BRIDE’S HOMETOWN: Cottonwood, Idaho
GROOM’S HOMETOWN: Helena, Montana
CEREMONY: Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Driggs. It’s a beautiful rustic church in a field outside of Driggs. There are large windows behind the alter that overlook the Tetons. It made for a picture perfect mountain wedding ceremony.
RECEPTION: Moose Creek Ranch, Victor. This spacious ranch was the perfect backdrop for our mountain reception. The beautiful lodge and barn provided a relaxed and intimate space for family and friends.
WEDDING DATE: July 19, 2014
FIRST SIGHT: We met at work. Nate was touring the research building and met me. A couple weeks later Nate built up the courage to ask me out for our first date.
THE ONE: We knew we were meant for each other after our first road trip together. In the spring of 2011 we ventured to Zion National Park, Utah. Moments after arriving at our campsite, we noticed the car had a flat tire. The next morning, we took it into the local tire shop only to find out it would take all day to get a new tire. Instead of letting this ruin our day at the park, we decided to rent bicycles and tour the park on two wheels. What could have been a stressful situation, serendipitously turned into one of our best memories. This is still our favorite vacation, taken as a couple.
THE PROPOSAL: Nate proposed on May 9. He surprised me after work by meeting me at my front door with a wedding ring in hand. Nate likes to claim that as an engineer he knew he would not be overly romantic, so he made sure to pick the perfect ring!
WEDDING PALETTE: Our wedding was a mix of rustic and romantic. We chose several shades of pink mixed with shades of brown. What pulled the color pallet together was a mix of textures as well as colors. In addition to the brown and pink, we used a lot of wooden accents, burlap fabrics, pearls, and lace. The overall feeling was elegant, but also laid back at the same time. There were also several elements that were made by the bride and her family, which gave the reception a personal touch.
FAVORITE DETAIL: The groom’s favorite detail was the whiskey and cigar bar. Multiple whiskeys and cigars were served after dinner. It was a huge hit among the guests, particularly the groomsmen and the bride’s uncles. The bride’s favorite detail was the barn dance after the dinner. The barn at Moose Creek Ranch was decorated with handmade mason jar lights, flowers and of course, hay bales. The cake and bar were also located in the barn. The guests starting dancing around 7:30 and didn’t stop until 11:30. In fact, everyone was having such a great time, the best man paid the DJ to play for an extra hour!
INSPIRATION: As a couple we have spent a lot of time in the Teton Valley over the past few years. Outdoor recreation, such as camping, skiing, and hiking, is something we both love to do together. Having a relaxed wedding in the mountains was a natural choice for us. Moose Creek Ranch provided a perfect location. Since we did not grow up in the same town and our friends are scattered across the country, we decided to have our wedding at a destination that people would be willing to travel to. There were many cabins on site for our friends and family to stay as well as plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.
When planning our wedding we put a priority making sure our guests had a great time. We made sure we had lots of food and drinks. We also used the large space at the reception area for lawn games made by the bride and groom’s family. Overall, we wanted a party where people could relax and have fun, which is exactly what we had.