Find your best self before the wedding ceremony and read marriage, relationship, and wellness tips from Denver wedding officiant, Michael Moody.
Curating the Life I Want: Intentional Living & Marriage Prep in Denver
Summary
Reset with intention in Denver. A Denver wedding officiant shares a life-planning template to align habits, health, and relationships before “I do.” Get premarital guidance, mindful routines, and ceremony planning tips for Colorado couples. Start curating the life—and wedding—you want.
Key Topics
Denver wedding officiant; Colorado wedding officiant; mindful marriage preparation; premarital guidance; intentional wedding ceremony; ceremony planning Denver; intentional living before marriage; life reset Colorado; vows coaching; non-religious wedding Denver; spiritual but not religious ceremony; Colorado elopement planning; curate the life I want Denver; wedding officiant who offers premarital coaching; Colorado couples mindset guide; build healthy routines before “I do”
“A habit must be established before it can be improved. You need to master the art of showing up.”
CURATING THE LIFE I WANT…
I believe that everyone needs a reset in their life. And, the move to Denver, Colorado, after 42 years in Chicago, Illinois, was certainly the reset for me in 2021. It was an opportunity to rebuild and reconnect many personal and professional areas of my life. I don’t think a person necessarily needs to take the same drastic step for similar results, though. I beg you to explore and consider the adaptations necessary to achieve your best self and challenge the routine of daily life, but maybe in your own way (with a little nudge from this template). This is my annual effort to steer the life I want and be the person I aspire to be. Join me on this journey!
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND
While I’m proud of my success, I know there’s room to grow. It’s amazing how new environments and challenges remind us of where we need to improve. Living through a pandemic and becoming a parent bent prior boundary lines, and, like many others, I needed to reexamine life's patterns and systems. All of these efforts are integrated into the various sections below. I often find the intentions related to a lifetime of habits the most difficult to change, though. The dietary intentions have been repeated over the last few years as they compete with yesterday's social and cultural influences. Although I haven’t completely met those intentions year to year, I welcome their return to the list. The experimentation continues as I try to integrate them into my life sustainably! And I’m okay with that. This year in particular, I have linked these habits, among others, to well-established habits and specifically described how I will achieve them. I’ve also redefined the principles that will steer all of my efforts. Not surprisingly, they reflect my personal and professional identities. Call this a business plan for my life in 2023….that I want you to steal.
THE PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE MY INTENTIONS
-Examine my focus and efforts toward current relationships and reallocate more time to each if necessary.
-Review and adapt my present routines to support optimal health.
-Define a life that serves my personal needs and simultaneously contributes to the greater good of society and humanity.
-Act and think with a baseline of empathy, compassion, and kindness.
-Seek understanding of myself and others before judgment.
-Choose the most appropriate path despite the effort or personal sacrifice.
-Celebrate equality and diversity of living things and perspectives.
-Take control of my attention. I’m talking about you, phone and social media!
-Define the boundary lines of overextending myself personally and professionally.
Living for today (and the future) as a personal trainer in Denver / Photo: Elina Fairytale
LIST OF MY INTENTIONS
AREA 1: MY PHYSICAL HEALTH INTENTIONS
MY EXERCISE INTENTIONS
Specific Objectives
-Increase cardio endurance by hitting at least 12000 daily steps per day, 2 cardio sessions per week on the Peloton bike or Helix lateral trainer (unless I hike, then 1 session), and 30 hikes of 6 miles or more by the end of the year (or less mileage with a 2000-3000 foot gain instead). Walk to and/or from work to guarantee my steps.
-Hike 30 different Colorado trails in 2023 (with limited repeats of 2022 trails) and support the hiking community with detailed reviews on the Alltrails app to be completed within 24 hours of each hike. Average 3-4 hikes per month. Make exceptions for friends to join!
