Crested Butte Elopement Photographer

Small weddings + Elopements + Adventure sessions in Crested Butte, Colorado

Imagine Your Crested Butte elopement, told the way it actually felt.

If you’re dreaming of a day spent wandering wildflower meadows, overlooking sweeping vistas, and saying your vows in solitude at the base of rugged mountain peaks, a Telluride elopement is exactly what you’re looking for. Telluride is a tiny, picturesque mountain town nestled in a box canyon of the San Juans and has some of the most stunning scenery in the country.

Whether you want a day full of adventure driving or hiking up a bumpy mountain trail, or a day spent in a secluded cabin with a privately catered dinner, your Telluride elopement can be whatever you want to make it.

Let's Elope

Hey There!

I’m Katie Dawn, your Crested Butte elopement photographer

And I can’t wait to show you around one of my favorite towns in Colorado. Crested Butte is probably the most quaint town in Colorado- little cottages, hanging plants lining the streets, meadows of wildflowers, and little festivals held throughout the summer make for the cutest little mountain town nestled in a green valley with rolling hills of wildflowers. Not to mention, some of the most breathtaking wilderness in Colorado nestled among the Maroon Bells, Elk Mountains, and loads of off-roading trails to explore.

I was born and raised in Colorado, and have been visiting Crested Butte since I was a little kid- walking among the wildflowers, collecting mushrooms, and biking around town to the cute little shops and restaurants that line the street. I can’t wait to introduce you to somewhere I hold so closely to my heart.

Contact Me

I help plan elopements for couples who are chasing feeling over performance

I’m here for the couples who want wind in their hair, dirt on their hemlines, and photos that show you how it felt to elope with just the two of you in the wilderness.

I’m here for unconventional souls who want genuine, imperfect, and unforgettable memories.

I walk my couples through the planning process from start to finish to create a seamless elopement day. We’ll talk about the best, most secluded locations in Telluride to say your vows, the prettiest cabins to stay and get ready in, where you can eat and what activities you can do, and everything in between to make your say special and unique to you.

Let's plan

Step 1

We find your dream elopement location

This is the biggest part. I give all my couples a detailed location guide with photos and information to help you decide where you want to elope, whether it’s someplace close to town and easy to drive up to, or somewhere that’s more of a trek, we’ll find what fits you for your day. I specifically try to find my couples places that are not only stunning backdrops, but also somewhere they can be alone and truly feel like they’re someplace special that feels like their own for the day.

Step 2

We plan the Little details

After we’ve done the bulk of the work figuring out your backdrop, we can talk about the other parts that will make everything come together to make your day special. We’ll create a timeline that works with the best lighting for photos, I’ll recommend all my favorite vendors that will make your day feel like magic, and we’ll plan the activities you want to include that will really make the day feel like you. There’s tons to do in Crested Butte, we’ll find something that will make your day uniquely yours.

Step 3

You live your elopement day

The hard part’s done, you get to just enjoy your day and bask in the nature of Crested Butte with the love of your life, and I’ll be handling all the logistics. We’ll spend the day hiking, driving, adventuring however you feel, taking in the view, and taking things at a slow pace where you’ll actually remember your elopement day. I’ll be taking photos that already feel like memories, and you’ll leave with moments you can relive over and over again.

Let's get planning.

How to plan an elopement in Crested Butte

If you want a more in-depth guide to planning your Crested Butte elopement, check out my guide here

Pick a location:

Honestly, Crested Butte is a pretty small area comparatively to other mountain towns, and doesn’t have a ton of easy hiking trails, so locations are pretty limited, but what is available is stunning. There’s a few roads you can take to get out of town into the wilderness that have stunning views, so whether you’re looking for an alpine lake, mountain views, wildflower meadows, or golden aspen trees, you’ll find something in the wilderness here.

Pick up your license:

Colorado is one of the easiest states to get married in, which is why so many people elope here (also it’s beautiful, obvi). You can self solemnize, which means that all you have to do to get married in Crested Butte is pick up your marriage license from the county clerk’s office, sign it, and return it. No officiants, no witnesses, just you and your love and your signatures (plus your pet’s paw print if you’d like!).

