Idaho Weddings

To me, it simply doesn’t get more romantic than a glammed out winter wedding. Period. Especially when it happens to include a palette of pinks and golds plus sparkling chandeliers everywhere you look. Dylan & Sara Photography and PenWeddings are to thank for the gorgeous captures of the day, and you can swoon the gallery plus find the film waiting down below!

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From the Bride… From the proposal to the ceremony, everything was truly a complete fairytale! Brian proposed to me at sunset on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas. With his dad, sister, and sister’s family already in Cabo, Brian flew my family and his mother in to surprise me at dinner. He also had a secret photographer which I learned about later at our engagement party (yet another surprise!) Which leads me to believe that yes, ladies, if you pin a pin on Pinterest enough times your pin dream may come true!

I immediately had a vision of exactly how our wedding would look. I would describe my style as vintage shabby chic glam (with anything & everything old and chipped and distressed in between). After years of dreaming of the perfect wedding, I thought I had it all figured out. But, I was far from that! I was lucky to have my wedding planner Brandi from Soiree weddings & events. She just “got” me.  I had such wonderful ideas and thoughts that only she seemed to understand. Our invitations for example… what I would explain to the graphic designer would come out looking like a baby shower invite. Then I’d tell Brandi and she knew exactly what I wanted! Poor Brian just wanted me to decide before our wedding day arrived.

My main focus for the wedding was always the chandeliers.  That was the first thing I told Brian when he asked me how to describe the perfect wedding. I replied, “Chandeliers, Chandeliers, Chandeliers. Everywhere!”.  There is something so elegant and classy about them, and the charm they bring to photos is perfection!

My color palette was blush pinks along with creams and gold.  All the girls had blush pink one shoulder dresses along with white fur shawls.  My Daughter Brielle, the flower girl, had a dress from Etsy which was meant to mirror my dress. I chose a simple mermaid dress with a sweetheart neckline and a “wow” bottom.  I went with a vintage brown fur shawl I snagged at an antique mall while shopping with my grandmother.  

Our ceremony room at the beautiful Shore Lodge was already full of chandeliers (not the sparkly kind) and we decided to fill them with flowers draping with strands of pearls.  The first two rows of seating were old white and distressed church pews which really finished off the look.  It was like a shabby dream drenched with flowers.  Our reception took place at the Whitetail Fish & Swim Club a few minutes down the road.  We had shuttles to escort all of our guest while Brian & I rode in a horse drawn carriage… which didn’t last long due to the brisk weather! Haha!  Inside the reception space, which was tented in and draped, is where the chandeliers were on display. It truly was “Chandeliers, Chandeliers , Chandeliers! Everywhere!” I loved it.  

Our head table was a beautiful rustic farm table, topped with flowers galore.  All the details at the reception were absolutely  perfectly done and I could never fully explain them… so I’ll let the photos and video finish for me.  All in all we were so fortunate to have worked with such great teams the day of our wedding. Especially our wedding videographers, PenWeddings, which we were lucky enough to build a special friendship with. This is one expense I would advise every bride & groom to budget for.  You have so many amazing things going on your special day, that you don’t have time to even realize just how special the moments really are.  We were lucky to have videographers to capture the special smirks and cries we could so easily forget. I hope you enjoy our special day as much as we did.

Photography: Dylan & Sara Photography | Cinematography: PenWeddings | Floral Design: Boise At Its Best | Cake: Greg Marsh Designer Cakes | Makeup Artist: Blush By Jamie Rose | Hair Stylist: Deco Hair And Makeup Salon | Band: Groove Merchants | AV Rentals: Integrity Audio Visual | Ceremony Musician: Ben Burdick Trio | Club: Whitetail Club | DJ/MC: VCI Audio | Guest Transportation: Harlows Bus Service | Horse Drawn Carriage: Carriage For Hire | Invitations & Stationery: Paperie + Pen | Lodge: Shore Lodge | Planning & Design: Soiree Weddings & Events | Rentals: Event Rent | Vintage Rentals: Ira & Lucy

It’s a well-known fact that Idaho is a magical place.  The kind of state where saying “I do” in a rustic meets awesome affair is totally commonplace… and exactly the reason this adorable duo ventured from the East Coast to the beautiful Shore Lodge to tie the knot with their awesome friends and family.  It’s a wedding that will make your heart sing, all captured in gorgeous images by Tana Photography.  See them all here.

From Tana Photography… Wanting a lakeside lodge wedding, Jessica and Christian, an East Coast couple, brought their family and guests to Payette Lake, in McCall Idaho, where the bride’s family spends their summers. The couple, who work in NYC, envisioned a natural, simple event with personal and vintage touches. Rustic, natural elements of Idaho were combined with personalized details to keep the day their own. Jessica, who loves anything vintage, was so excited to wear her 1970’s wedding dress she’d found in a local popular vintage shop, and they both wore cherished accessories that were passed down from their grandparents. The groom wore a 70’s vintage suit and Armani “smoking jacket” that were passed down from his father.

Amongst all of the natural colors at the lake, the couple used colorful minty blue and coral pink in the bridesmaids dresses to make them “pop.”  Friendship gifts from the bride were handmade by a friend who couldn’t attend, and these dress-belts and the hair accessories were worn by the bridesmaids on the wedding day.

The wedding gave a nod to the groom’s Danish heritage with a customary Kransekage wedding cake, and brought in the elements of the bride’s family summers at the lake with pine and cedar in their wedding arch, plus added succulents in all of their bouquets and centerpieces. Rounding out the floral were eucalyptus, sedum, dusty miller, larkspur, baby’s breath and Queen Anne’s lace to bring in some texture.

An artistic and unique touch was the string-art Idaho map holding the card placers/seating for the guests, which now hangs in the couple’s home as artwork.

Photography: Tana Photography | Coordination: Bliss Events | Event Planning: Bliss Events | Floral Design: Bliss Events | Wedding Dress: Mill Crest Vintage | Cake: Flight Of Fancy Bakeshop | Ceremony Venue: Shore Lodge | Reception Venue: Shore Lodge | Bridesmaids Dresses: Forever 21 | Catering: Shore Lodge | Bride's Hair And Makeup: Deco Hair And Makeup Salon | Grooms Attire/Jacket: Armani | Music: The Big Wow Band

Hillary Maybery and gorgeous weddings go hand-in-hand. And this Sun Valley beauty? Well, it takes lakeside romance to an entirely new level. Factor in pretty invites from Regas, elegant blooms by Tara Bella plus one jaw-dropping bride, and you’ve got a gallery that musn’t be missed. See every moment right over here!

From the Bride… We allowed the lake to shape our colors and themes, choosing navy blue Monique Lhuillier bridesmaid dresses, grey blue tablecloths, loose hanging vines and flowers, and mercury glass vases and candlesticks.