-Complete 5 sessions of strength/muscular endurance exercise midday afternoons between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, 2 sessions of cardio (including a hike) in conjunction with the weekday workout sessions (unless the Peloton at home…then at 6:16 pm weekdays or Saturday mornings at 8:30 am), and 3 short range-of-motion focused sessions of the lower limb each week within the weekday workout sessions.
Specific Plan
Monday
-45 min Strength Session
-Circuit Muscle Focus: Chest and Triceps (Low Rep), Core, Range-of-Motion Routine
Tuesday
-45 min Strength Session
-Circuit Muscle Focus: Back and Biceps (Low Rep), Core, Range-of-Motion Routine
Wednesday
-30 min Strength Session and 20 min interval Peloton Ride
-Circuit Muscle Focus: Shoulders, Leg Routine 1, Core, Range-of-Motion Routine
Thursday
-45 min Strength Session
-Circuit Muscle Focus: Arms (High Reps), Leg Routine 2, Core, Range-of-Motion Routine
Friday
-45 min Strength Session
-Circuit Muscle Focus: Total Body/Bodyweight Circuit, Core, Range-of-Motion Routine
Saturday or Sunday
-6-11 mile hike or 3-5 mile hike with a 2000-3000-foot elevation
Every Day
-1 set of 20-30 Perfect Pushups after brushing my teeth every night, 12-20k steps per weekday
MY RECOVERY INTENTIONS
Specific Objectives
-Sleep 7.5 hours every night and rest from workouts on Saturdays and Sundays (unless a hike). Specific intent: In bed by 11:15 pm and waking up by 7:05 am (no snoozing). Complete a late-night routine at least an hour before bedtime.
-Schedule 3 “Take a Deep Breath” phone prompts per day on Google Calendars. Once I see the notification on my phone, I must stop and take a deep breath no matter what I’m doing.
MY DIETARY INTENTIONS
Overarching Goals:
-To minimize inflammation, triglyceride levels, and fluctuating blood sugar levels resulting from dietary choices. Specifically, lower triglyceride levels are back to 150. This number is typically genetically higher than the other numbers. Thanks, Dad! I’m responsible for anything above 150, though.
-To reduce stress and anxiety levels by reducing caffeine and prioritizing sleep.
Specific Daily Dietary Objectives
-Never feel stuffed or starved and eat within 5 hours of the last meal (unless overnight).
-Assess the cues for current snacking habits and change the influences that lead to this behavior.
-Stop eating a meal at the first sign of feeling satisfied.
-Mindfully prepare the size of my 5-year-old’s leftovers, and don’t eat his leftovers :).
-Limit sips of alcohol to 3 days or less.
-Alternate sips of water and alcohol when indulging.
-18 out of 25 meals per week are whole food plant-based foundations and free of oil, meat, processed foods, and refined sugars.
-Only 1-2 servings of dairy per week (less is better).
-Minimize the consumption of anything processed (including vegan and vegetarian products). Choose whole food plant-based options as often as possible.
-At least 3 out of 4 meals per day must be plant-based.
-Calories: 600-800 per meal.
-Plate Ratio: 25-50% Vitamins, phytonutrients, and other micros and macros, 25-40% Protein, 15% Good Fat, 25% Fiber.
Specific Social Dietary Objectives
-Use the Daily Dietary Objectives above as a baseline when eating out (and no matter who I’m with).
-Eat a complete small meal before snacking (to avoid snacking).
-Restrict extracurricular eating/treats to 1-2 servings.
Stretching your limits with a Personal Trainer in LoHi, Denver - Photo: Ketut Subiyanto
AREA 2: MY EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH INTENTIONS
MY REFLECTION INTENTIONS
Specific Objective
-Identify one positive characteristic of the day while brushing my teeth in the evening.
MY ATTENTION INTENTIONS
Specific Objectives
-Limit social media interaction to twice per day (preferably on my desktop).
-Limit email actions on my phone to responses that require a response within 60 minutes.
