Location
An Intimate September Wedding at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch with Stunning Views and Cozy Chic Vibes
Caren & Chris | September 21st
From the bride: We met on a beautiful sunny day in April after a day of spring skiing. After that, we quickly became friends, skiing together, hiking on the full moon, and going on early-season rock climbing adventures. Before long, our friendship turned into more, and our day trips turned into weekends hiking in the mountains, exploring new towns, and climbing as much as possible.
THE PROPOSAL
Chris proposed in the Jackson, WY Town Square under the elk antler arches. We were on a weekend trip and had just finished a great ski day at Jackson Hole. In the same exact moment that he got down on one knee, the lights around the elk antlers coincidentally came on.
THE VENUE
Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. I had been to the ranch about 10 years ago with my family and at the time thought it would be an amazing place to get married. It’s a stunning location, and I loved that most of the guests could stay on site. Chris knew it was a place I loved and reached out to Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. one month before he proposed to see about possible wedding dates! What a guy! They were all booked at the time, but about a week after we got engaged, the last weekend of the season opened up, and it was ours. It was meant to be. The rest of the planning really fell into place after that.
THE VISION
We really wanted an intimate feel. We wanted a small wedding with those we love the most in the world. We did a lot of things DIY to add personal touches. This is who Chris and I are. We like to do things ourselves. We like small, intimate gatherings, and we like things to be soft and cozy. We love making fires in chilly weather, and we love being in the mountains.
THE STYLE
We already loved everything about the ranch, and the setting is so beautiful as it is, so we wanted the ranch to just do what they do best, and we did our best to enhance it with added elegance and warmth.
THE SEASON
Since it was late September, the weather could be very unpredictable, so we started planning for colder weather, just in case, so the overall décor was cozy chic.
THE COLOR PALETTE
In terms of colors, I wanted everything to be bright and vibrant. These days wedding colors are often so muted, and I wanted to do the complete opposite.
THE DRESS
I ended up with was the first dress I put on in the store, and the first thing I said after putting it on was, “Now that’s a wedding dress!” I tried on a bunch more dresses at that store and one other store that day but ended up going back to that first dress from Modern Trousseau.
THE SHOES
My shoes were the same ones I wore to my sister’s wedding 5 years prior. I bought and returned about 10 pairs of shoes only to realize that I had the perfect shoes already sitting in my closet.
THE DAY OF
Everyone was spirited, glowing, and relaxed from a day of yoga, hiking, and soaking in the hot springs.
THE CEREMONY DECOR
We added fur to the ceremony benches and offered our guests soft plaid blankets during the ceremony for them to keep.
THE CEREMONY
My dad and mom both walked me down the aisle. My mom told me years ago, long before I ever met Chris, that that was how it was going to be. I didn’t question it.
The ceremony was incredibly cozy and personal. The sun was out, but there was a slight chill in the air, so all of the cozy touches were fully appreciated.
The ceremony was everything I’d ever dreamed of and more. All of the details came together beautifully, and I felt fully present and connected to Chris.
THE SEATING CHART
Our favorite detail was our “Peaks from the Porch” string art escort board. Chris and I wanted to do something creative for our table seating escort board. After visiting the ranch in June, we realized that the “peaks from the porch” (Sawtooth mountain peaks visible from the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch) were a real highlight of the venue, which gave us the idea for the wood string artboard of the Sawtooth peaks that I created.
LOOKING BACK
Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch is easily the most beautiful place to get married anywhere, and Chris and I were so grateful to say our vows and make it official there in the mountains. We had the most wonderful friends and family supporting us. That combination was pure magic. People are still raving about the ceremony blankets, Chef Victor’s food (especially the gnocchi), and the dancing!