The flowers and decorations were exquisite, but it was the personal touches and little surprises that made the wedding memorable. To the astonishment of the wedding guests and wedding party, I was not waiting at the end of the aisle when Pachelbel started to play. Instead I came around the corner in the adjacent pond in a canoe rowed by my father. The entrance made for remarkable pictures and left a mark but it was the thirty minutes before, tucked behind trees sharing a bottle of champagne with my father that will remain the most memorable.

The lake also proved the best backdrop for a first dance that took place even before we went into the tent for dinner. Two band members played “Nobody Knows Me” by Lyle Lovett acoustically and Luke and I danced on the green grass with our guests circled around us cheering.

Inside the tent we began dancing as soon as our salad plates were taken away. Two tables were literally danced into the ground and the only way to encourage guests to leave was the promises of sliders and mini grilled cheese sandwiches served at the exit.

Almost six months later we are still in disbelief about how incredible the entire weekend was and it could not have been possible without our amazing wedding planner, Amanda Seaward, CK’s Restaurant, the Groove Merchants, and our extremely talented photographer Hillary Maybery.

Photography: Hillary Maybery Photography | Event Planning: Amanda Seaward | Floral Design: Tara Bella Flowers | Cake: The Sweet Crumb | Invitations: Regas | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: CK's Restaurant | Hair & Makeup: Danielle Anspach

Rustic yet refined, this River Run Lodge wedding captured by Tana Photography is casual elegance defined. It’s an affair overflowing with wildflowers, personality and love – and every gorgeous moment is waiting for you right here in the full gallery of images.

From the Bride…Stratton and I met on the first day of school at the University of Idaho. From the moment I saw him I knew that he was something special. We dated for three years when he proposed on New Year’s Eve. When deciding on a venue we knew we wanted something outdoors; we fell in love over many fishing and outdoor adventures. Having both grown up visiting the beautiful Wood River Valley we decided on River Run Lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho as our place to say “I do.”

I knew I wanted a classic wedding dress. With my mom, sisters and friend I found a Justin Alexander lace ball gown with a beautiful train and corded lace and a pearl and crystal beaded belt that was added. Stratton chose a handsome, black, fitted suit with a gold tie.

After choosing a venue, the first thing we chose was the colors for our wedding. We both decided we loved black, silver, gold, and an array of ivories…keeping in mind the colors of our college Vandal pride. Because we love the natural outdoor beauty of Idaho so much, we chose a rustic resort theme.

We kept the flowers for the reception and the bouquets simple and natural with baby’s breath, lilies, micro daisies, and craspedia billy balls. Stratton hand-made fishing flies to use in my bouquet and the boutonnieres.

To keep our wedding outfits personal and sentimental, I wore a garter that my grandmother made with lace rosettes and a lady bug for good luck. I had hearts sewn in to my wedding dress made from the shirt fabric of my late grandfathers. I wore my mother’s diamond earrings, my grandmother’s pearls, and Stratton wore a tie pin that has been handed down through generations in his family.

Stratton and I exchanged vows we wrote ourselves at the base of Baldy Mountain with all of our friends and family in attendance. Our beautiful black lab, Magic, who donned hot pink nails and a floral wreath, was our ring bearer. We kicked off the reception with an entrance down a grand staircase to our first dance song “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Followed by dances with our parents and moving speeches by our loved ones. It was a beautiful day full of love and laughter.

Photography: Tana Photography | Wedding Planner: Adrian + Sabine | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander | Cake: Sun Valley Resort | Ceremony Venue: Sun Valley Resort | Reception Venue: Sun Valley Resort | Shoes: Steve Madden | Bridesmaids Dresses: Anne Taylor | Makeup Artist: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics | Hair: Amber Cultra For Platinum Beauty Lounge | Grooms Attire: Calvin Klein | Floral: Adrian + Sabine

Woodsy weddings have this way of striking the perfect balance between elegance and simplicity. Especially when they’re as thoughtfully planned as this intimate Idaho affair from Hugh Forte. With a bride who made certain no detail went unnoticed, and Heather Minor planning behind-the-scenes, there’s more than enough reason not to miss the gallery + film from Eric Hires below!

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From the Bride… Max is from Seattle and I grew up in South Carolina. We met in LA, moved to Michigan for grad school, but recently settled in Seattle. In short, deciding where to have our wedding was the hardest part! We knew we wanted a whole weekend with all of our loved ones together — Sun Valley was the perfect place for that. Max grew up spending summers there with his family and we’ve been fortunate enough to spend a month there every year.

I had a clear vision of how I wanted the day to look and feel like a garden party Max and I were holding at home. We started there, knowing we wanted to spend our wedding day outside and have it be as intimate as possible. After visiting and not falling in love with all of the standard venues, Max remembered a nearby bridge he learned to fly fish on. That was it! Being very detail-oriented, I loved that we got to bring in every chair, plate, and glass we used. We had a few dear friends who lent us their personal collection of china and silver, in addition to the three rental companies we used for linens, chairs, and glassware. Heather Minor, our planner, was a saint for orchestrating all of that! I collected small vintage bottles to use for escort cards, tying gold scripted tags to them with velvet ribbon. We had friends and family take Polaroids of themselves and sign our guest book (in addition to the portrait they drew on their RSVP cards!) With a deep love of gold, I found brass stencils to use as table numbers (or letters, in our case) and my mom commissioned a friend to make the stands to hold them. To keep our drinks festive, I collected ribbons in cream and gold, and used them to top drink stirrers.

We decided to have only a best man and maid of honor, keeping things intimate. But Max and I both come from big families and wanted to honor them too, so we asked everyone to wear shades of cream. We also wore things very special to us that day – Max had his grandfather’s gold pocket watch with him and an MB stitched into his suit, while I had a lace handkerchief my mom made when we got engaged, a bracelet borrowed from my mother in law, and our initials and wedding date stitched into my dress by my mom.

That afternoon, as the nearby forest fires worsened, we were lucky they only made the light a beautiful pink hue, instead of dampening the day. Our amazing photographer, Hugh, and videographer, Eric, walked outside for portraits, stopped, looked at each other, and said “Is this real?” The light was wild!

That day we were both bubbling over with excitement – so ready to see each other! A devoted letter-writer, I wrote Max a letter for our wedding day and every big anniversary until 50 (though hopefully that won’t be our last!). My dear friend and pen-pal, Victoria, delivered them to Max to ease his racing heart. I think it might have had the reverse effect, though! Seeing Max as I walked down the aisle was the most exciting moment. Our eyes welled up and he waved while I strode towards him on my dad’s arm. We handcrafted our ceremony together, but our officiant had us write down why we loved each other and keep it secret. It was both amazing to hear and to share that moment with everyone we hold dear. The ceremony was definitely our favorite part of the day – it filled the entire party with a sense of joy and love. I’ve never seen so many happy people!

