inquire here

SHARE THIS POST:

Intimate Fall Elopement in Telluride, Colorado | Katie + Nick

Colorado Elopement

January 16, 2025

This past fall I had the wonderful opportunity of documenting Katie and Nick’s deeply personal, and beautiful fall elopement in Telluride, Colorado. These two put so much thought and care into every part of their elopement experience. From the inclusion of their family members, to the gorgeous setting of the San Juan Mountains that we found ourselves in, everything was perfect. It was an unforgettable celebration, and I’m thrilled that I get to relive it here on the blog today!

A wedding sign that resembles a national park sign sitting on the ground next to an extra large bouquet with orange blue and white flowers.

Kind Words from Katie:

“Rose was a true delight to work with for our intimate wedding in Colorado!! My husband and I are also photographers, so it was so nice to be able to work with someone who truly understood what we valued in terms of our photography coverage. We are absolutely thrilled with the photos; the dramatic landscapes but also the very small moments that truly take us right back to the wedding day!!

Our family also raved about Rose, and really enjoyed having her. It was only our immediate family, so having someone who really matched the energy was just perfect. Rose was such a perfect fit into our day, and she really had a calming presence which was just wonderful! We are so excited to have these beautiful photos hanging on our walls and taking us back to the best day ever for years to come.”

Colorado micro-wedding flat lay with leather vow books with a mountain on the cover. The rings sit in a green velvet box, their wedding invitation and the brides turquoise wedding earrings.
Colorado micro-wedding flat lay with leather vow books with a mountain on the cover. The brides film camera and rings are also included in the flat lay.

Getting Ready and Their Intimate Wedding Ceremony

As Katie mentioned in her review, both she and her husband Nick are photographers themselves, which made working with them throughout their elopement SO much fun. Their experience behind the lens lead to some really creative moments later on that we’ll get to, but it also allowed them to slow down and really be intentional in their preparations for their elopement. In the comfort of their incredible Airbnb, Katie and Nick were able to relax and enjoy themselves as they got ready with their loved ones. This sweet start to their day felt so intimate and personal, a beautiful beginning to what would become the best day ever.

A grooms wedding details sitting on a rustic chair in a Colorado cabin. The groom will be wearing a pocket square boutonnière with orange and peach and blue flowers.
A wedding dress with spaghetti straps and draping sleeves is hanging on a birch tree outside of a cabin in Colorado.
The sun rises over the mountains in Telluride Colorado the morning of K+N's wedding day.
A bride writes her vows in a vow book the morning of her micro-wedding in a Colorado cabin.
A groom writes his vows the morning of his wedding in a cabin in Colorado.
Mother of the bride thank you card for a wedding day.
A bride gets ready for her wedding day, her mom uses a crochet hook to button up her wedding dress.
A bride looks out the window while showing off her turquoise wedding earrings before her Colorado micro-wedding.
A bride gets ready for her wedding day with her mother in their Colorado cabin.

After both Katie and Nick were ready, careful to avoid seeing one another as they got ready, they chose to have a first look prior to their ceremony. With the gorgeous mountainous landscape of Telluride and the San Juan Mountains around them, Katie and Nick finally saw one another for the first time on their elopement day. The joy, the fall colors, it all just felt SO right in this moment.

A groom stands waiting for his bride in a field on a beautiful sunny day in Colorado.
A bride peeks out of the door of her cabin in Telluride before going out to see her husband for the first time on their wedding day.
A bride and groom share a first look in a field in the fall of Colorado.
A bride and groom share a first look in a field in the fall of Colorado.

Their intimate ceremony followed soon after, and was wonderfully officiated by Katie’s brother. With their loved ones there to support them, Katie and Nick officially became newlyweds, though they’d share their vows privately with one another later. We then took some family portraits surrounded by the beauty of the San Juan Mountains, before heading back into the Airbnb for some fun with the fam, and the signing of their marriage license.

