Breckenridge Sunrise Micro Wedding

This micro wedding was featured on Wandering Weddings.

Originally, Madelyn & Sterling were going to fly out to Colorado from Tennessee and elope by themselves. A week and a half out, they texted me, “Hey… it feels weird that we’re going to get married without family. Would it be okay if our parents and sisters came?” Yes! Obviously! The more the merrier!

Hoosier Pass is completely free to elope at, but you must have a grand total of 9 folks or fewer (including your photographer and officiant). Since it’s a hiking trail close to the trailhead of Quandary Peak, a popular fourteener, you will probably have some company. It’s a quick one mile up the trailhead to the best views, but you’re at 12,000 feet, so be mindful of altitude acclimation and any health conditions.

We started our day at 3:30 am at their AirBnB. We all got ready together and then headed up the road to Hoosier Pass. Some of them hiked up in their wedding outfits and some got ready at the ceremony site (I do have a pop-up changing tent that I bring in instances like these). Madelyn & Sterling chose to get ready together the whole way, and it made for a wonderful community feel. We made it to the ceremony site exactly at 6am, just as the skies lit up in alpenglow pinks and purples that slowly gave way to brilliant oranges.

Madelyn & Sterling did their ceremony with a few heartfelt words from their moms and Madelyn’s twin sister, then kissed and poured celebratory bourbon shots in custom shot glasses. Champagne flowed into glasses and every one was laughing with tears in their eyes. After family photos, their parents and sisters headed back down the mountain to the AirBnB while Madelyn & Sterling and I did their couples photos. It was truly the most magical, heart-filling experience I’ve had for some time. I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it!

Photographed with 35mm and medium format film.