Guanella Pass Sunrise Elopement
5:15 am first look, vows as the sky went pink, donuts after
Jadynn and Dakota are not about frills, fuss, or giant gatherings. They wanted something simple, something intimate, something that felt like them, And honestly, I think their wedding day delivered. Just them, the mountains, and a sunrise that made the morning feel like it came straight out of a dream.
Why Guanella Pass?
Jadynn fell in love with the colors and it felt like the perfect backdrop for some just the two of them magic. Backup plans at Loveland Pass were discussed because early June up Guanella Pass can be hit or miss as far as access with snow, but the stars aligned and Colorado delivered just like it always does.
The Morning
We met at 5:15 am. It was cold. Like, I cannot believe she did a first look without a jacket kind of cold. And the sun didn’t pop over the peaks until around 6:20 (typically for Guanella pass any time of year). But that gave us the longest window of stunning Colorado magic and the best elopement sunrise of 2025. We watched the clouds turn from pastel pinks to purples to deep blues and it felt like a never ending painting that just kept getting more and more vibrant. And then they read their vows to each other as the sun came up and we all felt that little burst of warmth as they made it official.
Afterwards
Post ceremony we headed down the mountains to eat some Parlor Donuts, a croissant style donut hybrid that tastes like heaven for your soul, all the way from Denver. We had fun laughing at the chipmunks that got way too close (the norm out here) and then hopped in the car and headed to the cute and kitschy Plume Coffee Bar, because what’s a Colorado elopement without carbs and caffeine?
The Vibe
Simple, intimate, joyful. Sunrise colors on snow dusted mountains that made everything glow and a day that was exactly what Jadynn and Dakota wanted: them, the mountains, and memories that will make them grin every time they think about them. No huge hikes, no fuss, just the two of them soaking all of Colorado, and all of each other, in.
Thinking about your own Colorado elopement and want something private, flexible, and not exhausting? Start here → How to elope in Colorado
Want to see pricing and what's included? → Colorado elopement pricing
“My husband, who HATES having his picture taken, had nothing but fabulous things to say and how for once he actually LIKED to have his pictures taken!”
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.