Estes Park Airbnb Intimate Wedding

If you’re on the fence about renting an Airbnb for your Colorado intimate wedding, this is your sign to friggin DO IT! Kenzi and Eric came in from Minnesota and knew exactly what they wanted – a blend of family and alone time. Their support system is a huge priority in their life, so they couldn’t imagine getting married without them there. But, they also knew they wanted to prioritize alone time so they could be truly present in the moment.

These two found an Airbnb right outside of Estes Park, home of Rocky Mountain National Park, and we made their hybrid intimate wedding/elopement dreams come true. What I remember most from their day was how much they trusted me, which is so important when hiring a photographer. They trusted me when I asked to pull over on the side of the road, pop up some lawn chairs, and take pictures of them sharing a joint, which was something they were psyched to do. The result? They popped off on my Instagram and are obsessed with the pictures!

The Details

The Airbnb they found was secluded and private. We had the ceremony there which saved a ton of time since they didn’t need to move anyone around.
Kenzi and Eric decided to stay separate all morning and chose not to do a first look. First looks are NOT a “must do.” I’ve had a ton of couples not do them and they haven’t regretted a thing.
The day before their wedding, we went off on our own to take pictures in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Kenzi & Eric chose to add an adventure session to their package to take advantage of their time in Colorado.
Other intentional choices that made their day special were pizza for dinner (their fave thing to eat together) and sharing a first dance at the Airbnb.

Must Knows

Because they said “I do” at the Airbnb, they only needed to pay for a photo permit at RMNP, not a wedding permit. This is a smart choice if you’re trying to save some money boo!
Make sure the Airbnb you choose is event friendly. VRBO has an “events allowed” filter you can use when searching, but Airbnb doesn’t. The good news is there’s a lot of overlap between VRBO and Airbnb. If you find an epic spot on one platform, it’s likely on the other too.
Confirm with your host that your elopement plans are allowed. Some locations have strict rules, and it would suck major balls to show up only to find out vendors aren’t allowed on the property.
Share your vision with your photographer and trust them! I will always help my couples book the perfect spot for what they want.