A Garden of the Gods Elopement in Colorado for Shannon & Drew

It’s amazing what Borat can accomplish, right? In this case, an impression is what introduced Shannon to Drew. But it was a proposal at the Cliffs of Dover in England that sealed this deal. (Side Note: Good job on the epic factor, Drew!) After they realized the costs were adding up on the traditional wedding, they tossed that plan and decided to elope. They landed on a Garden of the Gods elopement because of their unique look. Red Rock formations are not the usual thing in Colorado, but the landscape makes for epic wedding shots. Friends and family joined them as they exchanged vows on a perfect forever day. Read more to find out why they are grateful to Simply Eloped for making things so easy. (Also, for the fun description of a pretty rocking stag/doe the night before!)

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another? 

SF: We met through a mutual friend in college. My first impression of Drew was that he was a goofy guy. He walked into the room where I was debating answering a phone call from an acquaintance and he answered the call with his best Borat Impression. After the call, he handed the phone back and walked out of the room.

DH: We met through a mutual college friend. My first thoughts on Shannon were that she was shy and an overall nice person. I took her phone and did a Borat impression that she for sure laughed at even though she denies it. 

How did you propose or accept the proposal? 

SF: We were on vacation in London, specifically on the Cliffs of Dover, when he proposed. I went to take a selfie with him in the background and I searched for him in my camera screen and found him on one knee behind me with the box in his hands. There were lots of tears and an adamant yes. 

DH: We were in England on vacation by the white cliffs in Dover. It was our final day, and I could think of no better time to propose. The sun had been beating down us, so I was a puddle of sweat. When she went to get her phone to take a selfie I got down on one knee. Instant tears. Luckily, they were happy tears.

Where did you choose to elope and why did you choose that destination? 

SF: In the beginning, we were planning to go for a micro wedding, but the costs seriously started to outweigh the benefits of our marriage. So we nixed that idea and decided to keep it special for us with none of the hassles. Elopement was the best decision we made in regards to our union. We really considered multiple locations around Colorado, but we made our final decision on the Garden of the Gods because of the more unique outdoor backdrop it provided. The stereotype for getting married in Colorado is evergreens, mountain flowers, and snow. So the red rocks of the park were a nice break from the stereotype.

DH: Originally, we wanted a small ceremony in California because we hoped to keep things intimate and get married on the beach. However, with costs and COVID we decided to keep it local. We fell in love with Garden of the Gods after seeing the beauty of the area and the great experiences I had there as a kid. 

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

SF: You’ve got the beautiful red rocks of the park. You have the gorgeous view of Pikes Peak looming in the background. And it was super accessible for the few family and friends that we had with us. My favorite part of the elopement was the simplicity of the whole process. We just showed up at a meeting point, met our photographer, and got the short ceremony underway. Drew and I have always been a more low key couple, so the low key ceremony was perfect for us and the background made it feel as extravagant as the movies, without the headaches. 

DH: My favorite part about eloping at Garden of the Gods was watching her walk down towards me and seeing the life we would make together. Professing our love for one another only affirmed that we would spend the rest of our lives together. 

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there? 

SF: Garden of the Gods is in a busy city, but it’s like a different world when you’re in the park. The red rocks are so unique and really stand out from the surrounding mountains, including the majestic Pikes Peak. 

DH: What she said. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

SF: We rented an Airbnb that was close by and stayed there with a few friends. I got ready with my best friends in one part of the house and he was able to get ready in another part of the house with his best friends. Leading up to the ceremony, I was feeling really excited and anxious. And it really hit me when we pulled into the parking lot and saw our chosen spot in the morning light. 

DH: We had a great (long) night with our bridal party celebrating the night before. In hindsight, not the best idea. I got ready alone to clear my thoughts and focus on our day… also to get rid of my hangover. The moments leading up to our elopement were very nerve-racking and anxious for me. Seeing where we would be standing really just hit me like a sack of bricks, but in a good way.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

SF: Working with simply eloped was the smartest decision we could have made regarding our ceremony. They hooked us up with an amazing photographer, some amazing flowers and gave us helpful tips on important steps to take before the ceremony. It couldn’t have been made any easier. 

DH: Simply Eloped answered every question we had and made every accommodation for us. They were very easy to work with through the whole elopement. I am very grateful to them. 

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Shannon & Drew: We had a nice lunch with family and friends and then went back to our Airbnb with our friends and kept the celebration going. Then it was off to Mexico for our honeymoon. 

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping? 

Shannon & Drew: ,Do it! Everyone says “it’s your day” and there is no better way to make it truly your day then by cutting the fluff of traditional weddings and just celebrating with your partner in an intimate ceremony in an amazing venue.

Photography by: Danielle Tolson
Flowers by: Ruffly Rose
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Garden of the Gods, Colorado

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.