Lesley and Julie’s Intimate Snowmass Wedding at The Terrace at Viceroy
Lesley and Julie’s intimate Snowmass wedding is a perfect example of what a full-day experience could be. When you think of full-day elopement or wedding, your mind probably goes to a photographer following you all day long, snapping photos of you and your partner, your cheeks hurting from forced smiles, and the dreaded awkward posing. Whew! That sounds overwhelming and slightly exhausting if you ask me. A full-day elopement may include 9-12 hours of photography coverage, but it definitely can (and should) look different from what I described above.
What it really looks like is us creating a magical day full of experiences together and with those you love, and I just happen to be there taking photos to remember it by. For their Viceroy Snowmass wedding, we crafted a perfect day based on their love for each other, who came with them to celebrate, and where they were.
The Story of Their Wedding in Snowmass Colorado
Lesley and Julie’s love story began at the world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, where they first met at a Brandi Carlie concert with a mutual friend. That winter during a ski trip with friends, they both fell in love with the Snowmass area and the captivating mountains and from that decided on Viceroy Snowmass as the idyllic location for their intimate Colorado wedding.
Their full-day elopement adventure began on a warm early September day in Snowmass. We took a quick walk from Viceroy Snowmass to The Crêpe Shack, where they met their friends for coffee and enjoyed, you guessed it, delicious crêpes! After a relaxing morning on the patio in Snowmass Village, we made our way to the Scenic Elk Camp gondola ride, followed by Elk Camp Chairlift to Maroon Vista. Standing at over 11,300ft, Maroon Vista offers sweeping 360-degree views of Snowmass, Aspen, Maroon Bells, and the stunning surrounding mountains. Typically in early September out west, it is a rarity to have a day without wildfire smoke obstructing the views. On this day, we had clear skies, and we felt so lucky to experience it! Though Lesley and Julie had seen this view before during a ski trip the previous year, it was exciting to see the epic scenery in a new light without a blanket of snow!
We then raced down the mountain so preparation for their Viceroy Snowmass wedding could start. Julie headed to Full Circle Aspen for her hair appointment, and in the early afternoon, everyone regrouped to finish getting ready for the wedding festivities. The love that surrounded Lesley and Julie throughout their day was heartwarming, right down to while they were getting ready. It may have been tight quarters with six people in the bathroom at one point but it was incredible to watch everyone helping each other with makeup. While everyone was getting ready, I snuck away to capture detail photos of some elements of their day. They thought of it all from custom embossed leather vow books to a pair of converse and handkerchiefs that Julie embroidered with their wedding date and initials. I was shocked it was her first attempt at embroidery as it looked so fantastic and was such a special personalizing touch.
Once Lesley’s boutonniere was secured to her suit with some help from Julie, we made our way to the Terrace at Viceroy Snowmass accompanied by 10 of their closest friends for their intimate ceremony. Lesley and Julie walked down the aisle together while one of their friends served as their officiant. The two of them collaborated with their friend to create personalized vows outlining their promises to each other and their intentions for their relationship. After sealing their forever commitment to each other with a kiss, everyone made their way to the beautiful private dining room for cocktails, hor d’oeuvres, and the couple’s first dance before enjoying dinner together. The Vista private dining room at Viceroy Snowmass and its outdoor space is gorgeous and perfect for an intimate Colorado wedding reception with a select number of loved ones.
While one of Lesley’s dreams for their elopement day was celebrating with friends, a big dream of Julie’s was sweeping views, and photos of the two of them with big mountains. So after an early dinner, we headed to Maroon Bells to capture those dream photos. We ended up with a perfect sunset that cast a sliver of alpenglow on the towering mountains. After a little bit of soaking in the magic during their first time seeing Maroon Bells, we returned to Snowmass for more celebration and cake!
Ready to Plan Your Magical Wedding Day?!
Julie and Lesley’s wedding at Viceroy Snowmass is a great example of how to plan a full-day elopement. Need more inspiration on how to plan a full-day elopement? Check out my What is a Full Day Elopement? for all of the helpful info, tips, and tricks. Looking for a Colorado adventure wedding and elopement photographer? I would love to chat with you! Please feel free to reach out through my contact page and check out my packages and pricing information.
