A 4th of July Weekend Elopement in Crested Butte with Gretchen + Cody
Crested Butte! 4th of July weekend! You would think a holiday weekend in one of the most popular Colorado towns would be … rough, but, not when you’ve got a local photographer that knows all of the secrets, the spots, and has the lowdown on how to actually avoid the tourists.
If you’re in the “sounds amazing but HOW do you actually elope in Crested Butte” phase, I’ve got a full guide breaking that down right here → How to Elope in Crested Butte.This day had everything. Privacy, dogs, food, family, sunrise, cake that I literally still cannot thinking about. Read on to see how Gretchen and Cody celebrated their wedding day with private vows in the morning and an intimate ceremony with family in the evening. And how we dodged the crowds on one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Gretchen and Cody wanted private vows without dissapearing toooo far into the wilderness. This is honestly the sweet spot in Crested Butte, and why I always recommend building your day around drive up or short walk locations like this (I break down my favorite spots in my Crested Butte Elopement Guide). They did a first look before sharing private vows with each other, we witnessed wildlife (and gave it space because, duh), and the morning was slow and intentional and everything an elopement should be.
Also because we had an early AF meet time, we had the lake all. to. ourselves. On a holiday weekend, it’s a gamble. TBH the day before Gretchen and Codys elopement it was full on rainy, foggy, Twilight weather. I was at our sunrise spot to scout the area and see what lighting was doing, just doing some double checking, and someone was literally parked ~illegally~ next to the lake. Major bummer vibe ruiner if you’re wanting to say your vows and there’s a 4Runner in the back of your photos. Thankfully they were not there the day of. But also, I would have knocked on their window and asked them to move because I have no chill when it comes to driving off roads and trails & making my couples day perfect.
After vows, we had breakfast and champagne by the river. We wandered the downtown streets of Crested Butte which were slowly starting to wake up with the holiday tourists. And then we split ways for our built in break. No marathon day here!
Later we met back up at their Airbnb. Gretchen got ready again with her mom. Immediate family only. Intimate ceremony. Homemade dinner around a long table while the sun set behind the mountains. The evening was intentional, cozy, and easy. Exactly the point :)
Why Local Knowledge Actually Matters
Quick PSA. The Airbnb host told them it was “about an hour” to Crested Butte.
It was not.
I’d driven the road before, and I knew better. So we planned the timeline accordingly and when the drive took almost two hours, no one panicked. No light was lost. No running around thinking, “oh nooooo”.
Colorado distances are fake. Airbnb hosts apparently want you to think their places are closer to popular towns than they actually are. Hire people who know better.
What Their Timeline Looked Like
5 AM: Gretchen, Cody, and Kimberly meet up at Alpine Lake
Get dressed on opposite sides of the car, first look alongside the water before reading vows to each other. We’ll take the morning slow and meander, getting photos and following the light as the sun rises over the mountain.
8 AM: Hop in cars and head down the road to a breakfast spot
With no plan in mind, I’ll give us a few options that you can decide on day of, so whatever feels right in the moment! We’ll have some champagne, toast, eat some breakfast, before heading into town.
10 AM: Head into town
Wander around town, grab some coffee and get some photos in quintessential Crested Butte
10:45 AM: Head to a vista overlook
Explore an overlook tucked up in the mountains. There will be lots of people to get through on the road up because of the holiday weekend but where we are going, there will be no one!
11:30 AM: Part ways
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5 PM: Meet back up at Airbnb
Photos of Gretchen getting ready, family mingle-ing, Winnie the pup doing her thing, before an intimate wedding ceremony while the sun sets behind the mountains. We’ll follow up the ceremony with family photos, dinner, drinks, marriage license signing, and cake! Lot’s of candid moments with family and relaxing, no pressure moments with loved ones.
9 PM: Kimberly departs
Thinking about your own Crested Butte elopement and want something private, flexible, and not exhausting? Start here → How to Elope in Crested Butte
And if you’re torn between wanting a private moment between yourselves, or including family, Crested Butte is weirdly perfect for doing both!
Let’s Build a Day That Actually Makes Sense For you
I spend an unreasonable amount of time driving dirt roads, chasing light, watching weather roll in, and mentally filing away places where you can say your vows without signing up for a four hour sufferfest.
My job is to help you figure out where to go, when to go, and how to make it all work, without this turning into a stressful logistics spiral. Timelines, permits, prep guides (yes, multiple), backup plans for when Colorado does its thing… handled. You show up, drink your coffee, get married, maybe eat cake out of a box. Ideal.
The point isn’t to make it perfect. It’s to make it make sense for you. And then document the hell out of it.
If you’re into that, we should probably talk.
Why Work With Me?
Because you want jaw dropping views without sweating through your wedding clothes
You care more about connection than perfection - you’re up for whatever Colorado weather throws your way because you’ve got your person
You want help from someone who’s actually been here a while (11 years of calling Colorado home and I swear I explore it more than the folks born here)
Cookie-cutter isn’t your thing and you want a day that actually feels like you
Planning stuff isn’t always fun BUT having someone walk you through timelines and permits and what shows not to wear on icy trails? Super helpful
Your dog is 100% your family and deserves a front row seat (obvs)
You want photos that look like art but feel like you two. Mid laugh, wind blown, in your element
So yeah, I help plan epic days, create stunning photos, and bring snacks. If that doesn’t sound like the perfect day, I don’t know what does.
