I’m Rees Gibbons, a wedding videographer born and raised in Colorado and based right here in Durango. For the past ten years I’ve been filming weddings and elopements across the San Juan Mountains — from courthouse ceremonies downtown to sunrise vows above 12,000 feet. Because Durango is home, there are never travel fees for local weddings, and I know the light, the seasons, and the back roads better than any videographer who flies in.
Why couples get married in Durango
Durango sits at the base of the San Juans with more accessible alpine scenery than almost anywhere in Colorado. Couples come here for mountain ceremonies without ski-town prices, golden cottonwoods along the Animas River in fall, and a historic downtown that keeps guests happy all weekend.
Durango wedding venues I love to film
- The Historic Strater Hotel — Victorian interiors, warm light, perfect for winter weddings
- Silverpick Lodge — forested ceremony sites on the road to Purgatory
- Blue Lake Ranch — gardens and lake views with the La Platas behind
- James Ranch — working ranch charm north of town
- Molas Pass & Little Molas Lake — the classic high-alpine elopement backdrop, 45 minutes from town
- Animas River Trail & downtown — for intimate in-town celebrations
(Filmed one of my favorite weddings in the San Juans just outside Durango — see Hannah & Brad’s film on the portfolio page.)
What a Durango wedding film includes
Every package includes help with location scouting, permits (many alpine spots around Durango require them — I handle the research), vendor recommendations, and high-resolution digital delivery. Elopement coverage starts at $4,000 for six hours; intimate weddings start at $5,000 for eight hours, both ranging up to multi-day coverage.
FAQ
How much does a wedding videographer in Durango cost? My elopement films start at $4,000 for six hours of coverage; intimate wedding films start at $5,000 for eight hours. Multi-day adventure coverage is quoted individually. Since I’m based in Durango, local weddings never include travel fees.
Do you film elopements in the mountains around Durango? Yes — that’s my specialty. Molas Pass, Engineer Mountain, Ice Lakes Basin, and the whole stretch of the Million Dollar Highway toward Silverton and Ouray. I help couples choose the location and handle permit research.
When is the best time of year for a Durango wedding? June through early October is the classic window. Late September brings gold aspens; winter weddings are quieter and dramatic but require flexible plans for weather and road conditions.
How far in advance should we book? Most couples book 8–14 months out. Peak fall Saturdays go first. If your date is closer, reach out anyway — gaps happen.
Do you also travel beyond Durango? Constantly. Telluride, Ouray, Dunton Hot Springs, Moab, and destination weddings anywhere love takes you. See the Colorado elopement page and destination page.