A Micro-Wedding at the Perfect VRBO in the Picturesque Colorado Mountains

Waking up on September 6th was a gift in itself. The morning was overcast, with a cozy feeling in the air — the kind that makes you want to grab a good book, warm up some apple cider, and let Bon Iver play on shuffle. It was one of those Colorado mountain days that makes the world feel quiet, simple, and deeply present.

When planning their wedding, Rachel and Will had something different in mind as they dreamed up their “I do’s.” They envisioned a Colorado mountain ceremony shared only with their closest family and friends — an intentional, intimate gathering that felt true to who they are. And in every way, that’s exactly what they created.

As I packed up that morning at my Airbnb, I felt deeply thankful for these incredible clients and the trust they placed in me to capture their wedding day. It’s a feeling I could sit in forever — but a wedding was waiting. So I hopped in the car and made my way up the canyon toward the VRBO they had chosen to host such a meaningful, intimate celebration.

When I arrived, I was in awe of the wood-sided cabin, complete with a wide wraparound deck, nestled right in the middle of a dense Colorado pine forest.

Inside, snacks and drinks were already being served, and there was a celebratory warmth in the air. Paired with cozy cabin décor and soft lighting, it felt like the perfect setting for an intimate Colorado mountain micro-wedding. As I made my way through the house toward the bride and groom’s room, I was greeted by family members and parts of the bridal party — each welcoming me as if I were already family.

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For your convenience, I’ve linked the VRBO below — just click the button to view this beautiful Colorado mountain cabin.

Once I met Rachel in person and she shared the details she wanted photographed throughout her day, I headed upstairs with the maid of honor to scope out the perfect spot for a makeshift getting-ready space — one large enough to comfortably hold Rachel and her five bridesmaids.

After that, we grabbed the bride, making sure Will — her soon-to-be husband — was safely tucked away before bringing her upstairs. Once Rachel was settled, I stepped out onto the deck to photograph her wedding details, surrounded by towering pines and the quiet stillness of the Colorado mountains.

To the right, you’ll find a list of the details Rachel thoughtfully provided, along with a few of the images I created using them below.

Her Wedding day Details:

Rings (engagement & Wedding)
Jewelry (Including grandmas locket and a family ring *her something blue)
Her Vow Book
Her Bible
DIY Bridal Bouquet

HIS Wedding day Details:

Ring
Cross Necklace
DIY Boutonniere (curtesy of his "Bride To Be")
His Vow Book
His Bible
Cow hide

Rachel completely DIY'd her florals and she saved thousands!

Look into what is in season during your wedding month and bulk order dried florals off of Amazon, OR buy bulk florals from costco

Detail shot of polaroid photos, ring, bible and vows

Mother of the bride sews bride into dress

After the details were captured, I headed upstairs to photograph the bridal party getting ready. And after a few quiet moments, I had the honor of witnessing — and documenting — Rachel’s mom carefully sewing her into her thrifted wedding dress.

It was the kind of moment that stops time for a second… one that brought tears to my eyes.

Mother of the groom sew's bride into dress

Watching Rachel’s mom have the opportunity to truly help her daughter into her dress… and then invite Rachel’s soon-to-be mother-in-law to add the finishing touches — a quiet, meaningful way of welcoming her as a “mom” to their shared blessing.

How could you not cry witnessing that?

Okay, enough gushy stuff — let’s move on to bridal party photos.

I snuck outside to capture the boys in their natural habitat before dropping them back off in their getting-ready area.

Then, it was time for the girls! Remember that overcast, cozy weather I mentioned earlier that made the day feel so magical? Well… right as the ladies stepped outside, a light drizzle began. Maybe not quite as magical as we’d hoped — but never fear! Rachel is one tough cookie, and she refused to let a little rain slow down her day. So, we carried on as planned!

This is your sign to go thrift your Dress!!

The ceremony was set to take place just up the dirt road at a pre-arranged ceremony site that came with the VRBO rental — a stunning spot with a large wooded backdrop, only a two-minute drive from the cabin. With benches already built, it was the perfect setup for this Texas family, who had traveled to Colorado for a quick wedding weekend. They didn’t have time to fuss over building benches or even an arch — all they had to do was show up, and the VRBO was ready to host them.

Set in the mountains between Rico, Colorado, and Dolores, Colorado, this little escape was a no-brainer for them when booking. It seriously checked every box.

House Everyone in One Place.

Ceremony On Site.

Easy Access to an Airport !!!

Feel Intimate and Adventurous, but not without the safety of a home base.

The perfect Airbnb for an intimate Colorado micro-wedding or elopement.

It now sits at the top of my recommendations when working with brides because it was just that good!

As the ceremony approached, we faced multiple disasters…

The rain continued to fall fast and hard, but the bride and groom weren’t giving up. And you know what? Neither was I. I sprang into action, helping coordinate alongside Rachel’s amazing maid-of-honor. We decided to go for it (as long as no electrical storm showed up) because what the bride and groom want, the bride and groom get. After loading the first round of guests into two cars, the groom and best man began shuttling people up to the ceremony site.

That’s when the day took a turn for the worse. Not only was it raining profusely, but the road to the ceremony site was turning into a muddy mess. At one point, we nearly lost a Toyota Tundra to the mountain — that’s how intense the rain had become!

Full disclosure: it had been really raining for a good hour or two before this, and we probably should have checked the conditions — and the vehicles’ tires — more carefully before continuing with our original plan.

Luckily, everyone made it out safely, and the only casualties were a few hairstyles belonging to aunts and cousins… plus some muddy shoes from having to walk back when the truck refused to go any further.

Once we got word that the ceremony was a “no-go” at the intended location, we immediately started brainstorming Plan B!

PLAN B:

Setup the deck to be a make shift ceremony site so the couple can say "I do" !!!

If I can give you any advice for your wedding day, it’s this:

HAVE A DESIGNATED PERSON (not the bride) TO HELP MAKE THE HARD CHOICES.

Once again, a huge shoutout to the maid of honor!

Now that the hard choices were made, we got the ceremony location ready and moved to the side to get everyone in position. And this is where things got happy again…

The groom waited for his beautiful bride at the end of the aisle, as she was slowly walked down — just as gracefully and beautifully as she would have been at the first location.

The ceremony unfolded with heartfelt stories shared by their beloved officiant, stories of their lives that made everyone both laugh and, at times, cry. This was followed by the exchange of promises between husband and wife, a moment filled with love and intention.

They sealed the deal with a kiss, and the celebrations continued!

The celebration didn’t stop — we enjoyed some Texas BBQ, did toasts, and captured a few off-site bridal portraits. I won’t bore you with all the details, but to close, if this wedding has taught me anything, it’s that you don’t have to have every plan in place — or even the “perfect” wedding.