Wedding guests walk out of an a-frame log cabin to attend a micro-wedding in a field in Telluride Colorado.
An officiant stands in a light blue suit waiting for the Micro-wedding to start.
A groom shakes hands with his family member that is also officiating his wedding ceremony. They're getting married in a field outside of their Airbnb. They're getting married surrounded by trees and with a backdrop of mountains.
A bride walks out of her log cabin in Telluride on beautiful bright sunny day. She walks with her mother to her micro-wedding ceremony in a field in Telluride.
A bride walks with her mother to her wedding ceremony in a field outside of their log cabin in Telluride Colorado.
A groom stands waiting for his bride with he and his wife's officiant. In the background you can see the mountains of Telluride Colorado.
the mother of the bride gives her daughter away to the groom during their wedding ceremony overlooking the mountains of Telluride.
The mother of the bride stands in a light blue dress covered in flowers holding the brides wedding bouquet.
A bride and groom hold hands during their midday wedding ceremony in Telluride Colorado. They're surrounded by trees that have changed to yellow from the fall.
A bride and groom hold hands during their midday wedding ceremony in Telluride Colorado. They're surrounded by trees that have changed to yellow from the fall.
A black and white image of a bride and groom holding hands during their midday wedding ceremony in Telluride Colorado.
A groom stands holding his soon to be wife's wedding ring during their wedding ceremony outside on a sunny fall day in Telluride Colorado.
A bride stands holding her husbands wedding ring during their outdoor wedding ceremony outside of their cabin in Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom kiss surrounded by their family members after kissing to seal their marriage ceremony in a field in Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom smile at their family members after kissing to seal their marriage ceremony in a field in Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom walk away from their family and kiss after their wedding ceremony surrounded by fall colored birch trees in Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom tear up during the brides brothers wedding toast in a cabin in Telluride Colorado after their intimate wedding.
A bride and groom tear up during the brides brothers wedding toast in a cabin in Telluride Colorado after their intimate wedding.

Elopement Portraits in Telluride

After spending some time enjoying the company of their families, it was time for the rest of the day’s festivities to get underway. We started off with some more newlywed portraits outside of the Airbnb, before venturing off to one of my FAVORITE private spots near Telluride for Katie and Nick to share the vows of their elopement. The jaw dropping landscapes of the San Juan Mountains were all the more spectacular thanks to the fall colors, the perfect setting for this emotional moment. 

A bride and groom stand together smiling after their wedding ceremony in a field overlooking the mountains in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a white dress with draping sleeves, and holds a fall inspired wedding bouquet. She also is wearing turquoise earrings. Her husband is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom kiss after their wedding ceremony in a field overlooking the mountains in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a white dress with draping sleeves, and holds a fall inspired wedding bouquet. She also is wearing turquoise earrings. Her husband is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie. They're holding a summit style sign that says their names and "welcome to our adventure."
A bride and groom stand together smiling after their wedding ceremony in a field overlooking the mountains in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a white dress with draping sleeves, and holds a fall inspired wedding bouquet. She also is wearing turquoise earrings. Her husband is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom stand together smiling after their wedding ceremony in a field overlooking the mountains in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a white dress with draping sleeves, and holds a fall inspired wedding bouquet. She also is wearing turquoise earrings. Her husband is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom kiss after their wedding ceremony in a field overlooking the mountains in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a white dress with draping sleeves, and holds a fall inspired wedding bouquet. She also is wearing turquoise earrings. Her husband is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom stand together smiling after their wedding ceremony in a field overlooking the mountains in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a white dress with draping sleeves, and holds a fall inspired wedding bouquet. She also is wearing turquoise earrings. Her husband is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride holds her fall inspired wedding bouquet designed by Growing Wild floristry. She added a memorial pin to the bouquet's ribbon.
A bride and groom spend a moment together wrapped up in the brides veil in a field in Telluride Colorado.
A bride with turquoise earrings stands smiling and holding a wildflower inspired wedding bouquet with pink, orange, blue, green and peach. The bouquet was made by Colorado wedding florist, Growing Wild.
A bride wearing turquoise stone earrings and smiles at her husband after their Telluride micro-wedding ceremony.
A bride with turquoise earrings stands smiling and holding a wildflower inspired wedding bouquet with pink, orange, blue, green and peach. The bouquet was made by Colorado wedding florist, Growing Wild.
A wildflower inspired wedding bouquet with pink, orange, blue, green and peach. The bouquet was made by Colorado wedding florist, Growing Wild.
A bride and groom stand together after their micro-wedding ceremony in front of a log cabin in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a dress with spaghetti straps and draping sleeves. She's also holding a bouquet made up of flowers in fall colors. The groom wears black with a floral patterned tie.
A bride and groom stand together after their micro-wedding ceremony in front of a log cabin in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a dress with spaghetti straps and draping sleeves. She's also holding a bouquet made up of flowers in fall colors. The groom wears black with a floral patterned tie.
A bride and groom walk in an valley overlooking the mountains of Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom walk in a valley in Telluride Colorado. The bride is carrying her wedding bouquet filled with fall colors made by Colorado wedding Florist Growing Wild.
A bride and groom kiss on a hillside overlooking the mountains of Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom kiss on a hillside overlooking the mountains of Telluride Colorado.
Leaf appliqué on a brides dress layers over the yellow leaves on the ground.
A bride and groom share vows on their wedding day on a mountain in Telluride Colorado. The bride holds her bouquet made by Growing Wild Colorado. The groom is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom share vows on their wedding day on a mountain in Telluride Colorado. The bride holds her bouquet made by Growing Wild Colorado. The groom is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom share vows on their wedding day on a mountain in Telluride Colorado. The bride holds her bouquet made by Growing Wild Colorado. The groom is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom share vows on their wedding day on a mountain in Telluride Colorado. The bride holds her bouquet made by Growing Wild Colorado. The groom is wearing a navy blue suit with a floral tie.
A bride and groom hold one another, and kiss, behind them you can see the mountains and valleys of Telluride Colorado.
A bride and groom hold one another, they are in the foreground of the photo and the mountains in Telluride Colorado behind them are in focus.
A bride and groom share vows during their micro-wedding in Telluride Colorado. The bride wears a dress that has off the shoulder sleeves and a veil. The groom holds her bouquet.

