Wild Hearts & Mountain Vows: A Real Bride’s Dreamy Colorado Elopement
When love meets the mountains, something magical happens. For Laura and Matthew, that magic unfolded in the heart of Colorado, USA, surrounded by the raw natural beauty of towering pines and snow-capped rocky mountains. Trading a traditional wedding for an intimate, intentional elopement, this couple chose to celebrate their love on their own terms.
We caught up with Laura to talk all about her bridal journey, from the moment she decided to elope, to the small details that made the day unforgettable. Whether you're planning your own intimate elopement or simply love a good real-love story, her insight is equal parts inspiring and down-to-earth.
Laura, introduce yourself to the We Are Mancini ladies. Where are you from?
I’m originally from North Saint Paul, Minnesota. My husband and I always wanted to live in Colorado so we moved to Castle Rock, Colorado in 2022 where we still currently live.
Your wedding location looked so incredible, what was the location, and why did you choose it?
We decided to have our wedding on a Thursday in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The views and weather were stunning (minus a little rain) and the park wasn’t as busy during the week so we had the whole day to enjoy each others company and the sights. I loved that it was a very intimate ceremony; just our officiant, my husband and I. Our family joined us to celebrate the next day at an Airbnb close by!
How did you discover We Are Mancini?
I went through Instagram profiles, wedding websites and tiktok videos until I finally found your Ciara Gown on Pinterest.
When looking for the perfect dress, did you have an idea in mind of what you wanted or did you go in open minded?
I was originally going to have a very full dress, but because we opted on a smaller more intimate wedding, I wanted a more simple wedding dress that highlighted my back and all the hard work I had put in before my wedding day.
What was it about the Ciara Gown that caught your eye?
The fabric was beautiful but the low back was the feature that sealed the deal. It was also SO COMFORTABLE which was a must since we were out all day taking pictures at multiple spots up in the mountains.
How did you style it on the day? Hair, makeup, accessories?
I decided to keep my hair simple in a bun. My makeup was honestly a little dark for me, but it showed up great in our film photos. My mantilla veil was the only accessory that was a non negotiable, I always wanted an all lace veil!
Also, my hiking shoes were a life saver hiking up to different photo ops (I originally wasn’t going to bring hiking shoes so I’m glad I did)!
What was a non-negotiable for your wedding day? Specific content, food, prep, dance floor song?
My non-negotiable for my wedding day was to keep it as fun and relaxed as possible. Your wedding is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life so I wanted to not stress about the little things and solely focus on my husband and the day.
We are so glad you chose We Are Mancini, and would love to know how you found the experience of working with us?
PERFECT. Before I bought my dress, I had so many questions on whether or not to order up or down, how to tape my boobs, etc. Your customer service was fast and very helpful. My dress fit perfect straight out of the box, no alterations needed!
THANK YOU!