After the ceremony, the whole wedding party paraded back for cocktail hour amongst the rustling trees and later, dinner and dancing (our DJ was the best!) under the stars. We also got particularly lucky on that front – it was the first night of the rare Perseid Meteor showers. That night, after we ran through our own shower of sparklers, we walked back out to the bridge where Max learned to fly fish, where we got married, where I would learn to fly fish the next day, and watched the stars as they fell, with full hearts. That was really the most remarkable thing about the entire day – you think your heart is as full as it can be, but it gets a little more full with everyone’s love.

Photography: Hugh Forte Photography | Videography: Eric Hires | Wedding Planner: Heather Minor | Flowers: Ketchum Flower Company | Wedding Cake: Cristina's | Shoes: Loeffler Randall | Catering: Ketchum Grill | DJ: Nathan Hudson | Best Man's Bow Tie: High Cotton Ties | Bridesmaid Dress: Asos | Cocktail Music: Spare Change | Groom's Bespoke Suit: Isaia | Groom's Bow Tie: Ryan Seacrest Distinction | Guest Book: Velvet Raptor | Handkerchief: Sutherland Handweaving | Save the Dates , Invitations, & Website: Melissa Blume | Vendor: Paper And Type | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhullier: Marcella's La Boutique

This, my friends, is a bride that really knows how to throw a wedding.  A bride that also happens to be the the planner extraordinaire known as Lindsay Smith with a family that is one of the most talented group of people you will ever lay your eyes upon.  The combination makes for one crazy gorgeous day filled with drop-dead gorgeous DIY details and glamorous meets romantic stylings every which way you turn. See it all captured by Ifong Chen right here.

And a beautiful film from Ferguson Films?  Yes, please.

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From the Bride… I am still getting chocked up just thinking about the incredible week we experienced with our friends and family. We could not have dreamt of a more perfect day…

To be completely honest, I never really let myself think about my future wedding before I met Cam. As a wedding planner, you are always so engaged and excited for other people and sharing in their special day. I knew one thing: if I ever fell in love and was in charge of planning my own wedding, it would have to be at the lake. Luckily, Cam is as much of a lake person, if not more than me! My family is so incredibly blessed to have property on beautiful Lake Pend O’reille in Murphy Bay. My Great Great Grandparents homesteaded the bay which made the day even more personal and special to our family. It was the perfect setting. Our theme of the week was “Come to Murphy Bay and Enjoy” – we definitely took that to heart!

Of course, none of this would have been possible without our incredible families. Anyone who has spent more than two minutes with my parents know that they are the most giving, supportive, creative and crafty people you will ever meet. As we began planning, I honestly would hand my mom and dad sketches of ideas and they nailed it! My dad built our entire bar from old dock wood we had held on to, constructed our birch wood arbor from trees in our back property and rewired all of the antique chandeliers for my mom to begin working her magic. My mom built all five chandeliers out of twigs, paper-mached our moose head above the bar, drew our incredible “guest book tree” and water-colored each individual place card with the help of my Grandmother. These are just a few of the amazing handcrafted touches they created. Truly AMAZING!!

I have to also thank our incredible vendors that made this day even more special. What I love the most about this entire experience is that I was able to work with my friends. With roughly 500 weddings under my belt, it is incredible to think of the hours logged in with some of these people. We just felt so honored to share this day with all of them and continue to be blown away by their incredible work and artistry.

We are feeling so overjoyed and only wish we could do it all again!

Photographer: Ifong Chen | Videographer: Ferguson Films | Floral Design: Evergreen Florist | Invitations: Minted | Catering: Beacon Hill Catering | Make Up: Erika Snyder | Hair: Erika Snyder | DJ: DJ Ramsin | Groom's Attire: Burberry | Bridal Gown: Marcella's La Boutique | Coordination + Styling: Beacon Hill Catering | Event Rental: Event Rents | Guest's Fascinators: Olive & Boone | Photo Booth: Flat 4 Photography & Photo Booth | Rentals: The Attic | Specialty Rentals: The Attic

O’Malley Photographers has the right idea with this photo shoot. Winter Weddings are some of the most romantic affairs ever. The snow, the cozy details by Ira & Lucy Vintage Rentals, the winter white florals by Taylor’d Events mixed with pops of color for an unexpected palette – all those beautiful bits are driving that most romantic ever point home. Grab all the inspiration your little hearts desire right here in the full gallery.

This shoot is inspired by the glamour and winter wonder of Sun Valley, Idaho and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. We married the themes of classic elegance and natural beauty by shooting at the historic Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, and incorporated lots of elegant, classic furniture and decor from Ira & Lucy. We created the color pallet of mint, emerald, gold and cream, accented with copper, a mix of the natural winter colors that spread over the local landscape. Dress Designer, Daci Johnson, created a swoon-worthy, gatsyby-esque gown with lace sleeves and a fur balero to keep our bride warm. In creating this shoot we imagined a couple that love the outdoors and want their wedding to be the perfect blend of natural, yet high-class. This would be the perfect setting for city dwellers wanting to escape with friends and family to one of the most gorgeous places on earth.

Locally grown fare and iconic people of Sun Valley inspired our menus. Sun Valley was home to the infamous Ernest Hemingway and in trying to incorporate masculine elements, Sally Balt from La Happy calligraphied amazing menus to include the E. Hemingway Special and a Whiskey Old Fashioned, his drinks of choice. Local cake artist, The Sweet Crumb, crafted a classic ombre cake and locally grown huckleberry milkshakes were offered. Guests could participate in an excess of winter activities including ice-skating, skiing, and snowshoeing around the grounds of the ranch or cozy up fireside with a mug of hot cocoa. Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch (as seen in Sunset Magazine and Martha Stewart Weddings) made the perfect location for this shoot.

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Event Design: Ira & Lucy | Flowers: Taylor’d Events | Dress: Wedding Gowns by Daci | Cake: The Sweet Crumb | Ceremony Location: Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch | Calligraphy + Stationery: La Happy | Decor Elements: Bellissimo | Female Model: Andra Johnson | Hair and Make-up: Danielle Anspach | Tux Rental: Tuxedos Now

Happy Monday, SMPers! We’ve got a morning full of fun announcements that have us giddy as can be. Besides being nominated for InStyle’s Social Media Awards (totally blushing!) we’re thrilled to announce our 2013 Fashion & Beauty e-mag is right around the corner. That’s right – a SMP mag devoted to all things style. And in light of such exciting news, we thought — what better way to celebrate than this fashion-heavy lovefest from Hillary Mayberry? With a bride rocking the prettiest lace Lanvin gown you ever did see, it’s exactly what the #SMPfashionmag is all about!

