Winter Elopement in Vail Colorado | Shannon and Oliver

Shannon and Oliver’s casual laid back elopement walking around Vail was everything they hoped for their wedding day.  They wanted to keep their wedding day extremely casual and laid back while spending time exploring and enjoying everything that Vail has to offer.  We started off their day in the mountains and playing in the snow and ended the day exploring the main village before closing out their day by signing their marriage license in their hotel room.  Check out more details from their perfect elopement day below. 

Their Winter Elopement in Colorado

When planning a winter elopement in Vail Colorado, you want to make sure you’re prepared for the winter weather that comes with it.  Winter snow shoes, multiple layers and a hairstyle that can put up with the wind and snow that may come with the day are all small things you can do to prepare.  Shannon and Oliver went for comfort and fun when it came to dressing for their elopement portraits.  They dressed in their snow gear for their fun mountain snow portraits and I’m so obsessed with the way their portraits turned out.  

Elopement Portraits in Main Village, Vail

Knowing that their vision included some apres-ski vibes I knew we had to walk around Vail Village after their mountain portraits.  Apres-ski refers to the social, drinking and dining that comes immediately after a day of skiing in Colorado.  After coming down from the mountain we walked around the streets of Main Village and took some portraits at their various cafe tables throughout the village before heading in to change and head out to the Bad Kitty Lounge. 

Customizing Your Wedding Day to Feel Like You

One of Shannon and Oliver’s favorite things to do when they travel is to explore new bars so it only made sense to take their elopement portraits in a bar in Vail.  After walking around the Vail Village Shannon and Oliver changed into some casual but a touch more formal clothing and we headed to the Bad Kitty Lounge in Vail.  Their eccentric vibes and bright colors made for such a fun space to take their wedding portraits.  After we spent some time in the bars we went back to their room to sign their marriage license and celebrate.  Shannon and Oliver created a elopement day that felt like them and celebrated their marriage in a way that was truly unique and aligned with their vision. 

“I honestly can’t imagine working with any other photographer besides Katie!

We eloped and Katie was one of the only vendors we hired as we wanted to keep the day small and intimate feeling. She was so helpful in making sure our plans came together in just one month(!!) including sharing resources, location guides, and helping plan the flow of the day.

We felt so lucky to have her, not just because of the gorgeous pictures, but also because she brought such a fun, calming energy to our wedding day. She knew exactly when to step in and take the lead to direct us for the perfect shot, and also when to step back so that we could enjoy a moment for just the two of us.

I could not recommend Katie more to anyone looking for a talented, thoughtful, and genuinely kind photographer!” - Shannon & Oliver

Shannon and Oliver’s casual Vail elopement was everything they hoped for on their wedding day and I had so much fun documenting their beautiful Vail elopement.  Between their snowy morning in the mountains and their cozy afternoon in their hotel signing their marriage license, there was just so much to love about these two and the experience they created.  If you’re looking for ideas for your own elopement and want more inspiration be sure to check out the elopement section of my blog!  And if you’re ready to take the next steps in planning your own elopement be sure to reach out via my contact page and we can start planning!