Ethereal Blue Lakes Elopement in Breckenridge, CO

Rhianna + Shawn’s elopement had rain, fog, and surprise sunshine in true Colorado fashion. What started as a dreary, overcast day turned into an amazing alpen-glow sunset and dreamy moments of sun shining through the clouds. They had an intentional structure to their day by starting at an Airbnb in Breckenridge and ending at Blue Lakes for secluded vows and to soak in the mountain views.

The Vision: Notes From the Couple

When they first reached out to me about their elopement, they had yet to decide on the location. They knew that they wanted it to be in Colorado, and they were looking for an unforgettable experience in the mountains.

Being a true Colorado native, my head was instantly swimming with ideas. After chatting through some different options, we settled on Breckenridge and Blue Lakes because of the proximity to the Denver airport, abundance of accommodation options, and easily accessible adventures for their family to do with them.

When I asked them what vibe they were envisioning for their day and their photos, they said “ethereal/dreamy ambiance! Like the pictures could be out of a fairytale book.” The combination of the unique weather, intimate moments with family, and unmatched views made this vision become a reality. The final photos really do feel like scenes from a storybook and I’m so glad that we were able to nail exactly what they wanted their day to feel like.

I love asking couples about their love story as we’re getting to know one another so that I can serve them in the best way possible. I was immediately inspired by their commitment and steadfast relationship when they shared a bit of their story with me:

“Shawn and I grew up in the same small town in rural-ish Illinois. We were in the same grade growing up, so we’ve known each other as long as we can remember! We were in the same French class all throughout high school, which is where we were able to connect for the first time. After slowly integrating into each others’ friend groups, we started dating right before graduating high school in 2015. Now -almost ten years later -we are getting married! Shawn proposed in September 2023 at our favorite pumpkin patch (fall is our favorite season 🙂 ). With being together since high school, we’ve watched each other grow into the people we were destined to be.”

Getting Ready- Airbnb in Breckenridge, CO

When I met the couple and their families at their getting ready location, I was immediately taken by how welcoming, warm, and thoughtful everyone was. I felt like a part of their family and I’m so grateful for how they greeted me with open arms. The mood was calm and relaxed as the bride got ready with her mom and mother-in-law in a Western-inspired suite. I had a lot of fun playing around with the accents of the Airbnb for detail photos, trying to emulate the rustic yet elevated feel of the place.

Meanwhile, the groom was getting ready down on the lower level. He wrote a letter to the bride, took a celebratory shot of whiskey with his brother, and soaked in the last moments by the fireplace before everything began.

The bride had an emotional first look with her dad and we got everyone ready for the couple’s first look moment outside. It was raining pretty heavily the entire morning, but the couple was not phased and kept remarking about how beautiful it was making everything look.

First Look and Pictures in the Forest

The staircase leading into the Airbnb served as the perfect aisle for Rhianna to walk down for the first look. Their families stood and watched with teary eyes as everything unfolded and misty rain fell down on them. After giving them a moment to soak it all in, we wandered around a forested area for a few photos of the two of them.

We took cover inside as the rain picked up and they had a few minutes to cuddle up beside the fireplace. Everyone took a quiet moment before we packed up to head over to the vow location.

Emotional Vows at Blue Lakes

Everyone was stunned as we pulled up to Blue Lakes and soaked in the views. The fog had settled low between the rocky cliffs and the sun had started to peek out, making everything glow. After taking a few family photos on the edge of the lower lake, the couple and I headed off to look for the perfect spot for their vows.

Knowing that we would get plenty of photos with the grand mountains and lake later, the couple decided that they wanted a vow spot with a private feel, so we settled into the perfect little mossy forest nook. I put on my zoom lens and stayed far enough away that I didn’t intrude on their moment. I could tell the time and intention that they had put into writing their vows because they were both wiping each other’s tears by the end.

Exploring, Waterfalls, and View Chasing

They signed their marriage license on the edge of the lake while watching the fog move around in circles. Their families met up with us and we all began exploring around, with the final goal being the cascading waterfalls at the other end of the lake. These moments after vows are some of the most fun at every elopement because the pressure is off and everyone is able to relax and have fun with the rest of the day. We laughed, told stories, and shook the trees to see the raindrops fall off in the glittery sunlight.

The last moments of the day were spent watching the waterfalls, alpen-glow sunset, and foggy lake surface in awe. It was a perfectly calm, serene, and memorable night.

35mm Film Elopement Photos

There is something so unique and nostalgic about seeing your elopement day captured on film. This couple had me shoot a few rolls throughout the day along with their digital images for more variety in the final gallery, and the film shots did not disappoint. I love how they capture the vibrant colors, the moody landscape, and the beautifully intricate textures.

Kind Words From the Couple

Seeing the review from this sweet couple was the icing on the cake of being included in their memorable day. I feel so lucky to work with clients like this!

“Jordan is an artist with such a kind and beautiful soul! As midwestern natives, Jordan helped us to find our dream elopement location and made our marriage nothing short of a fairytale. Our day with Jordan was full of laughs, big emotions, and happy tears – it really wouldn’t be the same without her. She turned our visions not just into reality, but ethereal moments in time we have the joy of looking back on forever. Jordan fuels her craft with an insurmountable amount of passion, love, and creativity; for that reason, I truly cannot recommend her enough! She has an incredible talent for finding the beauty in everything – big, small, and everything in between. Whenever we venture to Colorado again, Jordan will be the first to know!”

The most heartfelt thank you to Rhianna, Shawn, and your families for making this such an unforgettable and special day. It was an honor to have captured it and to preserve these memories for you forever!