Do something fun:

There’s so many fun opportunities in Crested Butte. I, personally, don’t photograph elopements that are less than 4 hours. I really believe elopements should be just as special as a big wedding, but instead of time spent on others, it’s spent on you. So do something fun! Once you’ve spent the day prepping and saying your vows, spend the rest of your time together doing something special to you- whether that’s floating in a canoe, going on a hike, biking on mount Crested Butte, having a picnic, hiring a private chef, or doing anything else you think might make your day extra special.

Best time of Year to elope in Crested Butte

Summer: Late June-August

Two words: Wildflower season. Summer elopements in Crested Butte are to die for. Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of the world and has a festival every year to celebrate the abundant blooms that dot the mountainsides. The best time to catch wildflowers is late June to July. The flowers will start to die off in August, but you might still be able to catch them earlier in the month. The weather can be pretty stormy this time of year, so be sure to pack umbrellas and be prepared for a downpour in the afternoons- you don’t get fields of flowers without a little (or a lot) of moisture, after all.

Fall: September-early October

Fall elopements in Crested Butte are some of my favorites. The great thing about Crested Butte is that it’s beautiful in the summer and equally as stunning in the fall due to all the aspens that cover the wilderness outside of town. The weather is usually more predictable in fall, with sunnier days in September. Crested Butte might be the best location to experience Colorado leaf changing in if you love those golden aspens. If you want to plan your day around leaf peeping, be sure to plan for the last week of September or the first week of October, as that’s usually the peak time for the leaves to turn yellow.

Winter: November-March

Winter has a lot less accessibility than summer and fall, but Crested Butte is a great location if you love to ski or snowboard and want a winter elopement. Most roads that are unpaved that lead outside town to scenic areas are closed, so you’ll have to plan your day a little closer to town, unless you have a snowmobile or snowshoes. Also, it will be COLD, so be sure to plan some of the day indoors and dress accordingly. If you want a bit of adventure and more accessibility, you can rent snowmobiles at Action Adventure Rentals .

Spring: April-early June

Can’t say I recommend spring at all, sorry! Spring in Colorado has really unpredictable weather, gray skies, muddy trails, and nothing is green until at least early-mid June. Most trails and roads that are unpaved are inaccessible until late June (sometimes even later if there’s a lot of snowfall). The ski runs close in March, usually, and the remaining snow is very slushy. I no longer photograph spring weddings in the mountains, and recommend my couples schedule for a different time of year.

Where to elope in Crested Butte

Crested Butte has tons of public land you can explore, and there’s so many beautiful hiking and off roading trails that lead deep into the mountains to secluded views and scenic meadows. I have a detailed location guide I send all my couples that goes over everywhere you can elope in Crested Butte. My full day elopement packages give my couples the chance to explore 2-3 different locations so you can really experience the wilderness around Crested Butte in all its glory.

These are a few of my favorite places to bring my couples:

Alpine Lakes
Lake Irwin
Paradise Divide
Crystal Mill/Schofield Pass
Gothic Road
Wildflower hikes
Cottonwood Pass

Venues in Crested Butte

If you have a group over 15, you’re verging into micro wedding territory now, and you’re going to have to rent a venue or VRBO of some kind to host your guests for your ceremony.

These are my personal favorite venues in the area:

Best accommodations in Crested Butte for your elopement

Having a beautiful space to get ready for your elopement day and to retire to after a long day of running around the mountains adds a little cherry on top of an already lovely experience. There are really beautiful luxury accommodations and unique spaces all over Crested Butte, but these are my personal favorites:

Crested Butte Elopement Packages

All my packages are meant for a day full of adventures, so they start at 4 hours and range to multi-day experiences. All packages include planning and location assistance as well as a full gallery of images. My packages are all inclusive, no hidden fees or additional travel costs. Get in touch to get a full pricing guide and to set up a free consult to talk about your dream elopement.