Betsy J. Photography

Betsy J. Photography Colorado based elopement photographer helping couples craft unique, meaningful and intentional elopements in the Colorado mountains. www.betsyjphotography.com

Serving Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, Grand Junction, Montrose and Silverton Colorado.

09/11/2026

How I plan your San Juan mountains, elopement differently….

Your elopement can be intimate and adventurous without leaving every wedding tradition behind.

When I help my couples plan their Colorado elopement in the San Juan mountains, I love finding ways to keep the parts of a traditional wedding that still feels special. Things like an incredible wedding cake, once in a lifetime florals, a champagne celebration and epic locations for your vows.

it’s still your wedding day. Let’s make it feel special!

If you are planning a Colorado elopement and you’d like help planning, I specialize in elopements in the San Juan mountains of Colorado and I’d love to help you create something special!

09/07/2026

5 things to think about before you elope in Colorado

planning a Colorado elopement? A little preparation can make the difference between simply getting married somewhere beautiful and having a day that truly feels like you.

1. Plan for changing weather.
Weather can change fast in the mountains, so make sure before your elopement day you check the weather and plan a backup location and a back up time so no matter what you’re dealt you can still have a fantastic day.

2. Pack what you need.
Pack layers for that changing weather. Mountain sun can be very strong so pack some sunscreen. Pack water, pack snacks, pack your vow books, pack your wedding rings, pack your marriage license, and pack, comfy shoes

3. Stay comfortable!
like I said, pack comfy shoes. Even if you choose not to hike for your elopement (which you don’t have to by the way) you will be walking on uneven ground so pack shoes that are comfortable. Choose a wedding dress that allows you to move and make sure you pack layers for those dramatic changes in weather.

4. Make the day personal
This is probably the most important suggestion. You’ve chosen to elope because you decided you didn’t want a traditional wedding day. So think about the things you like to do and plan your day around that. Go hiking, swim in an Alpine lake, go paddle boarding, soak in the Hot Springs, take a helicopter ride and see the mountains in a way that you never have. No matter what you choose to do, make sure that it’s personal to you and your partner.

5. Choose a photographer who understands the landscape and the experience you want to have.
Local experience matters so choose a local photographer that knows the location that you are wanting to say your vows in because when you need to pivot because the rain is coming down or a tree has fallen over the road or the road is washed out from the rain, having someone that can have a Plan B and plan C is a superpower!

My name is Betsy. I help couples just like you plan gorgeous elopement days in the San Juan mountains of Colorado. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more!

09/03/2026

What could your San Juan Mountains elopement look like?

Imagine getting ready beside your Jeep high in the mountains, sharing a private first look, saying your vows surrounded by rugged peaks, then slowing down for a lakeside picnic and paddle boarding before the afternoon rain rolls in.

Your elopement day doesn’t have to follow any traditional timeline. It can be quiet, adventurous, intentional, and completely your own.

Are you planning a San Juan mountains elopement in Colorado? I help couples just like you create beautiful elopement days in the San Juan mountains throughout Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and the gorgeous surrounding mountains.

08/28/2026

5 things you need to know about eloping in Colorado

If you’ve decided to skip the traditional wedding and elope in Colorado, here are five things to know first:

1. You can marry yourselves.
Colorado allows self solemnization so you don’t need an officiant.

2. Your dog can sign your marriage license.🐾
Yes, a paw print can be part of your wedding day

3. You may need a permit.
National parks, public lands and popular ceremony locations can have their own rules. Make sure you check with the appropriate agency and get the necessary permit if needed.

4. Mountain weather changes FAST!
Sun, rain, hail, and even snow can happen on the same day. Always have a backup plan and plenty of layers.

5. Colorado is so much bigger than the famous spots.
You don’t have to elope somewhere crowded. The San Juan mountains are filled with incredible places where your day can feel private and wild.

Do you want help planning a Colorado elopement that actually feels like you? I’m Betsy, a Colorado elopement photographer specializing in the San Juan mountains. I help couples just like you plan magical days in these rugged, beautiful mountains get in touch to learn more.

08/25/2026

This is how I scout for your San Juan Mountains elopement…

Scouting is one of the most important parts of how I plan a San Juan mountains elopement.

Before your day, I’m already there looking at access, trails and road conditions, crowds, weather, and maybe most importantly, the light.

I’m not just looking for a beautiful view. I’m looking for the right place at the right time, with enough privacy to let you slow down and actually experience it.

Because when you’re elopement day arrives, you shouldn’t have to worry about any of that. You just get to be there. ❤️

Are you planning any elopement in Ouray, Telluride, Silverton or Ridgway? I’d love to help you find your place in the San Juan mountains. Get in touch and let’s plan something dreamy!

08/23/2026

Would you do this on your San Juan mountains elopement day?

Pop champagne🍾
Bring your dog 🐾
Go paddle boarding 🌊
Share pizza and beer 🍕🍻

Your elopement day can be adventurous, laid-back, romantic, a little unconventional, or all of the above. The best part of choosing a San Juan mountains elopement is creating a day that actually feels like you.

What would you add to your elopement day?

Dreaming of a San Juan mountain elopement? Let’s create a day that feels like you!

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You decide to elope in Ouray, Colorado and your photos look like this… An elopement in Ouray, Colorado looks like quiet ...
08/22/2026

You decide to elope in Ouray, Colorado and your photos look like this…

An elopement in Ouray, Colorado looks like quiet mountain roads, dramatic peaks, wildflower filled basins, and time to slow down and actually experience your wedding day.

Tucked into the San Juan mountains, Ouray it’s perfect for couples who want something intimate, beautiful, and a little off the beaten path. You can exchange vows surrounded by mountains, explore by jeep, wander through an alpine meadow, and end the day with pizza and beer because this is your day.

No big production. No rushing from one thing to the next. Just the two of you, an incredible place, and a wedding day that feels like yours.

If this feels like you’re kind of wedding day, I’d love to help you make it happen. Get in touch through my website!

08/17/2026

Being a landscape photographer changes the way I see an elopement day.

I don’t just look at a beautiful mountain and think this would make a great backdrop. I’m looking at where the light will fall, how the weather is moving, where the shadows will be, how the landscape changes throughout the day, and where you fit into all of it.

I know that sometimes the best photograph isn’t the obvious view. It may be where the light catches the side of a mountain, fog moving through a valley, a reflection in an Alpine Lake, or the two of you looking incredibly small beneath a massive mountain.

Years of photographing landscapes have taught me to wait, watch and anticipate. Light changes. Clouds move. Weather rolls in and out. And sometimes the location that looks ordinary at one moment becomes extraordinary 10 minutes later.

That experience comes with me when I photograph your elopement. Because I don’t want to simply photograph you in the mountains. I want to create photographs that show what it felt like to be there, and why you chose that place for one of the most important days of your lives.

If you’re thinking about planning a San Juan mountains elopement, I help couples just like you plan intimate intentional days in some of the most magical places in Colorado. Get in touch to start planning your dream elopement.

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Telluride, CO
81435

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