Hiking Boots and Sunrise Vows for a Colorado Mountain Elopement
Lorin and Rachel’s elopement started as a joke: what if they got married on Earth, Wind and Fire Day? A few months later, they were hiking into Weller Lake before sunrise, changing into dresses on the rocks, and reading vows as the sun came up over Aspen, Colorado.
With their best friend officiating and Ayla Rae Elopements capturing it all, their day was full of personal details, peaceful moments, and a waterfall-side license signing. Here’s how it all came together.
What made you decide to elope instead of planning a traditional wedding?
We knew we wanted the day to be just about us. We’re both introverts and really value our time together. Planning a big wedding didn’t feel like something we’d enjoy. When we found out that Colorado allows self-solemnizing, we were sold. That gave us the freedom to make it completely our own. Then we came across Ayla Rae Elopements and instantly knew we had found our perfect match.
How did you choose your elopement location?
Rachel’s best friend lives in Colorado, so we had a personal connection to the state. We were looking for somewhere quiet, outdoors, and beautiful in the fall. Ayla helped us scout and ultimately suggested Weller Lake for the ceremony and the Grottos near Aspen for portraits and signing the marriage license. It was everything we wanted: peaceful, dramatic, and completely us.
What did the day itself look like?
We started really early, hiking into Weller Lake in the dark with our best friend Jennifer, who was also our officiant. Once we got there, we changed into our wedding dresses on the rocks and watched the sun rise over the mountains as we read our vows. After the ceremony, we had a breakfast picnic by the water and spent a quiet hour together. Then we headed to the Grottos to sign our marriage license beside a waterfall and enjoy the sunshine. It was calm, emotional, and honestly perfect.
Tell us about your outfits. Did you plan them together?
Yes, we picked our dresses out together from David’s Bridal. There were no surprises. Rachel wore a dress with bubble sleeves, a v-neck, and an open back, along with her grandmother’s earrings. Lorin wore a cowl-neck dress with long button detailing and a custom-made wedding headband. And because we were hiking, we both wore boots. Rachel’s bootlaces were her “something blue.” Lorin’s dress also had a last-minute rescue alteration by her grandmother after a tailoring mishap, which made it even more special.
How did you personalize the ceremony?
We included small details that meant a lot to us: embroidered handkerchiefs gifted by our families, handmade vow books, and a classic Disney storybook that held our rings. Jennifer wrote a beautiful speech that brought us both to tears, and reading our handwritten vows to each other in that setting was unforgettable. We’re also huge Disney fans, so we tied in subtle fairytale references throughout the day.
What was the process like for making it legally official?
We made an appointment with the Aspen county office about 30 days before the wedding and picked up our marriage certificate the day before. The staff there were so kind and congratulated us. Then we signed it ourselves the next morning at the Grottos after our ceremony.
Any advice for other couples thinking about eloping?
Eloping is incredibly personal, and that’s what made it perfect for us. It can be hard to explain to family why you want something more intimate, but it’s worth it if that’s what you need. Trust yourselves. We wouldn’t change a thing.
Photography by Ayla Rae Elopements
