I can't believe I met Makiah and Nash FOUR years ago when they booked me for a "just because" couple's photo session. They were just dating back then (not even engaged yet!) and we hiked up to Nymph Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park for fall photos. Fast forward a couple of years. Nash proposed to Makiah at their first home and they set out to plan a perfect wedding day in the fall. They originally booked an evening wedding reservation in October with Rocky Mountain National Park for Sprague Lake to be shared with their immediate family. And then the pandemic hit. They decided to switch gears and book a VRBO in the Colorado Springs area for family and elope at Garden of the Gods. Unfortunately those plans had to also change and Makiah emailed me for advice and guidance in their situation.
I knew they'd be happiest getting married in RMNP with their original plan, but they also wanted to host a celebration dinner at their home east of Fort Collins so we settled on the idea of doing a sunrise elopement ceremony allowing them to enjoy the day and evening festivities with their families!
October 12 arrived windy and cold. I was bracing for a gray morning of overcast clouds but we arrived to Sprague just before sunrise to a perfectly clear sky and stars. We shivered and chose the perfect location on Sprague Lake for their nuptials and Makiah walked down the "aisle" towards Nash to share vows and a first kiss as husband and wife.
Don't let the warmth of these two love birds fool you. It was 30 degrees and 40 mph wind gusts! They were absolute troopers though and we explored around the lake before they shared hot cocoa (and met the cutest little wedding crasher!) and signed their license.
I drove home that day with a heart full of joy. Witnessing these two finally say I DO was truly an honor. And here are a few of my favorite images to tell their elopement story.
