Happy Eloping

Now that my Colorado elopement season is wrapping up, I'm looking back at the moments I'm still thinking about. I'm sharing what went really damn well, what surprised me about the couples I worked with, and what I'll plan differently next year. I'll also get into something I've been thinking about as a photographer who loves a good adventure. At what point does squeezing in one more epic stop make...

Before you say yes to the dress, sit the hell down in it. Seriously. In this episode of Happy Eloping, I'm sharing the story of a bride whose dress needed constant adjusting and what that taught me about choosing an outfit for an actual mountain wedding day. We're talking comfort, alterations, footwear, getting into a Jeep, and how to give your outfit a test drive before your elopement. Because yo...

If I were planning my own Colorado elopement , what would I actually choose? Think a slow morning at an A frame, coffee and cards, off roading in the San Juans, private vows with incredible mountain views, and yes, pizza. There would absolutely be pizza. In this episode, I'm walking you through the day I'd plan for Eric and me, why I'd make each choice, and how I'd include family in a separate cel...

Thinking about eloping in Colorado? Before you start saving all those dreamy mountain photos on Pinterest, there are a few things I wish EVERY couple knew. From unpredictable mountain weather and hidden location logistics to guest expectations, timelines, and why you might need more time than you think, I'm spilling some of the things I've learned from photographing elopements all across Colorado....

WINTER IS COMING! (Cue in John Snow) sorry I had to. Anyway...  Snowy mountains, cozy cabins, and a few ski runs after saying "I do", winter elopements are a whole vibe. If you're ready to get married, you don't necessarily have to wait until summer. In this episode of Happy Eloping, we're talking about what makes a Colorado winter elopement amazing and the realities you need to plan for. From col...

Spring in Colorado might sound like wildflowers, sunshine, and perfectly snow-dusted peaks, but the reality can look more like mud, slush, brown hillsides, closed mountain passes, and four seasons before lunch. In this episode, I'm breaking down the Colorado reality nobody puts on Pinterest: mud season. We'll talk about when it happens, what mountain towns actually look like during spring, which a...

This episode is a little different. We aren't talking about elopement timelines, mountain locations or Jeeps. Instead, I'm sharing some personal thoughts about kindness, motherhood, grace and the kind of person I want to be. Life has a way of making us busy, guarded and quick to judge—but everyone around us is carrying something we may never see. I'm talking about the ways motherhood has changed m...

Everyone talks about Breckenridge, Telluride, and Rocky Mountain National Park, but Steamboat Springs might be Colorado's most underrated elopement destination. In this episode, I'm sharing what makes Steamboat perfect for couples who want a private, Western-style wedding day filled with mountain views, open ranchland, cowboy culture, and zero pressure to follow traditional wedding rules. I'm also...

Your Colorado elopement might be the reason you're traveling, but it shouldn't be the only part of the trip you've thought about. In this episode, we're planning beyond the ceremony and photos. I'm talking about when to arrive, how long to stay, choosing the right home base, adjusting to Colorado's altitude, planning meals and activities, navigating time with guests, and leaving enough flexibility...

You don't need to know exactly where you want to elope, what your timeline should look like, or how to turn a handful of ideas into an actual wedding day. That's where the Katie Method comes in. That's right, it's my method and it sounds pretty damn cool if you ask me!  In this episode, I'm breaking down how I help couples go from "We know we want something different" to an intentional, unforgetta...

Thinking about adding off-roading to your Colorado elopement day? In this episode, I'm covering EVERYTHING you need to know before you hit the trail, from riding with your photographer and renting your own Jeep to hiring a professional off-road company. We'll talk about the pros and cons, what off-roading actually looks like, how to prepare for changing road conditions, and what couples should rea...

Most couples worry their elopement will feel like one long photoshoot, but it doesn't have to.  In this episode, I'm sharing how to plan an intentional elopement day that's built around experiences, not poses. We'll talk about creating a timeline that feels natural, choosing activities you genuinely enjoy, building in time to slow down, and why the best photos come from real moments instead of sta...

