Danielle Tolson Photography

04/18/2025

Colorado really said “surprise!” After a few solid days of sunshine and pretending we were done with winter, the snow rolled right back in — so it feels like the perfect time to share this April elopement from a few years back that laughed in the face of any forecast.

Nell’s dress got muddy. Patrick’s vows got emotional. They brought their dogs to be their witnesses (10/10 always recommend). We had teary eyes, wind-blown hair, actual flurries, and a whole lot of laughter echoing off the mountains.

These two had zero interest in a backup weather plan, and honestly, I love the roll with the punches attitude. Just two people fully in it, saying yes in the kind of moment that feels too good to stage anyway.

Give me all of the messy weather, meaningful vows, and boots under the dress any day. It’s what my elopement dreams are made of 🥾🏔️🥹

-

Keywords: Colorado elopement photographer, Mountain wedding, Adventure elopement photographer, Elopement inspiration, Dog-friendly elopement, Eloping in Colorado, Rocky Mountain elopement

04/07/2025

This is what it looks like when you plan a wedding day around what actually matters to you.

For E + J, that meant a peaceful morning with their families, a private first look and vow reading at the edge of an alpine lake - just the two of them - before their ceremony with their parents. Afterward, they celebrated by making margaritas in custom glasses (10/10 recommend) and eating cake.

No big venue. No stressful and jam-packed timeline. Just meaningful moments, 360° mountain views, and a whole lot of intention.

This is your sign to build a day around your own priorities. Whether that’s hiking to the perfect ceremony spot or slinging margaritas for your guests in a suit jacket, I promise: ditching expectations and planning a day that fully encapsulates everything YOU want to do will always be worth it☺️

03/20/2025

Sneaks from A + B’s elopement yesterday—I just couldn’t wait to share a few! They had their day at a beautiful rental home in Bailey, Colorado, surrounded by their closest people, and it was the perfect blend of laid-back and meaningful.

A lot of couples come to me wanting epic mountain views *and* their favorite people there to celebrate with them. But the reality? Many of those remote locations only allow 10 guests or fewer. Which can feel pretty disheartening when you can’t imagine your wedding day without your closest friends and family.

On the other hand, if you’re bringing more than 10 guests, most outdoor ceremony sites that offer views like this require advance reservations (that go *fast*) and are often in fairly public areas—so you may have strangers passing through, or even hanging out during your ceremony. 🫠

If that sounds familiar, don’t sleep on using a VRBO for your elopement or micro-wedding! There are so many gorgeous rental homes in the mountains that allow events—places where you can get ready on-site, exchange vows with a front row seat to the peaks, and step inside to an intimate catered dinner all without worrying about permits, guest limits, long drive times, or where you’ll pivot if the weather rolls in.

If you’re curious about options, I’ve got an ever-growing list of incredible properties all across Colorado that are perfect for elopements and micro-weddings like this one☺️

So if you’re thinking a mountain rental elopement might be your vibe, reach out and let’s make it happen.

Planning: .weddings
Make up:
Hair:

—

Colorado elopement photographer | VRBO wedding Colorado | Colorado micro-wedding ideas | Bailey Colorado elopement | Colorado mountain elopement venues | Small wedding photographer Colorado

03/18/2025

🎶With you by my side, I can do without the world🎶

A throwback to this couples session with Taylor and Ben, two of the kindest humans I know. We’re from the same place in Southern Florida, so getting to run around the Colorado mountains together felt like bringing a little piece of home into this life I’ve built out here over the past five years. It was one of those slow, simple, golden evenings that sticks with you—bare feet, wildflowers, and a whole lot of laughter🥹

If you’re dreaming of photos that feel natural, playful, and laid-back—I’d love to capture that for you. Reach out through the link in my bio and let’s make it happen☺️🤎

—


—

Colorado couples photographer | couples session | Colorado adventure session | Denver couples photographer | Colorado mountain photographer | Colorado engagement photographer

03/11/2025

Katie + Andrew’s engagement session in Rocky Mountain National Park was such a perfect reflection of who they are. They got engaged on a camping trip in Vermont (both rocking their Patagonia jackets and sunglasses), so it only made sense to bring that vibe into their session. Laid-back, fun, outdoorsy—basically everything they love about their life together.

We spent the afternoon running around RMNP, hanging out, and laughing the whole time. We also all showed up wearing the same pair of brown Blundstones so we knew it was a good match from the jump 🥾. No stiff posing or awkward moments—just two people who are clearly each other’s favorite adventure buddy. They even printed one of these photos on canvas for their guests to sign at their micro-wedding, which is honestly the coolest twist on a guest book.

