Lindsey & Brendan’s Crested Butte Elopement
Some Colorado elopement days are all about the adventure. Others bring the whole family together. Lindsey and Brendan did both. They booked my all-inclusive Colorado elopement package and my full vendor team, and they started at sunrise in the mountains above Crested Butte, then met up with family for a ceremony and a donkey-filled reception.
Donkeys at your wedding reception are hard to beat!
A Sunrise Adventure
We left town early and off-roaded up a mountain pass before the sun came up. Once it was light, we did getting-ready photos, a private first look, and a gift exchange on the pass. No crowd. No big production. Just the two of them soaking up the morning.
That’s the best part of building a Crested Butte elopement around a mountain adventure. You don’t rush into the ceremony. You get time to slow down together before the rest of the day gets rolling.
Private Vows at an Alpine Lake
Next we headed to an alpine lake outside Crested Butte. The town earns its title as Colorado’s Wildflower Capital, and the fields around the lake proved it. Lindsey and Brendan found a quiet spot in the wildflowers, read their handwritten vows, and exchanged rings with no audience.
Separating your private vows from your family ceremony is one of my favorite moves. You can be fully present, say whatever you want to say, and take your time. For Lindsey and Brendan, it made the morning about the two of them before bringing everyone together later.
Family Ceremony, Donkeys, and Sunset at Ten Peaks
That afternoon we met up at Ten Peaks Tent & Ceremony Site at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the family celebration. You don’t have to choose between an adventure and including the people you love. Lindsey and Brendan had already said their vows that morning, so the Ten Peaks ceremony became a celebration of their marriage with the people closest to them. Totally different energy from the quiet morning on the pass, and that’s exactly why the day worked.
And then came the donkeys! Why have an ordinary reception when you can throw donkeys into the mix? Your wedding doesn’t have to follow a checklist. If something sounds fun, meaningful, or a little ridiculous in the best way, there’s room for it. That’s what I love about elopements. You build the day around what feels like you, whether that’s a wildflower field, a family ceremony, or hanging out with donkeys.
We wrapped with sunset photos overlooking town. After a full day of mountain views, private vows, family, and donkeys, the peaks started to glow and everything slowed down. The perfect last chapter.