-Maintain an inbox of 2 or fewer emails by unsubscribing from unnecessary emails and being more efficient with email templates and correspondence. Clean out any extra emails by 1:00 pm every Friday.
MY REFRAMING INTENTIONS
Specific Objective
-Replace all complaints with constructive criticism or reframe the message to reflect a positive light.
Even in a personal training career, I must constantly reassess how I allocate my time and energy. / Photo: Ketut Subiyanto
AREA 3: MY RELATIONSHIP INTENTIONS
Overarching Goal: Foster positive and meaningful relationships that support and enhance my life.
Specific Parent/Husband Objectives
-Make myself more emotionally available by removing electronic devices during interactions. Allow at least 1 hour to connect with my wife and son after work. Use the Garmin watch's features to limit phone time. Put down the phone when conversing.
-Hug more! Always hugging on hellos and goodbyes….and random in-betweens!
-Schedule at least one meetup with my wife sans son per week and two date nights per month. No offense, Preston! We'll most likely meet before my son’s pickup from after-school care during the week. If not, date night with a sitter at home!
-Hike or ride a bike on a trail with my wife at least once per month.
Specific Friends, Family, and New People Engagement Objectives
-Engage in more meaningful conversations with friends, family, and new people (even if I’m only spending a minute on the elevator with them) and foster new relationships with people who embody empathy, compassion, and kindness as a foundation for their behaviors and perspectives.
-Contact my inner circle of family and friends at least once per month via phone call, text, or in-person meetups.
No Mountain is high enough as a Personal Trainer in Denver / Photo: Mathew Thomas
AREA 4: MY ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE/CIVIC DUTY INTENTIONS
Overarching Goal: To reduce my carbon footprint and raise a new consciousness about the environment and agriculture.
Specific Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Objectives
-Aim for a 75% plant-based diet foundation by ordering my groceries online every Sunday morning. Reminder to myself: This is the most effective action any individual can take to influence global warming and preserve our environment while striving for optimal health.
Specific Waste/Pollution Reduction Objectives
-Minimize using Ziploc bags and any single-use plastics, using Pyrex containers and metal silverware.
-Purchase in bulk and/or order several items in advance and at the same time online.
-Use biodegradable bags for trash.
-Place all expired food in our compost bin and recycle all appropriate items.
-Limit the wasted food by reviewing the sizes of prepared meals.
-Replace most car travel within 10 minutes of walking and minimize car usage to only 8000 miles per year.
-Create a list of environmental-related activities by January 20th and check off one activity with my son, Preston, weekly.
Specific Advocacy Objectives
-If I find a way to integrate the podcast back into my schedule, I will dedicate at least three podcast episodes to climate change and regenerative agriculture.
-Link professional messages to environmental advocacy.
Travel extends the boundaries of what we know about ourselves and the world. I can’t wait to indulge in Rome again this summer! / Photo: Mario Cuadros
AREA 5: MY TRAVEL INTENTIONS
Overarching Goal: Expand my connection to various cultures and experience in new environments.
Specific Domestic Travel Objectives
-Visit and stay overnight in a new town or city every 6-8 weeks! Well, familiar towns and cities can account for half of the plans, too :) Review our travel plans on the 1st of every month.
Specific International Travel Objectives
-Visit and stay overnight in a new town or city in Europe by the end of 2023. Book our flights and travel plans by the end of the 1st quarter.
Finding the ratio of spending time with my family and myself as well as serving my responsibilities as a personal trainer in Denver, wedding officiant, and podcast host is always a challenge. / Photo: Wallace Chuck
AREA 6: MY SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL INTENTIONS
Overarching Goal: Adapt my professional life to maximize my personal satisfaction and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of my efforts.
Specific Efficiency Objectives
-Reassess all email templates by February 1st and adapt as needed to increase response time and limit phone and computer time.
-Double-check every message and schedule confirmation before sending. This is a reminder to slow down!