From the Bride…Keith and I had little doubt about where we wanted to hold our celebration. For as long as I can remember, my family has spent time nearly every summer and winter in Sun Valley, Idaho, so it was an easy call for me. And after seven years of dating, Keith (a born and bred New Englander) had grown to love the location as much as my family. But most importantly, we associated Sun Valley with memories we had made together, a quality that made this picturesque mountain town a slam dunk, so we checked location off our list. Next was setting a specific date. Each season in Sun Valley has its distinct qualities; in the winter, there is downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or for the less adventurous, simply cozying up inside before a roaring fire. Then there’s the summer—mountainsides filled with wildflowers, a vast system of hiking trails, fly fishing, outdoor symphonies and gallery walks, and an overall peaceful pace of life. However, the main concern was that our friends and family, most of whom live in New England or the San Francisco Bay Area, would be able to make the long trip out from opposite coasts. Although arriving at our venue in a horse drawn carriage had its appeal, we settled on a summer wedding so that more people could hopefully join us. And join us they did…

After al fresco dining on Tuscan fare for wedding party and family on Thursday night and a laidback pool party for the younger folks the next afternoon, all 165 guests piled onto two yellow school buses for the short drive north to Galena Lodge the evening before the wedding. Everyone was blown away by the location of the log day lodge, so much so that you would have been hardpressed to find someone not donning either cowboy boots or a jean jacket! As the sun began to set behind the surrounding mountains (and the temperature dropped 30 degrees), we mingled around picnic tables covered with red and white checked tablecloths and pitchers filled with bright sunflowers. There were mounds of chicken and pork barbecue, cornbread, coleslaw, etc., followed by wagon wheels (ice cream sandwiches made with freshly baked cookies), and we washed it all down with Sam Adams Summer Ale and a local IPA—a blend of our two worlds, Boston (the city we currently call home) and Sun Valley. Late Saturday afternoon, everyone gathered for our wedding at the historic Trail Creek Cabin, one of Hemingway’s haunts back in the day. Our officiant was a close mutual friend, my two uncles and dear friend contributed carefully chosen readings, and the secular ceremony was filled with laughter, and even a few tears. The sheer majesty of the ancient mountains and the cloudless blue sky gave a certain serenity to the occasion. Keith and I chose traditional vows and exchanged our wedding bands under a rustic wooden arbor. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were brilliant orange, yellow, and purple cut flowers, and I carried a more classic bridal bouquet of loosely arranged cream, delicate whites, and greens that complimented my lace wedding dress.

For the wedding party, we chose khaki, tan, and other natural hues, all of which worked well with our mountainous backdrop. After the ceremony, we crossed the footbridge over the cabin’s namesake, Trail Creek, to a cocktail hour with huge old wooden wagons laden with antipasto and copper buckets filled with even more sunflowers. Then it was on to dinner and the reception in a huge white tent on the Trail Creek Grounds. Keith and I were honored by everyone’s toasts and touched by the sentiments therein (there were very few dry eyes following their words), then we cut our cake layered with strawberries and butter cream (dropping our first piece but eating it anyway!), and finally danced the night away to a perfect playlist by our Seattle-based band. My mom’s aesthetic, classic but creative, was apparent in every detail of the evening, from the delicate tumbleweeds hanging from the chandeliers to the wooden pitchfork marking the aisle to the sprigs of rosemary tucked into each napkin to the antique copper vessels filled with blackeyed susans. It all came together to create a rustic, chic ambiance. One favorite moment may have been wowing the crowd during our first dance to Adele’s “One and Only” with moves hard-earned from our ballroom dancing classes. Another was the dance floor packed with guests of all ages, especially during Keith’s favorite wedding song that drew everyone out of their chairs to “kick their heels up and shout”! Yet another was the outdoor brunch on Sunday, where we all recuperated from the previous evening’s festivities over quiche, churros, fruit salad, and lots of much needed coffee. I could ramble on forever about countless other special moments, as well as the beauty of the setting itself. However, what I will remember most about our wedding is an incomparable feeling of contentment from the most beautiful aspect of all—Keith and me together, surrounded by our family and friends.

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Our Little Black Book is kind of like our own little SMP family. We love each and every one of our members with all of our hearts (and then some) and really believe in them. So it’s safe to say the tissues are passed around when one of our beloved LBBers ties the knot. Caitlin, of Regas fame ( the talented lady behind this paper suite), decided to wed ber beau in a gorgeous wedding perfected by Soiree at the stunning Shore Lodge. And lucky for us, and all of you who have stock in tissue, Two Bird Studio filled a quite lovely gallery with images from the day!

From the stunning bride… Our wedding was seven years in the making (five and half were long distance)! Yes, we have quite the history. By way of explanation, Caitlin & Montgomery — Geography 101: Bride: Idaho, California, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and New York. Groom: Louisiana and Texas. For us, our big day meant sharing the the many places that we’ve called home (together and apart) with the people who have graciously and lovingly supported our relationship.

Once Montgomery popped the question, our wedding planning was in full-swing. We chose September 29 as our date and had just under six months to plan a destination wedding in McCall, Idaho. While I grew up in Louisiana, I consider McCall my second home. My family is from there originally and I’ve spent every Christmas, Summer and Mardi Gras vacation there since I’ve been old enough to remember! Monty quickly became a familiar face on family trips to the cabin. McCall is a special place for us both and when it came time to select a venue, it was difficult to choose only one! We knew we had to have dinner and dancing overlooking Payette Lake at local favorite Shore Lodge. The Long Valley Finnish Church and The Barn at Historic Roseberry lent the charm and natural beauty we wanted to share with our out-of-town guests.

The wedding was in Idaho, I was living in New York, Monty was in Texas, our families were in Louisiana. We knew we had to hire a planner to help us keep our heads on straight! The ladies at Soiree did an amazing job not only planning every detail I could dream up, but executing it flawlessly! Our design concept was to use the natural beauty of Idaho as our backdrop, infused with a heavy-dose of the familiar Southern Charm and hospitality we grew up with in Louisiana.

My design background was a handy tool in setting the tone. I work as a designer at Regas, a Manhattan-based letterpress design studio. I designed and printed my own Save the Dates, Invitations and event pieces (with many lunch critique sessions with the talented ladies I work with). There were, of course, several fun DIY projects, including our welcome baskets, painting charger plates, assembling favor bags, hand lettering the table numbers and so much more.

The groom and groomsmen bow ties were another labor of love. I designed the fabric patterns, specific to each groomsman in the wedding (each pattern was unique and had a special meaning for each guy). My amazing Maid of Honor hand made each bow tie & pocket square out of the custom printed fabric.

From state shaped cookie favors, to Idaho fingerling potatoes topped with Cajun tasso sausage, an Idaho bluegrass band named “Possum Livin,” and even Chicken and Sausage gumbo, guests were hard-pressed not to find a reminder of their home states. Let’s just say the celebration ended way too soon! While neither Montgomery or I could possibly pick a favorite moment of the weekend (although we’ve spent many dinner conversations trying), we can say without a doubt that our wedding was truly “us”, a perfect start to our new life together.  No more long distance love for us!

