Idaho Weddings

A little glitter is always a fab way to start the day in my book, and glitter mixed with rustic farm goodness? Well, that’s enough to make Monday feel like Friday. This pretty little ditty captured by Crissie McDowell Photography is the perfect example of just what I’m talking about, and will surely make all of your vintage-loving souls do a little jig. Filled to the brim with the prettiest of vintage pieces from the Attic | A Vintage Rental Company it’s a fête fit for your favorites folder, and you can see every bit right here!

From the Bride… Our love story started when Charlie and I met the first week of my freshman year of college 14 years ago. We were friends throughout college and stayed in touch for years after. Fast forward to three years ago when we saw each other out one night — the timing was right, the stars aligned, and we found ourselves looking at each other a little differently than we had in years past. We started dating and knew we had found something extraordinary. Two years later, Charlie asked me to spend the rest of my life with him in the most incredibly sweet proposal and through many tears of joy, I accepted. I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with my best friend and the most inspiring person I know. When we started thinking about our wedding, we knew we wanted it to feel like a big party with all of our friends and family. We’ve got the most fun (and large) group of loved ones and couldn’t wait to get everyone together for the best party of our lives. We didn’t want anything too formal or by-the-book, and we wanted it to feel genuine and fun for everyone attending. We’re huge music fans and outdoor enthusiasts, so our priorities were: awesome band, great party, outside. The minute we found Settler’s Creek, a 100-year old dairy farm just outside of our town, we knew it was the perfect spot for a great summer get-together. I’m a graphic designer and couldn’t wait to incorporate meaningful details into our wedding that would make the day feel uniquely us.

We hit the jackpot when we met Alisa Lewis of The Attic Vintage Rentals, who helped stage and style our day. She added great pieces like double doors edged with barn wood for our ceremony entrance, drapery for the gazebo we were married in, twinkling bistro lights over the dance floor and gorgeous decor in the barn (my favorite area) where we held cocktail hour. She built the most amazing dessert table I’ve ever seen out of a wine barrel buffet, crates and vintage touches to display 300 mini pies made for our guests. One of my matrons of honor and her mom carved gorgeous terrarium-style centerpieces for our cocktail hour out of old love books, succulents, moss, fabric flowers and cut-out hearts with our story printed on them. My mom and I stamped little pouches stuffed with lavender that guests tossed at Charlie and me as we walked down the aisle as a married couple. We found so many great decor items through BHLDN, local vintage shops, and the incredible Farm Chicks vintage/antiques show that comes through our area each year. A local jewelry artisan hand-crafted necklaces using found objects for each bridesmaid that reflected their personalities and came out beautifully. We were so incredibly fortunate to have one of my extremely talented and dear friends Crissie McDowell as our photographer. I can’t tell you how fun it is to have the sort of relationship we do and have her there capturing your most treasured moments while feeling so comfortable and having an absolute blast. My mom’s brother married us and performed the most heartfelt ceremony, and my other uncle lent his classical guitar skills to our ceremony. Our florist absolutely blew us away with her gorgeous bouquets and floral vision, incorporating poppy pods, white kale, and raw cotton into our color scheme. Our wedding felt like a collaboration of the most creative and inspiring group of people who truly understood our vision, and I couldn’t have been happier with the final result.

I will never forget the feeling of seeing our venue for the first time and wondering what I had done right in life to have ended up inside of this fairytale. Charlie and I had our first look through our ceremony doors before our wedding, and that is a treasured moment that I’ll remember forever. We danced the night away with our guests and continued the fun at an after-party that no one was ready to leave at 2 a.m. We are so fortunate to have started our life together in the most beautiful way. Our friends, family and wonderfully creative vendors made the day exceed our wildest dreams, and we’ll treasure it in our hearts forever.

