A Micro-Wedding in Winter Park
Family-Only Wedding in the Mountains of Colorado
I’ve known Hannah and Jake for a long time. They are the most beautiful souls. They’re both artists, and I knew that their wedding would have thoughtful touches and special details that were important to their relationship. Everything about their wedding day felt intentional, and the pace was the perfect balance of relaxed and spontaneous, just like they are. Something that they both value immensely is time spent together in nature, so when COVID foiled their original plans for a larger gathering near their hometown, they opted to venture out to Colorado for a family-only wedding in the mountains. They hiked the day before their wedding and found a perfect little aspen grove nestled outside of Winter Park for their ceremony. It had a breathtaking view of the mountain range and since we were there at the end of September, the aspens were in their peak glory.
Why You Should Elope
Okay, the word “elopement” seems to be a loose phrase, these days. It used to be a rebellious act, like running off to Vegas with a newfound lover and tying the knot in secrecy. Now it seems like the word elopement applies to anyone who decides not to get married in a traditional wedding venue with a hundred guests. Micro-wedding, intimate wedding, elopement, it’s all the same, ya know? Regardless of what we call it, I love the idea of whittling down your guest list to the VIPs and taking your adventure off-road to tie the knot. Both Hannah and Jake’s families stayed together in a large cabin in Winter Park. They cooked together, and sat at the dining room table of the cabin to share their meals. The girls got ready upstairs while the dudes occupied the basement. There was plenty of space for everyone to have their space and the flow of the day was amazingly calm, because there’s no need for a timeline when everyone who will be at the ceremony is under the roof of one house. We kept an eye on the weather and left the cabin to hit the trail after a bit of rain passed. After the ceremony, everyone came back to the cabin to celebrate under the stars. It was very chill. Like Hannah and Jake.
How to Include Your Family on Your Wedding Day
Ok - here’s my favorite part. Every single person in Hannah and Jake’s family played a key role. Jake’s grandma, who could not attend, baked their wedding cake. It was delicious. If I remember correctly, it involved strawberries - so clutch. Jake MADE their wedding rings - like, what? Jake’s brother and his partner officiated their ceremony. Dad ran the video camera. His nephew, Theo, was the flower boy. Hannah’s best friend (I mean, Mearyn is pretty much her sister) did all of the girls’ makeup. Everyone made bouquets using locally sourced flowers. Like, literally everyone. It was pretty sweet to walk into the kitchen and see someone else tying up a new bouquet every time I came downstairs. Jake’s brother, Nick, is a talented musician and played the music during their ceremony and the dances later that evening. Also - while I’m here - it’s unfair how talented the Kaufmann boys all are at, what it seems, everything they do. As a BIG FAN of Jake Kaufmann, it was especially cool to see him in his element with his sibs.
Heartfelt Wedding with Personal Touches
HERE IS WHERE I GET MUSHY TALKING ABOUT HANNAH. Hannah Sroor is a walking poem of a human being. I love her. I might be in love with her (shhh, don’t tell Jake) and all that I wanted for her on her wedding day was to see a manifestation of the love that she and Jake radiate at literally all times amplified in ceremony and radiated back to her. And boy, was it ever. Jake played not one, but TWO songs that he wrote for her on his ukulele. Nick accompanied with a trumpet. I’m sorry, who has a trumpet at their wedding ceremony? No one. Just them. Amazing. They chose an aspen grove nestled above a hiking trail in the mountains. They said their own vows. They kept some wild sage and aspen leaves (just a little!) from the woods as little treasures. There could never have been a more perfect representation and celebration of their love, witnessed by their dearest people in front of the most picturesque landscape.
Weddings Are About Families
Y’all, I will die on this hill. I will exhaust myself announcing this at every step of my career. Weddings are not about wedding photos. Weddings are not about flowers. Weddings are not about giant cakes. Weddings are not about fancy shoes. Ok, maybe a little bit about the shoes.
Weddings are about family. Whether that means a family of two, a bride and a groom, becoming an officially certified unit in the eyes of the state, or two gigantic crazy catholic families (my family) colliding on a dance floor because a single knot was tied between the two of them. Here is the kicker: a wedding day is the day that the glue was applied. For most people, it is the only day in your entire life that all members of both of your families will be under one roof. I love flowers, and I love cake, and I love shoes. I love photographing these things, and don’t get it twisted, I know how much thought and intention and let’s be honest, money, goes into planning a wedding day. It matters. But, when I am old, and my joints are achy, and the sand in my hourglass is running out, and I’m trying to make sense of it all before I go, I want my life to have been spent pickling these moments so that your family, and your great-grandkids, and their kids, and their dogs can hold onto a little piece of who you were. It makes my world go ‘round knowing that these photos matter, and will continue to matter beyond my lifetime. I do not take this lightly. Too many times someone has had to say “I wish we had more photos of him” as they remember their grandfather. Or make a scrapbook. Or plan a funeral. To have a whole day with this family - to do nothing for a whole day but pay attention to who they are and figure out how I can put that into photos - what a privilege. This shit is fragile. Thank you for letting me hold it.
