I’m asked a lot what the difference between an elopement and an intimate wedding is. We know I hate society’s “rules,” so it can honestly be whatever you want. Typically an elopement is just you and bae, while an intimate wedding has about 10-20 additional people celebrating with you. Lexi and Forest fell in love with the Colorado scenery but couldn’t imagine getting married without their closest friends and family, so they decided to have an intimate wedding in Boulder.
Their Boulder intimate wedding had three different venues. That may sound hectic AF, but because everything was so close together and accessible, the entire day was a dream. They had rooms and got ready at Hotel Boulderado, said “I do” at the Sunrise Amphitheater, and then partied at the Rembrandt. If you want to be up in the mountains but also want to have tons of restaurants and shops nearby, Boulder is the perfect spot.
The Details
- Hotel Boulderado – Centrally located in downtown Boulder, this super vintage hotel is serving alllll the 1920s vibes you could want. It still has original lighting and even an elevator from back in the day. There’s so much potential here for some unique, badass pictures, not like the cookie cutter shit you’ll find on Pinterest. The staff are also 10/10.
- Rembrandt – Right across the street from the hotel, which makes is super convenient (and safe) to get back to the hotel after a night of dancing and drinking.
- Sunrise Amphitheater – This is a popular spot for weddings and elopements. It has built in seating and is only about 15 minutes from downtown Boulder. It’s also super accessible – drive right up and you’re there!
Must Knows
- Couples need to rent out the amphitheater, which costs about $300. Compared to other spots in Colorado this is really affordable, so it’s a great choice if you’re ballin on a budget.
- The only thing I don’t love about Sunrise Amphitheater is the sun can also be challenging, so if you’re getting married here make sure your photographer knows how to shoot in difficult lighting.
- If you want to get married inside, Hotel Boulderado is a great venue to consider! They’ll help you customize the perfect package for you and your boo.
- If you need a reception space and have interest in the Rembrandt, get your shit together quick. They’re already booking into 2023.
I need these ‘20s vibes too.
"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."