Wedding Photography: Crissie McDowell Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Settlers Creek in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Wedding Design, Styling, Planning + Coordination: Alisa Lewis Event Design & Details / Floral Design: The Art of Flower / Pies + Desserts: Erin Blackburn / Wedding Invitations, Programs + Printed Materials: Designed by the Bride / Letterpress Printing: Dreyer Press / Ceremony Music: Larry Munson, The Bride’s Uncle / Band: Kosh & The Hitmen / Place Settings, Centerpiece Design, Custom Lighting, Custom Entryway, Decor + Vintage Rentals: the Attic | A Vintage Rental Company / Wedding Website: http://charliepluskatie.com (Designed by the Bride) / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Shoes + Gloves: BHLDN / Bride’s Earrings: Kate Spade / Bride’s Bracelet: Nadri / Hair: Heidi Potter of H.I.P. Salon / Makeup: Shasta Hankins / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Toby Keough / Groomsmen Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider

I think I might have just found the SMP motto in this stunning inspiration shoot. Tana Photography says: “You’re surrounded in loveliness – enjoy yourselves here!” and that is how we feel every single day. Especially when our inboxes are filled with shoots designed to be gorgeous by Soiree. It’s loveliness in every single citrine + vintage corner, and we can’t help but enjoy ourselves with the melon mojitos in the gallery!

Just like anyone involved with weddings, we love to be inspired! For this style shoot, we each brought something that has been especially inspiring this summer. For Tana, it was her grandmother’s vintage citrine cocktail ring, and for Brandi it’s her love of succulents. (We think they’re popular for good reason!)One of the most beautiful places to get married in Boise is the Idaho Botanical Gardens; the perfect location for our romantic, natural, citrine and green garden wedding shoot. 

Brandi of Soiree Wedding and Events, styled the table to be elegant, yet inviting, with tones of cream, green, and the subtle, look-at-me color of citrine. Mixed metals and vintage touches kept the glamour grounded with sterling silverware and china from the 50s on the reception table, and pieces of wrought iron and crystal in the seating chart and chandeliers. We placed our love for anything organic on the table with the use of herbs, foliage, kraft elements, and of course succulents.

Our table was set in a covered walkway, in the center of the gardens, with wisteria vines lining the sides. A baroque tablecloth in natural tones dressed the table and creamy-white, fine china held guest favor boxes of succulents. Milk glass vases held assorted varieties of white flowers and the bouquets and boutonnieres were mixtures of white roses, mint leaves and succulents. Light chiavari chairs helped keep the table in sync with the outdoors. Our cake table held a clean, textured cake simply adorned with leaves. For guests, we loved the idea of green, fresh melon mojitos topped with a fun flag.

Place cards and paper goods were all inspired by an elegant, sophisticated event with just a touch of vintage whimsy. Being one of the hardiest varieties of plants, each guest would receive a single potted succulent to take home and enjoy, symbolizing how love keeps growing.

Weddings are magical and a time for deepest wishes to be made. Guests can catch a key from a succulent birdbath and make a wish for the bride and groom in lieu of a guest book. The sweet ring bearer, in his natural linen outfit from Baby Gap, held the wedding ring on a rustic key.

We had fun pulling our favorite inspirations together and on the day of the shoot, we all wanted to sit down and be guests at this table. We love a wedding look that says “your surrounded by loveliness- enjoy yourselves here”!

Photography: Tana Photography / Planning/Design/Styling: Soiree / Venue: The Idaho Botanical Gardens / Makeup: Jamie Verner Makeup Artistry / Hair: Kayla Mitte for Undone / Accessories: LC Lauren Conrad / Linens: La Tavola / Flowers & Vases: Boise At It’s Best / Stationery: Dear Ampersand / Chandeliers: Bliss Events / Cake: Cakes By Candice / Favor Boxes: Michaels / Chairs: Brown Rental / Rentals: Tates / White Vintage Table, Door, Cake Stand: Soiree / Dress: Maggie Sottero “Barcelona” from Sweetheart Manor / Bridesmaid Dress: Sweetheart Manor

We can’t seem to stop gushing about our sparkly new Fashion & Beauty E-Mag and it’s for reasons like this little ditty by Yan Photography and Bliss Events. It boasts a Bride that rocks a pixie cut like nobody’s business, who’s charisma is practically bouncing off the pages of our e-glossy and who looks as though she was BORN to wear that fabulous red lipstick. This is a stunner from beginning to end and we couldn’t help but give it a little extra love on the blog. See the fun feature in the mag and stop by the gallery for so much more.

