Brainard Lake Engagement Photos in the Fall
Check out Karryn & Rob’s engagement session at Brainard Lake Recreation area! Learn about what activities they chose, and all the tips for planning an amazing engagement session at one of the most stunning spots in the front range!
Nestled in the mountains just behind Boulder, Brainard Lake Recreation Area provided an amazing backdrop for Karryn and Rob's adventurous fall engagement session, full of yummy food, a gorgeous sunrise, and their favorite game to play as a couple. It was such an authentic and laid back session, I hope it inspires you to plan something similar for your engagement photos!
Keep reading to hear the story of their day and how you can plan an amazing Engagement Session at Brainard Lake in Colorado!
Looking for more Colorado engagement inspiration? We got you!
Navigating Brainard Lake Timed Entry Reservations
Brainard Lake is a stunning and accessible location near the Denver Metro area, which means it is popular for photographers and hiking enthusiasts alike! In recent years the park service has started a timed entry reservation system to help manage crowd levels and keep the area protected for future enjoyment!
The Timed Entry system can be a bit confusing and can change year to year, so here are the basic things you need to know for 2025:
Timed entry reservations operate from June through mid-October. In 2024 the main Brainard Lake gate closed for the season on October 13th.
Entry times are available in interval time frames from 5am - 8pm, 7 days per week.
Reservations are for a particular parking lot in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
Reservations are available to purchase for $16 on recreation.gov (America the Beautiful and Interagency Passes can be applied to the reservation to lower the fee)
If you’re planning an engagement session for Brainard Lake Recreation Area during the summer or fall months, I’d suggest reserving your timed entry ticket sooner rather than later because they do sell out quickly, especially on weekends. In addition to booking our entry tickets early, Karryn, Rob, and I opted to arrive at the gate by 6am to enjoy sunrise and avoid the mid-morning crowds.
Arriving before sunrise at Brainard Lake Recreation Area
After a 4am wake up call, Karryn and Rob arrived at Brainard Lake with camping chairs, a portable stove, and all the fixings for their traditional breakfast ritual. The decision to begin their session before sunrise gave us lots of time to enjoy the area without crowds and allowed us to witness a beautiful sunrise while eating warm breakfast burritos and chocolate chip muffins!
The morning didn’t go without a couple amusing mishaps. One of Karryn and Rob’s favorite things to do together is make their morning coffee and Karryn made sure to bring their favorite brand with them for the session. Unfortunately, when she was about to pour it into their cups, the kettle toppled over onto the rocks and we lost the whole pot! She ended up saving a little, but it made for a big laugh & a promise to visit their favorite coffee shop in Nederland after the session.
Cooking breakfast, skipping rocks, and playing some Cribbage
My favorite part of Karryn & Rob’s engagement session was their decision to incorporate activities that genuinely reflected their relationship. Instead of solely focusing on posed portraits, I got to capture the story of their morning engaging in their favorite pastimes. It allowed for incredible images full of sweet, candid moments.
One thing Rob insisted we do was set up the Cribbage board. It’s a tradition they've maintained on their camping adventures together, so he wanted to capture that. Their cribbage game became some of my favorite photos of the session because it was full of laughter and playful banter that perfectly captured their dynamic relationship and shared value of having fun together.
Essential Tips for Your Brainard Lake Engagement Session
If you’re looking to have your own engagement session at Brainard Lake, here are my top tips for a memorable experience like Karryn & Rob:
Best time of Day
The optimal timing for engagement photos at Brainard Lake typically falls within the golden hours – either just after sunrise or before sunset – for a beautiful, soft light across the lake and mountains.
*Pro tip: My personal favorite time of day is sunrise because of the direction of the light and mountains. You get that dreamy pinkish alpine glow on the peaks behind you!
Best Season
Brainard Lake Recreation Area is open year-round, and there truly isn’t a bad time to visit.
Summer season ranges from June - mid October
Summer season is best for hiking all of the different trails in the area and parking closest to the lake. Bring your kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard for a truly memorable experience!Winter season is from Mid October - June.
If you visit in the winter, you have to park at Gateway Trailhead and walk 2 miles into the park to reach the lake. Don’t let this discourage you though, it’s a spectacular place to snowshoe!!