ADVICE
Keep it personal and when the wedding week/weekend arrives, forget about the details and focus on: 1) your future spouse and 2) all of your family and friends that are there to celebrate you, in that order.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Venue: Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch Photographer: Craig Wolfrom Photography // Floral Designer: Tara Bella Flowers // Event Planner: Blue Bottle Events // Rentals: That’s Entertainment // Cocktails: Roadbars // Hair Stylist: Bonnie Snell from The Feathered Flip
A Wedding in the Pines at the Arboretum in Flagstaff
Megan & TJ | June 14th
From the photographers, Adam and Priscilla:
Megan and TJ had taken their time looking for a perfect spot to say “I do”. Even though they live in the desert, their favorite place to be is among the pines in the high country of Northern Arizona. There are so many amazing places but The Arboretum at Flagstaff was the perfect venue for their Flagstaff wedding in the woods. Their fur babies, Henry and Diego joined in on the festivities. These two pups were just as excited for Megan and TJ’s big day as the rest of their gracious family and friends!
THE CEREMONY
TJ stood at the edge of a Ponderosa Pine Forest with the majestic Mount Humphreys in the background. Even though we were at altitude, it was Megan who took TJ’s breath away. With each step closer, he held his breath and fought the tears back, this glowing bride was to be his partner in life. This is what life is about, living in the moment with the person you love.
They stood beneath the arch draped with fresh roses, eucalyptus, anemones, and thistle blooms. Megan held her hand out softly and TJ took it into his own and once together the world is serene. The focus between the two was unbreakable; you can just tell that they know how each other was feeling and thinking without even saying a word. The love between them is all they need.
The Arboretum at Flagstaff grounds were full of life from the spring rains; lush greenery that didn’t even look like Arizona, the flowers, trees, and grasses were abundant with new growth. As we made our way out of the pine forest chasing the beautiful golden hour with the newlyweds we spoke of craft beer, good music, food, and our common love of the forest and nature.
Friendly horny toads wandered the paths alongside us and birds filled the air with their songs. The peaks of Mount Humphreys were aglow in the early evening light. It was a perfect June day for a wedding in Arizona.
Both Megan and TJ are kind and thoughtful with a love for artisanship. It came through in every detail of their intimate wedding; from the beautiful florals, the Arboretum, his blue suit with a sage green tie that perfectly matched TJ’s eyes. Even their honeymoon to the Oregon coast where they could go enjoy nature and good craftsmanship.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: Adam and Priscilla // Venue: The Arboretum at Flagstaff // Hair Stylist: Northern Arizona Glam Squad // Officiant: Sedona Minister
Married in Pink at Moraine Lake
Isis & Nick | Alberta, Canada
From the bride…
We hadn’t really even considered a traditional wedding. We were planning a trip to Canada and thought about how epic it would be if we just eloped while we were there and then had a party to celebrate with our loved ones back home. A beautiful lady that I work with had shown me photos from her recent trip to Moraine Lake and told me about how it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. When I told Nick about it, it was almost decided instantly that it was exactly the kind of scenery we were looking for.
THE FLOWERS
I knew from the get-go that I wanted a flower crown and a HUGE bouquet of florals in dusty pink and maroon.
THE VISION
We wanted our day to be really relaxed and stress-free and it couldn’t have been more perfect! Our ceremony was planned for 6 pm so we slept in, had a nice breakfast, went for a hike and even had a nap before we had to get ready. So many of our friends had told us how stressed they felt on their wedding day and how they felt as though they couldn’t really enjoy it or that they wished they had eloped and we didn’t want to look back on such a special memory wishing that we had changed things or spent less money or whatever. I think we nailed it!
THE DRESS
I just really didn’t want to wear white! I had always pictured a pink dress, but not too Barbie-like and not too pale. As much as I love dressing up and being girly, I also LOVE being comfortable. I knew I was going to be scrambling over rocks so I couldn’t really have a long train, and I didn’t want a veil but wanted something flowy that was also removable, so we decided on a cape instead and I chose a pair of black and white Vans with some pink ribbon.