A beautiful Instagram feed is easy to fall in love with, but your Colorado elopement deserves so much more than pretty photos. So please, hire someone that is for YOU and not treating you like content.  In this episode of Happy Eloping , we're talking about one of the biggest mistakes couples make when choosing their photographer: hiring someone based on their portfolio instead of the experience t...

Wildfires are an unfortunate reality of Colorado summers, but they don't automatically mean your Colorado elopement is canceled. So what actually happens if a wildfire pops up near your dream location? In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I navigate wildfire season with my couples, from monitoring official fire updates and air quality to knowing when it's safe to stay the course, when it...

"Elopement planning" gets thrown around a lot in the wedding industry, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Happy Eloping , I'm sharing a hot take: sending couples a Pinterest board, a location list, and a few vendor recommendations isn't really planning. It's a start, but it's not the whole picture. We're diving into what actually goes into creating a stress-free Colorado elopement...

Before I had my Jeep, I was a teenager in Steamboat Springs driving my Nissan Maxima up mountain roads it had absolutely no business being on. Looking back, I have no idea how that car survived but maybe it was my first sign that adventure and off-roading would always be part of my story. In this episode of Happy Eloping , we're diving into the world of off-roading elopements in Colorado : the goo...

When people think of Colorado adventure elopements , they often picture hiking miles into the mountains, hanging off cliffs, or doing something completely over-the-top. But here's the truth: the best elopements aren't always the most adventurous, they're the most intentional. In this episode, I'm talking about the pressure social media puts on couples to create an "epic" wedding day and why I thin...

Feeling overwhelmed by wedding advice? You're not alone. Between Pinterest, TikTok, wedding Facebook groups, family opinions, and well-meaning friends, it's easy to lose sight of what you actually want. In this episode, we're talking about why so much wedding advice misses the mark and how to create a day that feels true to you instead of checking boxes for everyone else. Whether you're planning a...

Between Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, trends, aesthetics, and the pressure to make everything look "perfect," weddings today can start to feel more like a production than an actual experience. In this episode, I'm talking about the growing pressure couples face while planning their wedding day, how social media has changed weddings, and why so many people end up feeling stressed instead of present...

Sunrise or sunset? It's one of the bigger decisions couples make when planning their Colorado elopement and honestly, both create completely different experiences. In this episode, I'm breaking down the pros and cons of sunrise vs sunset elopements, from crowds and lighting to weather, timelines, energy levels, and overall vibe. We're talking privacy, adventure, flexibility, Colorado weather, and...

In this episode of the Happy Eloping Podcast, I'm sharing my current favorite Colorado elopement locations and exactly why I love them. From the alpine lakes and easy access views in Breckenridge, to the wildflowers in Crested Butte, the unreal rugged mountains in Ouray, the laid back adventure vibes in Boulder County, and the western charm of Steamboat Springs — these are the spots I keep coming...

If you think your elopement day is just showing up, saying your vows, and taking a few photos… we need to talk. In this episode, I'm breaking down real, intentional activities you can build into your Colorado elopement . From the simple, slow moments to the full-send, adrenaline-filled adventures. Because your day shouldn't feel like a timeline you're rushing through… it should feel like an experi...

AI is officially in the wedding industry… and not in a good way. In this episode of Happy Eloping , we're diving into the recent controversy around a photographer using AI-generated images and passing them off as real work and yeah, it's as messed up as it sounds. If you're planning an elopement, this is something you need to be aware of. Because your photos? They're not just "content." They're yo...

If you've ever wondered what a full-day elopement actually looks like—this episode is for you. Not the Pinterest version. Not the perfectly curated Instagram highlight reel. A real, start-to-finish elopement day. In this episode, I'm walking you through an actual elopement I photographed—from the slow morning getting ready, to the adventure, the intentional moments, the unexpected in-between, and...

Planning your elopement is supposed to be exciting… but let's be real—life doesn't just pause because you're engaged. Between everything happening in the world, personal stress, finances, family dynamics, and the constant noise online, it can feel really hard to stay present and actually enjoy this season. In this episode, we're getting honest about that. I'm sharing how to find joy in the middle...