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Breckenridge Hiking Elopement | Hailey and Josh | Quandary Peak Intimate Wedding

Hailey and Josh | Quandary Peak Intimate Wedding

Savannah Chandler Photography | Breckenridge Elopement Photographer

Hailey and Josh have a history with 14,000 foot mountain Quandary Peak. Roughly a year before their elopement, Josh proposed at the summit overlooking the Ten Mile mountain range. When they decided to have an intimate wedding, they knew that they wanted to get married on the mountain. As equally important as their elopement location was that their families could join and be a part of their wedding celebration. Instead of summiting, they decided to elope on the mountain, just off the main trail.

As the morning of their elopement came closer, the weather was looking rather rough for the weekend. Such is Colorado in shoulder season – volatile and unpredictable. Seeing that there wasn’t lightening or other life-threatening elements, we moved the elopement up by a few hours and headed up the trail in the rain.

We all began hiking up the Quandary Peak trail, on our way up the mountain just over a mile to the overlook that the two of them had picked out as their wedding spot. When we reached about the halfway point to our final destination, we talked to people coming off the mountain who had said that the weather was worse up ahead (and not snow at the 11,000′ line like we had hoped). Between this and a few family members being hit hard with the altitude, we decided to find a location right where we were for their elopement.

Sometimes, the universe has better plans for you than you ever thought imaginable. As Hailey and I walked around the general area, we found some converging trails that led us to a little nook hidden off the main trail. I can only describe the area we found as a Fairy Circle – an open forested circle enclosed by pine trees and a welcoming feeling. This is where they decided to elope.

As everyone got ready for the forest ceremony, the rain slowed to a trickle. Just before Hailey and Josh made their way down their “aisle”, the rain totally ceased. We had a stunning, rain free ceremony there at the base of Quandary Peak with all their loved ones taking part. Hailey and Josh had written out parts of the ceremony for everyone, including asking Josh’s children to stand up front with them and officially declare them married.

Hiking back down the trail, the rains began to pick up once again. The three of us knew that we wanted to take couple’s portraits, but trying to avoid the storm was what ultimately led us to the locations of downtown Breckenridge and Sapphire Point. It appeared on the radar that the moisture was coming from the Southwest, meaning if we headed to the East towards Keystone we might be able to avoid becoming further soaked. We were welcomed with no rain and stunning fall views once we made our way East by a few miles.

Congratulations again, Hailey and Josh! I had an absolute blast braving the elements with you and your families.

Cheers-

Savannah Chandler Photography | Breckenridge Elopement Photographer

Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide