How To Have A Mountain Adventure Wedding

Adventure awaits! This next real-life couple has a wanderlust that sparked their love for one another as well as for the places they travel to together. One of those adventure-filled outings was the Colorado Rockies, which is where they planned to tie the knot. But because they have a taste for the wild side of life their “I do”s weren’t in your classic chapel or churchyard, no instead all their guests where trollied up the mountains to a remote valley set for Tara and Bryan to say their vows. 

Keep scrolling to see how this sweet couples mountain adventures turned out. And as always be sure to stop by the full gallery to see all the photos from Tracy Enoch Photography.

You, Me and the mountains

Years ago, after Bryan Schupp’s work took him to Durango, Colorado, he invited his girlfriend Tara Anderson to wonder about the mountains with him. Against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks that reach toward the heavens, it’s no wonder the Texas couple fell in love. They drove along the jaw-dropping Million Dollar Highway in Silverton, explored the vast wilderness, and ducked into charming cafes in small historical towns like Ouray, Telluride, and Montrose. 

Knowing how much the mountains meant to their relationship, Bryan plotted a wedding proposal during a trip with friends to Europe. Once the couple reached the Swiss Alps, he dropped on one knee and popped the question. Without hesitation, Tara said yes.

the venue

When the time came to plan the wedding, there was no question that the event would be held in Ouray, a cherished Colorado town affectionately known as “The Switzerland of America.” This hamlet, named after beloved Chief Ouray of the Ute Indian Tribe, served as a popular gold-mining town in the 1800s. It is now home to quaint restaurants, cozy inns, and snug shops tucked in among hot springs. 

The Beaumont Hotel was the couple’s first pick for the wedding’s home base. Built in 1886 at the height of the gold boom, this historic hotel has welcomed famous guests including Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, King Leopold of Belgium, Chipeta, widow of the Ute Chief Ouray, French actress Sarah Bernhardt, and media megastar Oprah Winfrey. Restoration by owners Chad and Jennifer Leaver has resulted in an intimate property that boasts modern comforts alongside well-preserved historical grandeur. 

The Invites

Guests received sophisticated invitation suites featuring ivory script and sage antlers letter-pressed into a luxurious cotton paper. Dallas-based designers Cotton Paperie added a touch of flora and fauna to the suite with a vintage motif envelope liner. The couple added their personal touch to each invitation with hand-pressed copper wax seals. To reflect the coziness of fall, we styled the paper details on top of a rich green tartan plaid scarf. 

The Style

The bride wore a fit and flare lace gown with a keyhole back and elegant capped shoulders. Her golden-blonde hair curled into a chic updo at the nape of her neck. Tara’s refined yet rustic bouquet exploded with eucalyptus, thistle, and fern. Bridesmaids wore flowing silver sage dresses that reflected the cool greenery tones in the bouquets. 

The groom donned a wool vest and matching jacket with vintage professorial elbow patches. The couple chose a flexible style approach for the groomsmen, who wore varying fall attire including warm sweaters, vests, ties, and suspenders. Bryan presented them with gifts of custom beer steins to thank them for traveling to be by his side.

The Big Day

Fall in Ouray can be highly unpredictable, and weather backup planning is an absolute must. Luckily for Tara and Bryan, they awoke to the most perfectly crisp October day, without a drop of rain (or snow!) in the forecast. Their mountain adventure ceremony dreams would finally come true.

The bride and groom saw each other for the first time on their wedding day at the bottom of the grand historic staircase at the Beaumont Hotel. Before they knew it, it was time to dry their happy tears! Switzerland of America arrived with open-air Jeeps to whisk them away to the top of the Colorado mountains with their wedding party. 

While the bridesmaids and groomsmen enjoyed s’mores at the ceremony site, guests bundled up and loaded into more Jeeps for a once-in-a-lifetime wedding adventure. The warm sun smiled upon the crisp fall day as the group climbed their way through rocks and rugged trails to reach a clearing staged for the couple’s vow exchange. Pop-up metal camping chairs rested in rows surrounded only by lush pampas grass arrangements and cliffs stretching straight into the sky.