Barnes and Calli’s rainy wedding photos in Telluride, Colorado, prove you don’t need perfect weather to have an incredible wedding day. It absolutely POURED, their ceremony was about as private as it gets, and they weren’t interested in following many of the usual wedding traditions. But that’s exactly what I loved about these two. They knew how they wanted their day to feel, and they weren’t going to let a little (okay, a lot of) rain change that.
An Untraditional Wedding Day in Telluride, Colorado
Barnes and Calli met on a blind date in May 2023, thanks to Calli’s longtime best friend and Barnes’s sister-in-law, who decided these two needed to meet. Fast forward, and they’ve bought a house together in East Nashville, where they live with their cat, Banks.
When I asked them about their ideal wedding day, their answer was pretty simple. Good coffee, time together, maybe a little journaling, and being somewhere in nature where they could enjoy each other’s company. They described themselves as people who like to “fly under the radar,” and a big wedding with everyone watching wasn’t really their thing.
Instead, they stayed at an absolutely stunning home belonging to a relative in Telluride. Picture huge windows, stone walls, and mountains covered in fall colors right outside. It was the kind of place you could happily spend an entire weekend without leaving.
They got ready together, which I loved, and kept their outfits pretty unconventional. Calli wore a Free People dress, and Barnes went with a relaxed button-down and pants. They looked like themselves, just getting married! Barnes also made a bouquet for Calli, which was ridiculously sweet.
A Private Wedding Ceremony Surrounded by Aspens
One of the most memorable parts of Barnes and Calli’s day was their ceremony. They walked from the house to a small wooden gazebo tucked into the trees, where they planned to exchange their vows privately.
Although their families weren’t there in person, they had sent the couple rocks and words of wisdom to bring along. Barnes and Calli arranged the rocks around themselves and stood in the middle as they said their vows. I’d never seen anything quite like it, and I loved how they found a way to include their families without sacrificing the privacy they wanted.
And when I say they wanted privacy, I really mean it. At one point, Barnes very politely asked us to give them some space. And honestly, I respected that so much. Of course, as a photographer, that can be a little challenging. My job is to document these moments, and naturally, I want to capture as much as possible. But my couples’ experience will always come before getting a particular shot.
Barnes and Calli weren’t there to put on a ceremony for the cameras. They wanted to be completely present with each other, without feeling like anyone was watching. That request really set the tone for the rest of their wedding day. We gave them room when they needed it, stepped in when it made sense, and let everything happen at a pace that felt comfortable for them.
Cinematic, Rainy Wedding Photos in the Colorado Mountains
Now, about that weather. Because WOW, did Telluride have some plans for us! It freaking poured. And while I love a good moody mountain day, rain definitely comes with its challenges. Plans change, things take longer, and sometimes you just have to figure it out as you go.
A big part of my job is helping couples feel comfortable when things don’t go as planned. The last thing I want is for a bride to remember stressing over the forecast instead of enjoying her wedding. So we adjusted, embraced the rain, and made the most of it!
We wandered through aspen groves and open meadows, with low clouds hanging over the mountains. Between Calli’s dress moving through the tall grass, the clear umbrella, and those muted fall colors, everything felt straight out of a movie. I also got to experiment with motion blur and double exposures, which made these photos even more fun to create.
Barnes and Calli also added film photography to their coverage, which I was SO excited about! I haven’t gotten the rolls processed yet, so we still have those little surprises to look forward to.
And after all that rain, the clouds finally started to lift, giving us the prettiest sunset over the mountains.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change much. The weather kept us on our toes, but Barnes and Calli weren’t worried about having a perfect day. They just wanted to be themselves, spend time together, and get married somewhere beautiful. And that’s exactly what they did.
Your Telluride Elopement Photographer
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from these rainy wedding photos, it’s that you can make your day whatever you want it to be. Get ready together, wear the Free People dress, skip the traditional ceremony setup, or ask your photographer for a minute alone. Seriously, I won’t be offended!
As a Telluride elopement photographer, I love helping couples create a day that feels like them. I’ll help you navigate the unexpected, find beautiful places for photos, and know when to step back so you can enjoy the moments that matter most.
If you’re dreaming of a laid-back wedding in the Colorado mountains, rain or shine, I’d love to hear what you have in mind! And while you’re here, check out these private mountain vows in Telluride.
