Romantic Winter Micro Wedding // Vail, Colorado

Mar 27

Get ready to be in your feels as you dive into this romantic winter wedding in Vail, Colorado. With just 11 guests and 3 furry friends, they kept it cozy and intimate. From classy black-tie vibes to beautiful florals by Double Dutch Floral, every detail was on point. And picture this: their ceremony right on the back deck of their luxury Vail mountain rental. Keep scrolling for all the winter wedding inspo you need!

Let me back up a bit and let you in on a little secret… by choosing a micro-wedding over a macro-wedding, you’re dodging the headache of extensive guest lists, seating charts, & whether or not alcohol is included. Instead, you have the option to splurge on a destination wedding with luxury mountain accommodations & vendors. Bonus if you choose a photographer who also helps you plan your day. Hi, hello, it’s me! It’s Jess! My specialty is intimate weddings in Colorado and I’d be over the moon to be your right-hand gal as you navigate your micro-wedding planning journey. Just reach out here to get the conversation started! Now, back to this stunning day.

Aubrey & Chase’s luxury airbnb wedding celebration

Right off the bat, Aubrey & Chase knew they were drawn to the romantic feel of a backyard winter wedding but wanted to elevate their celebration. By incorporating a black-tie dress code and choosing an airbnb that fit their aesthetic, their wedding gallery exudes elegance, romance, and is filled with candid moments throughout.

documentary-style wedding photos

We love documentary-style photography more than ever before. You might be asking yourself, “what is documentary-style wedding photography?”. In short, documentary-style is all about noticing moments as they happen, nothing is forced. It’s where you and your loved ones are able to enjoy your day together—the real, the raw, the candid emotions are captured silently. I accomplish this by acting as a fly on the wall and instruct everyone to ignore that I’m even there. With this approach, your day feels relaxed and natural rather than like one big photoshoot. When booking your wedding photographer, be sure to ask them about their day-of approach and voice your desire for candid moments if this is something you’re looking for.

Romanticize candid moments with me—your photographer’s POV

As you scroll through the rest of their gallery, you’ll find these moments throughout:

Taking it all in while sister of the bride gets ready.
While mom helps with shoes, it finally hits sis *cue the tears*.
Family handing out tissues before the ceremony.
A moment for prayer.
A tear rolling down her cheek during vows.
Him kissing her cheek just seconds after their first kiss.
The girls embracing each other by the fire.
Sweet pup enjoying a sniff of his boutonniere.
That married AF feeling.

This is what documentary-style wedding photography is all about.

First look or save it for the ceremony?

One of the most common questions I walk my couples through is, “do we have a first look or save it for the ceremony?”. My answer is that it’s entirely up to you! Here’s a few pros and cons to take into consideration when deciding together:

FIRST LOOK Pros:

A private moment before the ceremony that allows your nerves to calm.
An opportunity to exchange private vows if expressing your love in front of guests is not your thing.
A bonus set of candid photos that you would otherwise not have.
More time together on your day.

First look cons:

Maybe your significant other has envisioned seeing you down the aisle for the first time and this moment feels too special to let go.

Alternative: Consider a Private Touch. Stand back to back with hands held tight, with the option to exchange private vows. This sweet moment allows your nerves to calm, gives you more candid photo opportunities, & upholds the traditional moment of seeing you for the first time as you walk down the aisle.

Chase decided to see his bride for the first time down the aisle, and his reaction was so sweet.

My best Timeline tip:

Just after your ceremony concludes, family members want to embrace and congratulate you. I call this the ‘Celebration Moment’. When I’m crafting your timeline, I always always always give us 10 minutes here. It’s arguably the purest moment of your day with your loved ones, and allows me to capture real emotions.

For Aubrey and Chase, loved ones flocked with hugs, happy tears, and kind words. Since her grandmother was unable to travel all the way to Colorado, her sister made sure to include her via FaceTime throughout their ceremony. Talk about the sweetest gesture!

COLORADO ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | JESSICA LUANN PHOTO

Ready to start planning your winter Airbnb wedding? Count me in to help make your dream day a reality! Get in touch here, and let's begin crafting a celebration that's true-to-you.

A word from the bride:

“Jess is simply the best! She was suggested by my wonderful hair and makeup artist, Ana. Once I saw her work I just knew she was the perfect photographer for me and my now husband! She did such a great job capturing our elopement and who we are as a couple. She also did such a great job getting us to cut loose and have fun with pics! I couldn’t imagine our photos being any better than what she’s provided (I still cry seeing how perfect they turned out)!! I would recommend her to anyone and everyone!” - Aubrey Gray