Lookout Mountain Intimate Elopement

Courtney and Mike’s love story is not your traditional love story. It was not love at first sight and it definitely did not start out like your typical romance. When I asked how they met, they both laughed and told me it was all very random and quite the story. Neither of them expected to be standing on top of Lookout Mountain on a late summer afternoon to join their lives together.

The Love Story

Courtney & Mike both went to the same high school. Casually passing each other in the halls, not really knowing that fate had other plans. Little did they know, fate was brewing up a bigger plan for them to proclaim their love to each other overlooking the views at Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado.

They had told me that Mike had always had an interest in Courtney, but she never wanted much to do with the dating scene. After high school, they each went their separate ways, creating future plans, continuing their education and working on their careers. Apparently, one day wither it be a grocery store, or at work, Courtney’s car wouldn’t start. It was at that time that Mike showed up to help her with her car. The two couldn’t believe the odds or that this was even happening. They disclosed the rest of the details after that moment and simply said, “the rest was history. We started dating for a while and eventually he proposed!”

Planning Their Elopement

Both Courtney and Mike decided that they wanted their wedding day to be an adventure. They wanted it to be a destination and they wanted to elope. The epic mountain views and endless opportunities for adventure made Colorado an easy decision for their intimate elopement. After they decided on their location, they reached out to me and shared all the details of their wedding day. I couldn’t have been more excited to celebrate the start of their new life with them and Lookout Mountain was the most PERFECT place to share their vows.

The Intimate Ceremony At Lookout Mountain

I met Courtney and Mike at Lookout Mountain on a late summer afternoon for their ceremony. We hiked down to the overlook which is a more remote location shaded by trees and overlooks the valley. The officiant met us here and we started their ceremony. They decide to play some soft background music off of a playlist Courtney had made for the Ceremony. The background music was such a beautiful touch, it made the couple feel comfortable because it was only the two of them. They decided to write their own vows in custom vow booklets. (I highly recommend getting vow booklets for your elopement or wedding. They are such a unique and beautiful element that helps tell the story of your day. Check out some of these vow booklets for inspiration.)

After sharing their vows and promising a lifetime of love and growth to each other, they exchanged rings. And at this time, the officiant pronounced them husband and wife and they shared the sweetest first kiss. After that is was nothing but smiles and laughter! Lots of cheers and lots of giggles. It was a moment of pure bliss!

Exploring Lookout Mountain

After the ceremony, we had time to explore more of the Lookout Mountain area! We had so much fun scrambling up and down the rocks near the edge of the cliff looking for better views. After enjoying the view from the cliff’s edge we made our way down the trail to a pine forest that surrounds a small field. Here they shared their first dance. It was such a sweet and intimate moment. Just because you decide to elope, does not mean you have to miss out on some traditional wedding traditions if you do not want to.

Once we had finished exploring the area, we made our way up the trail back towards the car where we caught the most amazing sunset. The look of pure joy on their faces was everything. They were so excited to witness a beautiful Colorado sunset as the sun dipped behind the overlook at Lookout Mountain.

Colorado Fires and Their Impact

At the time of Courtney and Mike’s elopement, most of the Colorado mountains were engulfed in flames. The summer of 2021 was a hard one for the Colorado mountains. There were over 330 different Colorado wildfires that covered over 42,000 acres of land. Most of the time the air was nothing but smoke and you went days without really seeing the sky. The smoke reach far beyond the origins of the fire and impacted many people in the foothills and the valleys. As much as I hate the destruction these fires caused, they did allow us create these magical images. The haze from the smoke and the fires created a STUNNING glow on the mountains, just see for your self!

Planning Your Own Lookout Mountain or Colorado Elopement

If you are interested in planning your own Lookout Mountain elopement or Colorado elopement check out this guide to help: Planning An Elopement: A Step-By-Step Guide On How to Elope

If you are ready to start planning your elopement or want more guidance, reach out! I would love to connect with you and create a unique and custom elopement experience anywhere in the world!