we get to your elopement location. Or you can wear your wedding attire for the hike! Whatever you are most comfortable doing.
This will vary depending on the season you are eloping in but this is a good baseline to start with. I would absolutely recommend a medium sized backpack for each of you. Plenty of water, snacks, extra socks, hat, a coat that you are excited to be photographed in, gloves, any hair/makeup supplies (if you're using) for touch-ups, a blanket for sitting, any elopement accessories like an elopement sign for your backpacks, and your bouquet(s) and/or boutonniere(s). You can read a more in-depth blog post about what to pack here.
Most couples include something during their elopement, whether that a short, easy hike or an activity like rock climbing or backpacking. You certainly do not have to plan any activities, but if you have booked a longer package, I recommend having an activity like getting ready coverage, a hike, or another activity that resonates with you. You can see a list of ideas here!
When a couple books with us, we'll send them a questionnaire that helps us to get the know them better. At the end of that questionnaire there is a location questionnaire that will help us put together a handful of locations that we think would be perfect for you. We'll send that your way so you can pick the perfect spot for your elopement!
On average I would say that 6-9 months in advance is pretty typical to book your elopement photographer and videographer. We do offer a full calendar year in advance for booking, though! We have also booked, planned, and photographed an elopement in five weeks so there really isn't a fast and hard rule. However, it is never too early to book your vendors for your elopement!
We booked Bailee far in advance before the wedding and let me tell you, she was ON IT. She sent us reminders, suggestions, and even video-called with us when we had questions. She was extremely organized, all while being so genuinely kind. We could tell she truly found passion in her work. Fast forward to the wedding day…Bailee met us at our location and took initiative right away. She guided us to the most perfect spots, gave us space to truly enjoy one and another, and did it all with so much ease. Bailee has an eye for detail and knew exactly when and where to capture photos that provided the best backgrounds and lighting. Her time-management was spectacular. Our wedding/elopement photos are telling of that.
Bailee was the piece that held our entire trip/elopement together. We would’ve been lost without her. We found a friend in her and would absolutely recommend her (and already have) to anyone that is getting married. She is the sweetest soul and we are blessed that she was such an integral part of our favorite day.
- Sarah & Sydney
Bailee and Jake photographed and video'd our Maroon Bells elopement and the results left me speechless!! They are both such wonderful people who made us feel so comfortable, it really felt like we had all been friends for years. Our ceremony was a bit more of a micro-wedding, they were both so sweet and patient with everyone and made sure we got pictures with each and every person there. After our ceremony it was just the 4 of us, our adventure involved an hour, maybe a bit longer of a steep hike, but don’t be alarmed, they go at your pace! I had to take a few breaks and they did not mind at all! They are also very well prepared which I loved because with all the pre-elopement chaos going on, I forgot to pack my hiking shoes and snacks but luckily Bailee kept a spare pair in her car along with snacks and water! I should also mention my husband and I are from California and had the crazy idea of eloping in Colorado, we are not familiar with the state what-so-ever! We trusted Bailee with the post ceremony location and it was absolutely breathtaking!
- Karina & William
If I could give 10 stars I would. From the very first consultation, Bailee impressed me. She was authentic and thoughtful about her approach, careful and detailed with the planning, and a true professional throughout. Our special day was perfection with the guidance of the Alpine Vows team. These two were so much fun, helpful, and just genuinely good people. Meeting them in person felt like catching up with old friends, and we were amazed at how truly comfortable they made us feel throughout the whole day. The final product knocked us off our feet. The moments Bailee captured, and the video footage Jake captured still has us in tears and we will be forever grateful. For anyone planning a CO elopement, 10/10 recommend Alpine Vows."
- Amy + Jarek
As a wedding photographer myself, it was important to find someone that had everything! I cannot say enough good things about this team. Bailee's communication from day one left me completely at ease, every step was clearly laid out, every instruction every date everything was typed out clear for me to understand. On the day of the wedding she and her husband gave clear guidance on poses & what to do that made us feel comfortable! I felt like we were able to show so much more love on camera because they cheered us on the entire session. We had our 5 month old and they treated him like their own, kept him warm when it was cold and even held him during couples shots. We got sneak peeks within 24 hours and our video and pictures were delivered before the promised date. I CRIED watching the video. Literally the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I cannot say enough good things about them individually and as a team. I would hire them 100 times over!"
-Kristina + Dre
I contacted Alpine Vows less than three months before my anticipated elopement, not knowing what to expect with such short notice. The guidance and friendship I received from both Bailee and Jake surpassed anything I could have imagined from initial Internet strangers. They truly cared about tailoring our elopement to our preferences and listened to what was most important to us in terms of activities and how we wanted to remember the day. As a result, we have stunning photographs and video that captures special moments like our first look, to small details like the berries on our cake. Having Bailee to talk through each step of the planning process with felt like checking in with an old friend who could not be more excited for you. As proof, I was initially upset the weather was gray and overcast but hearing her call it "moody" and "beautiful" really changed my outlook on the day. I am so happy we went with Alpine Vows and that I can look back on my wedding day and say I wouldn't change a thing!"
-Lesley + Frank
If you are looking for someone up for any type of adventure, Bailee is the right photographer for you. She photographed our backpacking elopement and the photos she took were amazing! We loved every single photo and are having the hardest time choosing which ones to share because we love them all so much!! From the beginning Bailee was very responsive and checked in with us periodically. She never forgot about us and always made sure we felt important throughout the process. Bailee is not only an incredible photographer but a caring and supportive human. When we chose to elope we knew photos and video were on the top of our list. Choosing Bailee for photos was one of the best decisions for our wedding. Thank you so much Bailee!!
-Kaylyn + Holden