Photos by Katie Dawn Photo
Raven and Kaleb eloped in the mountains near Aspen, Colorado, in June 2026, reading their vows in a meadow at sunrise with Raven’s daughter as their only witness. Afterward they picked up coffee and read letters from the loved ones who had planned to be there.
They’re from Kansas and wanted a mountain backdrop, so Aspen made sense. The original plan included family and friends. Then plans changed, and they adjusted.
When the plan changes
It wasn’t what they first imagined, and it didn’t matter. The morning was sunny, the views did the decorating, and the guest list came down to the one person who mattered most to have there. Raven wore a sleek sleeveless gown with a long veil and carried a bouquet of dried flowers tied with white ribbon; Kaleb wore a tan jacket and jeans.
An Aspen elopement at sunrise
Starting early paid off. The peaks above the meadow lit up pink while Raven and Kaleb read their vows, and Katie Dawn caught the veil streaming across the grass in that first light. Sunrise also means fewer people on the trail, which matters in a place as popular as Aspen. For more Colorado inspiration, see this wildflower elopement in Crested Butte and this Jeep elopement near Ouray.
Letters from the people who couldn’t come
The family and friends who were originally supposed to be there sent letters instead, and Raven and Kaleb read them on a blanket in the meadow. It brought everyone into the morning without anyone having to travel.
Get the look
Editor picks inspired by this wedding, not what the couple wore.
- Little Well Paper Co. Correspondence Lavender Flat Wax Seal Stationery Set, $20.65 at Paper Source. Six letterpress cards and envelopes with self-adhesive wax seals. Mail one to each person who can’t make it, with a date to send it back, and you’ll have your own stack of letters to read after your vows.
- Picnic Time Outdoor Picnic Blanket Tote, $32.95 at Picnic Time. Soft fleece on top and a water-resistant underside, so dewy grass at sunrise stays off your dress while you read. It packs into a tote with a shoulder strap; we like the Neutral Plaid.
- Suitsupply Sand Tailored Fit Havana Suit Jacket, $699 at Suitsupply. A sand blazer for the tan jacket and jeans look in this elopement. It’s wrinkle-free wool, which helps when the jacket rides in a pack on the way to your spot.
The idea worth stealing
Ask the people who can’t make it to write you a letter, and read them together right after your vows. It’s free, it fits any size of wedding, and the letters keep long after the day is over. For more on writing your own words, see how to write wedding vows.
Wedding vendors
- Location: Aspen, CO
- Photographer: Katie Dawn Photo