Weather & Climate
Brainard Lake is tucked deep in the mountains at 10,000+ ft above sea level. This means that weather conditions can change rapidly at this elevation, so bringing appropriate layers and weather-proof gear ensures comfort throughout your session regardless of unexpected weather shifts.
Always come prepared and if you’re unsure, hire a local engagement photographer that knows the area and can help you with all the preparation & advice!
Multiple Locations for all types of adventurous couples
While Brainard Lake offers accessible shooting locations directly from the parking area with no hiking required, numerous trails provide opportunities for more adventurous couples seeking varied backdrops, from dense pine forests to pristine alpine lakes like Mitchell Lake and Lake Isabelle.
Tips for candid, beautiful photos
Incorporating meaningful activities that reflect your relationship, as Karryn and Rob did with their breakfast preparation and cribbage game, can help create natural, relaxed moments that translate beautifully in photographs.
Karryn and Rob's engagement session at Brainard Lake exemplifies how incorporating genuine interests and activities can transform a photo session from a potentially awkward experience into a fun, goofy, and natural celebration of your relationship. The success of their engagement photos stems from their willingness to be truly themselves – making breakfast burritos at altitude, playing their favorite game, and simply enjoying each other's company in one of my favorite spots in Colorado. I hope their story serves as inspiration for you and your mountain engagement session!
Looking for a Colorado Engagement Photographer to help you plan an amazing session?
Looking for your own Brainard Lake Engagement Photos?
Hi, I’m Hannah!
I’m a Colorado Elopement photographer specializing in meaningful adventure sessions and elopements. I’m all about documenting moments, emotions, and experiences and care about the process and feeling of our time together just as much as the final images!
If you’re looking for a photographer to capture your love, let’s chat! Reach out here to schedule your free consultation with me!
Intimate Vineyard Micro Wedding in Elkin NC
Although B&L’s micro wedding wasn’t what they originally planned, it turned out to be the perfect day! They celebrated at Dobbins Creek Vineyard in Elkin, NC with their immediate families. It was a day filled with beautiful views, tasty treats, and fun games!
Brook and Luke celebrated their micro wedding in October of 2024 in Elkin, North Carolina! It was not their originally planned day, but Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina a week before, so their plans shifted dramatically. Although it was not what they had originally envisioned, they were able to celebrate exactly how they wanted with gorgeous views, incredible weather, and fun activities with their closest people! Keep reading to hear more about the planning process and story of their day!
Are you thinking about having a micro wedding in North Carolina but need some help or inspiration? We also recommend checking out these guides!
Their original vision in Western, NC
Brook and Luke reached out to us wanting an incredibly intimate day. They knew that they wanted to include their immediate families, and most importantly, their 1 year old son. Brook had always envisioned her wedding to be romantic, with a spot for her and her father to share the classic “walking down the aisle” moment. They eventually decided on having their ceremony in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for stunning fall views of the mountains and then having their reception at a cidery in Hendersonville.
Pivoting plans after Hurricane Helene
A week before their big day, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, including roads into and around Great Smoky Mountains National park and Maggie Valley where they had planned to stay. There was no clear plan on how the state would recover, so we decided to pivot plans for the wedding to be in Elkin, North Carolina instead of the Appalachian mountains. After many hours on the phone and checking emails, Becca was able to secure Dobbin’s Creek Vineyard for Brook and Luke’s intimate celebration. Thanks to Leslie’s kindness, we were able to host the entire event on the property. Brook and Luke could not have had a more perfect day!
Inspired to plan your own North Carolina Micro Wedding?!
Planning your own North Carolina Micro Wedding and need help?
Hi, we’re Becca and Hannah! A North Carolina wedding Photographer and Planner!
We’re more than just the vendors setting up table decor and shooting posed portraits after your ceremony.
We’re here to create a safe and community driven space for you to make your meaningful wedding vision a reality, without you having to do any of the heavy lifting!
Micro wedding planning is our absolute jam, so if you’re interested, reach out here to schedule your free consultation with us!
Colorado Springs Micro Wedding
B&C’s micro wedding in Colorado Springs was such a warm, intentional, and beautiful celebration. They chose to get married in Garden of the Gods and celebrate with their closest friends and family at multiple venues around downtown in the Springs.