THE DAY OF
It was so surreal standing at that lake the morning of our wedding, taking it all in and realizing we made it! We traveled for 21 hours and were so tired but we did it! We only told our family and close friends, and it made our announcement feel even more special and made us feel like our wedding was ours, and that we were doing it for us and not for anyone else. I was a pretty lazy bride and all I cared about was marrying the man of my dreams. I thought that planning our wedding from Australia would be difficult but it was actually such a breeze.
THE VOWS
I couldn’t wait to hear Nick’s vows and to call him my husband and Nick says his favorite part was seeing me in my dress for the first time which I think is pretty cute!
LOOKING BACK
Everything was so easy and went so smooth, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Eloping definitely took a lot of the guesswork out of planning, we didn’t have to think about decorations and we also didn’t have to worry about impressing other people, we could focus on just us and that was the main thing for the both of us when we were planning our day. Luckily, Mother Nature put on a show with the most spectacular weather. It had been raining pretty much since we landed in Canada and cleared up right before our ceremony began.
ADVICE
Do what you want to do! Don’t let other people make it about them or change your mind, or make you feel like what you want doesn’t matter. I mean this with my whole heart – you don’t get to get to marry the love of your life every day!
Before we left for Canada, we had a sign made that read, “We Eloped – Moraine Lake, Canada, 13th August 2019.” This date is my G’ma’s birthday, and although she is no longer with us, I wanted her to be part of our special day. She would have loved Nick.
THE WEDDING TEAM
Photographer: ENV Photography
Floral Designer: Willow Flower Co.
A North Cascades Mountain Elopement with a Pretty Floral Dress
From the photographer, Suzanne Rothmeyer Photography
Stephanie and Justin rolled up to the Thunder Knob Trail trailhead with their little trailer they had been camping in for the last week as they traveled through the Cascade Mountains. We did their first look overlooking Diablo Lake with stunning weather and views. I gasped when Stephanie stepped out of the loo in her dress…I adore brides who go with something other than the traditional and really embrace their personality when choosing their wedding dress!
One of the sweetest things about this elopement was their sharing of memories of their 10 years of knowing each other, first as friends, on the climb up to the summit, and then sharing their hopes, dreams, and plans for the future on the way down.
They read their vows against the backdrop of a layered mountain landscape, with the sun disappearing with a twinkle over the tallest peak as they embraced. Then wrapping up the moment toasting with cider before we headed back down. It was truly the perfect day – and not another soul at the top.
Snowy Glacier National Park Elopement
Kaytlin & Nick | Glacier National Park
From the bride…
Nick and I had our first date in Glacier a few years ago. We hiked to Iceberg Lake and then had dinner at the restaurant in the Many Glacier Hotel. After that, we had many adventures in Glacier National Park, including getting engaged! We knew that we wanted to also get married in Glacier, so Many Glacier seemed like the perfect idea to bring our story full circle! Nick and I decided that we wanted our ceremony to be intimate, so we decided to elope with only our immediate families in attendance. Nick is one of seven children, so we still had a decently large group!
THE ATTIRE
I went home to Missouri to visit my parents shortly after getting engaged and on a whim, decided to go to a bridal shop to see if I could get an idea of what I generally wanted to wear on my wedding day. I fell in love with a high neck, gorgeous lace gown and bought it that same day! I also wore a fur shawl that I borrowed from my grandmother. Thank goodness for this since it was so cold (40 degrees in June!).
Nick was more deliberate than I in his wedding day attire planning. He got his gray wool suit custom made in Montana. The lining was a light blue and brown print with his monogram inside.
THE VENUE
We thought that the deck of the Many Glacier Hotel would be the perfect venue for our big day, but the weather that day had other ideas. It was hailing and the wind was so strong that the hail was going sideways! Thankfully, we have a great family who was willing to hike a little bit into the woods where we found a quiet spot by the lake that was protected from the weather.
THE CEREMONY
It was very special to have Nick’s brother, Ethan be both the best man and officiant because he was able to personalize our ceremony just for us! My brother, Kayne, and his friend, Anthony, played their guitars and sung during our ceremony. A recording of this is on our wedding video, so we can completely relive the day anytime we want!
