Fort Collins Elopement at Horsetooth Reservoir | Katie & Alex
Katie and Alex didn't need a big guest list or a long to-do list to make their day feel like the most important one of their lives. They chose to marry the way they've done everything else in their relationship, on their own terms, close to home, and about as simple as it gets. Honestly, I love when couples do it this way.
They wanted a small, outdoor Fort Collins elopement near the water they'd spent nine years falling in love around. Katie and Alex met in 2018 as students at CSU, and Horsetooth became the backdrop for countless dates and adventures in the years that followed. Getting engaged last summer at a local farm co-op, standing in a field of flowers, only added another chapter to a place that already meant so much to them.
So it only made sense that when the time came to say "I do," they'd come back to where it all started.
The morning was short and unhurried. Just their moms stood beside them as they exchanged vows with the reservoir stretched out behind them, and there wasn't much else the moment needed. I brought along some 120 and 35mm film to capture a few moments too, which felt right for two people who wanted their photos to feel like a slice of life, soft, textured, and instantly nostalgic, photos that will take them right back there, years from now.
The part that really got me was the timing. Katie and Alex got married on the exact anniversary of the day they started dating nine years earlier. No elaborate planning, just two people who've spent nearly a decade building a life together in Fort Collins, choosing to make it official on the same date they chose each other the first time. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing details like that.
There's something powerful about a couple who already knows their love is enough. Katie and Alex didn't need anything more than the reservoir, their moms, and each other, and that was more than enough to make it one of the most meaningful mornings I've had the privilege of documenting. If you're dreaming up your own small, meaningful day, take a look at The Experience to see what it's like working together, or head over to Contact and let's start planning.
