An Adventurous, Springtime Elopement With Pups and Wildflowers on Colorado's Blue Lakes Trail
When Emmaline moved from Kansas to Colorado into her brother’s spare room, she didn’t know one of his roommates would be her future husband. The roommate in question, Ryan, invited Emmaline on a houseboat trip with some of his friends, and soon, the two wanted to spend all of their adventures together. It was only fitting that Ryan popped the question on one of their excursions. Emmaline says, “In Moab, we started the day skydiving, followed by an 11-mile mountain bike ride and ended with an 11-mile hike. It was there, surrounded by the vibrant hues of a desert spring, that he proposed.”
With traveling and outdoor activities part of their history, the two knew a traditional wedding wasn’t their style. Once on a hike, Ryan turned to Emmaline and said, “I want this. I’m enjoying every moment with you, and I don’t want to stop,” she recalls. This conversation inspired their adventurous elopement at their favorite glacier lake in Colorado near their home. All the couple needed was their hiking gear, wedding day attire and a friend to officiate. As for their wedding party, that would be their two pups, Lady and Lobo.
The “venue” was Blue Lakes in the San Juan Mountains, with Mt. Sneffels visible from the couple’s shared home. With the theme of wildflowers to match the natural beauty of these surroundings, the bride and groom turned to a local florist to craft a bouquet and flower crown of native blooms. For the to-be-weds, the spring flowers symbolized staying true to who they were as a couple as two people bonded by their love of the earth and what it brought them. “Little did the florist know that yellow was my mom’s favorite color, and in my flower bouquet, there was a bright yellow flower right in the center. My mom had passed away three years ago, so that was a very special moment,” Emmaline says.
And for their hike up the mountain, Emmaline and Ryan needed the right wedding day attire to fit into a backpack while still letting their personalities shine through. Since they didn’t have much time between the proposal and the wedding, finding something soon was also a must. The bride and her friends ventured to Denver to try on one of her favorite brands, Grace Loves Lace, where she fell in love with a silky, elegant gown recommended by the bridal stylist. “I was skeptical at first, but when I put it on, I felt like I could hike a mountain to get married. It was beautiful,” Emmaline says.
Ryan chose a green suit, matching the mountain’s lush fields and foliage for their springtime wedding. The couple’s dogs even had their own custom bandanas, with “Pup of Honor” proudly displayed on the accessories. All four, along with their officiant, photographer and videographer, trekked the 4 miles up to the top wearing their hiking gear.
After changing into their wedding day looks, the couple separately jotted down their vows into special books before the ceremony. Knowing they’d soon see each other and officially marry was what the bride looked forward to most. She says, “The most anticipated and special moment was our first look and our vows. Knowing that he was going to see me on a [cliffside] with wildflowers surrounding me was so memorable.”
After the ceremony, the weather forced a slight change of plans for the newlyweds. “It hailed right after our ceremony, not allowing us to take as many pictures. But that’s half the beauty in the situations that life brings you,” Emmaline says of the sudden spring storm. Ryan’s best friend and officiant, Coleman, met his family at the bottom of the mountain so his son could fulfill his duties as ring bearer.
The entire day involved the people who had meant something to Emmaline and Ryan on their journey. Emmaline adds, “Everything and everyone there meant something. Everything had a purpose. The plaques that we have that say “Adventure Partners For Life” were made by friends of mine who were regulars at a bar I worked at in Kansas. Nathan, who took the photos, was one of my first friends in Colorado.” Coleman, Ryan’s best friend of over 17 years, and his family celebrated with the happy couple postceremony with some glasses of champagne.
Looking back, the two felt the hike up was their favorite part of the day. They add, “It was such a gorgeous day in the middle of a mountain during springtime. The wildflowers were beautiful, and the lakes were so blue…it was mesmerizing.” And despite the hailstorm, Emmaline even says it’s those unexpected moments that make life memorable. Her wedding planning advice revolves around the surprises life throws at you, and how you and your partner should weather the storm together. She says, “Throughout your marriage you’ll experience adversity. It’s how you handle it through those times that makes you stronger in your relationship and stronger as a person in general. There will be turbulence during your day, but don’t focus on that stuff. Focus your energy on the things you can control, and be grateful for the moments you’re living.”