Taya and Stu threw tradition to the wind and celebrated their wedding at Venue on the Rocks, a gorgeous new wedding venue in Estes Park, Colorado. As a photographer who practically calls Estes Park home, I couldn’t wait to capture their day at this one-of-a-kind spot. Venue on the Rocks, an extension of Coffee on the Rocks, has transformed into a killer event space that makes the most of its dreamy pond, sprawling greenspace, and riverside views. It’s the perfect venue for couples who want nature-infused vibes without sacrificing convenience, with an elevated but laid-back approach.

Taya and Stu’s wedding was anything but ordinary—this was an alternative celebration through and through. They kicked off the day getting ready separately in two Airbnb rentals around Estes Park before heading into Rocky Mountain National Park for their first look. Pulling this off took some serious planning—between the park’s massive size, summer-timed entry reservations, and the extra drive time, it could have been a logistical nightmare. But with a full day of coverage, we had all the time we needed to make magic happen without stress, and I had mapped the entire logistics out ahead of time to ensure we could actually make this a reality.

After an emotional first look, we climbed to the top of the world—literally. We spent an hour on Trail Ridge Road, soaking in the wild, untamed beauty of the Rockies and capturing jaw-dropping portraits against the alpine backdrop. Then, it was back down to Venue on the Rocks for their intimate, badass ceremony and reception (full of two-steps and heavy metal, appropriately).

This venue’s mix of laid-back charm and breathtaking scenery made for a wedding experience unlike any other. Venue on the Rocks is a must for couples who want to ditch the cookie-cutter barn venue and embrace something real, raw, and unapologetically them. Whether you’re dreaming of an outdoor ceremony surrounded by towering pines or a chill reception by the water, this new Estes Park gem delivers the vibes in spades.

“Steph is an absolutely incredible photographer and such a cool person! I found her from a blog post she did on her website about wedding venues in Colorado, and I knew from the moment I read about her and saw her portfolio that she needed to be our photographer. I submitted her inquiry form and she texted me like 2 minutes later saying she had seen my IG profile when I followed her and was hoping I’d reach out (she had seen my Bring Me the Horizon pictures in Malta and thought I was cool 🥹). She was so amazing start to finish though and spent a lot of time going over things and explaining everything before we even booked her. She’s so detail oriented and you’ll feel so much more relaxed to have her on your team with her amazing knowledge and on point timelines. Steph did both our engagement and wedding photos and absolutely blew it out of the park for both. The photos were exactly what I was envisioning but better and she was so much fun to work with (and made us feel so comfortable being the awkward peeps we are lol). So many guests at our wedding commented too about how cool and nice she was. All in all, she gave us an wonderful experience and we couldn’t be happier that we chose her. So book her if you can!! She will not dissapoint! ☺️” — Taya & Stu

vendors
Venue
Desert – the cake bar
HMUA – glammed up designs
Catering – the easy vegan