Several months later Andrew proposed. While I was on tour performing with a dance company in Greece, Andrew showed up to surprise me. His arrival, having come across the world was enough for me. The next day we drove to the base of Mount Olympus where Andrew pulled the most beautiful ring from his pocket and proclaimed, “I just need you as my wife, will you marry me?” to which I replied, “of course!” Because of our extraordinary love for each other we knew that we had to celebrate our love in an extraordinary way. Our wedding was reflective of this. I have always loved anything vintage inspired. My grandma also played a huge part in bringing us together, so we wanted to honor her memory with photos and relics of her past. Each table was named after a relative of ours, represented by a sepia photo placed in the center of the table. This vintage theme was the inspiration for much of the wedding and helped tie everything together.

Andrew and I both grew up in Boise, Idaho, so it was an easy decision to get married here in our hometown. We chose a really cool, urban, industrial event center called, The Linen Building. It has a great vibe with white washed brick walls and open space, allowing us to create the look we wanted. It’s located directly across the street from The Modern Hotel, a hip, swanky local hotel, served as the spot for the bridal party to get ready and where we headed after the dancing stopped to get one last drink, before retiring to our room.

The ceremony was held upstairs which usually serves as a gallery whenever the Linen Building is not hosting a wedding. We knew that it was a perfect setting when we saw that the art display for the month of December would be bunny rabbits. Andrew and I have always affectionately called each other, “Bunny.” We also illustrated this nickname in the photos Diana Palmer took. These two stuffed bunnies only complete the word “bunny” when they are together, sitting side by side. More than anything we feel like this wedding was a true reflection of us and was an incredible setting for us to celebrate our love. It felt effortless. The greatest part of our wedding was the love we share for one another and getting to express. Having our closest friends and family there was simply the icing on the cake.

Photographer: Yan Photography / Event Design: Bliss Events / Floral Design: Edward’s Greenhouse – John Carpenter / Venue: The Linen Building / Catering: Open Table / Cake: Greg Marsh / Invitations and Paper Products: Wedding Paper Divas / Favor Buttons: Andies Specialty Sweets / Music: VCI Audio / Wedding Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: J.Crew / Jewelry: Smith and Bevill (Portland, OR) / Headpiece: Pinkham Millinery (Portland, OR) / Brides Shoes: BHLDN / Hair & Makeup: Amber Coats / Bride’s Clutch: BHLDN / Bride’s Bolero: BHLDN

There is one particular image from this wedding that stopped me dead in my tracks. It’s the one of the bride, walking around her empty reception site, hands on her face, before the celebration began. Tana Photography should win awards for that image. Just looking at it, I am brought back to the excitement of my own wedding day, right at the crescendo of nerves and happiness, before everything started. I can only imagine the bride was in awe of the amazing job Soiree did constructing a night out of her most amazing dreams. I could spend days taking in the emotions in the gallery thanks to the power behind that one image, and I’ll bet you could too!

Click here to see the FULL wedding!

When I met Matt I found everything I never knew I wanted in a man. Right from the start his laid-back, down-to-earth personality complimented my (admittedly) control oriented and energetic lifestyle. Our wedding was set for exactly a year from the night we got engaged and our biggest challenge was how to incorporate both of our styles into a fabulous evening where our guests could share in our love.

The idea of a cozy, cold-weather wedding always appealed to me and after months of searching we found a beautiful, white barn large enough to accommodate our two hundred and fifty guests. With its rustic floor boards and exposed beams, it was the perfect setting for our shimmery-chic affair.

Long tables adorned with hundreds of glowing candles, pinecones and soft cotton centerpieces nestled in mercury glass containers were the perfect glam juxtaposition to the rustic barn feeling we wanted, and also a nod to a perfect marrying of our two very different styles. The actual size of the barn was intimate, so we opted for a mix of traditional and non-traditional seating, which included a lounge area complete with beautiful pillows and a snowy white flokati rug.

Even though we opted for a more non-traditional route for our ceremony by writing our own vows, one of the most special moments of the day came from the very traditional “something old, new, borrowed and blue”. The delicate, white handkerchief that was used to bind my bouquet represented my “something old” as a gift from my paternal grandmother, and had been used by her own mother on her wedding day. My new mother-in-law appropriately gave me “something new” which was a silver, heart shaped necklace with Matt and my names engraved and each of our birthstones. I tucked that into my dress near my heart for the ceremony.

Bringing me to tears while getting dressed that morning, my grandmother read notes detailing my “something borrowed” which was an important piece of fabric, from all four of my grandparents, sewn into the inner lining of my wedding dress. With Tiffany blue being one of our wedding colors my mother had gorgeous blue topaz crafted into the earrings I wore. They were my “something blue.”