The most anticipated moment of our wedding day was hearing each other read our vows. We decided to write our own and didn’t let each other know anything about them beforehand. Our vows are now framed in our bedroom so we can remind ourselves of them every day!
BOAT RIDE
After the ceremony, we chartered a boat and cruised around the lake for an hour while we enjoyed everyone’s company, popped champagne, and ate snacks.
LOOKING BACK
One of my favorite parts of our wedding was everyone being so flexible with us because of the weather. Our families were down to go anywhere we asked them to–even a mile into the woods in dresses and heels in 40-degree weather!
ADVICE
Pick one or two things that are important to each of you and focus on those things. Let the other details work themselves out and don’t stress. Your best memories won’t be your decor or makeup, but enjoying the time with your new spouse and celebrating with friends and family! Be sure to take a few intimate moments with just your spouse and soak up the day.
CREDITS:
Photographer: Marianne Wiest Photography
Location: Glacier National Park
Mountaintop Elopement in Vancouver
Sara & Isaac | Vancouver, Canada | Photographer: Karizma Photography
Isaac and Sara’s romance started at a New Year’s Eve party. After failing to get her number, Isaac asked 7 people to help him find a way to reach her. Once he finally got her number, he asked her on a date and Sara just couldn’t say no.
THE PROPOSAL
While walking in a snowy park near their apartment, Sara was mesmerized by the small lights decorating a gazebo nearby. Isaac then got down on one knee and popped the question, offering her a wooden ring he had made himself.
WHY ELOPE
Initially from Pittsburg, USA, the two decided to elope in Vancouver. They both have a love of the outdoors and were struck by the beautiful scenery easily available around Vancouver. Their decision to elope came after trying to plan a traditional wedding with a guest list of over 100. They began to wonder if it was really worth the expense. When Isaac’s mom suggested eloping, they never looked back.
THE DAY OF
On the day of their mountain elopement, Sara’s hair and make-up by AX Art Makeup began at 3 am. Then, the drive on a bumpy forest service road to the beginning of the trail. They hiked to the spot where they wanted to say their vows. They changed into their wedding attire and said “I DO” on a picturesque rock overlooking the valley with jaw-dropping views of the mountains.
Rugged Boho Inspo in the Californian High Desert
This styled shoot was inspired by the location, BLM land in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Although the location was sparse in vegetation, the sweeping snow-capped mountains and larger than life boulders provided plenty of inspiration. Vintage elements gave the setting a special wanderlust flair while the cowhide rug and skull added a little southwest style without being over the top. The triangle arch was a powerful design element. The flowers reflected the vegetation and incorporated plants you would actually find in the high desert.
THE STYLE TEAM
Photographer: Love Wildly
Event Planner: Rosie Event Designer
Floral Designer: Sweet Lilacs
Apparel: Addictions Boutique
Dress Store: Sonora Bridal Loft
Makeup Artist: Heather Andrea Makeup & Hair Artist
Calligrapher: Lauren G London
A Rainy Fall Honeymoon Adventure
Bethann & Jensen | Telluride, Colorado
From the photographer, Rachel Beckwith:
Having your love documented on your honeymoon should most definitely be a thing. You’ve just had an amazing wedding day, all the nerves, stress, and built up anticipation are gone, and you are just able to enjoy your time with your new spouse with the freedom to be completely relaxed. It’s the perfect opportunity to get some meaningful memories captured that will forever remind you of your first trip together as a married couple.
This is exactly what Bethann and Jensen did, and it was such an incredible experience. In the days after their wedding, they took a mini-honeymoon to Telluride, Colorado, right at the peak of the spectacular Fall foliage this region displays. We decided to do a sunrise adventure and started to drive out in complete darkness after downing some coffee of course. It was a rainy morning, so we didn’t get to see the sunrise, but it made for an even more memorable session. There’s just something so romantic about kissing in the rain especially when you have these breath-taking views all to yourself.