Breanna and Chase celebrated their micro wedding in July of 2024 in Colorado Springs! It was an incredibly laid back day full of candid moments with their closest family and friends. They were so intentional in the activities, experiences, and people they chose for their day, and it showed in how the day flowed from start to finish. I’m so excited to share the images and story of their day below!
Are you thinking about having a micro wedding in Colorado but need some help or inspiration? We also recommend checking out these guides!
A laid back timeline and style
The aspect of B & C’s day that stands out to me was their laid back timeline and style. Nothing about the day from getting ready, to an intimate cocktail hour, to their ceremony, felt rushed or stressed. They owned their day and kept their guests close so that there was never a reason to push on to the next activity. Everyone was included from start to finish, and with all of this time, it was easy to capture the sweet in between moments that unfolded as everyone interacted.
Blending traditional and unconventional
B & C didn’t ignore all aspects of a traditional wedding, but really found a harmonious blend of tradition and modernization. Here are some examples of how they shook up the wedding traditions to make them their own!
Instead of getting ready separately, they were together during these moments of the day. C was in and out of the bridal suite as B was getting dressed and it let them both soak in the time with their close people!
They had a sit-down cocktail hour with their guests before the ceremony. Instead of using this as a time to run away and do photos, they built in more time to spend with their guests at a local brewery, Phantom Canyon. It was a great time for conversation and snacks!
Instead of having speeches, they allowed every guest to say a few words. Towards the end of the night, B & C opened the mic up to all of their guests to speak. They went around the table sharing memories, words of wisdom, and excitement for the newlyweds!
Multiple Locations & Transportation
B & C’s day included multiple locations for all of the guests, so they decided to charter a bus to take the group from place to place. This proved to be really handy because no one had to worry about parking, or waiting on someone who hadn’t arrived. When the bus arrived, we knew everyone was there and ready!
Having multiple locations helped the day feel unique and exciting. From getting ready, to cocktail hour, to the ceremony and finally the reception space, the day truly felt like a story, and everyone on the bus had an amazing time!
Here are the spots they used for their Micro Wedding in the Springs!
Getting Ready: Mining Exchange Hotel
Cocktail Hour: Phantom Canyon Brewing
Ceremony: Garden of the Gods
Reception: Mining Exchange Hotel
Inspired to plan your own Colorado Micro Wedding?!
Planning your own Colorado Micro Wedding and need help?
Hi, we’re Becca and Hannah! A Colorado wedding Photographer and Planner!
We’re more than just the vendors setting up table decor and shooting posed portraits after your ceremony.
We’re here to create a safe and community driven space for you to make your meaningful wedding vision a reality, without you having to do any of the heavy lifting!
Micro wedding planning is our absolute jam, so if you’re interested, reach out here to schedule your free consultation with us!
Garden of the Gods Elopement
Looking to elope in Garden of the Gods? G&G's Colorado Elopement story has all the inspiration you could possibly need from local pizza and beer, to hidden gem locations, and gorgeous scenery! And the best part? It was planned in less than a month!
Gabby & Grant’s Colorado Springs Elopement
Gabby and Grant eloped in June of 2024 in Colorado Springs! We had the BEST day together, and I can’t wait to share all the details and images from this special memory.
Are you thinking about eloping in Colorado but need some help or inspiration? We also recommend checking out these guides!
Planning an Elopement in 30 Days
Gabby and Grant reached out about a month before their desired Elopement date with very few plans besides wanting to share their vows somewhere in this beautiful state where they first met and currently live.
Lucky for them, I had some great ideas up my sleeve, so we immediately got started with the planning process. Since they didn’t have any other vendors, the quick turnaround time was absolutely doable, and they ended up having the best, stress-free experience ever!
Why Garden of the Gods?
After sending multiple location recommendations, we ultimately decided on Garden of the Gods because of it’s accessibility, raw and unique beauty, and ease for permitting. The park does not charge for weddings, and they can all occur on a first come, first serve basis as long as they are within the designated ceremony spots that you can learn more about here.
Garden of the Gods was also somewhere new for Gabby, so they thought it would be a fun for her to see it on their elopement day, while also getting epic views of Pike’s Peak in the distance!
The biggest concern with Garden of the Gods was privacy, because it does get quite busy on weekends and during summer months, but I made sure to schedule the ceremony later in the evening, around sunset, to help us avoid those bustling tourist crowds.
The timing DEFINITELY paid off, we were found ourselves completely alone for most of the time in the park, which was AMAZING!
