We eloped in Colorado, but what do we do now?
One of the questions I get the most from my couples is what the heck they’re supposed to do once they’ve said “I do” & smooched? With traditional weddings, it’s pretty standard – the couple is whisked away to take photos, the family goes to a cocktail hour, the happy couple shows up to start the dinner, and then everyone hits the dance floor before heading home. But what should you do after an elopement or intimate wedding? The possibilities are endless and it’s totally up to you! Here are some of my fave ideas from previous couples.
- Camping trip – This can be such an awesome escape after the intimate wedding. A nice campfire is a great way to relax with your guests or alone with bae at an epic location while soaking up all that Colorado has to offer. I’ve even heard of some couples hiring a local band to sing around the campfire. Don’t you dare forget the s’mores. Check out these amazing camping spots.
- Hire a private chef – A lot of my intimate wedding couples rent an Airbnb and hire a private chef to cook afterward for their guests! Hiring a private chef is more affordable than you think and it’s a great experience for everyone involved to have an intimate, memorable dinner to celebrate. I have a personal partnership with a Private Chef that works with my couples – ask me about how to contact them!
- Take a vacation – Even though traveling right now is challenging, there are definitely ways for you and bae to take a trip while staying safe. Do your research online to find out what restrictions are in place wherever you want to go and then pack your bags! There’s something special about your first trip together as a married couple. There are so many places here in Colorado you could travel to without taking a plane! My favorite locations within in Colorado are:
- Buena Vista
- Gunnison
- Telluride
- Grand Junction
- Steamboat Springs
- Buena Vista
- Low-key night – I never want my couples to feel pressured to do anything that doesn’t fit their personality. So if you don’t want to do anything special, you don’t have to! Some couples choose just to head back to their hotel or Airbnb, soak up some alone time in a hot tub, play some games, and then cuddle up on the couch before passing out from their exciting day.
- Host a small party – A majority of my couples aren’t from Colorado, so once their intimate wedding is over we say our goodbyes and they hop on a flight back home. To celebrate their marriage with close friends and family who weren’t at their elopement, some choose to bring everyone together for a small party back at home! You can do something casual like pizza and beer or go fancier with a catered dinner and drinks – it’s totally up to you.
There are so many ways to celebrate after your intimate wedding or elopement and it’s always fun to see what my couples come up with.
Looking for more ideas on how to create the beautiful elopement you and bae deserve?
"Hiring McKenzie to photograph our wedding was single-handedly the best decision we made when planning our wedding. Wedding planning and vendor research was so stressful, and once we had Kenzie, she stepped in as support and helped us with narrowing down things that were important to us and to figure out what we really wanted. wish we could get married over and over again just to recreate these and work with Kenzie again! "
Nadia + Daniel
"You will not find another wedding photographer who has the McKenzie signature style- she can capture the absolute beauty of the area and people all at once. She can shoot in a variety of settings and lightings and the photos are all gorgeous. One of the main reasons we booked McKenzie was the fact that she showcases a diverse clientele and finds beauty in all beings- something not all photographers can say.As a plus size bride who was extremely worried about looking back at my wedding pictures with dread that I wouldn't look like those gorgeous girlies on Instagram- this meant so much to me. "
Sydnie + Nathan
"When we got engaged, we searched near and far for an elopement photographer - & we met with several different photographers but none felt right until we met McKenzie. My husband, my dog and I are avid hikers - we wanted a beautiful hike and view, but it was also very important that we could be our authentic selves and intimately celebrate our 10 years together in the way we wanted. I'll be honest, I was shy about wanting to elope (ya know, family opinions and such), but McKenzie made us feel so comfortable in our decision. She wholeheartedly welcomed us being.. us! We couldn't have asked for more."
