Camp Wedding in Bailey, Colorado – Nikita & Nick

A camp styled wedding is a great way to allow your friends and family to enjoy your wedding weekend while having a memorable and unique experience. The Deer Creek Mountain Camp in Bailey, Colorado made an amazing location to host Nick and Nikita’s wedding. This wedding weekend was full of creativity, emotion, and nature. From the activities to the dance party – this summer wedding was one of my favorites to capture.

Camp Styled Festivities for Wedding Morning

When we arrived to photograph their day, Nikita was in the bridal suite beginning getting ready. She had set aside her dress and important details for us. We captured her jewelry, wedding shoes, and peacock feathers (a gift from her father).

Following that, we joined the guests and the groom down on the lawn where they were playing volleyball, beer pong, and hanging out enjoying the warm summer sun. At one of the cabins, a group of painted birdhouses together. Shortly after, everyone would head back to their cabins on property to prep for the ceremony.

First Look on the Mountain

Deer Creek Mountain Camp has a private mountain top spot where couples can enjoy a first look together. The couple planned intentional time to have some moments with each other before the rest of the wedding day. We rode up in a Jeep with the couple and helped prepare them for their first look.

This moment was so sweet; the smile Nick had seeing Nikita was incredible. The next fourty-five minutes were full of conversations of travel, music, and stories of their friends as we captured some couples portraits of them. Their friend group is so supportive, fun, and genuine. We knew the ceremony was going to be a special.

An Emotional Wedding Ceremony

This ceremony was so special to be able to capture. Nikita and her mom met each other at the end of the aisle with an emotional moment, before walking down together. Their close friend officiated their ceremony making it so personal.

They took the time to honor family members, reminisced on the story of Nick and Nikita’s first meeting at a festival, and their journey that got them to this point. During the ceremony, a deer appeared and walked up the aisle, and we later saw it re-appear throughout the afternoon in different spots on the property. The sun glared above the florals on the arch and the clouds rolled through the mountains.

Cocktail Hour & Reception

After the ceremony, everyone headed up the property to the reception A-Frame where the cocktail hour festivities began. Games were set-up, a campfire was ready, as well as blankets to keep guests warm as the afternoon sun began to set.

This wedding venue has a few different areas that couples can utilize to celebrate. There is also the lower dining hall building where the couple made their first entrance and took vodka shots with their guests during a Russian tradition. Then the upper A-Frame is set-up to host the dancing where the party started with the shoe game, and some s’mores. Their guests all gathered on the dance floor to help them celebrate.

Nikita and Nick’s night left me feeling so excited. This camp styled wedding was a true testament to the joy and community that events like weddings can bring, and reminded me of how fun it can be to capture a truly candid and laid-back day.

Photography: Kelly Miller Studios

Venue: Deer Creek Mountain Camp

Planning/Coordination: Kenzie Kerr Weddings

Florals: Poppy Flowers Co.

If you’re planning a camp styled wedding in the mountains – I’d love to be the one to help capture your celebration.

Get in touch with me below.