We wanted our guests to mingle and flow from the upper level of the barn to the lower level, so we opted for a menu of bite-sized savory foods, like mini grilled cheese and tomato basil soup sippers, continually passed throughout the evening. Our wooden programs featured the wedding ceremony on one side, and the menu “map” on the other- guests used these to find their way through the barn- from the stationary buffets on each level, to knowing what kind of food was being passed. Having these really helped our guests to know what to expect during our somewhat non-traditional style of reception, and they were beautiful to boot! Other unexpected details included the use of lighting from soft, warm ambers to cool blues to signify a change in events.

Our favors were small bags with hot cocoa inside with his-and-her reindeer stamped on the front. Since Matt and his family are cookie monsters, our guests were also treated to a dessert bar with plenty of assorted cookies, macaroons, and milk-shots along with our wedding cake and an Old Crow groom’s cake, as a nod to my husband’s favorite whiskey.

At the end of the night I found myself in the lounge area, looking at all the people I love most, including my new husband, dancing the night away with huge smiles on their faces.

Photographer: Tana Photography / Ceremony & Reception Venue: Private Barn in Nampa, Idaho / Event Planning + Design: Soiree / Linens: Soiree / Draping: Bliss Events / Caterer: Lisa Peterson / Floral Design: Boise At It’s Best Flowers / Wedding Gown: La Sposa / Bride’s Snow Boots: Sporto / Bride’s Fur Shawl + Pin: Vintage / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jasmine Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Boots: Columbia / Bridesmaids’ Earrings + Cuffs: Idaho’s Wing & A Prayer / Makeup: Gabrielle Marcantonio for Bobbi Brown / Paper Goods: Ampersand Studios / Cakes: Greg Marsh Designer Cakes / Dessert Bar: Eye Candy / Hot Coco Favors: Etsy

Rustic and romance go hand and hand like peanut butter and jelly.  This team of talented wedding vendors, headed by the phenomenal Kristin La Voie Photography, showcased this ultimate pairing in the prettiest of ways from the lovely lace invitations right down to the hand-stamped, silverware pockets.  There are so many elegant details sure to inspire your own barn chic bash!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Kristin of Kristin La Voie Photography… I was inspired to create a rustic, elegant shoot, infused with beautifully handcrafted details down to the silverware pockets. It was important to me to use all small businesses to showcase their talents, which many couples may not think of while planning their big affair. The tiniest details can really make a wedding that much more spectacular, like the custom ring pillow that can be used as a Christmas ornament long after the wedding or the intricate invitations with beading and details never before seen. These little things all come together to create an original and awe-inspiring event to really showcase each couple’s uniqueness.

Having taken place Valentine’s Day weekend on an extremely windy and chilly day, my hope was to document the idea of an intimate outdoor reception that could take place at a family farm, forest preserve or backyard. Many times, couples struggle in thinking of new, fresh ideas to make their wedding their own when really they don’t need to look very far. A great location may be just outside their window. As an added bonus, by supporting these small businesses, couples could certainly expect to not only get a great deal, but also completely customize everything to tell their own personal story.

Photography, Styling + Coordination: Kristin La Voie Photography / Venue: LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles, Illinois / Floral Design: FlowersFlowers / Wedding Cake: Dazzling Delights / Cookies + Cupcakes: Over the Top Cupcakes and Sweets / Invitation, Menu, Place Card + Table Card: TamTam Design / Bride & Groom Signs, Coasters, Cake Topper, Table Sign Holder + Chalkboard: This Fine Day / Banner, Silverware Pockets + Ring Pillow: Blue Pearls / Guest Book: O Romeo Bridal / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal “Michelangelo” / Garter Set + Bracelet: The Chica Boutique / Hair Piece: Mad Props / Hair: Dee C. Kae Hair Artistry / Makeup: Vanessa’s Art of Beauty / Suit: Express / Bow Tie: Tux and Tulle

Happy St. Patrick’s Day LBBers! Tana Photography sent over the most amazing elopement with just a touch of green and gold in honor of the Irish Saint – and we’re in love. There is something so romantic and intimate that just can’t be matched in this sweet celebration of love. It’s the perfect treat for this fabulous day, because we’ve got the full image gallery to set your Irish Eyes a’smiling!