Engagement sessions are the best way to get comfy in front of the camera before the big day. We get to hang out, find what feels natural for you two, and make sure the photos actually look and feel like you.

Looking for a Colorado photographer who’s down for adventure and keeping things stress-free? I’m your girl☺️🤎

—
Colorado engagement photographer | Rocky Mountain National Park engagement session | RMNP micro-wedding photographer | Colorado adventure couples photos | Denver micro-wedding photographer

03/05/2025

This *false spring* has me reminiscing on warmer days—like Jessi and Ian’s Boulder elopement.

Days like this make winter feel distant, like a pause between seasons that barely touches moments this golden. I know I know, we still have plenty of snowy days ahead of us and that this really *is* a false spring, but that won’t stop me from pretending winter is done and gone.

I have so many incredible elopements lined up this year with THE best couples in some of Colorado’s most beautiful spots, and I’m more than ready for sunshine, adventures, mountain vows, and 8:30 pm sunsets 🌄

Until the real spring arrives, I’ll be here, lost in these sun-drenched memories.

——

Makeup:
Floral:
Dress:
Cake: .emily.bakery
Photo:

——

Boulder elopement, Colorado mountain wedding, mountain elopement, adventure wedding, intimate wedding, Colorado elopement photographer, scenic wedding locations, documentary wedding photographer

08/27/2024

04/16/2024

Throwback to Holly and Shaman’s super sweet Woodland Park microwedding ⛰️🤎 I can’t believe I never shared these!
Shoutout to all of the incredible vendors that helped make this day happen:
Planning:
Officiant:
Florals:

02/06/2024

This one’s for my couples 💌. In the spirit of Love Month, I wanted to remind you that your love doesn’t need a special occasion to be celebrated or captured. You don’t need a ring on that left ring finger in order to take some fun and cute photos with your partner. No matter where you’re at in your relationship, your love story is worth telling ♥️

I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that I love shooting in the mountains - but I also love shooting around the city, or even at your favorite local vintage shop! Ramon and Julia, the couple in these photos, are dear friends of mine who I met in art school years back (fun fact, I also photographed their wedding - one of my greatest privileges to date. I can’t even count how many times I cried that day...I’m a Cancer, what can I say 🤷🏼‍♀️🥹). They invited me to roam around Newport for the day to photograph them in some of their favorite places, and that’s how we captured all of these special photos.

These are the moments I live for. The moments I love to capture for others. While moments can be fleeting, photos last a lifetime. And if done right, they can bring you right back to how you were feeling in that instant. To me, that’s pure magic✨

Here’s to capturing love, wherever it’s found ♥️

Click that link in my bio if you want some cutie pics of you and your partner having the best day ever in your favorite places!

02/01/2024

This one’s for the girls, g**s, and theys 🏳️‍🌈🥰

Every love story is unique, and as an elopement photographer, it’s my job to capture that story with the utmost care and respect for your individuality. I’m 100% dedicated to creating a space where you feel fully celebrated and supported every step of the way, much like the journey you’ve embarked on together – full of understanding, care, and a celebration of your unique love 🤎

01/30/2024

Did you know that Rocky Mountain National Park has 13 unique ceremony sites for elopements?! Olivia and Casey chose the stunning Sprague Lake – a perfect match for their special day.

If you dream of having your wedding in the heart of the Rockies, planning early is key to securing your permit. Applications for wedding permits are accepted one year ahead of your desired month, and RMNP reviews these applications monthly on the first of each month.

I’ve photographed over 40 elopements inside Rocky Mountain National Park, and I can confidently say it’s my favorite place for elopements. If the permit process confuses you, or you need someone who will not only photograph but also help you plan the best day ever, please reach out! I’m here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your day is as incredible as you imagine.
Nothing would make me happier than helping you create your dream wedding together! 🤎🏔️✨

01/15/2024

Nicole and Alex’s elopement in Boulder was picture perfect in every way, but my favorite moment? Probably when they ditched their wedding shoes and attire for matching sweatpants - because sometimes comfort really is key ✨

01/09/2024

Engagement season is in full swing y’all! 💍 It’s an exciting time for so many couples starting a new chapter in their lives together. These moments are about celebrating your unique journey as a couple, and what better way to do that than with an engagement session?!

