An Adventure Wedding in Ouray, Colorado

Enjoy all the deets on Claire + Dan’s adventure micro-wedding

C + D were very intentional from the get-go on how they dreamed of celebrating their special day. Inviting 15 of their closest family and friends, they knew that having an intimate adventure wedding in Ouray, Colorado would be much more enjoyable vs. hosting a large 150+ person wedding in a venue for 6 hours.

Their special day was one we won’t forget, and one that we often refer back to when assisting our couples who are looking to plan something similar.

***We know their story will excite you, and before we share more we want to first tell you how important it is to hire vendors that are knowledgeable about these back roads, and familiar with our mountain conditions. Hosting an adventure wedding comes with some discomforts that not all guests may be able to handle. Keep this in mind if you’re planning a celebration like this.***

Let’s take you through this dreamy day, so that you too can visualize a celebration like theirs!

You can also check-out more from this dreamy day on Rocky Mountain Bride’s blog post.

Basecamp

Where the adventure began

C  + D rented a large Airbnb cabin just 30 minutes south of Ouray, in a town called Ridgway. Here they stayed with a few of their family members, and their two red retrievers. They spent the morning of their wedding enjoying the views of the San Juan mountains from the back porch, and relaxing a bit as they got ready for a day full of adventure!

As the Mountainesque team prepped their 15 guests with coordinates to the ceremony site, and welcome bags with all of the essentials, C + D shared an intimate first look off the back porch. Their photographer, Sunnie Heers was there to capture a few sentimental moments before departing for the ceremony!

Photos by Sunnie Heers

The Adventure

Getting to the ceremony site

Watching the rain clouds form in the distance, we piled into our rented jeeps from Switzerland of America Jeep Tours and made our way to Ouray! An easy 30 minute trek from Ridgway, we made sure to regroup before turning up the road to Yankee Boy Basin. That’s where the adventure began – From there we drove the windy, bumpy roads [not for the faint of heart] for another 30 minutes until we reached their chosen spot.

**We strongly urge against guests driving themselves through these mountains, especially with unforeseen road conditions and weather. It’s not worth the risk of injury OR derailing your entire wedding day...Jeep guides are available for transporting everyone safely.**

The Mountainesque team had scouted out several ceremony locations a few weeks prior, landing on this one with 360 mountain views, fields of wildflowers, and a nearby waterfall. By 11:00am on a Thursday in August, everything was absolutely breathtaking!

Photos by Sunnie Heers

The Ceremony

C + D hung back at their jeep while we showed their guests to the ceremony site, and ensured everyone was ready to go. The clouds parted for just a moment, and we watched in awe as the bride and groom made their entrance down a path surrounded by wildflowers. 

With blue skies contrasting the mountain range, wildflowers swaying in the breeze and the faint sounds of the nearby waterfall their ceremony spot really did resemble a scene out of a fairytale. 

After sharing their vows and sealing their marriage with a kiss, we passed out champagne for everyone to join in on a group ‘cheers’ to the newlyweds! 

After group photos were taken, the newlyweds waved their goodbyes as they continued on their jeep adventure up the mountain! Everyone else was taken back to the Airbnb to freshen up and get ready for an evening of celebrations. 

The bride and groom with their two pups and the photographer in tow, drove to a higher lookout point where C + D were able to enjoy a few quiet moments together while also snapping a few more jaw-dropping photos!

** Make sure to always include room for a post-ceremony adventure in your timeline – these will be some of your most cherished moments. **

Photos by Sunnie Heers

The Celebration

A micro-wedding reception

Just as expected, the rain came pouring down the valley as they made their way back down the mountain. Arriving at the Airbnb in the late afternoon, C + D opted for an outfit change and a moment to unwind before joining in their celebrations. 

Et Voila Catering arrived ready to serve a delicious meal, starting with a gorgeous display of charcuterie and appetizers. 

Though our original plan to eat outdoors was ruined by the afternoon rain showers, the Mountainesque team set-up for plan B with a beautiful long table scape inside. 

Around 5:30pm everyone was seated, and a candlelit family-style meal was served. Platters of food were passed around the table, bottles of wine poured, the sounds of their favorite music playing in the background and everyone enjoying each other’s company. It was just what C + D envisioned for their evening celebration. 

When the rain finally let-up and toasts concluded, we opted for dessert outside so that everyone could enjoy the sunset and a delicious slice of cake! 

It was perfect parts tradition and thrill and exactly how C + D envisioned their adventure micro-wedding in Ouray!

If hosting an adventure wedding in the San Juan mountains sounds like your kind of celebration, you can fill out our inquiry form here.

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Meet Your Planner 

Hi, I’m Emily!

I help couples plan wedding experiences rather than 6 hour soirees in the San Juan mountains of Colorado! 

Mountainesque was created for couples who value intention rather than simply tradition, and for couples who can’t help but sprinkle in a little bit of adventure. That’s where I come in, to logistically plan and include your wildest ideas into your dream wedding day! 

I can’t wait to meet you and hear about your wildest dreams!