From the bride … Our wedding day: special, traditional and unique. Adam and I met at our college’s orientation five and a half years ago. I never imagined I’d fall in love so soon into my college career! We made it through four years of college together, being separated for a semester while I studied abroad in Northern Ireland, and a move down south for Adam to pursue his Master’s degree. When he proposed with one of the prettiest and most unique engagement rings I’ve ever seen, I knew we could never have a typical wedding. We thought about eloping to Northern Ireland; we thought about eloping to Paris; but eventually we realized we wanted our closest family members to be able to attend. So we began planning our Boise “elopement”!

Just because we didn’t want a big wedding, didn’t mean we couldn’t plan something extraordinary. Both mine and Adam’s parents eloped, so we felt like we were continuing with a wonderful tradition; I wore my grandmothers’ jewelry; my mom altered my Anthropologie dress until it was exactly what I wanted; my aunt made my bouquet with baby’s breath, dried hydrangeas and gold painted flowers; and my dad baked his famous chocolate almond biscotti to give to our twenty guests as wedding favors.

It was important to us to incorporate our favorite places into our day. Our wedding colors became gold and green, inspired by Northern Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day (which was 2 days after we got married). We had our brunch at Le Café de Paris, a wonderful café that incorporated our love for French culture and food (and mimosas!). We wanted to let the beautiful food do the talking, so we only added some glittered fruit and shamrock plants to the tables, keeping it simple and classy.

To all you brides out there: even those of us having simple elopements can’t plan on everything going smoothly… Our judge was busy in a hearing and was 30 minutes late. While all our guests were waiting in a little courtroom, my dad improvised with a game of charades. And, yep, it did rain on our wedding day, although it let up for most of the afternoon. We had an extra special and perfect day!

From the Groom … I don’t know if a pair of people could complement each other better. I’m a writer and Emily’s my editor. I love life’s emotions and Emily loves reason. When Emily imagined a traditions-themed elopement, I couldn’t have agreed more—what better way to create a special day which evokes our love for each other? For us, recognizing all of these things meant we could better enjoy a low-stress, intimate, and, above all, memorable ceremony.

Wedding Photography: Tana Photography / Wedding Ceremony: Ada County Courthouse / Wedding Reception: Le Café de Paris / Wedding Invitations: DIY / Bride’s Makeup: Gabrielle Marcantonio for Bobbi Brown / Bride’s Dress: An altered Anthropologie dress / Bride’s Shoes: Alex Marie from Dillards / Bride’s Engagement Ring: EidelPrecious / Bride’s Wedding Band: SeaBabeJewelry / Groom’s Attire: Express / Groom’s Wedding Band: Stuller / Idaho Pillow: Love, California

You might notice today is Wednesday, and typically we crank out wedding after gorgeous wedding for a day full of inspiration (full is actually an understatement) on this pretty day. Well this week we are changing things up to make room for a week of giveaways (see the first here and here) to thank you for all the love you’ve given the SMP Best of 2011 Magazine – because a simple thank you just doesn’t seem enough. But have no fear, we’ve filled the day with weddings that will inspire you and THEN some – starting with this Idaho lovely by Ken Kienow Photography. It is just overflowing with those understated details that tug at our heart strings, and this couple’s Italian-market inspired reception looks like a dream come true. The entire gallery is full (full is actually an understatement) of so much more Idaho inspiration, so be sure to set aside some time to dive in for your daily dose of lovely! And stay tuned for today’s giveaway!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Brandee and Christian have always loved to travel. As they started talking about getting engaged and where they would go on their honeymoon, Italy was a strong contender. As Brandee was looking at an online gallery of pictures of Europe, she came across a colorful market picture and she thought planning an Italian Market-themed wedding would be a fun way to get excited for an Italian honeymoon. Christian loved the idea as well. When it came to location, they knew right away what the perfect backdrop for the wedding would be: Christian’s family property in St. Charles, Idaho, where they had spent a lot of time exploring and having some down-time with each other. The sunny, golden fields, tree-lined mountains and the sounds of the creek around the field set the scene for a classy, romantic, Italian market wedding in an outdoor setting.

