A Hiking Elopement in the Rocky Mountains for Courtney & Dalton

Courtney & Dalton met, and had their first date, on the same day! It was an instant connection and led to a proposal on a hike in northern Minnesota. This couple loves to hike and so they wanted to wed someplace where they could make their way to some epic photo shots. The Rocky Mountains checked off all the boxes for their elopement vision. Courtney & Dalton traveled around Colorado for a week before arriving at Sprague Lake. They wed on a wood dock with snow-covered mountain peaks behind them. Our favorite part of this wedding, other than how beautiful these two look together, is the bride’s shoes! Read more to find out how a snowstorm nearly derailed their plans but Simply Eloped was there to make everything right again! 

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

Courtney: We met on a dating website. We had our first date the day we started talking and have been together ever since. We both felt an immediate connection to one another. It felt like we had known each other forever. 

How did you accept the proposal?

Courtney: He proposed to me while on a hike in Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. We picked a ring out together, but I did not know when the proposal would be. It turns out he was telling me the ring was not ready yet, but he actually had the ring in his desk for weeks. After we got to the end of our hike, he asked a couple to take our picture. He asked for one more picture, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. The couple taking our pictures ended up in tears of joy, and we were congratulated by hikers making their way up, while we were making our way down. 

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

Courtney: We eloped in Rocky Mountain National Park. We saw the pictures on the Simply Eloped website of all the locations around Rocky Mountain National Park and were immediately drawn to the mountain views.

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

Courtney: We chose Sprague Lake due to the scenic background and the ability to hike to multiple locations for photos. We both enjoy hiking and wanted that to be a part of our wedding day. Our favorite part of eloping was saying our vows on the dock. It felt like we were the only two people in the world. As we had our first kiss, we could hear cheering across the lake.

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

Courtney: It’s a gorgeous venue with phenomenal views of the mountains. There are many opportunities for a variety of different photos. 

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

Courtney: We traveled on the plane with the wedding dress, which was stressful, but the airline was accommodating to our situation. We traveled throughout Colorado the days prior to the wedding, so we were carefully carrying the dress from hotel to hotel. My hair and makeup were done at a hotel prior to the ceremony. We both felt excited to finally be married. We were both nervous because it was a big step for both of us. We were both put at ease knowing it was the right thing for us after wanting to be married for so long. 

 How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Courtney: We couldn’t have asked for a better experience with Simply Eloped. We originally scheduled our wedding for a few days prior to our actual wedding date. Unfortunately, Colorado experienced an unexpected snowstorm that left over a foot of snow. Simply Eloped was very understanding of our desire to have the scenery and hiking a big part of our wedding. All the vendors we worked with were very understanding and were able to switch everything with ease. They made the process efficient and things went down on the actual wedding date without any issues! 

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Courtney: We hiked around with our photographer for a few hours to record our happiness of that day. Afterward, we had dinner at the Stanley Hotel and enjoyed the rest of the night together.

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

Courtney: There is no better feeling than experiencing that moment with just the two of you. It wasn’t the easiest decision due to the break from tradition. However, we wanted the day to be about the vows we were making with one another. We weren’t as concerned with the party atmosphere that normal weddings have. We have zero regrets about going the path we went down.

Officiation by: Kevin Cooper
Photography by: Shanna Fisher
Hair & Makeup by: Kim Angel
Flowers by: Enchanted Florist
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Rocky Mountain National Park, Sprague Lake, 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 Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.