But also…who says you need a ring on your finger to book a session? Couples sessions are for everyone! Engaged or not, I encourage you to celebrate where you are right now in your relationship, and I’d love to be the one to capture those moments 🥰

With every session, my goal is to create a space where my couples feel comfortable expressing their love for each other and to show their unique personalities — be it silly, serious, or playful — I just want you to have fun. Like Mary and Anchor did while dancing and running around in the snow ❄️✨

Interested in booking a session or curious about the process? Shoot me a message - I would love to chat about how we can create a memorable shoot together 🤎

01/08/2024

🤎Amber + Ervin🤎

These two drove all the way from West Virginia to Colorado to exchange their vows, just the two of them, surrounded by the iconic orange sandstone rock Garden of the Gods is known for. Their ceremony was short, sweet, and oh so perfect. I don’t think this day could’ve been any more perfect, honestly.

I love photographing all kinds of ceremonies, but private elopement ceremonies will always have a special place in my heart. Something about two souls committing to one another until death do them part in such an intimate way really gets me in my feels every.damn.time. It’s always an incredible honor to be there for these moments and to be trusted to document it all so it can be shared with loved ones after the fact✨

Congrats again, Amber and Ervin! 🥂

officiated by
ceremony by

12/28/2023

Not into the idea of a traditional wedding? That’s okay, neither am I. That’s one of the great things about eloping - you get to do whatever you want on YOUR day. Include what feels right to you two, and ditch the rest.

Want to run around barefoot in Rocky Mountain National Park after saying your “I do’s”? How about celebrating with a unity joint? One thing I can promise you is that I will always encourage you to make your day your own and support you every step of the way. Screw whatever anyone else thinks. Do something that’s totally you...you name it, we’ll make it happen 🤎✨

12/27/2023

Throwback to an incredible summer morning in the mountains with Jo + Don 🤎 Their journey began years ago when they found each other in a Facebook group for hikers and bonded over their shared passion for time spent in the great outdoors exploring new places or foraging for mushrooms 🍄✨. Fast forward to 2021, Jo + Don reached out to me with the dream of eloping in Colorado. After a few years of us dreaming up and planning their perfect day, these two packed up their wedding attire and Teton backpacks, making the journey all the way from Pennsylvania for a sunrise hike to their dream spot in the Rocky Mountains to say ‘I do.’

Words truly cannot express how much fun I had planning, coordinating, and capturing every moment of Don + Jo’s special day. It is an incredible honor getting to do this for a living, and I am forever grateful for every single couple who hires me and trusts me to make their dream day a reality! 🥹

Don and Jo, you guys are seriously some of the coolest and sweetest people I’ve ever met. If only we could turn back time and relive this amazing day all over again! What do you say...same time next year?!

09/01/2023

Hey y’all 🥹! It feels both exciting and nerve-wracking to share what's been happening behind the scenes over here for the better part of the last year. As an elopement photographer, I've had the privilege of capturing some pretty sweet love stories, but I also faced some challenges in my personal life that took a toll on my well-being.

To be honest, I didn't announce my social media break when it started because I wasn't sure how to navigate the vulnerability that comes with burnout and mental health struggles. To put it bluntly - I was scared as s**t. But here we are, pushing through the fear because I believe in being honest + open with all of you 🫶🏼

After about a year of not posting on Instagram, I’ve built up quite the queue of elopements that filled my heart to the brim, and I’ve just been dying to share them with you!

I’ve wanted to post for a while, but I got caught in a cycle of scrolling through all of these galleries, unsure of which one to pick first...honestly, not a bad place to be, but the analysis paralysis was REAL. So, I decided to close my eyes, scroll until it felt right, and I landed on this dreamy, snowy elopement from this past spring.

Kimberly and Matt were absolute troopers braving the wind and snow. The temps may have been freezing, but their love shined brighter than the sun ❤️‍🔥

It might seem a bit silly to post a snowy elopement when we're still in the 90s here in Denver, but trust me, the next post will bring some heat with a hiking elopement from last month 🥾🏔️

Thank you all so, so much for your patience and support, even in the silence, it really does mean the world to me. Love you guys more than I can put into words 🤎✨

08/14/2022

✨🤎 The Allens 🤎✨

I’m still in awe of how beautiful and perfect Whitney and Aaron’s elopement was. These two tied the knot in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is already a beautiful place, but the day we went up there all of the wildflowers were in full bloom and all of the animals were out and about 🌼🐿. Something straight out of a fairy tale, I’m telling ya.

Congrats again you cuties!

Coordinated by: