Storie & Taylor’s Stunning Sprague Lake Elopement in Colorado

Storie & Taylor clicked on their first date! Coffee led to new adventures in life together. After moving to a new city, Taylor asked Storie to be his forever love. A big wedding sounded pretty overwhelming to these two, so they found Simply Eloped to help them plan a family elopement. Colorado was close to their hearts, and so they chose to wed at Sprague Lake. There were a few bumps in the road (winter storms!), but in the end, Storie & Taylor exchanged vows in front of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. We love the two adorable girls with flowers in their hair and Storie’s stunning lace gown. Read more to find out how this couple chose this vista for their elopement…

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

Storie: We met online and our first date was at a Starbucks. We clicked, so we followed up our coffees with a hookah bar. My first impression of him was that he was very handsome, tall, and seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He thought that I was very pretty and sweet.

How did you accept the proposal?

Storie:  He proposed on our couch with just the two of us. We had just moved to a new city and had finished unpacking our new home. He told me how much he loved me, and all the reasons why, and then pulled the ring out and asked me to be his forever love. 

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

Storie: Neither of us are the type of people who like to be the center of attention. The idea of a big wedding with lots of people focused on us just didn’t seem appealing. Also, the price tag of a larger wedding didn’t sound as fun as a really great honeymoon vacation. Even before COVID, we were thinking elopement, and the pandemic just validated those ideas.

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

Storie: I grew up in Colorado and my Dad still lives there. It’s a beautiful state and has extra sentimental meaning to me. Our first big vacation together was to Colorado. We road tripped from Texas so we got to know each other on a deeper level on the way there and back.

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

Storie:  We eloped at Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was absolutely stunning. We had the perfect weather in between two winter storms. The lake was so calm it looked like glass. The Rockies in the background were snow-capped, and the trees were extra green. The walk from the dock, where the ceremony took place, back to the parking area had so many unique photo opportunities. It was peaceful and perfect.

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

Storie: Things became a little crazy before our ceremony. The site we originally picked was unavailable a few days before our elopement ( not due to anything within Simply Eloped’s control). Our coordinator worked so hard and found us the perfect venue last minute. The site ended up being probably even more perfect than the original location. So we were nervous leading up to the day. We had two condos we were staying in with our family, so we got ready and drove to the location separately. We did a first look at the site and it was so scary and exciting. We both were nervous but so ready to become man and wife

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Storie: Our experience was wonderful. There were a few bumps in the road, but our team at Simply Eloped made sure the day went off without a hitch. We can’t say enough good things about our officiant and photographer. They both went above and beyond and made us feel so special. Our day couldn’t have been better.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Storie: We went to a beautiful mountain steakhouse and had an amazing dinner to celebrate with our family. There were many great conversations, champagne, and lots of love. 

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

Storie: DO IT! It’s the best decision we’ve made as a couple!

Officiation by: Brandon Baker
Photography by: Noah Berg
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 Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.