These are a handful of location recommendations for your engagement session! I kept in mind keeping hiking to a minimum, though I included a few options that are maybe more hiking-oriented than you envisioned but just to give you an idea of possibilities.

I can’t guarantee any single spot will be bursting with wildflowers on the date we pick but I do scout locations (even locations I’ve been to many times) about a week or so before a shoot to make sure everything is good so I’ll keep you two abreast of conditions just before the shoot.

In the case of a place like Crested Butte, which is further away, I’ll include a few specific locations but I would be scouting them out the day before to see how the wildflower situation is and let you two know if we might want to adjust location plans. Does that makes sense? Everything is fairly close in CB so I don’t have a problem doing this!

Crested Butte

Emerald Lake

This actually seemed to have more wildflowers in August than it did in early July (though it was beautifully green all around and there were definitely some flowers!!) but it’s breathtaking either way. It does require driving on some 4x4 roads to reach this lake and if you’re at all nervous about that, I wouldn’t recommend it. I was able to do it on my own in a Jeep Cherokee and I’m no expert but I do have a little experience with 4x4 roads just from all the backcountry scouting and hiking I do. But anyway, it’s a lovely location if you’re up for the adventure! Here’s an elopement I photographed here in early August one year at sunrise:

And here is a phone photo from when I scouted the location in early July:

Meadows close to town

I stumbled upon this spot while hiking in the area. This beautiful blanket of lupines were found off a random trail in a meadow not too far from town. They required a little walk from the dirt road (you can see it in one photo) but nothing too strenuous. These photos were taken at/just before sunrise in the beginning of July a handful of years ago.

See the dirt road and a small pond in the distance

Paradise Divide Basin

Another spot that requires some 4x4 driving (it’s relatively close to Emerald Lake) but it’s truly just such a beautiful landscape! Again, this area wasn’t bursting with wildflowers last time I visited during early July but it was so green and breathtaking. Picture just open mountain meadows and views galore. There’s a little lake too. See some photos from my phone:

Closer to Denver (than CB at least!)

Guanella Pass

As much or as little hiking as you’d like, Guanella is pretty stunning just about wherever you go along the pass. This is alpine tundra environment, so the flowers are small but they’re beautiful. For something that wouldn’t require much hiking, the top of the pass would most likely be our destination. You’d get really great views of Mount Bierstadt and the surrounding mountains.

Here’s a shoot I did in September a few years back (so keep that in mind, it’s way more green in the summer) but it’ll give you an idea of the landscape.

And here are some phone photos from hikes I’ve done off Guanella Pass in the early summer (early to late July) to give you an idea of the color/flowers (though to be clear some of these are from hikes so the views themselves wouldn’t be the same unless you’re up for some hiking!):

Views of wildflowers from a hike off Guanella Pass in early July

Beginning of a hike off Guanella Pass in late July

Lower Cataract Lake north of Silverthorne

I’ve actually never been here but it’s been on my map for a couple years. I’ve heard good things about it. It sounds like though there’s a little bit of hiking around the lake there isn’t much elevation gain so it wouldn’t be a strenuous location. I don’t have much to share since I haven’t been but here’s an article about it.

If you have an Alltrails account you can look through photos from July of previous years and see it looks best in early/mid July.

Mayflower Gulch

This is one of those locations that is definitely a hike. It’s not a terribly long one (just under two miles to the location) but it can feel a bit strenuous as it is up hill (and a little steep) the entire way. And at a high elevation. I’d say it takes about 45 minutes to get up to this open meadow. It’s pretty amazing if you are up for it! You’re right up next to these beautiful jagged peaks and there’s a few old mining cabins. Best at sunrise I would say. It can still be snow covered in July so likely best in August. Here are some phone photos from an early August visit years ago:

Shrine Ridge OR Corral Creek

These are both trails off Vail Pass. They do require hiking. Shrine Ridge isn’t a terribly difficult hike; about 2.25 miles to the top. But it is known for its wildflowers! It’s a combination of pine forest and open meadows with an alpine tundra at the top that provides amazing views of the surrounding peaks. We wouldn’t necessarily have to go to the top, though I think the views are worth it. But there’s usually lots of lovely patches of wildflowers along the trail. Pretty much same goes for Corral Creek (hence why I’m putting them together). It would actually be less hiking than Shrine Ridge most likely as I’m thinking of one specific spot on this hike that comes to a meadow about half a mile or so from the trailhead. Here are some photos from past hikes I’ve completed at these locations:

Front Range

Totally throwing you for a loop here with this one but I was just thinking about it this week and how excited I am for it to be green again so figured I’d include it just in case!

Flatirons Vista in Boulder

This is out of left field because this actually wouldn’t be the best option for July or August. It would be best in late May or early June. But it’s a lovely open area with pretty easy walking/hiking (nothing long) and has beautiful views of the Flatirons. And it’s so GREEEEN. Also gets a variety of beautiful wildflowers of all colors. Here are some photos from an early June hike at this trailhead: