Are you planning a short-notice, small wedding or elopement?
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS ARE OPEN - Many couples don’t want to wait. They are planning to get married in the very near future, eloping, or rushing a small ceremony with their photographer, some close friends, and family but dispensing with or postponing the reception party.
View WPJA photo stories from smaller weddings - WedElope | Choose love, not fear!
Boulder Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of Boulder, Colorado
Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville
Boulder Elopement Photographers
YOU CAN'T STOP LOVE - In recent days, some of our United States photographer vendors have expressed their desire to accommodate couples who don’t want to wait to be married and are rushing the ceremony.
Many brides and grooms around the globe are planning to elope and deciding to reschedule their original ideas for a big event because of current wedding size restrictions, social distancing, and mask requirements. They are getting wed on a whim, but dispensing with or postponing all else.
The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, documentary-style elopement photographers who are available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Elopement Photographers for Small Colorado Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small Boulder wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.
Members are ready to document any DIY - do it yourself, city hall, civil ceremony, or elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.
We are anxious to create a picture story chronicling your unique, outdoor, romantic, small wedding from beginning to end. In this sense, it is no different from any other event that we have covered. The emphasis is on documenting key moments, capturing spontaneous displays of emotion, telling your real love story, as well as creating artistic portraits and details.
Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Boulder Couples
7 Documentary Wedding Photographers...

I’ve worked as a professional photographer for 15 years. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in photojournalism and started out in the newspaper industry. During that time, I shot everything from criminal court trials to Detroit Pistons games (I’m originally from Michigan); structure fires to beauty pageants; congressional debates to high school football games on Friday nights. Every day was a new challenge; every assignment a new learning opportunity. My time as a photojournalist taught me to be resourceful and to think on my feet, which has proven invaluable for wedding photography. In the summer of 2008, I started shooting weddings on the side and absolutely loved it. I was able to visit new places, meet new people, and was granted a very important and personal role in what was arguably the most joyful day of their lives. Plus, I started getting a ton of compliments on my work and how it was different from typical wedding photography. People would tell me that they could spot one of my photos from a mile away without having to be told who the photographer was – that I was beginning to cultivate a very specific style. So when my wife, Moira, and I moved to Colorado that fall, I decided to make wedding photography my full-time career; we started J. La Plante Photo and never looked back. When I’m not behind the lens, you can probably find me on the slopes. Skiing is one of the main reasons I moved west. I’m also obsessed with the music scene out here. Red Rocks is by far the coolest venue I’ve ever been to. I’m a craft beer nerd, a movie buff, an amateur screenwriter and an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction alike. And I love to travel. I’ve been to 18 foreign countries and all 50 United States. I drove all over the American West before deciding to settle in Colorado, where I immediately fell in love with the state’s blend of urban and outdoor lifestyles. The proximity of Denver to the mountains felt too good to be true and now, eight years later, it still feels that way. I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for a wedding photographer. [Boulder Wedding Photographer]

Every Colorado elopement photographer has the same magical backdrop. But we’re all bringing our own, different magic from behind the camera. I'm Nina Larsen Reed, a born-and-raised Norwegian who moved to the mountains of Colorado in 2010 and fell in love hard. I fell in love with the boundless blue skies, the Rocky Mountain hiking trails, and with a splitboarder named Justin. And as I spent more time exploring Colorado, I realized how much I love sharing this playground I call home with couples like you. I’m not going to tell you that my photos are better than anyone else’s. What I can tell you? That I’ve photographed more than 150 couples across the Rocky Mountains. That I help my couples plan their dream elopements and weddings in a place I know and love. That these mountains still make me say “Can you believe this is real life?!” If you choose me, you’ll be so much more than a date on my calendar and I want to be so much more than a stranger with a camera. I don’t care where you’re getting married or how many people will be there. All I care about is that you’re excited about how you’re getting married and that you can trust me to show that excitement through my photos. (Oh and let’s get one thing super clear: Love is love, and I’m an LGBTQ+ friendly photographer.) [Boulder Wedding Photographer]

Michael is associate photographer at Bonnie Photo. However, his most important roles are as Bonnie’s husband-extraordinaire and co-parent to their two strange dogs, Sylas and Rowena. Mike is much more photogenic than Bonnie, which Bonnie is infinitely grateful for! Mike’s skills include: Mechanical Engineering (his day-job) Cooking Making everyone around him feel comfortable and at-ease Pointing Making Bonnie laugh [Boulder Wedding Photographer]

