Snow-covered peaks were the perfect setting in Colorado for this Ouray winter elopement! | Brandon and Jonathan
Brandon and Jonathan planned a trip with their closest friends and family to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado where they chose to get married. I helped them plan a very cold, but very beautiful Ouray winter elopement!
Ouray is one of the best Colorado elopement locations in southwestern Colorado! And, it is incredible all year long! My personal favorite times of year to get married in Ouray would be summer and fall. That is when you get gorgeous wildflowers in the high alpine environments around July or golden aspen groves in late September to early October! However, winter is also absolutely stunning in Ouray. If you are planning a Colorado elopement in the winter, you just need to be prepared for the snow, cold, and fewer options for accessible locations. Winter wonderland elopements can definitely be worth the extra effort because they are truly magical! There are a few great locations accessible along the Million Dollar Highway that connects Ouray and Silverton.
If you are planning a winter elopement in Colorado, reach out now to Ouray elopement photographer, Mountain Marta Photography!
Getting Ready and Details
Brandon and Jonathan arrived at their elopement location off of Million Dollar Highway (Hwy 550) close to Ouray. It had just snowed the day before their elopement so Colorado was truly showing off for them with stunning snow-covered peaks and pine trees! It was a very cold day so they got ready with hand and toe warmers and snow boots.
Since it had just snowed, we needed to create a path through the deep snow for their guests to get to their ceremony spot. Luckily, I always have an emergency shovel in my car which helped us move some snow and pack it down. This is a great example of needing to be prepared for anything in the winter time! After getting all of their guests down to a beautiful spot, overlooking Mount Abrams, not too far off of the Ouray Perimeter Trail, near the Ouray Ice Park, it was time for their ceremony!
Ouray Winter Elopement Ceremony
All of Brandon and Jonathan’s guests were dressed in black, which looked so beautiful among all the white snow! Their officiant and maids of honor walked down the packed snow path “aisle” we made and then Brandon and Jonathan walked down the aisle together. Everyone was definitely freezing, but embracing the beautiful moment!
During their ceremony they shared the sweetest vows with one another and exchanged rings. While it was hard to tell if the runny noses were from tears or the freezing cold, it was certainly an emotional and beautiful elopement ceremony!
Pictures and Celebrations
After their I-do’s, we took some group photos and couple’s portraits. Even though I could not feel my fingers (in gloves), it was worth it to capture the amazing San Juan mountains covered in snow! Brandon and Jonathan were definitely troopers for dealing with such a cold day. They were so happy and in love, nothing could stop them on their best day!
We headed to another location for some more photos. When we made it to Crystal Lake, it started to snow more heavily. Brandon and Jonathan popped some champagne to celebrate getting married! We decided to make our way back closer to town since the snow obscured any mountain views at Crystal Lake. This was definitely the right call because we got the most stunning sunset!
Snowy Sunset Photos
I always say some cloudy weather makes for the most pretty sunsets, and that was definitely the case for Brandon and Jonathan! Southwestern Colorado is truly one of the most beautiful areas for your elopement day. If you want epic mountain views, Ouray is the place for your Colorado elopement!
Congratulations, Brandon and Jonathan!
Ouray Elopement FAQs
- What are the best spots to elope in Ouray?
This definitely depends on the season you are planning to elope! In the summer there are so many places that you can access with some off-roading. Some of these include Yankee Boy Basin, Governor Basin, and Crystal Lake. In the winter there are still some areas accesisble on the Ouray Perimeter Trail. You can also head towards Silverton and enjoy areas like Molas Pass!
- What are some things to do in Ouray?
I highly recommend hiking and off-roading in the summer and fall months! In the winter you can snowshoe or head to Telluride for some skiing! You can also soak in the hot springs! Ouray has a lot of great hot springs resorts to enjoy on your elopement trip!
- How far is Ouray from Denver?
Ouray is close to 6 hours away from Denver International Airport. If you want to fly into a closer airport, you might want to consider Montrose regional airport. Montrose is just under an hour from Ouray!
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