Specific Effectiveness Objectives
-Build fitness and lifestyle check-ins at the beginning of every Denver personal training session and create accessible resources for quick client reference by February 1st.
Specific Time Management Objectives
-Develop a strategy by February 1st to manage all professional-related efforts between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays (no weekends). Weddings and wedding rehearsals are the exceptions.
-Determine the specific number of hours necessary for the success of my business. 28-32 hours of personal training, one podcast episode every 4-8 weeks, etc.
-Develop a strategy to reintegrate the podcast efforts into my schedule through sponsorship opportunities by February 1st.
-Take personal time off without guilt and without loading the schedule before and after.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is a wedding officiant serving Denver, Boulder, Golden, and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in Denver (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings and now offers Colorado elopement ceremonies for couples looking for an intimate experience beyond the boundaries.
Wedding locations: Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Lower Highlands, and Sloan Lake. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Wedding Planning Tips
Evergreen Elopement: Chief Mountain & Mestaa’ehehe | Denver Wedding Officiant
Summary
Plan a Colorado elopement in Evergreen within 60 minutes of Denver on Chief Mountain Trail or Mestaa’ehehe Mountain. A Denver wedding officiant guides scenic hikes with 360° views and ceremony spots. Get tips on distance, parking, weather, and difficulty. Book your Colorado elopement wedding with an unforgettable mountain backdrop.
Keywords
Denver wedding officiant; Colorado elopement wedding; Evergreen elopement; Boulder/Front Range elopement; Chief Mountain Trail elopement; Mestaa’ehehe Mountain fire tower; hiking elopement near Denver; scenic ceremony locations Colorado; Colorado ordained minister; mountain wedding backdrop
Introduction
Living in Denver offers many perks, including beautiful hiking trails in Evergreen, which are within 60 minutes of a Colorado elopement wedding. Here are two neighboring hikes I’ve recently recommended to my wedding couples in Colorado as options for a wedding ceremony elopement with an incredible backdrop. I’ve included a review from a past visit and my notes.
Chief Mountain offers 360 views for a beautiful elopement wedding in Colorado.
Time of Year: Mid-September.
Weather: 52 degrees and sunny at 9:45 am.
Cover: 65% exposed on Chief Mountain Trail and 100% exposed on Mestaa'ehehe Mountain Trail.
Time: 9:45 am - 1:09 pm.
Distance: 7.3 Miles total.
Route: Hiked to the peak of Chief Mountain Trail and back down towards Forest Service Road 252.1C. Took it to Mestaa'ehehe Mountain Peak on Fire Tower Trail before returning to my car near the Chief Mountain Trailhead.
Traffic: Moderate to high on Chief Mountain, Low on Mestaa'ehehe Mountain (some cars driving to the halfway mark).
Bathroom at Trailhead: No.
Parking: Tough to notice off the road without GPS. Busy but plenty of roadside parking within .5 in each direction of the Chief Mountain Trailhead.
Equipment: Hiking boots.
Terrain: Chief Mountain Trail is a rocky dirt trail with an incline from the first step. The similar terrain along the trail at times might lead you astray. The path to Mestaa'ehehe Mountain is a rarely used dirt road.
Experience: The Chief Mountain Trail is a short but incredibly rewarding trail with sweeping 360 views on top of a short rock scramble. Views really begin about the mile mark and offer more than enough to push its way into my top 3 trails under 12k/4 or fewer miles. For an additional 4 miles (and another peak), I took the service road halfway back down to Fire Tower Trail (really a dirt service road) and climbed the less scenic incline to the tower. It was worth the climb! The top 1/5 offered comparable sweeping views and a perspective of Chief Mountain from a couple of miles away. I was able to walk up the stairs to the balcony of the tower and enjoyed another 360 perspective. Almost as beautiful as Chief Mountain!
Cost: Free.
Difficulty: Moderate (baseline cardio endurance necessary for the steep grade up to each peak).
