Elk Meadow Elopement Photography in Colorado
Melissa & Matt’s Elopement | Evergreen, Colorado Elopements | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
I am very excited to share not only the beautiful pictures from Melissa & Matt’s Colorado elopement, but also the guest blog from our dear friend and officiant, Carya:
“It was in the freezer aisle of Costco…
…snacking on yet another sample, that Melissa non-chalantly said to me, “Hey, I have a random question. Are you ordained in Colorado?” As it turns out, I am! And as we waited in line to check out, she told me of their plans to elope.
Melissa and Matt had been engaged for 5 years. And every time they sat down to start to plan a wedding, stress and anxiety quickly followed. Both born and raised in Colorado in big families, they knew that if they had a traditional wedding, it would be a dauntingly big affair. So a few months ago, they decided that what would honor them best is to go up into the mountains, just the two of them (and their sweet pup, Country), and tie the knot in the simplest way! Once they knew what they truly wanted, they spoke with their close family and friends to inform them of their plans.
I had only officiated one wedding before, and I absolutely loved it! As a yoga teacher, it felt very natural to mindfully guide a couple through such a special ceremony. So, of course, I was thrilled to be asked to preside over their wedding and for one of my best friends to ask me to be such an integral part of her big day! She has been there for me through so much, I was so grateful to be able to return the favor!
When I first asked Melissa if she had plans for photos, she said, “I just figured we would have you take a few shots after.” Thinking that would just not do, I knew just who to call! You never know when Heather is going to be in Colorado, maybe she will be around! If not, she will surely know someone! Melissa, Heather and I all worked together in Arvada and had become good friends, so when I told Heather that Melissa and Matt were eloping, she jumped into action. Because Heather is a legit Wonder Woman, on top of all the other work she does, she mentors other photographers who are just starting out. And since she would not be in Denver, she secured her mentee Carly, who happened to be free on a Tuesday evening around sunset with less than a week’s notice.
With photos in place, my focus turned to flowers. Every bride has to have flowers, no matter how small the wedding! I have done freelance wedding flowers for many years and I wanted to make a beautiful bouquet for Melissa. I had recently heard of an urban farmer growing beautiful flowers on her little farm in Arvada, CO. Since I follow Gina on Instagram, I reached out to her and she invited us out to her farm to pick flowers for Melissa’s bouquet. The day before the wedding, we met Gina early in the morning in her beautiful fields. She guided us through, naming all the flowers and then gave us clippers and a bucket and told us to take our pick!
As we walked up and down the rows of blooms, Melissa would stop and marvel at the beauty a specific flower. She fell in love with radiant dahlias and happy sunflowers and picked white lavender and sage to give her bouquet a beautiful aroma. Later, as I made the bouquet, I remembered how she chose each flower with such love and care. It was a beautiful experience and made her bouquet that much more special!
When the wedding day arrived, we met at Melissa’s mom’s house. Melissa got ready with her mom and sister while Matt and Country hung out in the back yard. Her sister placed a few flowers in her hair while her mom placed precious family jewelry around her neck. She joined Matt and Country in the back yard for their first look, sharing a sweet moment, however fleeting due to Country’s bounding excitement. Then we all shared a champagne toast with her family before climbing into Matt’s pickup and heading up to the mountains.
A few days prior, Melissa and Matt had traveled up to Evergreen, CO to look for the perfect spot for the ceremony. They chose Elk Meadow Open Space and found a small patch of trees, not far off the trail, with lichen covered rocks and a beautiful view of the meadow as a backdrop.
The ceremony was short and simple, with a heartfelt message to their families and a beautiful poem that the couple chose. Little Country was overcome with emotion and cried throughout the ceremony. A sweet mix of Melissa and Matt’s favorite love songs played softly as they professed their love to each other. A few tears were shed and before you know it, they were married!!!
While a champagne toast is great and all, this elopement was about being true to who Matt and Melissa are, and though they have their moments of poise and class, they are also country bumpkins at heart. So we busted out some Montucky ColdSnacks for them to toast this next chapter in their lives.
With daylight waning, they walked through the meadow hand in hand, enjoying the peace they created for themselves through this intimate setting. We gathered up our few things, and Country and I crawled into the backseat of the pickup, where he promptly fell asleep (all that crying is tiring!). Melissa summed up the day perfectly as she tapped Matt on the arm and exclaimed, “Holy crap, Babe, we’re married!”
Writing by: Carya Haas
Enjoy the photos from Mel & Matt’s elopement:
Photography: Associate shot by Carly for Apollo Fields
Florals: SheGrows
CO Elopement Location: Elk Meadow, Evergreen
In Home Engagement Session Ideas for Lifestyle Photography
Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Photography | Sloans Lake, Denver Colorado | In Home Session | Apollo Photo
In home engagement sessions are definitely some of my favorite to shoot! As much as I love the dramatic landscapes and nature sessions, there is something so intimate about being invited into a couple's home that they have created together and really seeing the inner workings of their daily lives and love.
It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera. It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day. Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too! As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions. I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day.
Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards. To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.
Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing. Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them. Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session.
I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell. This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair. Working in such a new space is exciting because it really is a blank canvas, which is one of the big draws that the venue boasts. They let their couples bring in their own vendors, and they get a full 24 hours to party as late as they want and not worry about cleanup that same night.
Since moving from New York City, I rarely get to photograph in urban settings anymore! I do prefer rural country weddings, but it will be a fun chance to get back into a city environment for their wedding. I do love the neighborhood that Skylight is nestled into: Denver's Sante Fe Art District, with loud pops of colorful graffiti, funky coffee shops, and busy streets.
Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Session | Colorado Wedding Photographer | In-Home Engagement Photography
I love shooting in home engagement sessions because they are intimate, personal, and always tell such a great story about the couple. When couples such as Kerry and Patrick welcome us into their home, we get to see the space that they have created as their own.
As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions. I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day. It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera. It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day. Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too!
Most couples are engaged for around a year, and these photos are a sweet momento from that time in their lives which seems to go so quickly in the midst of all of the wedding planning, booking vendors, guest lists, timelines, and all of the other fun – but sometimes stressful – parts about planning the ceremony and party exactly the way you want it.
Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing. Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them. Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session.
Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards. To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.
I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell. This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair. Stay tuned for pictures of their wedding in just a few weeks!