Our real wedding couple, Michaela and Marshall, who hail from the United States, have shared with us the most intimate and delightful wedding day, proving that all you need for a day full of love, is one another. They ditched the big guest list, along with many wedding extras, and created a day based around one special element – themselves. The day was captured high above in the Aspen mountains, where the October sun touched every peak. Adventure and Vow was one of a handful of people to witness the magic elopement on the mountains, and not only did he capture every loving moment, but he also married the couple too! He’s here to showcase spectacular wedding images, so buckle up and get ready to be transported to the edge of the world!
Cool blue and burnt orange was the colour palette our real groom showcased, and we must say, we adore it! The autumnal tones blended perfectly with the blue Arizona skies and sandstone mountains.
Our American lovebirds, originally from Florida and Arizona, first met through friends at a Christmas party back in 2016. Their relationship began in 2018, and remained strong, steady and full of love! So how did the proposal go? Michaela explains: “We went hiking in Lockett Meadow in Flagstaff and Marshall surprised me when he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. That is why we chose to have our ceremony in the Aspens!”
The intimate day consisted of just three guests for the Aspen mountain elopement – Michaela and Marshall’s parents – which was incredibly special and personal to the newlyweds. “The fact that we had just our parents during our ceremony and then spent the rest of the day alone together in a stunningly beautiful place was very special. I was still able to share the day with all of my close friends by having them with me while I got ready for the day. Being able to talk with each other about the day and our excitement, while enjoying our meal from the same place where we had our first date, which was eating charcuterie boxes overlooking such a pretty view of Sedona,” they say.
A whimsical and rustic moon gate, garnished with plentiful pampas and terracotta-hued florals acted as the pretty ceremony backdrop amongst the idyllic woodlands.
One loving moment that the couple recall from their wedding ceremony was how their celebrant personalised their vows by including how they met along with naming out things that they loved about each other – a very personal touch! The idyllic surroundings and intimate location where Michaela and Marshall tied the knot was a location very close to their hearts and of course, a big part of their love story – where they got engaged! “They picked this spot for greater privacy and this location allowed the arch to be set up in the forest,” says their photographer, Bill Young.
How dreamy! The exquisite picnic on the peaks was ready and waiting for the newlyweds to sit, enjoy and relish. Although this wedding was small, the couple didn’t skip on anything. They even had an individual wedding cake, the perfect size for two, to cut!
“It was important to us that our day be personal and intimate so that we could make the day solely about us and our relationship. We did not want to deal with the hassle that comes with planning a more ‘traditional’ wedding, like cost, stress, and potential drama, that could all take away from the meaning of the day,” they say.
Michaela looked heavenly in an A-line embroidered wedding dress, with a sheer bodice that was embellished with floral lace detail which melted into her train. Her bouquet was full of autumnal florals, perfect for the crisp October day, with matching burnt orange tones that complemented Marshal’s groomswear attire.
They describe their sunsetting elopement as the most perfect and stress-free day that they could have ever asked for. They add: “Our look and theme of the day was to have an intimate day together where we could truly enjoy every moment together, celebrating our love!” They utilised every idyllic and scenic spot in the Aspen mountains for the wedding photos, ensuring the glistening golden hour of the sun was captured!
As for some wedding advice, they simply say to focus on what you truly want to do and don’t let anyone’s opinion shape the day into anything other than what is authentic for you and your relationship! When asked about a honeymoon, they said: “Part of why we chose to elope was so that we could have a much bigger budget for our honeymoon. It made more sense to us to take the money we would be using and spend it on several nights in an awesome place versus what we would spend on a big wedding for one night. We chose to do an all-inclusive trip to Grenada for a week through Sandals and we would highly recommend it!”
A very special thank you to Michaela and Marshall and of course Adventure and Vow, for transporting One Fab Day to Arizona for this sun-kissed mountain elopement!
Are you thinking of eloping? Check out How To Plan An Elopement: 14 Dos & Don’ts You Need To Read right here!