Colorado Ordained Minister Notes: I’ve been telling my wedding officiant clients about the Chief Mountain trail for weeks, and I couldn’t recommend a better trail with plenty of vistas for a ceremony backdrop under 4 miles. It’s a nice option for newlywed adventurers with a foundation of endurance, seeking the fruits of a big mountain hike. The peak of Mestaa'ehehe Mountain Trail offers equal joy and ceremony pads at the top. Unfortunately, the road up is less exciting. It’s only about 4 miles out and back, and still worth it if you’re seeking more options for a wedding elopement with a view! The Fire Tower (if available) is definitely a unique location for your ceremony!
When to Visit: Although the trail is close to the Front Range of Colorado, the winter season will offer a snow-covered option, considering its elevation (11,700 feet). With this being said, it may also present less than ideal temperatures and snowpack. Checking the weather will be especially important. It also serves as a cooler option than the Front Range during the summer months (although a storm may roll in between 12 pm and 2 pm). Early fall is a fantastic, dry option, while the early spring may be a bit muddy depending on the snowmelt (the sun may dry most of the trail by mid-afternoon).
You don’t need to hike 11 miles for a Colorado elopement wedding ceremony. You’ll find the perfect location after 1.5 miles atop Chief Mountain.
Chief Mountain offers quite a few flat pads for elopement ceremonies.
The sweeping panoramic views is a perfect backdrop for a wedding elopement in Colorado. This location would be perfect for up to 30 guests. You may need to helicopter the chairs to the top, though. :)
The terrain aren’t ideal for high heels but they aren’t bad for a bride in hiking boots!
Perhaps the perfect rock pad for your elopement ceremony! Just a little scramble to get to the top of the rock, though!
Mestaa'ehehe Mountain offers competing views with Chief Mountain (also perfect for a ceremony with a Colorado ordained minister). You can cut your hike in half by driving halfway up the trail.
Could there be a spot than the Fire Tower on Mestaa'ehehe Mountain for an elopement ceremony!
With a little work, anyone can reach this natural wedding venue.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is a wedding officiant serving Denver, Boulder, Golden, and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in Denver (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings and now offers Colorado elopement ceremonies for couples looking for an intimate experience beyond the boundaries.
Wedding locations: Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Lower Highlands, and Sloan Lake. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Wedding Planning Tips
Preparing for Your Wedding Ceremony in Colorado: A Couple’s Guide
Summary
Planning your wedding ceremony in Colorado starts with choosing the right wedding officiant in Denver to guide your special day. From breathtaking mountain backdrops to elegant city venues, this guide offers expert tips for planning a memorable, stress-free celebration. Learn how a professional wedding officiant in Colorado personalizes your ceremony.
Key Topics
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Colorado wedding ceremony guide
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Colorado marriage license requirements
How to plan a wedding in Colorado
Colorado wedding laws
Hire a wedding officiant in Colorado
Denver elopement officiant
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Rocky Mountain wedding ceremony
Estes Park wedding ceremony
Denver wedding venues ceremony
mountain wedding Colorado tips
How to prepare for your Colorado wedding ceremony
Steps to plan a wedding ceremony in Denver
Choosing a wedding officiant in Denver CO
Filing a Colorado marriage license after ceremony
Intimate elopement in Colorado with an officiant
Wedding Officiant Denver / Photo:Pavel Danilyuk
Preparing for Your Wedding Ceremony in Colorado: A Couple’s Guide
Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life—but it can also feel overwhelming without the right guidance. Colorado offers some of the most stunning backdrops for weddings, from the majestic Rocky Mountains to vibrant urban venues in Denver. Whether you envision an intimate elopement or a grand celebration, thoughtful preparation ensures that your ceremony feels both meaningful and stress-free.
As an experienced wedding officiant in Denver, I’ve guided countless couples through this journey. Below are the essential steps to prepare for your Colorado wedding ceremony.
