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Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement | Jenna and Ben | Dream Lake and 3m Curve

Jenna and Ben | Estes Park Elopement | Dream Lake and 3M Curve

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Savannah Chandler Photography | Colorado Elopement Photographer

Estes Park is one of my favorite location in the state. It’s tucked back in some of the most stunning mountains across Colorado. One of the biggest perks of Estes is Rocky Mountain National Park. The park provides easy access to trailheads with roads that approach 12,000 feet in elevation.

One of my favorite, and easiest, hikes in the park is Dream Lake. It’s only 2.2 miles round trip, and the payoff is AH-MAZING. Once you turn the corner on the last stretch up to the lake, Hallet peak begins to boom behind the lush greens of the trees and the dark teals of the lake. One might akin Dream Lake to a Bob Ross painting.

Jenna and Ben decided to have their pre-wedding portraits up at Dream Lake for just that reason – that the scenery looks like that of a Bob Ross painting. They have a personal connection to the thought of “Happy little trees”, and watched a Bob Ross marathon together when they first began dating.

On the day of their elopement, Jenna and Ben headed up the trail with their closest family members in tow. Even the baby joined us on the hike up to Dream Lake. We spent a little time getting ready and taking photos with Hallet peak in the background. The weather was amazing, and we were graced with some clouds that made for an incredibly epic background.

For their ceremony, Jenna and Ben had reserved 3M curve. *Side note – you must elope and say your vows at a designated site within Rocky Mountain National Park. The park only reserves a certain amount of permits per day – I highly recommend reserving your permit earlier rather than later. We can always travel within the park to other locations for portraits, as we did here for Jenna and Ben’s Rocky Mountain National Park elopement. You can find a list of the designated elopement sites HERE*.

As the sun was setting and casting a lovely pink glow on Longs Peak in the background, Jenna and Ben said their vows to one another. During their ceremony, they turned to their loved ones and said something personal and special to each family member that was in attendance for their elopement.

In true elopement fashion, Jenna and Ben signed their marriage license in the dark, lit by cell phone lights, against their car.

Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your amazing celebration, Jenna and Ben. It was an amazing day!!

Cheers!

Second Photographer: Amanda Maughmer

Savannah Chandler Photography | Colorado Elopement Photographer | Based in Denver, Colorado

Photographing across the Rocky Mountain Region: Telluride |Aspen | Dillon | Keystone | Vail | Breckenridge | Winter Park | Granby | Grand Lake | Estes | Buena Vista | Ouray | Arapahoe Basin | Silverton | Silverthorne | Spanish Peaks