Food was very much a part of wedding festivities and decor. Brandee and Christian both love authentic Italian food and wanted there to be an assortment of food to thank their guests for their involvement in their lives. The market place displayed the food and drinks for the cocktail hour and was an affordable option for decor. The colorful and earthy fruits, vegetables and market flowers blended perfectly with the adjacent early autumn woods and fields that housed the Italian-themed market.  The caterer brought in a wood-fired pizza oven to cook Margherita, Italian sausage and Mediterranean artichoke pizzas and served a variety of handmade pastas, fennel meatballs, deli meats, caprese salad, plenty of bruschetta, cheeses and asparagus-wrapped prosciutto, along with Italian sodas and San Pellegrino to drink. Luckily, their pastry chef was Italian and baked an assortment of pastries, including cannolis dipped in chocolate and pistachios, almond fruit tarts with a poached pear, zeppoles with chocolate and fruit dipping sauces, not to mention the Italian cannoli wedding cake and two other delicious cakes. To compliment the pastries and cakes, selections of gelato were available, including chocolate, pistachio and lemon.

The dinner was amazing and it was fun to hear family and friends say a few words to the bride and groom, but then came the first dance. Brandee and Christian had been looking forward to dancing under the stars and lights with each other as sweethearts in a place that holds so many special memories for them. They were really in their own little world at that point. They didn’t realize their first dance was so emotional to others as well.  Brandee’s good friend told her afterwards that she couldn’t help crying at the sight of Brandee so happy with her soul mate. Thank you to the vendors and especially Ken Kienow. You captured a wedding photographer’s own wedding day perfectly.

Photography:  Ken Kienow Photography / Ceremony: LDS Temple in Logan, Utah / Reception: The Groom’s Family Home in St. Charles, Idaho / Dress: Anne Barge via Alta Moda Bridal / Bride’s Belt: Modern Trousseau / Bride’s Shoes: Grazia / Bride’s Hair Accessory: Twigs & Honey / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff via The Perfect Dress / Men’s Suits: Ralph Lauren / Bride’s Hair: Mindee Soto (Bride’s Sister) of 987 Studio Salon / Makeup: Cynthia Dean of Enizio / Getting Ready Location: Riter Mansion / Catering: Culinary Concepts / Cakes + Pastries: Grace Harvell of The Graceful Baker / Pizzas: Jack’s Wood-Fired Oven / Dining Tables & Tents: Diamond Rental / Market Chalkboards:  Sweet to My Heart / Sign-in Book: Emerson Bindery / Dance Floor, Sign-In Table, Cake Table, Crate Dining Tables, Market Stands + Event Layout:  Groom, His Brother + His Father / Raspberry Jam Favors: The Bride + The Groom’s Mother / Market Baskets + Berry Containers:  Texas Basket Company / Wedding Invitations + Blackberry Design: Laurie Robison

Thank goodness this couple didn’t let a little rain storm spoil their outdoor Idaho nuptials.  After all, they spent so much time, energy and love to create their perfect, magical wonderland filled with fun DIY details and sweet vintage decor.  Jennifer Morrow Photography and Kamriell Welty Photography brought all that magic to life with their lovely images.  Click here to see them all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Brock and I met while we were both attending Washington State University.  After our first date, we were history! I can’t believe how fast Brock swept me off my feet! We knew we wanted to spend our lives together.  After two years of dating, we were engaged on the top of the Seattle Space Needle. It was so special.  I am the type of girl who has been planning my wedding since I was little. However, it is difficult to have high expectations when you have a low budget. My parents had been on staff with a missionary group called Campus Crusade for Christ for 25 years and had just started a non-profit organization. Although we didn’t have all the money in the world, we did have a very large network. So much of our decor was either lended, given to us, or made.

We really wanted the guests to get an ‘experience’ as they attended the wedding. We wanted them to feel the magic, to wonder what was around the next corner, and to truly feel like they got to know Brock and I by the end of the event. The perfect place to do this was at my uncle’s new and upcoming event center called Wild Heart Springs in Wilder, Idaho. This place is absolutely beautiful and charming. Wild Heart Springs is jam-packed with four different open meadows, a waterfall, a charming covered bridge, a huge event center, and the most breath taking chapel that I have ever seen overlooking the river with a light house to top it all off.  As the guests arrived, they drove down a long dirt road that had signs sporadically placed with sayings such as: ‘All you need is love…’ and ‘Love is all you need’. After the guests had parked their cars they began to walk through a meadow where we began to set the mood with Chinese lanterns hanging through out the field, an old vintage door was leaning against a tree, and a sign was posted ‘Through the meadow..’. Once the guests had crossed the meadow the next signs guided them to the next destinations: “Over the bridge..” and “Happily Ever After Starts Here”.

