Antonella + Darwing | Beautiful Breckenridge Winter Elopement
Antonella and Darwing traveled all the way from Miami, FL to have their very own Breckenridge winter elopement. They reached out to us less than a month before their elopement date. It’s not the fastest elopement we ever pulled off though! So we were super confident in being able to help these two plan their dream Breckenridge winter elopement. Antonella and Darwing told us that they weren’t big hikers, but more sightseers, and city explorers. If you’re reading this and thinking, “don’t you have to hike to have an elopement?” WRONG! There are zero barriers around what an elopement looks like. We know it can be confusing because the definition of eloping has been evolving so much over the years, but to keep it simple: hiking is not required to elope. So we planned a day for these two that included getting ready at their hotel in Vail, having their private self solemnizing ceremony, doing a bit of exploring in their Jeep that they rented and ending the night with dinner from Bold Breck, and a Wine Blending Experience at Continential Divide Winery.
Getting Ready
We met Antonella and Darwing at their hotel in the late morning. When I arrived Antonella had just started getting her hair done, and Darwing was getting a fresh haircut. Alex and I spent time documenting the getting ready process, as well as details. Since the two just planned this a month before, they weren’t super focused on the details. They had their rings, and that’s all that mattered to them.
Their First Look
The two got dressed separately and had a first look at their hotel. Talk about a freakin tear-jerker. The way Darwing looks at Antonella melts my freakin heart. Once the two of them had their special moment, the excitement set in and the party started! These two were about to be married!!! 👏
Spending Time to Call Friends and Family
These two came all the way from Miami, just the two of them for their Breckenridge winter elopement. They included their family and friends in their big day by taking the time to facetime each of them. The couple had plans to have a brunch celebrating their marriage with family and friends once they got home to Miami.
Plan for Spontaneity
On our way to their ceremony location, the two decided they wanted to stop in town for a beer (or two)! 🍻 It’s so necessary to plan for spontaneous adventurers during your elopement, especially if you’re the spontaneous type! Had these two not planned for a relaxed day, they would have missed out on this fun moment!
Ceremony for their Breckenridge Winter Elopement
Location A for their Breckenridge Winter Elopement
When we went to Antonella + Darwing’s ceremony location, it was extremely windy, SO cold, and just really miserable. At first, the couple was just excited to see snow for the first time. Darwing even went straight for it and started making snowballs and throwing them at Antonella. ❄️ 😂 But the excitement eventually wore off. We lasted maybe 3 minutes before I turned around and looked at Antonella and said, “You do not have to say your vows here, why don’t we head back to the car and regroup?” and she responded with, “Let’s GO!!!”😅
Location B for their Breckenridge Winter Elopement
No matter how much you prepare for the cold while still trying to look your best on your wedding day, there are some conditions that are just not fun! Luckily for these two, Alex & I knew of another location on the other side of the mountain that was only a few minutes down the road. We weren’t sure about the road conditions due to a storm that rolled through two nights before, but these two rented a Jeep so we were feeling good about it. We drove up, put the windows down, and squealed with excitement, “there’s no wind here!” 😁 We got out and felt the warm sun on our faces. It was meant to be. These two still had the big mountain views they were envisioning even after changing their location last minute. Their Breckenridge winter elopement was turning out perfectly 😍
Ceremony & Portraits
Marriage License
Dinner & Drinks in Breckenridge
On our way back into the town of Breckenridge, I asked Antonella to look at the menu for Bold Breck so I could order some food for us. We had a private table at Continental Divide Winery and were planning on picking up dinner and taking it to the Wine Blending Experience. Antonella told me to “just order one of everything off the appetizer menu.” So that’s what we did and oh. my. goodness. Their appetizers are AMAZING! 🤤 Literally, every dish was delicious. The couple enjoyed their delicious appetizers from Bold Breck while creating their own wine during the Wine Blending Experience. They got to name their wine, and even cork it. Thank you to Continental Divide Winery for the hospitality, and great experience, and to Bold Breck for the delicious meal! 🍷 🥘
Ending The Night
It’s always so bitter-sweet going home after an elopement. You’re on this high that doesn’t go away for hours, and you can’t stop talking about the amazing day that was just had. Alex and I are absolutely thrilled that we get to call this our job. There is never a day that goes by where we don’t take it lightly. We live to give our couples an experience of a lifetime.
Why it’s important to hire a photographer that knows the area for your Breckenridge winter elopement!
I wanted to bring up a really important element of Antonella and Drawings day, and that is that were locals to Colorado. We know these areas very well. I’m not saying that an out-of-towner wouldn’t have been able to give them the same experience, but us knowing the mountain passes was crucial. Not to mention knowing the way to get there without having to use cell service. There is zero cell reception at the first ceremony location we went to that day. If another photographer didn’t know the area or wasn’t sure about a backup location, it would have totally been a different experience for these two. I’m just glad we were able to deliver when mom nature was doing her own thing! 🌬
Vendors:
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
