Maroon Bells Wedding in Aspen Colorado
When you think of Colorado, you probably think of mountains, lakes, and skiing, which is accurate! If you have looked up photos of Colorado, you have come across pictures of the iconic Maroon Bells. Located just outside Aspen, Maroon Bells is named for the bell shape and maroon color of the peaks that tower at 14,000 feet with Maroon Lake below. Talk about a stunning view!
How to Plan Your Maroon Bells Wedding
Maroon Bells has some stringent rules when it comes to elopements and weddings. Ceremonies are only allowed at the Maroon Bells Amphitheater, which books a year in advance and often fills up quickly once reservations open. Like any venue/location, cancellations happen, so it is a great idea to keep an eye out for reservations that may become available. While the Maroon Bells Amphitheater is the only place you can have a ceremony, receptions and food are not allowed at this site. But don’t worry! You can reserve the East Maroon Portal picnic site for a reception. Located right along a stream, there is plenty of space for grilling, enjoying cake, and maybe even a first dance! If you cannot secure a reservation at Maroon Bells Amphitheater, you can still reserve a day pass to go to Maroon Bells for those gorgeous sunset photos you are dreaming of!
The Story of Their Wedding in Aspen
Anna-Ried and Judd are one of my lucky couples that were able to secure a coveted reservation for their Maroon Bells wedding. These two rented a beautiful Airbnb with their family in Carbondale, about 50 miles north of Aspen. Ana from Aspen Mobile Hair gave Anna-Reid some stunning curls, while Lindsay from Aspen Makeup also did her magic. While getting some finishing touches on her makeup, Anna-Reid’s nephew joined her for a first look in his dapper little suit– it was seriously the cutest! After getting into her beautiful mermaid-style dress featuring a cathedral train with help from her mom, Anna- Reid, and her sister-in-law shared a shot of whisky to help calm their nerves!
Judd and Anna-Reid shared an emotion-filled first look on the balcony of the Airbnb with the lovely mountains in the background. After that, we all headed out for their ceremony! Although we drove through some drizzle, it ended up being a perfect day for a ceremony at Maroon Bells, with the blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds and the sun shining. Judd’s brother officiated the wedding while their nephew was the ring bearer. After capturing some family pictures, we ventured to the East Maroon Portal picnic site. Judd and Ann-Reid cut their cake and shared a glass of champagne with their family before we parted ways and headed to Independence Pass for golden light photos. I even got Judd to pull out the binoculars he brought on the trip!
Ready to Plan Your Maroon Bells Wedding?!
I would love to be the one to capture your day at this epic outdoor Colorado ceremony venue! Please reach out through my contact page and check out my elopement pricing and packages! Check out my blog Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Colorado, for everything you need to know about eloping in Colorado from a Colorado elopement photographer!