The next step in our journey was a bit of frolicking through the aspen trees that surrounded us. This is where Katie and Nick’s expertise as fellow photographers really came into play. It made the experience even more enjoyable as they’d point out different spots or ideas for shots that they wanted. They were both SO much fun to work with, and even more fun to document as they enjoyed this fantastic moment in their love story together. 

A bride and groom stand holding hands looking into the sun surrounded by trees colored yellow by fall on a mountain in Telluride.
A black and white image of a groom and bride holding hands and walking along a trail on a mountain in Telluride Colorado
A photographer documents a bride and groom kissing, shooting from between two trees on a mountain in Colorado.
A bride and groom run down the middle of a rode surrounded by bright yellow trees on their elopement day in Telluride. The groom is wearing a black suit and brown shoes and the bride is wearing white Timberland boots with her wedding dress.
A bride and groom stand surrounded by birch trees that have turned yellow with the change of seasons on a mountainside in Colorado.
A bride and groom kiss in the middle of the street during the fall in colorado.

Towards the end of the day we took the gondola up to the San Sophia Overlook, just in time to catch sunset and experience the alpenglow. After a breathtaking scene such as this, the only thing left to do was take a few portraits in downtown Telluride before joining back up with their families to celebrate their elopement!

A bride and groom stand near a telluride chairlift during the fall in Colorado. The bride is holding an extra large bouquet with orange and peach flowers with a light orange ribbon for their fall elopement in Colorado.
A bride and groom hold one another while watching the sun set over a mountain in Telluride Colorado. The bride is wearing a loose bun and a dress with spaghetti straps loose draping sleeves.
The sun setting over a mountain in Telluride Colorado.
A bride wearing Timberland shoes and a spaghetti strapped wedding dress with draping off the shoulder sleeves holds her husbands arm as they take in the sunset in on a mountain during the fall in Telluride Colorado
A bride wearing Timberland shoes and a spaghetti strapped wedding dress with draping off the shoulder sleeves walks away from the camera holding hands with her husband in on a mountain during the fall in Telluride Colorado
A bride wearing Timberland shoes and a spaghetti strapped wedding dress with draping off the shoulder sleeves walks away from the camera holding hands with her husband in on a mountain during the fall in Telluride Colorado
A bride wearing Timberland shoes and a spaghetti strapped wedding dress with draping off the shoulder sleeves kisses her husband in on a mountain during the fall in Telluride Colorado
A bride wearing Timberland shoes and a spaghetti strapped wedding dress with draping off the shoulder sleeves runs with her husband in downtown Telluride while the sun sets in the background.
A bride wearing Timberland shoes and a spaghetti strapped wedding dress with draping off the shoulder sleeves kisses her husband in downtown Telluride while the sun sets in the background.

Documenting Katie and Nick’s elopement and intimate wedding ceremony in Telluride this past fall was a literal dream. Love these two and the one of a kind experience they created! Check out my blog for more elopement inspiration, and if you’re looking to have me document your day be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page!

The sun setting over Telluride Colorado in the fall.

Vendors

HMUA: Moxie Loft

Florals: Growing Wild

Makeup: Haley Skye Makeup

Dress: Marie Margot Couture

Custom Suit: Indochino

Videography: Wandering Wildflower Films

Bridal Shop: Something New Boutique

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ELOPEMENTS

ADVENTURE ELOPEMENTS

COLORADO ELOPEMENTS

ENGAGEMENTS

TERMS + CONDITIONS | 
2026 Copyright matlai photography