Denver Botanic Garden Intimate Wedding + Private Vows in Crested Butte: A Two-Day Wedding
solarium vows with everyone, private vows in wildflowers, paddle boards at golden hour
How to Split Your Colorado Wedding
If you’ve ever tried to decide between a city wedding and a mountain elopement, Kristine + Alex are proof that you don’t have to pick just one. Their two day Colorado wedding blended everything they wanted: one day surrounded by loved ones at the Denver Botanic Gardens solarium, followed by a day tucked into the mountains outside of Crested Butte where they shared private vows at sunrise.
Day One: Intimate Greenhouse Ceremony at the Denver Botanic Gardens Woodland Mosaic
The first day of their celebration took place in mid August at the Denver Botanic Gardens Solarium (also called the Woodland Mosaic!), a lush, glass filled space that feels like a tropical dream dropped right in the middle of the city. Their closest loved ones gathered among lush trees and filtered sunlight while they exchanged vows, and shared a meal afterwards.
It was beautiful, intimate, and the best part? They didn’t have to worry about a backup plan incase of rain, squint into the sun, or shout over wind gusts. Just soft light, greenery, and a whole lotta love!
Day Two: Private Sunrise Vows + Sunset Paddle Boarding in Crested Butte
A few days later we met back up for sunrise in Crested Butte. They got dressed in the trailhead parking lot together while the sky turned pink over alpine meadows and wildflowers that were still clinging on for dear life to summer. After a short hike up a nearby hill, they shared a private moment and read vows to each other while the sun came up.
Later that evening we drove out to an alpine lake for golden hour portraits and paddle boarding. We dodged some rain, saw a rainbow, and ended the evening driving back into town as the sun cast golden light on the nearby mountain peaks.
If you’re planning a two day elopement or wedding in Colorado, this is a perfect example of how to mix family time and adventure. You can celebrate with your people one day, then escape into the mountains the next for something more personal and private.
Tips for Planning a Two Day Colorado Wedding or Elopement
Split your coverage between city and mountain locations. It gives you two totally different backdrops (and way more storytelling variety in your photos!)
Book weekday dates if you want more privacy, especially in mountain towns like Crested Butte
Stay flexible with weather as Colorado can flip from rain to sunshine in ten minutes, especially in the summer
Consider travel time since Denver to Crested Butte is about a 4 hour drive, so plan to stay overnight
If you’re torn between wanting an intimate wedding and an adventurous mountain elopement, the answer might just be both! Kristine and Alex’s two day celebration felt like the best of both worlds - elegant, down to earth, and completely true to them.
If the Crested Butte half of this is what you're after, here's everything you need to know about eloping in Crested Butte.
And if you want to do both halves (a ceremony with your people AND private vows somewhere wild), start with my full guide to the logistics → How to Elope in Colorado.
Want to see pricing and what's included? → Colorado elopement pricing
Hi, I'm Kimberly!
I'm a Colorado elopement photographer based in Denver, but I'm usually somewhere in the mountains with a camera and way too many things in my backpack "just in case."
I've been photographing elopements out here for 10 years and 100+ couples, and I eloped in Colorado too, so most of what I write about here comes from actually doing it.
You can learn more about me, or if you're planning your own elopement, start with my pricing & experience page.
More elopement & microwedding planning help:
A two part elopement day that started with vows at Lost Gulch Overlook in Boulder and ended with a hike to a still snowy Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.