Campground Wedding at Rancho Del Rio in Bond, Colorado | Elise and Eric
From matching troll dolls to colorful hair and makeup to mooning the Amtrak train as it zoomed by, Elise and Eric’s wedding day was absolutely one-of-a-kind! Anyone who’s had the absolute joy of meeting these two could never possibly expect anything less. By choosing to host it at the campground where they got engaged, their Rancho Del Rio wedding in Bond, CO, became the perfect blend of the sensational and the sentimental. Every moment was one worth documenting, and I’m so grateful they chose me to do the documenting!
For Elise and Eric, setting up camp at the Rancho Del Rio feels like coming home. Elise started camping here in 2010 and brought Eric along for his first trip in 2017. It’s a regular stop when these water sport lovers take a rafting trip, so it made perfect sense for Eric to pop the question here, too. The couple says that “the stars, raw beauty, and river access” keeps tugging them back. So, when they needed to choose a venue for their vows, there was only one correct answer!
I first met these two for their engagement session in Chatfield State Park in Littleton, CO. I knew from their inquiry that they would be unique and fun, and when they told me they wanted to do a paddleboard engagement session, my suspicions were confirmed. Their personalities draw you in like gravity, and their joy is so contagious! While I snapped photos of them popping champagne on paddleboards, I tried to imagine what their wedding day was going to be like. And it was beyond anything I could have imagined!
Most brides start their wedding morning with a latte and a trip to the hair salon. Elise began hers with an icing spatula in hand! She put the finishing touches on her wedding cake, popped it into some dry ice to keep it cool, and then welcomed Elisa Romera for her hair and makeup. But if you thought Elise would go with a conventional bridal look, you haven’t been paying attention! Elise’s bright, fun makeup look perfectly matched her bold personality. Then, she slipped into her Rue de Seine wedding dress, favorite Chacos, and bold boho earrings. After adding the finishing touch—a handcrafted peacock feather hairpiece (a perfect match to Eric’s bowtie)—she was ready for the first look!
Unsurprisingly, Elise and Eric’s bridal friends are as hilarious as they are. So, before Elise made her first look grand entrance, one of the groomsmen popped out in Elise’s reception dress! Talk about a memorable first look! As Elise turned the corner, though, Eric’s laughter softened into awe and joy. The photos we took by the river to commemorate the moment still take my breath away.
Then, we were on to the wedding party photos! Elise’s wedding party was a vibrant bouquet of color and statement earrings, both literally and metaphorically. With Sola wood bouquets made by the bride, and every wedding party member wearing a matching set of colorful earrings to their attire.. Each member was in a different bright color, including cobalt blue, sunshine yellow, twilight purple, and forest green. Photos with this bunch were super fun because as the Amtrak train glided by on the nearby tracks, the entire wedding party (in true Rancho Del Rio tradition!) spun around and mooned the train! Even the bride and groom! See what I mean? The memorable moments just kept coming, and they didn’t end here.
After the Amtrak faded into the distance, it was time for the ceremony. A fiddle player set the mood, and the parasol-carrying wedding party headed down the aisle, followed by Eric’s sister’s golden retriever, Cashew! And a simple candle lighting or sand ceremony wouldn’t have felt right to symbolize the unity of this special couple. So, what did they do? They grabbed two pieces of bread, jars of peanut butt and jelly, and squished them together mid-ceremony. These two really do make the perfect sandwich! Then, they put a pair of troll dolls around their necks, had the dolls kiss first, and Elise and Eric finally had their first kiss as man and wife. Then, they headed back down the aisle under a shower of bubbles fired from their guests’ bubble guns. And off Elise went to take a celebratory jump into the river!
And the fun didn’t end there! The reception was a blast, and not just because of the delicious drinks from Tiny Bar. They had a prop table full of cat ears (this couple loves their cats), animal masks, and tulle skirts in every color of the rainbow. The entire day was awash in color. “Seeing all the colors come together as I had imagined was amazing!” Elise said.
Elise and Eric love music, so they were the first to hit the dance floor when the band, Tara Rose and The Real Deal, who are friends of the couple, started to play. They even invited guests up to play and sing their own set, including a unique rendition of “Take Me Home, County Roads” sung by Eric and his Dad with the references to “West Virginia” replaced with “Colorado.” The night ended with a keg filled with homemade beer and a final photo session under the starry Colorado sky.
Elise and Eric’s wedding at Rancho Del Rio was so memorable because they unapologetically incorporated their true personalities into every aspect of the day. Because of that, I could never choose a favorite photo of the day! So, good luck, you two, as you try to decide which ones to hang on your walls!
I’ll never photograph a celebration like this again, but if you’re planning a personality-packed wedding day in Colorado, let’s get in touch! I’d love to meet you and help you document a day full of moments you’ll never want to forget!
Venue : Rancho Del Rio Campground
Coordinator : Love in Mind Designs
Catering : Smokin JJs BBQ
Bar : Tiny Bar
Band: Tara Rose Band
Rentals : Colorado Tents and Events
Bridal Brand : Rue de Seine
Shoes : Chacos
Alterations : Twins at a Time Inc Sewing & Alterations
Floral Design & Cake & Signs & Suit : Made by the Bride & Groom
Elise and Eric had a crazy party, and an absolutely beautiful wedding! Check out some other weddings with an epic band below.
xx,
Jennifer Lourie
