Leadville, Colorado sits high in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of over 10,000 feet above sea level. Jenna + Ryan’s decision to elope there was an easy one. “We love being in the mountains,” the couple says, “but we realized it would be difficult for our family and friends to cope with the high altitude.”
So these two set out to tie the knot just the two of them in March—still a pretty chilly time of year in Colorado—and created a two-day “snowy, Wild West, adventure-themed” elopement packed with activities, stunning views, and meaningful moments.
There was hiking. There was whisky. There was DOG SLEDDING. And Rose from Matlai Photography captured so many gorgeous photos along the way!
How charming are Jenna + Ryan’s custom embossed leather vow booklets? We love the Western-meets-bridal white leather accents in this details shot. Like those white cowboy boots! Take a peek at this similar pair from Free People.
Jenna started her dress hunt with a classic Pinterest search, and a clear style vision emerged. “I knew I wanted an illusion dress with an ivory lace overlay on top of a nude slip,” Jenna says. That’s what led her to this beautiful, shimmery, boho wedding dress from Queen Gowns. We’re loving those custom tasseled flare sleeves!
The First Look
Freight, a historic railroad depot turned venue and hotel, was Jenna + Ryan’s home base during their elopement adventure. The rustic, restored structures on the property were the perfect backdrop for their wintery, boho weekend.
Ryan’s burgundy velvet sport coat matches Jenna’s rich red lip!! If you’re wanting to recreate Ryan’s look we found this similar jacket from Hugo Boss!
The Intimate Ceremony
Jenna + Ryan shared their vows at Twin Lakes. The spot was super significant for the couple: “It’s the first place we camped when we first moved to Colorado which made us fall in love with this state.”
We can’t get over these snowy mountain peak vistas. Check out our list of the 25 best places to elope for jaw dropping photos!
Jenna + Ryan’s pups played an important role in making their marriage official. “In Colorado, you can self-solemnize with your dogs as your witness,” the couple says. “Our two pups signed our marriage certificate!”
SO into the deep, moody colors in Jenna + Ryan’s bouquet and boutonnière by Blue Vessel Florista.
If your furry friends can’t miss out on your big day, take a peek at our list of creative ways to include your dog in your wedding.
A helpful hint for how Jenna made her bridal look work in the cold? “To stay warm, I wore nude long underwear underneath my dress,” Jenna says. “You couldn’t even tell it was there!”
A Post-Ceremony Drink
After exchanging vows, Jenna + Ryan headed back to Freight to share a drink and some cigars at the venue’s Whiskey Lime Lounge.
Freight calls the lounge their “whiskey sipping shed.” The space has major time capsule vibes and is filled with all sorts of antiques from the original property.
Both Jenna and Ryan rocked classic Stetson hats for the post-ceremony portion of the day.
How fab is Jenna’s fresh floral hat band?! Check out our guide to DIY hat florals to create some boho floral magic yourself!
Downtown Leadville
In the late 19th century, Leadville, Colorado was a booming silver mining town and is now a true relic of the Old West. After their post-ceremony drinks, Jenna + Ryan headed into town to take in some history.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Incorporate things in your day that bring you the most joy! To keep organized, we created vision boards and a spreadsheet to track our to-dos and finances.
We love a bridal look with cold weather accessories! Check out this faux fur wrap from Anthropologie.
Jenna + Ryan HAD to stop into the legendary Silver Dollar Saloon, historically a favorite spot of outlaws, gunslingers, and gamblers.
Check out our list of the coolest wedding boots for your wedding day or elopement!
A Hike To Dinner
Jenna + Ryan planned a very special wedding dinner at Tennessee Pass Cookhouse, a fine dining experience located in a yurt that’s only accessible via a mile-long hike into the national forest.
If you have any wintery adventures planned for your big day, check out our collection of rad bridal jackets to keep you warm!
Dog Sledding!
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding Dog sledding! Our wedding actually consisted of two days. The best part of eloping is you get to make your own rules so why not have a 2-day celebration?! The next day we got dressed in our wedding attire again and headed to Good Times Adventures in Breckenridge. We had a blast mushing with 8 Siberian Huskies through the forest! Our faces hurt from the non-stop smiling and laughing at how ridiculously awesome we must have looked mushing in a wedding dress and suit jacket.
Who says you can’t make the most of the day AFTER your big day? We love that Jenna + Ryan kept the celebration going with even more adventure.
The dog sledding portion of Jenna + Ryan’s exciting elopement weekend was coordinated by Good Times Adventures!
Congratulations, on your high-altitude, adventurous elopement, Jenna + Ryan!! All the very best from GWS!
photography: Matlai Photography // venue name: Freight, Leadville, CO, USA // florals: Blue Vessel Florista // wedding dress: Queen Gowns // catering: Tennessee Pass Cookhouse // cocktails: Before and After // dog sledding: Good Times Adventures // hats: Stetson