1. Choose the Right Location
Colorado offers unparalleled variety. Mountain vistas in Estes Park, rustic ranches in Sedalia, or elegant city venues in Denver each create a unique atmosphere. When selecting your spot, consider accessibility for guests, seasonal weather patterns, and whether the location aligns with your vision as a couple.
2. Secure a Licensed Wedding Officiant in Colorado
Selecting the right officiant is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. A professional wedding officiant in Colorado not only ensures your marriage is legally recognized but also personalizes your ceremony to reflect your story. Look for someone who takes the time to understand your values, your journey together, and the tone you want to set for your big day—whether it’s traditional, spiritual, or modern.
3. Understand Colorado Marriage Laws
Colorado has some of the most flexible marriage laws in the U.S. Couples can even self-solemnize, meaning no officiant is required to make the union legal. However, many couples still prefer to have a skilled wedding officiant in Denver guide the ceremony, ensuring it feels polished, heartfelt, and memorable. Remember to:
Apply for your marriage license at a Colorado county clerk’s office.
Bring valid identification.
File the license after the ceremony (usually returned by your officiant).
4. Personalize Your Ceremony
Your wedding day should reflect your personalities and relationship. Work with your officiant to weave in personal vows, meaningful readings, or traditions that matter to you. A great officiant will strike the right balance between structure and spontaneity, creating a flow that feels natural.
5. Plan for the Unexpected
Colorado’s weather can be unpredictable. A sunny day in Denver can quickly shift to afternoon showers in the mountains. Always have a backup plan—whether it’s a tented space, an indoor option, or a flexible timeline.
6. Relax and Be Present
On the day of your ceremony, let go of the logistics and trust the professionals you’ve chosen. A dedicated wedding officiant in Colorado helps set a calm, celebratory tone, allowing you and your guests to fully embrace the moment.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for your wedding ceremony in Colorado should be as joyful as the day itself. With breathtaking scenery, flexible marriage laws, and the right guidance, couples can create a meaningful experience that reflects their love story. If you’re searching for an experienced wedding officiant in Denver, I’d be honored to help bring your vision to life.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is a wedding officiant serving Denver, Boulder, Golden, and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in Denver (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings and now offers Colorado elopement ceremonies for couples looking for an intimate experience beyond the boundaries.
Wedding locations: Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Lower Highlands, and Sloan Lake. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Wedding Planning Tips
Colorado Elopement Wedding Hikes: Nymph Lake, Lake Haiyaha Loop via Fire Trail (RMNP)
Introduction
Living in Denver offers many perks, including beautiful hiking trails for a Colorado elopement wedding nearby. On the other hand, hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park are about 2 hours away and require advance planning (e.g., a day or annual pass and a timed-entry reservation). The drive and extra efforts are certainly worth it, though! The hikes give you access to some of the most beautiful landscapes in Colorado. Here’s the first of a series of Rocky Mountain National Park hikes that I’ve recently recommended to my wedding couples in Colorado as options for a wedding ceremony elopement. I’ve included a review from a past visit and my notes.
Sometimes the most secluded, off-the-beaten path, locations provide the most ideal scenery for an elopement wedding in Colorado.
Time of Year: Late June.
Weather: 55 degrees and sunny at 9:48 am, cloud cover for most of the hike until 1:15.
Cover: 75% covered.
Time: 9:48 am - 1:15 pm.
Distance: 5.5 Miles total (Loop: Nymph Lake Trail to Haiyaha Cutoff Trail (out and back to Lake Haiyaha) to Fire Trail to Glaciar Gorge Trail to the Bear Lake parking lot.
Traffic: High until we reached Lake Haiyaha (low).
Parking: Tons of parking....but no spots (except 1 lucky spot that opened). The shuttle halfway may be the only option (there were lines by 9:15).
Equipment: Hiking boots.
Terrain: Well-marked trail with plenty of rocks to step on and plenty of beautiful views until Lake Haiyaha. We didn't take the turnoff to Dream Lake. Big boulders to climb around Lake Haiyaha. Mostly a covered decline from there via Fire Trail.
