I believe anyone can be your family.

Sophia and Johana (Jo) brought their chosen family out to Colorado with them for a small wedding at Loveland Pass. It was such a special day, but I got to have even MORE fun with these two at their adventure session afterward. They really wanted grungy photos in downtown Denver – say less, besties, say less.

A couple does a first look before their small wedding at Loveland Pass.

A couple shares their first kiss at their small wedding at Loveland Pass.

At their small wedding at Loveland Pass, a couple shares a first dance.

The Details

  • Jo and Sophia rented an Airbnb condo in Breckenridge, and it provided enough room for them to get ready separately. We did a first look outside the condo, which meant we could all share a car on the way up to Loveland Pass. It made our lives 100x easier.
  • These two got married at the beginning of June. The pass is up at 12,000 feet of elevation, so there was still snow. They were super excited about, especially being from California! Having a small wedding at Loveland Pass is really popular because it can accommodate up to 75 people without a permit.
  • Sometimes with self-solemnization it can feel weird to end your own ceremony, but Sophia and Jo made a great decision to conclude with a first dance. It flowed super well, so future couples, take notes!
  • After the ceremony, we went to a beautiful meadow off of Dillon Reservoir for a picnic. I wanted to make sure they had some time alone to soak in the moment and take in the beauty of Colorado. This was also the perfect time for them to read letters they had written each other.
  • Then they smoked a bowl to cap off their alone time before heading back to the Airbnb to meet up with their family. They had a cake and dinner set up for an intimate celebration with the people that mean the most to them.
  • I met up with Jo and Sophia later that week for their adventure session! We went to an alley in Denver and got some super cool photos of them in more casual clothes. They wore their wedding shoes, which I thought was a super cute touch.
A couple gets ready before their small wedding at Loveland Pass.

A couple shares an intimate moment after their small wedding at Loveland Pass.

Must Knows

  • Breckenridge is about an hour and a half from downtown Denver, and it’s about a 30-minute drive from Breck to Loveland Pass.
  • Even in the summer, there will be snow up in the mountains! Please trust me when I tell you this. That means you should be prepared and pack the right shoes and layers for the snow.
  • Small weddings at Loveland Pass don’t require a permit as long as your group is smaller than 75 people and you don’t have other vendors (photographers don’t count). If you want to have vendors or a larger group (which I don’t recommend), you’ll need a permit from the Forest Service. The best way to reach them is to call 970-295-6600.
  • Whenever I’m out with my couples in nature, we ALWAYS respect the grounds. It’s so important to stay on the path/trail so you’re not trampling over vegetation.
  • My adventure sessions don’t have to be adventurous. I should probably rename them, LMAO. It’s basically just an additional photo session you and bae can choose to add while you’re out in Colorado! I do have a wedding package that includes an adventure session, but it can be added to any package you choose.

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