I think what made the wedding most special were the special DIY projects we had made and the personal touches that were added. So many of the decorations used were personal items that were special to our family. Even the food, cake, and cake pops were made by friends and family. As the wedding was ‘shabby chic’ inspired, we used both of my grandmas’ doilies to decorate. Almost all of the decorations has been made by my family, my bridesmaids, or myself which made it super special to walk around the event and be reminded of the sweet memories that were made while putting together the big day. I was so pleased to see how it all came together.

We wanted it to feel romantic, elegant, but also feel relaxed. Although the day started out as beautiful as it could, unfortunately, a huge rain and wind storm came while the ceremony was taking place inside. However, that didn’t stop our guests from enjoying the mashed-potato martini bar appetizers outside, which was inspired from my husband job who works for Simplot (potatoes). Almost all 400 guests stayed through the whole rainy reception to witness the cake cutting, first dance, my sorority sisters’ wedding song to me, and the huge dance party afterwards. To end the night right, Brock and I left on a John Deere tractor to head out on this new life adventure together.  Looking back on the wedding, I can only smile. It was nothing but pure bliss and excitement.

Wedding Photography: Kamriell Welty Photography + Jennifer Morrow Photography / Floral Design: Southside Floral / Event Design: Joie Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Wild Heart Springs / Invitations: Homemade / Bride’s Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG / Wedding Cake: Don Steinke

Don’t you just love Wedding Wednesdays?!?  I sure do.  Seven uber-stunning soirees, bundles of gorgeous inspiration and galleries filled to the brim with lovely…. It all makes for one very fine way to spend a Wednesday, don’t you think?  Not to mention that we’re bringing the pretty and then some with a fabulous lineup that includes a little something for everyone… and it just doesn’t get much better than that.  So, sit back, relax and add some gallery gazing time to your itinerary.  It’s going to be a wonderful day.

Up first is a charming Sun Valley, Idaho affair that has me feeling all sorts of giddy this lovely morning.  Oh yes, I am loving the sparkly heels, the gorgeous blue, orange and pink hues, that gown and those adorable flower girls dressed in the cutest little ballet flats I ever did see.  All planned to perfection by Absolute Weddings and captured by the oh-so-amazing Hillary Maybery Photography and second shooter Kristin Cheatwood, this is one seriously swoon-worthy affair.  Plus, the gallery is literally overflowing with delightful details just waiting to be adored.  Join me there for even more and then stay tuned for a fabulous film from Max Monahan Productions below!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

The fabulous doesn’t stop there.  You don’t want to miss this ah.ma.zing film from Max Monahan Productions.  (Psst… Prepare yourselves for some happy tears!)  Enjoy!

From the Bride… Alex and I knew that we could have been happy with a number of different types of weddings- from a traditional church wedding similar to those that were familiar to our families, a casual beach wedding in Malibu where we both attended college, or a rustic vineyard wedding to reflect our love of all things Italian, the country where we met and where Alex proposed three years later.

What our wedding eventually became was a collection of all of our favorite things, and it couldn’t have been more perfect for us. We chose beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho, as our location, a place that has always been special to my family that we wanted to share with all of our guests. We wanted the details to reflect our personalities and the things that we loved. After scouring over Style Me Pretty, friends’ weddings, magazines, and other blogs, we found our favorites of everything and put our own spin on them. We used our favorite colors, our favorite foods, and our favorite songs. We played lawn games at cocktail hour and had a photo booth running all night. Our wedding party was introduced with a choreographed dance that kicked off the party, and a good friend sang “That’s Amore” during dinner while Alex and I toasted each table with wine. By the time the DJ could invite everyone to the dance floor, it was already full and never lost its momentum.

We wanted the members of our wedding party to know that their roles were each unique and personal as well. The bridesmaids chose their own dresses from three shades of blue at Priscilla of Boston, and the groomsmen each wore unique cufflinks- Superman, cowboy hats, cassette tapes, wine openers, and more. Alex and I found the cufflinks and the bridesmaids’ jewelry on Etsy and surprised them with it on the day of the wedding.