Difficulty: Moderate (decent cardio baseline for the initial incline to 10k).
Colorado Wedding Officiant Notes: Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) offers many scenic backdrops for a Colorado Wedding Elopement. Many of the most beautiful trails begin in the Bear Lake parking lot and lead you to incredible lakes, including Dream Lake. While these trails tend to be very popular during the summer, they can also lead you to quiet spots like Lake Haiyaha. My photos of the varying landscapes at 10,000 feet and above took place on a wet and foggy day. Nevertheless, the weather provided a mystic serenity often lost in a bright landscape. For clear views and sun, hikes in RMNP before 11 am is most ideal during the summer. Typically, clouds and rain permeate the sky daily from 11 am until 3/4 pm. In the fall, the incredible colors of the trees might provide the painted landscape you’re looking for, but remember that Trail Ridge Road (the road through RMNP) may be closed because of winter conditions at higher elevations. Assume that you won’t have access to the road from late fall until mid to late spring.
Rocky Mountain National Park offers endless options for elopement ceremonies. Timing of the year is important and a pass and reservation is required, though.
Lake Haiyaha offers an incredible setting on a sunny and foggy day for a wedding ceremony.
Once you climb above 10,000 feet in RMNP, your Colorado elopement wedding ceremony will have a scenic backdrop unmatched.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is a wedding officiant serving Denver, Boulder, Golden, and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in Denver (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings and now offers Colorado elopement ceremonies for couples looking for an intimate experience beyond the boundaries.
Wedding locations: Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Lower Highlands, and Sloan Lake. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Wedding Planning Tips
Episode #32 - Growing a New Future of Farming and Food Equity | Dr. Damien Thompson
Introduction
Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that steer the social stream of consciousness….Truly a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior. Each episode is a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we primarily focus on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being….us.
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Damien Thompson, the co-founder of the organization, Frontline Farming, and director of the Center for Food Justice and Healthy Communities.
In addition to his training in anthropology, Dr. Thompson holds a certification in Permaculture Design and a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Teaching Certification. His interests center on the building of community food systems, small-scale urban food production, developing community, and cultural practices related to food and medicine, teaching and learning in education, and permaculture. Dr. Thompson has a keen interest in how communities can utilize traditional and modern information and practices to build food systems that uplift marginalized and oppressed peoples, restore ecosystems, build biodiversity, support cultural diversity as well as provide individuals and families with the highest level of access to the means to support their own health (and we talk quite a bit about these topics today). I should mention that Dr. Thompson is also a mayor-appointed member of the Sustainable Food Council for the City of Denver, and a co-chair for the city’s Good Food Purchasing policy group. No doubt, he plays a significant role in the necessary trend of regenerative agriculture and our future connection to food.
In our interview, we bridge his education in anthropology to his farming practice and social work as the co-founder of Frontline Farming. Specifically, we geek out on the fundamentals of farming and the benefits of permaculture and a regenerative agriculture focus. We further dissected the social challenges surrounding food security, justice, and sovereignty as well as the equitable changes needed in our food system.
In this episode, we specifically discuss:
-Frontline Farming's mission.
-Advantages and disadvantages of regenerative agriculture practices with a focus on no-tilling/conservation tilling, water conservation, terracing, and cover crops.
-Inequality in our present food systems and the need for changes in food security, food justice, and food sovereignty.
-The connection between big data, food systems, and racial equity.
-The importance and repercussions of the language we use in our discussion about food systems and the policy that supports them.
___________________________________
To learn more about Dr. Thompson, visit https://www.frontlinefarming.org/.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is a wedding officiant serving Denver, Boulder, Golden, and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in Denver (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings and now offers Colorado elopement ceremonies for couples looking for an intimate experience beyond the boundaries.
Wedding locations: Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Lower Highlands, and Sloan Lake. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!