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Photography: Two Bird Studio | Flowers: Capital City Florist | Event Design & Planning: Soiree | Ceremony Location: The Old Finn Church (The Long Valley Finnish Church), Lake Fork, Idaho | Cocktail Hour Venue: The Barn at Historic Roseberry | Reception Venue: Shore Lodge | Paper Suite: Regas Studio | Welcome Bags: DIY by Bride & Mother | Dress: BHLDN | Veil: Veronica Scheaffer | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Cocktail Hour Catering: Metro Gourmet Catering | Cakes: Greg Marsh Cakes | Cookie Favors: Kim Wollenburg | Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Band: Possum Livin | Reception Band: Free Rain

This affair is all about sweet farm style. But underneath all those layers of rustic beauty are so many cool details. For instance, this couple opted for a Thanksgiving Day wedding complete with turkey dinner and in true rustic Idaho fashion, guests were transported from the main house to the barn by horse and carriage. But maybe the best detail of all? All this gorgeous decor and styling was crafted by the Groom! Have a look at all the pretty captured by Amelia Johnson Photography right here in the full gallery.

From Amelia Johnson Photography…Mandy and Ruel live in San Francisco but chose a private ranch in the mountains of Preston, Idaho to exchange their vows.  They were married Thanksgiving Day in the barn of Mandy’s Father’s best friend, whose daughter actually first introduced Mandy and Ruel.  The main elements of the wedding that stand out are that the wedding was on Thanksgiving Day (note:  Their first anniversary will not be on Thanksgiving as the date changes), and Ruel single-handedly designed and styled the entire wedding.  As a former set designer for the TV show “The Bachelor” Ruel promised that there would be “lots of roses and candles” for the ceremony.  Ruel designed and assembled all signs, table settings and florals.  He even carved and painted the wooden figurines for the cakes, which were Mandy and Ruel’s favorite recipes, molasses cake and lemon meringue from their favorite spots in San Francisco. Mandy and Ruel wanted their guests, many of whom flew in for the wedding, to experience rustic Idaho.  Guests were transported from the main house to the barn in horse and carriage.  Mandy and Ruel wanted the wedding to be as relaxed and laidback as possible.  For invitations emails were sent to a select group of close friends and family.  A traditional Thanksgiving dinner was served, and guests were encouraged to bring a casual change of clothes to change into for late night love bingo.  

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Photography: Amelia Johnson Photography | Venue:  Private Residence | Decor + Styling: Groom, Ruel | Catering: Cafe Sabor | Desserts: Mother of the Bride | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Shoes: Chie Mihara | Suit: Custom, Giorgio Armani

I’ll admit it…I get a little case of the giddies every time a Wedding Wednesday rolls around. But it’s not without good reason. Wednesdays are a one-way ticket to real wedding swoon-ville with morning-til-night “I dos” in every shape and size. And to start off today’s festivities is this Idaho affair from the ever-so-talented Hillary Mayberry. It’s a twist on the traditional with nautical details sprinkled in along the way. So without any further adieu, let the #WW party begin!

From the Bride…I never imagined getting married any place other than my hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho. We were so excited to share this special place with friends and family from all over the country and most importantly wanted everyone to enjoy the scenery and have a great time. For the look and feel of the wedding I wanted something sophisticated and classic, but that fit into the somewhat casual surroundings. While navy and kelly green are often seen as very nautical, I knew that with the right touches it would be the perfect combination for a summer wedding in the mountains. I’m a sucker for stripes, and found subtle and fun ways to incorporate them consistently throughout the day – in my shoes, the bouquet (which is three pieces of ribbon sewn together), the flower girls’ dresses, and the cake. While the guys didn’t get stripes, navy, white, and green Jack Spade argyle socks added that extra pop of color.

The ceremony took place at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, an extremely special place to get married, since it was built by my dad and designed by a family friend. Following the ceremony guests preceded to Sun Valley’s famous Bald Mountain, for a ride up the gondola to the historic Roundhouse Lodge. Perched at 7,700 feet, and sipping refreshing pomegranate and 44 North Idaho potato vodka cocktails, our friends and family enjoyed breathtaking views of the Wood River Valley.

The Valley Club’s patio was the perfect place to round out an incredible day. Seated at D.C.- named tables, to bring a little bit of where we met and now live to Idaho, and drinking wine from custom bottles made just for the event, guests experienced the splendor of a warm summer Sun Valley evening. Ending the night with a New York Jets groom’s cake (Brian is a New Yorker), crazy photos in front of a striped backdrop (I ordered the fabric online from Mood), and an epic dance party – we, and our guests, celebrated just as I’d always envisioned. It was pure perfection.

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Wedding Photography: Hillary Mayberry Photography | Second Photographer: Kristin Cheatwood | Wedding Planning: Heather Minor Wedding Planning | Floral Design: Botanica, Kurt McAuley | Fashion Styling: Cardigans & Couture | Reception: The Valley Club | Hair + Makeup: Tara Bell and Jamilynn Smith | Cake: The Sweet Crumb | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Jewelry: Great Grandmother | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung | Flower Girl’s Dresses: Jacadi

If there is one thing we love here at SMP, it’s a good sparkle. And a good sparkle is a given at a New Year’s Eve Wedding. Not only is there a little glimmer in the eyes of everyone looking forward to the new year (and a little on the ground at midnight) but there is a whole lot of glitter, glitz, and of course, sparkle in the way the love birds look into each other’s eyes. This wedding captures it all, and it’s all captured by Tana Photography. And you know what that means… the gallery is pure fireworks.

From the beautiful bride … I first met Shaun right out of college in 2003 when I moved back to my hometown of Boise, Idaho. Both of us worked briefly as retail managers at Abercrombie & Fitch. In fact, Shaun trained me when I first started. We quickly became the best of friends. Shaun was hilarious, witty and full of life. He was the one ‘guy friend’ I always wanted to be around. If Shaun was there, I knew I would have an amazing time. Shaun and I have shared a special friendship from the beginning, one of great respect, trust and humor. We had a spark between us always, but it wasn’t until we shared our first kiss on New Year’s Eve 2008 that our little spark exploded. That night we realized we were meant to share one very special path together and our close friendship would lead the way. And it did.

Four years later Shaun proposed. After years of dating we both were so excited to make our love “official.” Given that our relationship has always been very playful and fun, we knew we wanted to celebrate our wedding in such a way. We decided to get married on New Year’s Eve, the anniversary of our first kiss, and also reflective of our age… 31 years-old. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of traditional and modern, with a bit of sparkle. We had a vision of slate grey and white with a pop of magenta/eggplant for all our flowers. To keep things lively and fun we incorporated polka dots, which could be found on our invitations, wedding programs, groomsmen’s ties, and even our milk & cookie bar played off this theme.