Bonnie is a Scottish word for beautiful. Having this name has encouraged me to see the beauty in everything. Born and raised in Boulder, CO, I’ve always had a travel bug and a passion for art. I specialize in outdoor portraits using natural and staged lighting. My editing style is bold and vibrant. You’ll find that my client interactions and photography reflect the high value I place on family, honesty, intelligence (I am a Ravenclaw after all), and humor. My other roles include substitute teacher, Denver Comic Con volunteer, luckiest wife in the world, and dog momma. Even as a small child, my parents made sure to instill in me a love for viewing and creating art. This life-long immersion in the art world inspired me to pursue an art degree for part of my undergraduate career at Colorado State University (although I ended up with a BA in International Studies and a minor in history). As I sought a place to study history for my master’s degree, I made sure to find a place that would encourage and foster my artistic side. I traveled to Norwich, UK to get my MA in Modern European History at the University of East Anglia. I chose UEA for its dedication to the arts and the rigor of its Slavic studies program. My coursework there focused on art and literature in the Soviet Union and I wrote my dissertation on Soviet Cinema. It was at this time that I bought my first DSLR camera because my point and shoot offered nowhere near the amount of artistic control I desired over my images. I now feel at home as a wedding photographer in Colorado. I own my own business, I'm following my passion, and I love it! [Boulder Wedding Photographer]
I don't take myself too seriously - but I do LOVE my job. When I’m shooting I’m a total goof, creating a fun atmosphere where it’s easy for you to feel comfortable being YOURSELF. The word “professional” in front of “photographer” is hard for me to stomach, since I lie in the dirt A LOT and have been known to swear like a sailor. But what I lack in dignity I make up for in sound effects. I have been shooting weddings full time since 2013 though, so I guess I must accept the title. I'm your built-in hype girl. I am also an “adult.” More about me: -I met my husband when I moved to Colorado in 2015 – literally, on my first night here- and now we have two terrible/adorable cats and a forever sleepover. -My favorite food is anything wrapped in more food. Pierogies. Ravioli. Potstickers. Tacos. Samosas. Empanadas. Give it to me. -I’ve danced contra, swing, lindy, blues, and fusion, but off the dancefloor, I’m a total klutz. I once cut myself on a bagel, which is the roundest object known to all mankind. It’s bad, dudes. -Still not over how cute bunnies are. Who is, though? -I’m a Highly Sensitive Person, (HSP) and I have Misophonia (which is, unfortunately, not a soup). -I previously worked in veterinary surgery and volunteered at spay/neuter clinics and a raptor rehab center. My feral cat wrangling skills rarely come into play at weddings, but when they do.. -I’ve traveled to New Zealand, Indonesia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Germany & Austria, where I kept cheese in my pockets to lure stray cats into my arms. It was.. occasionally successful. If you have been to New Zealand, we are already friends. [Denver Wedding Photographer]

Working as a photojournalist for the past 13 years for clients like Getty Images, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Major League Baseball, Upper Deck, NASCAR and The Denver Post, to name a few, I've had the opportunity to document stories, events and people all over the country. I bring that level of experience, problem-solving and hard work to each and every wedding that I photograph. I've shot more than 130 weddings and elopements in my career which is something I can admit that I didn't see coming as a business student at the University of Denver, CO. I definitely thought I would end up in the advertising industry but I picked up a camera while studying abroad in Rome, Italy and haven't put it down since. I love spending time with my fianceé, Amy, and our families. When I have some free time I can usually be found on the golf course, riding one of my three bikes or snowboarding. I am passionate about cooking and craft beer, having tried more than 2,000 unique beers to date. [Denver Wedding Photographer]

