A couple shares an intimate moment at sunset with a bouquet of wildflowers in a romantic outdoor setting.

MOUNTAIN-TOP VOWS


THE DAY OF THE JOURNEY


LONG, HOT, SCARY, SORE & SO WORTH IT!


The next day was a bit more deliberate. We packed Tara's Suzuki with all our hiking gear, food, camera bag, dress, suit and our three bodies, and off we went. The car ride its self was a couple of hours, ending around lunch time. We enjoyed our sandwiches beside this beautiful, wide open meadow. I recall now how it had been a really long time since it was quiet enough that I could hear insects. It was awesome.

A scenic mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks and evergreen forest in the foreground under a blue sky.
Hikers explore a scenic mountain trail surrounded by evergreen trees with snow-capped peaks in the background.

This was only about twenty minutes into the hike. Two hours later and I don't think any of us were wearing a smile.

Tara is packing her dress as well as Mike's suit. She also had a cool hat she's holding, which she held for the entire hike.

I think Mike is packing food and water, as well as Tara's bouquet. Quite often, Mike forgot he had it, and that it extended beyond his head. Consequently, he came close to destroying the flowers as he ducked under branches, or traversed narrow trails. Tara was good at reminding him, though. Not sure Mike will be taking another bouquet on any future hikes.

A scenic mountain trail winds through tall evergreen trees with sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.
Scenic mountain landscape with golden sunlight streaming over peaks and evergreen forest in the wilderness.
A hiker with a backpack bends down to pick up trash in a sunlit forest trail.
A person wearing a red shirt stands near a mountain lake with evergreen trees and carries a floral backpack arrangement.
Adventurers hiking along scenic mountain trails near an alpine lake in the rugged wilderness.
Elegant floral arrangements with pampas grass and peach roses against a moody teal backdrop create a romantic atmosphere.
A couple poses together near a turquoise lake with mountains in the background during a hiking adventure.

The flat meadow was a welcome reprieve from all the up and down (mostly up) of the trail so far, but it was short lived. Leaving the open meadow, we entered a steep and dark portion of the trek, but we were rewarded with a beautiful blue pool. Sadly there was no time to go for a dip. Someone (not me) misjudged the time it would take to drive, hike, rest and hike some more. The sun was not going to wait.


The next portion of the hike was pretty tricky, and I was going to have to put my camera away. Before I did, though, I snapped one last photo of Mike and Tara looking at the camera. As the shutter clicked I instantly got the ominous vibe of - last photo taken of couple before tragedy strikes.

Standing on top of a mountain peak, the wind plays about a bride's wedding gown.
Peach and burgundy floral arrangement with greenery against a blurred mountain landscape backdrop at sunset.
A bride in a wispy wedding dress stands atop rugged mountain peaks with a soft golden glow during sunset in a dramatic landscape.

Okay... It wasn't too bad. Once we reached the peak, all my concerns vanished. The view was breath-taking, the light was gorgeous, and for the first time in a very long time, I experienced awe.


As I waited for Tara and Mike to change, I thought about how funny it is that we can spend weeks of planning, days of travelling and hours of hiking, all for minutes of fleeting opportunity.

A groom reads from his leather-bound vow book during a mountain-top golden hour wedding ceremony.
A groom holds his leather-bound vow book during an outdoor during golden hour wedding ceremony.
A groom in a blue suit reading handwritten vows during an outdoor during golden hour wedding ceremony.
A photo showing a bride with long dark hair outdoors holding her grooms hand as he reads his vows to her.
A couple shares an intimate moment during their mountain elopement ceremony with dramatic peaks in the background.
Out of focus in the foreground, a bride shares her vows with her groom against an in focus background of the Canadian Rockies.
A romantic wedding couple embraces against a backdrop of majestic mountain peaks during golden hour.
A couple in wedding attire stands on a mountain peak overlooking dramatic mountain ranges at sunset among the Canadian Rockies.
A couple in wedding attire embrace while standing on a rocky mountain ledge with dramatic peaks in the background at sunset.
A bride steps barefoot over dark rocks as the wind tosses her white wedding dress creating tails of motion blur.
A romantic wedding couple stands silhouetted against a dramatic stormy sky in a moody outdoor setting.
Scenic mountain landscape at sunset with two silhouettes sitting on a rocky cliff overlooking a dramatic valley.
A bride poses on the edge of a cliff as wind blows her wedding dress reminiscent of the sculpture, the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The above image caught me by surprise once I saw it during the culling process. I don't know about you, but it reminds me of a certain statue residing at the top of a grand staircase in the Louvre.

A couple shares an intimate wedding moment on a rocky mountain overlook with a vast forested valley below.
A bride in a flowing white dress stands on a rocky cliff edge against a dramatic dark sky.
Ethereal wedding dress flows in the wind against a dramatic mountain landscape at sunset.
A bride in white dress and sun hat holds bouquet against dramatic mountain landscape at sunset.
A bride in a flowing white dress poses against a dramatic mountain landscape at sunset with a rustic bouquet.
A romantic couple embraces during a sunset wedding photo shoot with dramatic clouds in the background.
Scenic mountain landscape with dramatic clouds during sunset in a rustic outdoor wedding ceremony setting.
A couple shares an intimate moment on a scenic hillside during a moody sunset photo shoot.
A groom holds his bride's dress as they both negotiate a a cliff edge in bare feet during a wedding photo shoot.
A groom holds his bride's dress as they both negotiate a a cliff edge during a sunset wedding photo shoot.
A wedding couple stand on a rocky mountain summit overlooking dramatic alpine peaks and lakes at sunset.