Couple Takes Wedding Photos in Front of Raging Wildfire, Goes Viral

Evacuation orders are in effect in southwestern Colorado, where a wildfire is raging in the San Juan National Forest. The latest reports on the 416 fire, as it is being called, say that the blaze is estimated to be about  23,378 acres in size, and, thanks to the work of over 900 firefighters, 15 percent of it has been contained. As of now, no one has been injured, and no homes have been lost, but the evacuation of residents of over 2,000 homes, as well as the devastation of an ongoing crisis, is of great national concern.

On Saturday, Sara and Michael Kramer of Fort Collins, Colorado, were set to get married at a wedding venue in the San Juan National Forest, but the location had to be moved to a relative's property due to the disaster.

At sunset, they had a couple of romantic photos taken of themselves embracing as the smoke from the fire billowed behind them like tangerine clouds. The photos, taken by photographer Alexi Hubbell, are visually stunning.

As they went viral online, many social media users complained that it was insensitive to use a natural disaster as the backdrop to a wedding photo. But they were appeased by the captions to the photos.

Hubbell wrote that the images were "not meant to glorify the situation here in Durango or minimize the impact it is having on our town and the economy or what the families that have been evacuated are going through. We fully understand everyone's pain. We are in this together!' He also shared the address for the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado for their Community Emergency Relief Fund, where people can send donations, and thanked the "fire fighters on the ground trying to contain this thing!"

I want to give a huge thank you to the fire fighters on the ground trying to contain this thing! Sara and Michael were supposed to be married at Cascade Village but had to change venues to a family home on CR 250 at the last minute. I know the crews out there are working extremely hard to protect this valley and the homes in it, including the one we were at last night. From all of us at Alexi Hubbell Photography and the entire Carver, Kramer, and McLaughlin families, thank you for your service! Note: this photo is not meant to glorify the situation here in Durango or minimize the impact it is having on our town and the economy or what the families that have been evacuated are going through. We fully understand everyone's pain. We are in this together! Please spread the word that Durango and Silverton depend on tourist dollars in the summertime to survive. Those downtowns are not threatened by the fire and need your business! Monetary donations are being accepted by the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado for their Community Emergency Relief Fund. Checks can be mailed to the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado; P.O. Box 1673; Durango, CO 81302.By PayPal or credit card at the foundation's website. Please see the @durango_herald for more information on how you can support firefighters and evacuees. #416fire

A post shared by Alexi Hubbell (@alexihubbellphotography) on Jun 10, 2018 at 9:17am PDT

Sara Kramer shared another gorgeous wedding photo, along with the address where people could send money to help communities affected by the wildfire.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

"We are in absolute awe of our friends, family, photographer, and vendors who made this incredible wedding come to life," she also wrote. "The 416 fire forced us to change venues last minute and it was a little hectic. Thank you to the firefighters working hard to keep the Durango community safe, we are so grateful. What an unbelievable weekend."

We are in absolute awe of our friends, family, photographer, and vendors who made this incredible wedding come to life. The 416 fire forced us to change venues last minute and it was a little hectic. Thank you to the firefighters working hard to keep the Durango community safe, we are so grateful. What an unbelievable weekend. Please consider donating to the community! Monetary donations are being accepted by the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado for their Community Emergency Relief Fund. Checks can be mailed to the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado; P.O. Box 1673; Durango, CO 81302.By PayPal or credit card at the foundation's website. Please see the @durango_herald for more information on how you can support firefighters and evacuees. Durango and Silverton are incredible places to visit and are still open for business! Our guests came from around the country for our wedding and had fun rafting the Animas River, hiking, enjoying delicious food from the many restaurants in town, biking to breweries, exploring down town shops, and staying in some unique historic hotels. Support these communities in need! @alexihubbellphotography #durango #416fire #durangowedding #silverton

A post shared by Sara Mac (@saramac1616) on Jun 10, 2018 at 9:56am PDT

No doubt thanks to the sensitive way they handled things, the photos are now being hailed on Twitter as an example of people making the best out of a bad situation.

This couple is trying to make the best of uncontrollable circumstances as the #416fire rages in on the Western Slope of #Colorado @DenverChannel

— Marc Stewart Denver7 (@MarcKMGH) June 11, 2018

For more incredible wedding photos, check out the Breathtaking Photos from Kate Upton's Magical Wedding Day.

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Diana Bruk Diana is a senior editor who writes about sex and relationships, modern dating trends, and health and wellness.Read moreFiled UnderMarriage • Viral News • WeddingsRead This Next

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