Shaun and I both grew up in Boise, Idaho, so when it came time to select a location we opted for our hometown. This was a day we wanted to share with as many family members and friends as possible, so it made sense to keep things local. In keeping with tradition, we decided to have our ceremony at St. John’s Cathedral, where Shaun’s grandparents were married. We hired a string quartet, Silhouette String Ensemble, to play throughout the ceremony. I had goose bumps when the church doors opened and I could hear Des’ree’s “Kissing You” playing softly on the piano and violin. I can’t decide what was better, having both my parents walk me down the aisle (Grandma’s rosary wrapped tightly around my bouquet) or seeing Shaun’s smile as I approached him near the alter. It’s a moment I’ll never forget and cherish always.

For the after-ceremony cocktail and New Year’s party, The Adelmann had a swanky yet romantic feel we wanted. We loved the rich brick and hardwood floors, not to mention the great view of downtown Boise. The space was covered in candles, metallic vases and gorgeous flowers. The whole place glowed and sparkled. I’ve never seen a dance floor so full of life! Our guests enjoyed New Year’s favors, champagne, hors d’oeuvres, hot cocoa, many yummy sweets, and several took the opportunity to jump in our Crazy Booth, which became its own little event as groups posed for the camera.

New Year’s Eve and wintertime have always held a lot meaning for both Shaun and me. For us, they symbolize our beginning and now and forever our future. This year we kissed as husband and wife surrounded by family and friends, the same people who helped bring us together. It was the perfect way to celebrate our love for each other and a night we’ll never forget.

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Photographer: Tana Photography | Assistant photographer: Yellowline Photography | Floral & Event Design: Bliss Events | Ceremony: St. John’s Cathedral | Dessert Display: Eye Candy Event Design | Invitations and Paper Products: Wedding Paper Divas, BenGin, and Beleza Design | Music: Silhouette String Ensemble | DJ: Adam Eberle of Directly Driven Sound Productions | Video: Foreverlasting Productions | Crazy Booth: Matt Green Photo | Make-up: Jamie Rose Verner Makeup Artistry | Hair: Deco Hair and Makeup Design

I bet you a million dollars that one of the first things you notice about this wedding is the dresses. They are undeniably gorgeous so it’s no wonder that the Bride is a graduate of Parsons Design School and is now a stylist. Yes, it’s all making sense. Captured by Hillary Maybery, this wedding is taking Sun Valley, Idaho and infusing it with a good dose of love and fashion from the likes of J. Mendel, Amsale and Lela Rose. Get your pinning fingers ready for some envious fashion inspiration and a pretty party too, right here in the full gallery.

From Hillary Maybery…Both the bride and groom grew up in Pacific Palisades, California. The bride attended Boston University then Parsons School of Design in NYC. After being an associate designer at a couple labels she is now a stylist and Designer buyer at Elyse Walker in Pacific Palisades. The groom went to USC Film school and has worked for many years on set a camera operator and now Director of Photography for motion pictures. They have known each other since the age of 9 and had mutual friends and used to play sports at the same park. They began dating in January of 2010 and were engaged in August of 2011. They decided to have their wedding in Sun Valley Idaho as the groom’s  family has a home there and the bride fell in love with the location after visiting one summer.

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Photography: Hillary Maybery | 2nd Photographer: Kristin Cheatwood | Photo Assistant: Adelaide Mason | Floral Design: Ketchum Flower Company | Wedding Planner: Heather Minor Events | Wedding Location: Private Home in Sun Valley, Idaho | Accent Furniture: My House Furnishing | Invitations: Bella Figuera via Ubanic Paper | Caterer: Cristina’s | DJ: Nathan Hudson | Wedding Bands: Broken English  | Wedding Dress: J. Mendel | Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale + Lela Rose | Hair + Makeup: Jamilynn Smith and Danielle Anspach from Vertu Hair Dressing

When you pair the great outdoors with an absolutely exquisite off the shoulder number you get a truly chic twist on the term rustic. We are head over heels for these nature inspired nuptials and that lacy gown is just one of the many reasons why. Tana Photography captured this graceful alfresco affair and it’s every bit as beautiful as the couple behind it. With pretty pops of purple and one of the cutest flower girls I’ve ever seen this is outdoor elegance defined. You can see the rest of these Idaho I do’s right here in the gallery.

From the Bride… As a couple we enjoy being outdoors, surrounded by trees, so we knew that an outdoor mountain wedding during the fall would suit us. Although I love being outdoors and have never considered myself a girly-girl, I wanted my wedding to be more on the elegant side, allowing me a day to really “dress up”. Our venue was nestled in the mountain, surrounded by beautiful Tamaracks, a perfect combination of outdoor elegance.

I chose a fairly simple lace dress with a few dogwood flowers in the bodice to bring a sense of classic elegance. In my countless hours of browsing wedding websites, I began looking at various types of boleros as an option for keeping warm on a possible cool fall day. The “over the shoulder” option was perfect for me and I ordered a few extra yards of matching lace so that it could be customized. My shoes were also custom-made lace ballet flats with hand-beading from Bobka Baby on Etsy.

Seth and I chose gunmetal, eggplant and ivory as our colors. With the help of Karen and Kristi at PaperPals, we designed our all of our stationery and matching tags for our favors. We chose wild flower seed bombs in muslin bags as wedding favors to continue the outdoor elegance theme. These favors represented something that we enjoyed looking at together during our outdoor adventures and something that we felt people could remember us by in the future.

The vast summer forest fires in Idaho created a large smoky haze over the valley a week before the wedding. Thankfully, this cleared before the day arrived but, it was a bit overcast that morning and many seemed rather concerned. Seth and I secretly wished for a small rain shower, as we LOVE to hike in the rain. My sister (maid of honor) and my mother helped me get into my dress. I felt so special because of them.

We exchanged our personalized vows on the terrace of Tamarack Lodge with the help of the charming Mayor. After the ceremony, a light sprinkle of rain fell while Seth and I were eating outside. We got our wish! After the touching toasts from our siblings, and memorable dances with our parents, we enjoyed our first dance together to Ellie Goulding’s rendition of “Your Song.” The party started after that with non-stop dancing and merriment for hours until we were ushered out by a send-off full of bubbles. From beginning to end, it was the most amazing day of our lives, so full of love, beauty, and nature. A perfect start to our new adventure together!

Wedding Photography: Tana Photography / Wedding Venue: The Lodge at Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort, Idaho / Wedding Coordination: Soiree Weddings and Events, Boise / Floral Design: Flora LLC / Stationery: PaperPals / Wedding Cake: Stacey Cakes in McCall, ID / Makeup: Gabrielle Marcantonio for Bobbi Brown / Hair: Deco Hair and Makeup Design / Wedding Dress: Allure Private Collection via David’s Bridal / Shoes: Bobka Baby on Etsy / Bolero: Ana Ivanov from Elegance Alterations / Bridesmaid Dresses: Pretty Bridesmaids / Tuxedos: Calvin Klein

Love knows no boundaries and the proof is in this Idaho wedding captured by Sara K Byrne Photography. Far from a church or a ballroom, this crazy cute couple exchanged vows in nature’s venue with friends and family and a canopy of trees to bare witness. And it’s gorgeous with hand-crafted details and an air of simple beauty that can only be found in the great outdoors. Who knows, campgrounds just might be the new venue du jour for 2013. Here’s to hoping. Catch even more of this natural beaut right here in the full gallery.