Because we planned most of our Idaho wedding from Los Angeles where we live, the most important thing that we did was hire the right vendors to help us. We started with Hillary Maybery, who we knew would capture our day perfectly, then secured our favorite wedding planner, florist, and DJ. We could not have planned our long distance wedding without them or without the help of our fabulous families and friends who were there from the time Alex proposed to the time we closed down the party with a magical sparkler exit. The day turned out to be exactly what we wanted and a perfect reflection of the two of us.

Wedding Photography: Hillary Maybery Photography / Second Photographer: Kristin Cheatwood / Wedding Planner: Amanda Seaward of Absolute Weddings / Wedding Reception: Trail Creek Cabin / Wedding Videography: Max Monahan Productions / Make-up + Hair: Jamilynn from Vertu / Flowers: Tara Bella Flowers / Suits: Marc Echo / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Photo Booth: Funny Face Photobooth / DJ: Lenny Joseph / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / / Wedding Planner: Amanda Seaward of Absolute Weddings

If you’re a fan of sweet shades of pink and all things romantic and vintage, then you’re gonna wanna stick around for this beauty! We’re talking pink, fluffy florals in mason jars, candles in vintage wine bottles, his and hers Toms, adorable flower girls, and a big bunch of pink balloons. What’s not to love, really? Haley Sierra Wedding Photography captured all the pretty, little details for us to devour here in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…For the two of us, a simple night out with friends grew into a friendship, a romance and then, a lifetime of happiness. I grew up in a scenic, small town in north Idaho and Zach grew up in Washington’s capital city.  Our paths crossed after we both graduated from college and were working in Seattle. Zach worked for a large accounting firm and I taught 3rd grade. I moved to the city with a few college friends and one particular Friday, my roommate invited me out for drinks and dancing with some of her fun-loving coworkers.  That same Friday in February 2009, Zach’s coworker invited him out for drinks and dancing with some of her fabulous roommates.  Zach and I talked a little that Friday night, but it was the next night when everyone met up again, that we found each other a little bit more interesting.  Later that week, Zach nervously asked me out on a real, old-fashioned date and I obliged.

We started dating shortly thereafter and discovered we shared a love for adventure and the outdoors. Our first camping trip was in late May 2009 in Cannon Beach, Oregon and by July 2009 we knew we had found our match.  After more than a year and half of adventures, Zach took me back to Cannon Beach to celebrate our first camping trip together. I insisted we go to the first-come first-serve camp site to secure lodging, but Zach had other things in mind and suggested we take a walk on the beach to enjoy the rare streak of later summer sunshine on the Oregon Coast.   Zach and I walked down the beach to Haystack Rock where Zach buried one knee in the wet sand and proposed. I was completely surprised and it was perfect. I said yes, and the surprises continued when Zach led me only a few hundred feet to a beach front suite where he arranged for us to stay.

When dreaming up our perfect wedding, we envisioned a vintage fair theme, water, mountains, family and friends. Our wedding was on July 16, 2011 and the ceremony and reception were located at Dover Bay Marina in Dover, ID. Continuing with our theme, we chose to use wine bottles with drippy candles and mason jars with garden grown flowers as our centerpieces. We began collecting our favorite wine bottles as much as 8 months in advance and the day before the wedding Zach whittled the candles to fit perfectly into each bottle. I have always loved mason jars and we were able to use the beautiful turquoise mason jars passed down to me by my great grandpa.   Luckily my mother loves to grow flowers and spent the months before the wedding growing beautiful light pink and yellow flowers to place around the wedding grounds on oak wine barrels.

When all was said and done, the setting was a few hours before dusk on the Pend Oreille River with the lush green mountains as our backdrop.  We endured some thunder during our vows and barely escaped a group of dark rain clouds but we were rewarded with a beautiful rainbow and a clear sunset to end our perfect day.

Wedding Photography: Haley Sierra Wedding Photography / Cinematography: Chuck Smith / Flowers: Robin Roberts + Mother of the Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Dover Bay Marina / Invitations: Barry Sevig of Camp Doug / Bride’s Shoes: TOMS / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Donna Morgan / