Your wedding day is not supposed to feel like a checklist. It’s meant to feel alive. Real. Yours. More couples are choosing elopements because they want an experience instead of a production. But here’s the catch: planning an elopement in the mountains is no small task.
This is where elopement photographer and guide, Sean Oblizalo, plays an incredible part. Sean is the founder of Vows and Peaks, a Colorado-based elopement business that has guided hundreds of couples into the wild for unforgettable ceremonies.
Sean is not just a photographer with a camera strapped to his back. He’s the person who knows the hidden trails, the timing of the light, and how to make the day feel stress-free.
And, most of all, he offers trust. That trust is the difference between hiring someone to take pictures and choosing someone who becomes your guide.
Why Your Photographer Should Be Your Guide
Yosemite Elopement Guide: How to Elope in Yosemite in 2025. Planning an elopement doesn’t mean showing up in front of a scenic backdrop. There are permits, locations, logistics, and the very real fact that you’ll be hiking in wedding attire. Sean knows this because he’s done it hundreds of times. His role doesn’t include merely snapping photos.
Here is what he does:
- He scouts the best locations. From tucked-away alpine lakes to wildflower meadows, Sean knows the trails and the timing. Couples are led to epic places with confidence.
- He creates stress-free timelines. Instead of wondering how to fit everything into one day, Sean reverse engineers the schedule so the important moments happen naturally.
- He handles logistics. Permits, vendors, transportation… it’s all part of the package. He’s the friend who makes sure you don’t miss anything.
- He makes it personal. From sunrise whiskey shots to quiet vows under the stars, Sean builds experiences that reflect who the couple is.
This is why couples say the day feels like hanging out with a long-lost friend instead of working through a schedule.
What Vows and Peaks Delivers
Vows and Peaks is a philosophy in the form of a company. Sean believes every elopement should feel like an adventure. His services are designed to make that happen in the most personal way.
- Adventure Planning: Client portals, vendor connections, digital guides, and detailed checklists. Everything you need, without the overwhelm.
- Epic Photography: High-resolution galleries, next-day teasers, and handcrafted fine art albums that let couples relive the day.
- Trail Expertise: Knowledge of Colorado’s terrain, Leave No Trace ethics, and safe routes to breathtaking spots.
- Day-of Support: Snacks, backpack carrying, dress buttoning, hype-man energy, and yes, even lighting a celebratory joint if that’s your vibe.
- Custom Packages: From short and sweet to multi-day adventures, Sean designs coverage that fits what couples want.
When Sean says he’s an elopement ninja, it’s not an exaggeration. He’s part planner, part guide, part mountain buddy, all while capturing the day in epic photographs.
The Spirit Behind the Work
For Sean, this business is about photos with purpose. He describes his work through the lens of dharma: showing up with his talents, serving couples without expectation, and honoring the mountains he loves.
“I started my career as a landscape photographer, working with large adventure brands to bring visuals of epic mountain scenes to their advertising,” Sean says. “I fell in love with landscapes first, and then I fell in love with helping couples plan their perfect day.”
This mindset is why Vows and Peaks has guided over 450 couples and earned a reputation that’s as much about the experience as the images.
Conclusion
An elopement is not a wedding stripped down. It’s a way of choosing presence over performance, adventure over stress. And if you’re going to take that path, your photographer should be more than a silent observer.
Sean Oblizalo, through Vows and Peaks, has changed what it means to document love in the mountains. He plans, he guides, he supports, and yes, he captures the most breathtaking photos while doing it. Couples walk away with an album and an experience they’ll remember for life.
The question isn’t whether you need a guide. It’s who you trust to lead you through the most important adventure of your relationship. For many couples, that guide is Sean.
