Logan and Nick’s intimate, relaxed micro wedding in Rocky Mountain National Park represented their relationship so well and made the absolute best use of the park’s off-season.
When Logan and Nick reached out to me, they already had a location and most of their plans set for their micro wedding – they just needed a photographer to capture their celebration. I helped them hammer out a timeline, including some additional locations to adventure to, and a few final details before their day.
Logan and Nick weren’t originally planning a micro wedding, but when some extenuating circumstances forced them to quickly change plans, they adapted flawlessly and pulled off a gorgeous event on a short timeline.
The couple chose the dock at Lily Lake, which is one of the smallest ceremony locations in Rocky Mountain National Park with a maximum capacity of only 10 guests. They also picked a date in January, Rocky’s off-season, and it ended up being a spectacular blue sky day with snow covering the mountains, trees, and frozen lake behind them.
Off-season elopements in Rocky Mountain National Park are so underrated – ceremony permits in the park are pretty competitive, and everyone fights for the weekends from June to September. But the park is gorgeous in the winter and allows for a way more private, stress-free micro wedding experience.
Logan and Nick were such a fun couple, and we had a great time all day as we adventured around the park and spent time with their closest friends and family. Their ceremony on the Lily Lake dock was super small and intimate, but still incorporated traditional elements like an officiant and their absolute closest loved ones looking on.
After the ceremony, we drove to a second location, and I got to learn about all of their adventures together that led them to choose Rocky Mountain National Park for their microwedding. Private moments that let me get to know the couples I photograph are such a special benefit of micro weddings.
Logan and Nick took some portraits on top of frozen, snow-covered Bear Lake, with Hallett Peak in the background. The wind was howling and kicking up snow, which was brutally chilly, but Logan and Nick were such troopers and having such a good time with each other – and the photos were totally worth it!
We headed back to the couple’s Airbnb in Estes Park, where they changed into comfier clothes and signed their marriage license. Logan baked and iced their wedding cake – which was such a personal (and impressive!) detail. I loved how they worked this midday break into their timeline to give them some private, decompress time that’s often missing in a traditional wedding.
Around sunset time, we headed back into Rocky Mountain National Park for a bit, where I got to flex my expertise on all the best spots for golden hour portraits in the park.
After the sun went down, Logan and Nick held a low-key cocktail hour at their Airbnb with their guests. This was such a unique detail that’s often not included in micro weddings – as a lot of micro weddings go straight from a ceremony to dinner in a restaurant.
Logan and Nick’s cocktail hour let them hang out with all their loved ones, and resulted in so many great social candid photos, group photos, and detail shots. They also cut the gorgeous cake that Logan made, and shared a cake pop.
After the cocktail hour, the group headed to dinner at Bird & Jim (the best restaurant in Estes Park). Logan and Nick’s entire day felt so romantic, relaxed, and focused on balancing sharing a special day with loved ones and enjoying Estes Park’s stunning nature together.
Bride DIYed hair/makeup and made their wedding cake
Looking for a wedding photographer in Colorado to capture your day? Get in touch with Sam at Maye.Be Take a Photo here.
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Jennie Swenson is a former micro wedding bride, and she now supports countless couples in planning their own intimate celebrations through her blog, featuring real micro wedding stories and a curated vendor directory. Her practical advice and firsthand experience make her a go-to resource for those seeking to create memorable and meaningful micro weddings.
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