From Sara K Byrne Photography… Monica and Andrew were married in late July at Grayback gulch campground, about 15 minutes outside of Idaho City. The tall trees and wilderness served as a perfect backdrop for their ceremony and reception. Almost every part of this wedding was DIY with the help of their friends and family. Monica’s family cooked all the traditional Mexican food, her bridesmaids put together simple elegant bouquets, and their friends decorated with an eclectic style. When Monica and Andrew were separated for a time early on in their relationship, they each chose a special object to trade so they could have something of one another’s. Even though neither of them knew what the other had selected, they ended up trading small dolls that later became their cake toppers.

Wedding Photography: Sara K Byrne Photography / Wedding Venue: Grayback Gulch Campground in Boise, Idaho / Floral Design: DIY / Decor: DIY (Vintage and Eclectic finds) / Wedding Catering: Traditional Mexican made by Bride’s family / Wedding Cake: Homemade / Wedding Invitations + Programs: DIY by Monica + Andrew Mason / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Hair: Lunatic Fringe

 

Talk about an all star team. Jeremy Lawson Photography and his camera, Engaging Events by Ali and their creative minds, Exquisite Designs, Inc. and the greenest thumbs out there… Even Toast and Jam to keep the party going late into the evening. If ever a wedding was destined to be pure perfection, this was it. Add so much love into the mixture and you’ve got a gallery that is worth a peek or three. Click here for more!

From Engaging Events by Ali … Megan and David’s wedding was about celebrating! Celebrating in a lovely ceremony preformed by a good family friend and celebrating by dancing the night away. There was a Scotch and Bubbly Bar at cocktail hour and a lovely seated dinner with full bar and dancing to Toast and Jam DJs. The wedding took place at Room 1520, a cool lofty space in the West Loop area of Chicago. 

Photography: Jeremy Lawson Photography / Flowers: Exquisite Designs, Alexandra Jusino / Event Planning & Design: Engaging Events by Ali and Exquisite Designs / Venue: Room 1520 / Invitations: Clementine Ink / Draping: Art of Imagination / Catering: Food Evolution / DJ: Toast and Jam

Amidst the cold and muck of winter, we simply couldn’t think of any better way to brighten things up than this sunny lakeside soiree. Featuring an eye-popping palette and a bombshell Bride that’s got me green with loving envy, this celebration has all the components of wedding day perfection. Megan Robinson made certain no detail went un-captured, and the Bride included the surprise proposal story that will bring out the hopeless romantic in us all. Don’t miss even a single stunning image in the full gallery right here!

From the Bride… Ben and I were introduced by my sister during Thanksgiving 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona while I was still in college in Washington. She was very excited and anxious to set us up so there was naturally a lot of pressure when we met. I shied away from it a bit and Ben played it cool. We went our separate ways and ended up seeing each other again at my sisters house a few months later while I was visiting from school. We immediately hit if off and casually dated while he was traveling for golf and I was still in school. After I graduated college I moved to Arizona with Ben in the back of my mind to start life in the real world. We soon became very serious and were together for about 4 years before we tied the knot. 

When Ben proposed it was completely unexpected, we had never gone ring shopping or discussed any details about our wedding. With that said it was the best surprise of my life! I was headed to Seattle for a girlfriends wedding and traveling for the following two weeks. Ben dropped me at the airport and we said bye for two and a half weeks. My best friend, who was also in town for the wedding, picked me up from the airport and we headed to happy hour. She insisted we stay down town so she could find a dress to wear to the wedding. Little did I know Ben had called her the previous day and said he was planning on surprising me in town and that he needed her to find a way to keep me occupied. We finished our happy hour cocktails and started shopping. I naturally found a couple things to try on and as I exited the dressing room Ben was standing in front of me… Surprise! It was such a weird feeling to see him in Seattle after he had dropped me off only a couple hours before at the airport. After the shock subsided I grabbed my suitcases, hopped in his rental car, and we were off to our hotel.

In the car I mentioned to him that we had to hurry and get changed because there was a big dinner planned around everyone that was in town. He quickly mentioned that he had made dinner plans for a romantic night together, after all he did fly all the way to Seattle to see me for the weekend. I was slightly annoyed that our plans were deviating from my reunion with my friends but he promised we would discuss it when we got to our room. We checked into our room and headed up the elevator to get changed for dinner. The room was absolutely beautiful and right on the water so the first thing I did was head to the window to see our view. Seconds later I felt Ben behind me and as he started hugging me he pulled a ring from his pocket. Needless to say my friends were not disappointed I didn’t make dinner that night. As we headed downstairs to dinner we met the hostess, “dinner for two, reservation for Hayes.” She walked us to our table and I noticed she was sitting us at a table much too large for two. As I looked up, my parents and Ben’s parents were anxiously awaiting our arrival with champagne in hand. What a magnificent surprise, and all the more special that we celebrated with our parents.

My Wedding Inspiration: I love things that are simple, natural, and clean. The venue was on the lake with a lot of outdoor, natural surroundings so I wanted to mimic that with a touch of shabby chic. My original colors were grey, white, and yellow, using only the slightest amount of yellow with Billy Balls and small flowers. I wanted rustic decor with a modern soft edge: chalkboards, grey/yellow combo, lanterns, Polaroid cameras, etc. We also wanted the wedding to be fun and relevant for the guests so our original inspiration was a polaroid camera! We loved the idea that the guests could interact with each other taking polaroids and we could keep them for a guest book! With that also came lawn games which my dad made homemade with our wedding colors.

Wedding Photography: Megan Robinson / Wedding Venue: Hayden Lake Country Club in Hayden Lake, Idaho / Floral Design: Fleurtations Floral / Wedding Cinematography: Sure Shot Video / Wedding Cake : Just American Desserts / DJ: AMP’D Entertainment / Tent and Lighting: Design Events / Linens: Event Rents / Wedding Dress: Liancarlo / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Bride’s Accessories: Vintage / Bridesmaids’ Dresses + Shoes: Assorted Designers / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Kate Spade / Hair: Shine Salon / Groom + Groomsmen’s Suits: Peter Millar / Groom + Groomsmen’s White Shirts: Saks Fifth Ave / Groom + Groomsmen’s Ties: J.Crew

Anytime Tana Photography and Soiree team up, it’s wedding gold. The way they work together – creating a soiree so absolutely perfect, and capturing it exactly as intended – is one of my favorite things, EVER. This fall inspired shoot is no exception. They stepped outside of the traditional box and the result was absolute magic. With Yellowline Photography behind another camera, the gallery is the place to be this morning, so click here for that!

