Forbis Fotography

There's nothing that can beat letting your elopement day extend into the night (or starting it before the sun rises!). You nearly always get the benefit of exploring a magical place all to yourself, and in a way that so few people will ever take the time to be able to experience!

If that right there doesn't make it worth it, I don't know what does❤️

This is what it can look like when you choose the backyard wedding with your favorite people❤️

Gabriella & Matthew got ready in Gabriella's childhood home, and communicated via walkie-talkie to make sure there were no accidental glimpses before they met at the aisle. It was so incredibly sweet to see the two get ready in a home that was scattered with glimpses into Gabriella's childhood, and filled with their closest of friends❤️

After their ceremony & some portraits around this monumentally meaningful property, we rejoined the rest of the party for their reception! With touches of their cat scattered about (because OF COURSE), summer camp style banners, and the BEST crew...this was without a doubt the most lively reception I've had the joy of being part of in all of my years capturing love stories❤️

Just...a million more days like this, please???

Photo & Video: Forbis Fotography
Second shooter: Stephanie from Jackalope Mountain Photography
Makeup Artist:

It's been an incredibly dry summer in Colorado...so imagine the shock when rain clouds moved in for the entirety of Samantha & Jacob's elopement day!

We started the morning at their Airbnb, getting ready slowly...and laughing at the adorable antics of Scooch as he tried to avoid walking anywhere that wasn't covered in a rug. One sweet first look under the willow later, and in popped a storm cloud! Once the burst had subsided enough to do so, everyone loaded up into their cars to make their way toward the mountain gondolas in Aspen.

After we arrived, it was apparent that the weather wasn't going to move on in time for the gondolas to restart AND leave us with enough time for a relaxed & enjoyable ceremony. Typically, I encourage my couples to embrace the weather (when it's physically safe to do so, of course), but a couple little ones along for the ride (along with the gondola schedule), meant that it was time to switch routes!

We chose to continue on past Aspen and use an incredibly accessible mountain pass as their ceremony site instead! This allowed us to wait out the heavier drizzle in order to keep the kiddos comfortable, and left us with a beautiful mountain view and drifting clouds to witness their vows. And the portraits that followed? Taken under the bluest of skies at 12k feet!

A day that started with persistent rainclouds and constant drizzle ended with a sunny, mountaintop experience and bluebird skies...a fitting experience for a couple so adept at embracing the chaos that life brings❤️

Photo & Video: Forbis Fotography
Second shooter: Stephanie with Jackalope Mountain Photography
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Do these faces look familiar??😉 If there's something I like more than getting to adventure with my couples, it's getting to do it TWICE.

Shannon & Orin chose to have an intimate wedding the month following their elopement in Aspen - a special, family-centered day that allowed Shannon's out-of-state parents, sisters, and grandmother to witness just how much love is shared between her & Orin, and what a beautiful life they've built for themselves in the mountains❤️

After getting to show the family around Colorado in the days leading up to the wedding, the whole crew got ready for the ceremony in a cabin they rented in Breckenridge.

Once everyone was dressed & ready, we all drove over to a spot just west of Frisco for a beautiful ceremony above a mountain lake. Shannon shared a sweet first look with her father before he walked her down the trail to where the rest of the party (& Orin!) were waiting with anticipation😊

Their ceremony was just as special as the one shared with just myself & their closest friends in July, and I couldn't help but feel the palpable love in the air that enveloped them as they promised forever once again❤️

After some time for portraits along the lake, we headed over into Dillon for their reception! The pavilion was impeccably decorated, Shannon & Orin were greeted with cheers & streamers, & a MARVELOUS spread of food was set out.

The evening ended with dances (both fun & sentimental), and a farewell from the moon shining down on the reservoir 🌙

I am so incredibly blessed to have clients I come to view as friends that let me in on these special moments...especially when that means getting to celebrate them and their love story more than once!❤️

Photo & Video: Forbis Fotography
Second shooter: Stephanie from Jackalope Mountain Photography
Planning & catering:
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Currently on cloud 9 because this piece of desert is officially on my calendar for next year!🥳

Big Bend is seriously SO special, and I am so ready for more time with cacti, canyons, the clearest night skies imaginable, and a seriously AMAZING couple in Texas next September❤️

If you think that this sounds like your kind of dream elopement day, I have room for a couple more adventures either in Big Bend or near El Paso (think White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, & Guadalupe Mountains) while I'm there, and I would be STOKED get you on my calendar as well😊

A rare showing of my face (say hi to Ryan & Aspen, too!), and some film scans from the Rockies back in April😊 My 35mm film camera is perhaps my favorite thing Ryan has ever given me, and scanning these in always feels like a warm hug🥹❤️

Over the past month(ish), I've spent just over a week at home...and those weren't consecutive days. Close to 6,000 miles, 5 states, the BEST couples (plus some personal travel)...it's been amazing! But I am TIRED. As a result, social media has been my lowest priority, and I've been keeping this preview from you all! Which is WILD because it was SUCH a good day🥹

Our little crew started with a 4am meetup in the parking lot, and a hike in the dark to reach the lake before sunrise. Shannon & Orin's sweet friends helped them get ready & set up their charcuterie breakfast to celebrate after their vows. In the midst of it all, we saw a bear sauntering across the other side of the lake, along with a moose that popped up right behind us and had a rather rambunctious frolic in the early morning sunlight. (Apparently Shannon's moose dance on the hike up worked!)

A sweet first look, vows as the sun touched the tips of the mountains, and a small meal to celebrate in the cool mountain air were the PERFECT way for these two to start married life. After we made our way back down the mountain and grabbed some lunch, we headed off to the courthouse to make it all officially official!

Also, I *almost* cried when they ended the day with giving me a duck for our Jeep. (That's a lie. I did indeed cry...my couples are the sweetest❤️) I am SO excited to get to see them again and capture their intimate wedding next month!🥹

If you're ready for an experience with a photographer that will cry over both the sweet way you interact with your person AND small plastic bath toys given as gifts...I'm your gal😜

Everyone has favorite mountain ranges right?? My favorite in Alaska is the Wrangells, the North Cascades take the cake for Washington....and for Colorado?? The San Juans. Hands-down. These are mountains that offer STUNNING views around every corner, and (in the summer months) offer truly low-effort, high-reward spots for elopement days! You can turn your elopement into even MORE of an adventure by hitting up hot springs, 4x4 trails, and hiking to turquoise blue alpine lakes. If this all sounds like the perfect kind of way to celerate YOUR message, I'm right here waiting to help plan and capture it all😊

Hannah & Josh chose to base their elopement day out of Durango, and spend time exploring amazing spots between there & Ouray. We played around mountain lakes and waterfalls, checked out a ghost town, and stepped back in time in Silverton. This day was truly SO fun, and the perfect example of what an adventure in the San Juans can entail!

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that the Gold Mountain fire just north of Ouray has been burning since the day after this elopement - PLEASE remember to be responsible in your recreation this coming weekend, no matter where you are❤️

Sometimes the internet is just...tiring. And loud. And just not really any fun.

So here's a little trip to Zion on 35mm film to make life feel nostalgic for a second instead❤️

Yosemite is a dream for more reasons than one...you can float the coolest rivers, swim in the clearest mountain lakes, watch the most perfect sunsets, and take in the clearest night skies...all in a park that has its own grocery store??? How cool is THAT?!

So yes, I'd love for one of you lovely folks to hire me to capture your day in the park so I can end it eating a freeze-dried meal with the dirtiest toes in existence. Please and thank you😊