Jon and Kyra – Crested Butte Elopement

So we all know that mountain weather in Colorado can be a bit unpredictable. Certain times of the year vary more than others, but in my experience, late summer is typically not too bad. Welp, mother nature wished to humble me this day.

It was the eve of Jon and Kyra’s elopement…and it had been raining and freezing cold all day. In late August, I hadn’t experienced this before. Not consistent rain for days on end in the mountains. “Don’t fret,” I tried to tell myself, “Tomorrow will be better.”

Tomorrow then arrived and the weather was, in fact, not better.

I can shoot in essentially any weather condition: rain, hail, sleet, feet of snow, active blizzards, insane wind and freezing temperatures. But I knew that my clients weren’t planning for a cold and rainy wedding day in the dead of summer. And so, I did what I could: I used the power of intention.

I sat in my little meditation bubble and visualized, not the rain dissipating, but I visualized us getting to the end of the elopement, looking at one another and saying “Oh my gosh, it didn’t freaking rain!” I allowed myself to drop into the emotions I knew would come along with this scene I was picturing: relief, joy, and almost shock.

And I kid you not, as I began to journal this visualization to bring it even more into reality, the clouds began to part and the sun came out.

I became absolutely elated. This was not even an hour before we were supposed to meet. As soon as I entered their Airbnb, I met eyes with Kyra and we both had faces of pure shock. She was elated. She told me how she typically is able to keep an optimistic mindset about things, but the weather was really making her feel negative. It wasn’t the way she initially pictured her wedding day. She told me that Jon was her optimistic rock in these moments, telling her he had a feeling it would clear up.

I found this to be so beautiful, an analogy for true soul partnership. A divine balance. When one of them felt negative and disappointed, the other provided positivity and light. This was the perfect beginning to what ended up being the most magical day.

And so, with this seemingly serendipitous energy fueling us, Kyra finished getting ready (while bumping the most iconic music might I add) and we had their first look at the house. We all hopped into their 4Runner and ventured out to the lake where they’d exchange their vows.

Now, I did mention there was some off-roading involved. I typically ride with my couples for elopements down mountain roads to avoid any communication issues and getting lost and also so I can take sick photos of them while we’re driving. I had driven the pass the day before (because it changes season to season and can get worse with lots of rainfall) and there were a few spots that were a little sketch, but I wasn’t too worried. Well, come to find out, this was apparently the most intense off-roading experience Jon had had thus far since living in Colorado….oops. No, but on a real note, he killed it with such ease, and we all made it safely to the lake.

We get to the lake and Kyra immediately proclaims that she must be barefoot so she could ground, which further confirmed that I have the coolest clients. They exchanged some of the most beautiful vows to one another, which I never take for granted what an honor it is for me to hear them. They shared two first dances with songs they surprised each other with (so dang cute, I KNOW!). A champagne toast was obviously in order, and they lingered around the lake (which we had entirely to ourselves btw) and Kyra waded into the freezing alpine water. I took some very mountain fairy bridals of Kyra and then it was time to head to our second lil spot.

We stopped at our second spot, where they signed their marriage license, sipped a little more champagne, and shared a little unity J (I’m allowed to talk about this on WordPress, right?). Dream J rotation: you and the love of your life in the mountains after signing your marriage license.

As our time together came to a close, I had one more activity for them. If a couple requests their day to be captured partially on film, I often will hand the camera to each of them for the last couple exposures to take a photo of their partner how they see them. I find this to be so sentimental to my couples, because while I can shoot from my perspective, there is nothing like the way the person you hold closest to you sees you. And it always ends up being a fun time, having them pose one another and just watching them get creative with it.

And after the film roll was completed, as we were walking back to the car, I stopped dead in my tracks and said, “Guys, it didn’t rain. The entire time.” We all looked around at one another like we’d just witnessed a miracle, because well, we did (picture that Spiderman meme). And what joy I could feel amongst all of us by just how perfect the day ended up being.

We drove back to where my car was parked, and I gave Kyra a little peek at my viewfinder to see some of the moments captured from the day. Arriving back at my car, I gave them hugs and expressed my gratitude once more for allowing me and trusting me to be part of this next chapter in their lives. It is truly something that never gets old and fulfill me in a way that I don’t think any other profession ever will.

As I arrived back to my own Airbnb for the night, importing the photos so I could begin editing their previews, the rain returned. I opened my window and embraced the rain, knowing that it was all a lesson in trust and faith. That’s the thing about my job, with each story comes a lesson. There is so much to learn from love when you center it in your life.

And so, with the giddiness of the day still grasping my soul and the gratitude that extended through my whole being for the art I just created, I fell asleep to the sounds of the rain. Which, by the way, didn’t stop up until I left to go back home.

More from this day:

• To see a more detailed “Day in The Life of an Elopement Photographer” from this day, check this TikTok out!
• Check out the full film gallery here!