From Tana Photography + Soiree … When we were brainstorming ideas for a fall-inspired wedding style shoot, we knew we wanted it to be different than the typical fall colors and themes, while reserving the warmth that fall evokes (even with the cooler weather!). So we turned to fall style and makeup trends, loving this plummy color palette with greys, oyster pink, and mink mixed in. We were also inspired by anything hardware that’s currently dominating the style scene, and the idea of mixing metals, to ground the color scheme. The result was rich metals, edgy yet glam elements like fur and antlers, married in with a striking color palette of pinks, purples, and greys.

We mixed gold and silver at the table, letting the linen pick up tones of both. Pheasant feathers, antlers, and earthy spray-painted artichokes kept the look from getting too frilly, and our pumpkin place card holders added just a small touch of traditional fall. Rustic wood boxes held mixed floral arrangements with black calla lilies, purple kale, grey dusty miller, and white hydrangea. A masculine and a feminine vintage chair, painted gold, made perfect seats for the bride and groom, and pomegranate liqueur mixed with champagne added a little pop of color to the table.

Our spiky orbs were inspired from modern chandeliers gracing many of the current décor glossies, and were hung as part of the table’s backdrop. It was a nice juxtaposition against the soft, ivy-covered wall. We also thought the orbs could make a great back drop for a non-traditional take on an outdoor altar.

Our bride wore a mixed metal, chunky necklace with multiple silver chains and touches of sparkle wrapped around her wrist. We all loved the look of her full hair, simple studs in her ears, and smooth ball gown dress as the backdrop for her mixed accessories.

We photographed on private property with gorgeous, classic garden walls, and ponds created by the former owner, and 70s rock ‘n roller, Paul Revere. The perfect setting for an edgy-glam, fall wedding.

Our intent with this photo shoot was to inspire brides to be themselves and to let go of traditions that may not fit their style. It goes to show a wedding can be beautiful and even soft with edgier, less traditional elements mixed in. So many brides stop with their attire and bridal look. It was our hopes to show that high fashion, personal style, and earthy-meets-glam can work together.

Photography: Tana Photography and Yellowline Photography / Planning and Design: Soiree / Flowers: Boise At Its Best / Cake: Greg Marsh / Makeup Artist: Gabrielle Marcantonio for Bobbi Brown / Hair: Deco Hair & Makeup Design, Camilla Orosco / Stationery: Dear Ampersand / Vintage Furniture: Ira and Lucy / Shoes: Badgley Mischka from Piece Unique / Dress: Allure Bridals, Heartfelt Bridal / Tux: Heartfelt Bridal / Linens: La Tavola / Charger plates: Pottery Barn / Models: Sara Kelley and Ali A Tamimi / Bracelets: Kenneth Cole / Necklace: Jessica Simpson

Simple elegance just happens to be my favorite kind of elegance, and the reason is dancing all over this feature sent to us by Rebecca Hollis Photography. It’s that unspoken style that really makes my heart sing, so it goes without saying this fête has me beside myself in pure joy. It’s the ceremony setting complete with white pews and chairs. It’s the natural color palette that looks as though it just belongs. It’s the couple’s unbelievable good looks and their tight squeezes. It’s everything, really…and it’s all waiting for you right here.

And don’t forget this piece of gorgeous from Sure Shot Video, LLC…

Aaron & Hayley Gabriel Wedding Highlight from Sure Shot Video on Vimeo.

From the Bride… I think the style I was going for was simple elegance. We wanted our wedding day to be simple, memorable and fun! I think our favorite part was doing a family ceremony and dinner at my parents’ house. The setting was incredible and we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. We wanted to keep it intimate and have that special moment with our family at the house I was raised in. As a couple, Aaron and I wanted to incorporate parts of our personality into the day.

We love the outdoors and that’s why Aaron’s ring is made from wood, we had moss details and even had a s’mores station with a crackling fire at the dessert reception. I am one to want things timeless which is why my ring is vintage inspired and my dress made of lace. It was a blending of all those unique elements of our lives that made our wedding really special and personal to us. We even had a signature drink for the toasts. Mine was a fresh berry cocktail while his was a shot of Crown Royal and a beer! Good times! I think the overall impression of our wedding day was a perfect blending of our two lives becoming one. We are exactly what each other needs.

We love and respect the differences we have while allowing ourselves to be taught about new things in life from the others’ perspective. My biggest advice is to hire the right people that compliment your day. I hired the perfect photographer, Rebecca Hollis, who has the same style I was going for so I didn’t have to worry about dictating any shots – she was already great at what she did and captured incredible moments. Before this wedding I had no idea how important a wedding coordinator was. I didn’t think I needed one! HA! Luckily, I found Alisa Lewis and I was able to fully enjoy my day because I had so much trust in her. I knew she had taken the time to understand my style and the feeling I wanted to accomplish for the day – she nailed it! I feel so grateful for the way everything turned out – I wouldn’t change a thing!

Wedding Photography: Rebecca Hollis Photography / Ceremony Venue: Private Residence / Reception Location: Blackwell House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Event Planning + Design: Alisa Lewis Event Design & Details / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: The Art of Flower / Ceremony Floral Design + Centerpieces: Angela Austin of Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Sure Shot Video, LLC / Desserts: Erin Blackburn / Stationery: DIY by the Bride / Vintage Rentals: The Attic / Misc. Rentals: Event Rent / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Veil: Handmade / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Makeup: DIY by the Bride / Hair: Victoria Vas Dias

Once in awhile an e-session comes along that’s so striking it belongs on the walls of an art gallery. The vivid colors, the painterly quality of the landscapes… it all makes for a gorgeous engagement shoot at the hands of Mastin Studio. And then folded within all that scenery is a delightful little dinner built for two crafted  by Alisa Lewis Event Design & Details and Fleurtations Floral. Dreamy is indeed an understatement with this beaut. See so much more right here.

From Mastin Studio… Kate and Mario used to live in eastern Washington, out in a more rural setting. Eventually their creative career choices  led them to move to Seattle, Washington. Talking to them, it became clear that they love the open road and the beauty east of the cascades, so we put together a destination engagement that combined the beauty of the farmlands and the adventure of a good Jack Kerouac novel such as “On the Road.” Half of the engagement has a vintage rustic feel with fresh food, wine, and flowers. The other half takes us into Lewiston, Idaho, an industrial town full of brick buildings and old gas stations. Very Kerouac. The last shots are taken on the incredibly steep highway that winds from the Palouse farming area down to the city of Lewiston. The skies and views form this road are amazing.

Photography: Mastin Studio / Location: Lewiston, Idaho / Event Design: Alisa Lewis Event Design & Details / Floral Design: Fleurtations Floral / Catering: Couple of Chefs Catering / Invitations: Abigail Hancock Calligraphy / Prop Rental: the Attic — A Vintage Rental Company / Hair: Heather Washburn / Makeup: Shasta Hankins Freelance Makeup / Film Scanning: Indie Film Lab