Planning a Colorado elopement starts with a great timeline. We really do mean it when we say there are no rules – which can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. If you can do anything at all, how are you supposed to decide WHAT to do & when?! That’s why we’re sharing the ultimate Colorado elopement timeline guide, with 4 real examples.
You’re engaged & now it’s time to plan your Colorado mountain elopement! One of the most frequent questions we get is: “what should we do with our time?” The answer to that is that it’s totally up to you! Talk about decision paralysis, right? Overwhelmingly, when the possibilities are endless, it can feel incredibly daunting to narrow it down to what you actually want. Sunrise or sunset? Summer or winter? Or maybe fall? Hiking or snowshoeing? And on and on and on.
A successful Colorado elopement, at the end of the day, really just requires you to A. be married & B. have the time of your life. A great timeline helps achieve both of those.
Obviously, as you’re thinking about your elopement timeline, it goes further than just deciding how you’d like to spend your day. Additionally, you’ll need to consider things like drive time (especially when off-roading or driving through a mountain town), enough wiggle room (everything takes a little longer than you think it will), and that the sunset time in the mountains is very different from the sunset time listed on Google.
What do we mean “the sunset time isn’t the actual sunset time?”
If you’re from an area without mountains, this can be a hard thing to remember! It was absolutely a shift for us when we first moved here. But, it’s simply this: we’ll lose the light behind the mountains earlier than the listed sunset time on any of your apps.
If you’ll end your portrait time on a mountain top (think: on top of Hoosier Pass or Loveland Pass) you’ll have more time than if you’ll plan to end your portraits tucked down lower with towering mountains surrounding you (like at Montgomery Reservoir or Officers Gulch); if you’re planning an elopement closer to the Front Range, the timing will be different yet! A local pro can help you identify example when you’ll lose the light based on the location you’ll be in!
As an experienced local Breckenridge photo & video team, we’re here to help ya out. Here are four real example Colorado elopement timelines to think about, just to get ya started in your elopement planning journey.
1. Relaxed Ceremony & Dinner at the Lodge (4 hours)
You can see more from Maggie & Chris’ beautiful Del Norte wedding day here!
3:45pm | photographer arrives for prep (detail shots, getting dressed, etc)
4:30pm | bride’s first look with son
4:45pm | leave for ceremony! *allow extra drive time*
5:10ish | ceremony start time
5:30pm | ceremony end + family portraits
5:50pm | all guests back to Base Camp Lodge
5:50pm | couples portraits at ceremony location
6:15pm | back to Base Camp for dinner!
6:25 pm | dinner starts!
7:20pm | dancing
7:45pm | photographer done
2. Portraits & Private Vows (2 hours)
Take a look at the gallery from Jmè & Mark’s real elopement day!
4:00pm | meet at mountain meadow location
4:15pm | couple helps each other get dressed; simple prep shots by vehicles!
4:30pm | portraits in the meadow!
5:00pm | short & sweet private vows by the creek
5:15pm | additional portraits & first dance
6:15 – end!
3. Intimate Ceremony with Family + Private Vows & Full Day of Portraits (8 hours)
12pm | photo & video arrive at Airbnb for details (think flatlays, dress hanging, etc) & prep!
12:45pm | bride in dress!
1pm | first look at house
1:30 | leave for ceremony location (40 minute drive to gate + additional 20 minute drive back to the spot from there)
2:30 | arrive & get prepped for ceremony
2:45 – 3:15 | ceremony!
3:15 | sign marriage license & family portraits
3:45 | end family portraits & they head back to Airbnb
4 – 6pm | couples portraits! private vows & plan for picnic/beers cheers/whatever during this time!
4-4:45 | additional locations in the area on our way to second location
5:15 | arrive at second location
by 6pm | head back to Airbnb
6:15pm | apps served; some mingling!
7pm | speeches & main course served
7:45 | quickie sunset session outside, pending its looking pretty!
8pm | photo & video done!
More of Christina & Colter’s gorgeous Summit County full day elopement can be seen here!
4. First Look with Family + Private Vows (6 hours)
Take a look at Audrey & Tomo’s gorgeous elopement day!
11:45pm | photographer arrives at bride’s prep room; HMU, detail photos, getting dressed!
12:15pm | go to groom’s room for prep; shots with pup!
by 2:00pm | HMU wraps up & bride into dress
2:30pm | leave for ceremony *allows for some extra drive time, just in case*
3:00pm | arrive to first look & ceremony location!
3:10pm | first look & private vows!
3:40 | meet w/ family for portraits, marriage license signing, & champagne!
3:30-4:45pm | couples portraits at the ceremony location; head to second location
5pm | additional couples portraits at second location
5:45pm | photographer done; couple & family to dinner
Keep in mind – things like driving distance, traffic, weather, exact mountain location, etc will vary greatly and can change the details of your own day. Luckily, If you’d still like extra help, you can add our customized planning package onto any elopement photo and/or video collection! Kick up your feet and let us do the hard part. We’re pretty good at it.
Documenting the best day of your life – so far. We’re Dave & Shanna, Breckenridge’s wedding & elopement photography & videography team. We want to work with you! Contact us today to learn more.
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