Kate + Ben || Horsetooth Elopement || Fort Collins, Colorado
Kate and I met through an online messaging app for local Fort Collins moms, where I thought she was maybe just inquiring about some family photos, as her little one was about to turn one - but when I received an email with the title "shhh, we're eloping" I knew it was going to be an extra special photo session. I got super excited to do not only their family photos, but elopement photography for them as well!! After chatting for a bit, we found out we know a ton of the same people, enjoy drinking the same beers (Ben works for Odell Brewing), and run in the same general social circles. It seems to always be a small world story here in Fort Collins, and I love making connections like that with our awesome couples, especially when they have a little one about the same age as our kiddo.
On the day of their elopement, we met up at Horsetooth Reservoir for a few family photos while everyone was all dressed up before their actual ceremony, and then as the sun sank behind the foothills, Ben and Kate exchanged vows, with each other and with their son, in front of their good friend + officiant. I usually cry at weddings (yes, even after all these years, and after photographing all these love stories- each one is so unique and special, and I just love what I do so much that I can pretty much guarantee I'll cry during the ceremony - or during the first dance- or just about any time during a wedding day, to be honest) but I think when Ben and Kate crouched down to make promises and say vows to their one year old, I had to make sure my camera was on auto-focus because I couldn't see through my tears. It was such a perfect Colorado day, and they are the epitome of the perfect Colorado family.
They plan to have a big wedding with all their friends and family around them once Ben is done with grad school, but wanted to make it officially official, so they chose this sweet elopement location and are using these images for their invites/save the dates once they make larger wedding plans down the road. I love it when couples do this! It's such an intimate way to celebrate their love together, while still allowing friends and family to participate at a later date - and in the meantime, they have lots of beautiful photos to share! Congrats to this sweet family, and cheers to a beautiful celebration of their love!