Colorado Springs Hidden Gem Location
Since we didn’t want to spend their whole elopement day in one spot, I recommended a great local spot in Colorado Springs for them to use for getting ready, a picnic dinner, and writing out their vows.
This overlook was a perfect for them because it gave them the privacy they wanted during the day, while still having stunning mountain views AND all that without having to hike at all!
In the hours that we stayed at this overlook, we didn’t have to share it with anyone else!
Elopement Day Activities
When planning their day, as part of our Trail Magic Client Experience , we talked a lot about their favorite things to do together and one of the things that came up was how much they love pizza and going to local Colorado breweries.
So we decided that pizza and local beer HAD to be part of their day, and I honestly don’t think it could have worked out better. We picked up fresh, local pizza from Bambino’s Urban Pizzeria and local Colorado beers from Odell’s Brewing.
It was the perfect way for them to hang out, relax, and spend time together writing vows, sharing letters from their long-distance phase, and getting ready for their ceremony later that evening.
Nothing was overly fancy, but it felt special because it was a day full of activities that were built around their relationship.
Inspired to plan your own Colorado Elopement?!
Planning your own Colorado Elopement and need help?
Hi, we’re Becca and Hannah! A Colorado Elopement Photographer and Elopement Planner!
We’re more than just the vendors setting up table decor and shooting posed portraits after your ceremony.
We’re here to create a safe and community driven space for you to make your meaningful wedding vision a reality, without you having to do any of the heavy lifting!
Elopement planning is our absolute jam, so if you’re interested, reach out here to schedule your free elopement consultation with us!
Sweet Elopement at a Unique Airbnb in Pittsboro, NC
K+A’s elopement in Pittsboro, NC was a day full of intention, sentimental moments, and pure joy. If you’re looking for inspiration for your unique elopement day, check out this blog post with images that tell the story of their day!
Kaitlin & Adam’s Elopement Story
This is one of my favorite elopement stories to date! Kaitlin and Adam had been planning a wedding in 2019 before plans completely shifted in early 2020. Originally they had intended to wait and have their wedding as planned, but as time continued, they realized, as many other couples did at that time, that an elopement might be a better fit! Kaitlin reached out to me and told me the whole plan, which I immediately fell in love with! We then went to work crafting the best timeline for their 4-person elopement day at an eclectic Airbnb Kaitlin found nestled in the woods in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
Looking to plan your own Elopement or Small wedding?
Their day
Kaitlin and Adam’s day started off at the courthouse in downtown Pittsboro. They had a private ceremony with their two closest friends as witnesses outside, with a large tree as their backdrop. After the ceremony, they headed to their Airbnb on the outskirts of town to meet me and partake in the rest of the celebratory activities!
I think the BEST part of Kaitlin and Adam’s day was how free and calm it was. We were never in a rush, we had plenty of time to get everything done, and it just felt entirely intentional around them, their preferences, what felt meaningful, and what felt FUN in the moment. I loved how laid back they were when getting ready- just giddy to finally be married!
Together, we explored the Airbnb property taking couple portraits and getting eaten alive by North Carolina’s infamous mosquitos. Then, Kaitlin went inside to change into her wedding dress, which was a customized dress made from her mother’s vintage dress and was absolutely stunning! Her and Adam shared an intimate first look before having a sweet little private vow sharing outside before the rain started.
After vows and portraits, we all settled in for the night. They had their first dance while their best friend sang and played guitar, we popped champagne, exchanged gifts, and perused her parent’s photo album from their wedding as a way to celebrate the core people in their lives that weren’t able to physically be present that day.
It was a day full of intention, love, and pure joy. I was so thankful to be a part of it and get to capture the story of that day for them to relive for years to come. That’s the best part about this job, and Kaitlin and Adam are no exception!
If you’re looking for inspiration for your unique elopement story, keep scrolling to see how Kaitlin and Adam’s day looked!
Looking to plan your own unique North Carolina elopement?
Hi, we’re Becca and Hannah! As your North Carolina and Colorado elopement planning & photography team, we’re more than just the vendors setting up table decor and shooting posed portraits after your ceremony. We’re here to create a safe and community driven space for you to make your meaningful wedding vision a reality, without you having to do any of the heavy lifting! Elopement planning is our absolute jam, so if you’re interested, reach out here to schedule your free elopement consultation with us!