During college, Trent worked in a photography lab gutting film canisters, chopping negatives and making prints. Thousands of frames later, it became time to transition from the development side of photography into the production of it. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with a Journalism degree and a stint in photojournalism, it led him to one of the most challenging, exciting and riveting arenas in the industry. Wedding photography. Several years after going full time with Gillespie Photography, he met Stacy and managed to drag her along on his many photo adventures. In 2013 they were married and now serve as Gillespie Photography’s primary photographers. Outside of photography, he loves spending time on the water, racing down powder-covered slopes strapped to a board, backpacking in the rocky mountains, and planning for the next adventure. He’s thankful for many things, but most importantly, a graceful God. [Summit County Wedding Photographer]
Wedding Venues from Boulder
Please select a venue below to view all associated winning photos.
Wedding Engagement Diamond Awards - Boulder
Are you ready to find your Boulder engagement / pre-wedding photographer for a portrait session to complement your story of love? Searching for some ideas and creative inspiration for your own pre-wed shoot? Pro members from the Boulder Wedding Photojournalist Association would like to help you add some unique and artistic pictures to your engagement photo gallery!
Searches Related to Boulder Wedding Photography Vendors
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Lacy & Tommy
Photo by Justin Edmonds
Omg we absolutely love these and yes you made me cry!! Thank you for making our day one we will never forget :)
Katie and Joel
Photo by Justin Edmonds
Dear Justin, Thank you so much for all your hard work in August! We are so grateful for the photos that captured our wedding day perfectly and will help us remember it forever. Your advice and experience was so valuable and we can't thank you enough.
Ashleigh & Tony
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Thank you so much for all the amazing photos. While our wedding turned out to be unconventional, our photos turned out exactly the way we wanted them to and that is 100% due to your excellent talent.
Patricia & Kevin
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We were so honored to have you share in our special day. The pics are absolutely amazing! We can’t thank you enough. Please accept this small token of our appreciation of your hard work and beautiful photos. We are so happy with the final product! You rock! Thank you again.
Nerisse & Rob
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Thank you so much for contributing to our wedding day. Our phone calls and emails gave us confidence that you will capture moments with our family and friends that we will cherish forever. Your website and unique portfolio are what drew us to you – it sets you apart from others so we are really excited to see our day through your lens/eye. Thank you for capturing our day for us to remember.
Courtney & Derek
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We don’t think we could ever say thank you enough! Every photo you took from our engagement session and our wedding amazes us. As you can tell it is hard to pick our favorite! We had so much fun going on adventures with you to take photos, especially hiking up a mountain in our wedding attire. Thank you for all your hard work on the photos and going above and beyond with your creativity. We will always remember trying to have a romantic moment and Moira always popping in. It gave us many funny memories. We can’t wait to go on our next adventurous photo shoot with you guys and drink some whiskey. If you need a reference feel free to reach out to us!
Melissa and Jordan
Photo by Justin Edmonds
They are amazing! Thank you so very much for everything, it was a pleasure having you be a part of our journey, from engagement to marriage. The pictures really show our happiness and love, they’re perfect. Thank you!
Kristin & Grant
Photo by Jesse La Plante
WOOOOOOOO WWWWWWWwW. This is basically the highest form of verbal praise we can give, when we are so blown away by things, we add at least 7 o’s and at least the same number of whatever consonant letter follows the vowel. This is because the pictures leave us so incredibly speechless that all we keep saying is “this is amazing” “no, THIS is amazing.” Which dilutes the power of the amazing which is not at all fair. You guys must be photography ninjas because after the family photos, you were so stealthy I had no idea of your whereabouts, but clearly you were hiding in the best places to capture all these great memories!!!! I am so so happy with these sneak peek photos! Thank you for the gift of your craft. We are so happy you were there on our special day capturing all of these moments in such unique and beautiful form.
Aekta & John
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We can’t thank you enough for everything. Y’all were/are the BEST! From keeping me company while gettind ressed to the amazing photographs at the wedding, you truly gave us some amazing photographs that really capture our style. Apologies for basically running down the aisle! We’ll never forget the water balloons either! So excited to get the chance to work with you again, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re pretty awesome people. See you in January!
Jamie & Eric
Photo by Jesse La Plante
You two are just so incredibly talented! Thank you so so much for all of the hard work you put in to capture these amazing photos. We don’t think we have seen wedding photos better than these! Also thank you for coming all the way to Durango and celebrating with us! It was great to get to know you two a little better throughout the wedding process. We hope we get to hang with you two again sometime and hope you enjoyed your time in Durango as well. You guys rock!
Holly and Hayden
Photo by Justin Edmonds
I absolutely ADORE these photos!! You did an amazing job and I just want to show you one simple shot that just gave goosebumps because it was basically a recreation of my best friend and I's favorite picture from graduating high school. I just feel the love and growth and maturity we've got through together in your picture. I wanted to let you know and let you know you're doing such a great job with your work even in these small moments-- whether you know it or not!
Kristin & Greg
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We can’t thank you enough for our amazing photos! There are so many perfect shots that I’m afraid our house will end up looking like a shrine of our wedding! You guys were easily the best decision for our wedding. Thank you so much for all of your help, advice, suggestions and recommendations. We love that we have ended up with new friends through this experience! Please keep in touch!