Two-Day Spring Elopement in North Carolina
Looking for inspiration for your two-day elopement? Kassie and Jake's multi-day elopement experience in Western North Carolina is the best place to start! It was a never-ending adventure with waterfall hikes, a sunrise ceremony on the Appalachian Trail, and a vineyard visit! It was the perfect, spring elopement experience!
What Does a Two-day Elopement Look Like?
Kassie and Jake’s multi-day elopement in Western North Carolina is one that we will never forget! It was two days full of adventure, back up plans, freezing cold temperatures, and unique activities that made for the perfect wedding experience for them. This is also a GREAT example of what a true adventure elopement can look like, and why having vendors who know how to pivot your day and create backup plans is so important. If you’re looking for inspiration about what a two-day elopement could look like, keep reading!
Looking to plan your own elopement or micro-wedding?
Why a two-day elopement
When we first chatted with Kassie and Jake about this day, we knew that we had to include lots of hiking, and quality time to slow down. They live in New York City and both have incredibly busy jobs, so they don’t get the opportunity to take it easy often. A two-day elopement worked well for them, because they would have time to soak up all of the best parts of Western North Carolina, travel to different areas, and not feel rushed about going back to the city after the day.
Planning an North Carolina elopement? Check out our blog post all about How to Elope in NC for our best tips and tricks!
Day 1
Waterfall hike near Blowing Rock
During the planning process, when prompted with the question of their favorite activities to do together, they both immediately exclaimed “hiking and backpacking!” Kassie and Jake originally met in North Carolina and took trips together to the mountains before moving to New York City. The plan for the first day of their elopement was to inspire some nostalgia about Southern Appalachia to remind them of their first adventures together as a couple.
Becca and I met up with the couple at a quaint little coffee shop in downtown Blowing Rock, and we all shared some laughs and travel stories over lattes and tea as we prepped for our hike. Becca had scouted the perfect spot not far off of Main Street with a short 2 mile trail and two different waterfalls! It was an idyllic Spring day, filled with sunshine and early blooms. They took their time exploring the falls and soaking in each other’s company before their sunrise elopement the next morning.
Day 2
Sunrise elopement ceremony at Carver’s Gap
Even though they had lived in NC for a long period of time, neither of them had ever been to Carver’s Gap, Tennessee. Becca and I knew that would be the perfect spot for them at sunrise, and wasn’t too far of a pre-dawn drive from everyone’s accommodations in Banner Elk. Unfortunately, as we watched the weather reports in the days leading up to it, we knew that it wouldn’t be quite the sunny, blue sky adventure we were hoping for. However, both Kassie and Jake felt it would still be worth it to check it out!
All four of us got a very early start on the morning of their ceremony, meeting at the trailhead around 6:30am. We knew the weather would be cold, but it was truly a winter wonderland!! As Becca and I made our way up the winding road to the trailhead, I watched as our car drove into the frost-covered cloud bank, with no normal, sprawling blue-ridge mountain views in sight.
After consulting with both Jake and Kassie, we decided to move forward with the first look and ceremony right on the Appalachian Trail, while keeping in mind the cold and everyone’s safety. Becca had come prepared with handwarmers, extra gloves, and multiple backpacking quilts and blankets to help keep the couple warm as they walked, side by side, up towards the grassy balds. It was still important for them to get married at the start of the day, so they could spend the rest of it reveling in each other’s company- so we did not want to alter that part of the timeline!
I’m honestly so glad we opted to stay at Carver’s Gap, even in the freezing cold. The soft dusting of snow and ice covered pine forest added to the romantic nature of the moment, setting a serene and peaceful backdrop. It was a beautiful experience watching these two share their first look and vows together with not another human in sight. Not a typical experience you get at this trailhead!
Warm afternoon at the vineyard
We had already planned to take a mid-day break after the sunrise ceremony, so everyone could relax, change their clothes and refresh for the afternoon activities. After the chilly sunrise adventure, the time to nap and warm up was well-deserved! We met up with Kassie and Jake again at Grandfather Vineyard to finish up their elopement experience with a wine tasting and charcuterie board designed by Becca. It was the perfect end to the experience for them, and we had so much fun exploring the vineyard, playing games and chatting before heading back down the mountain!
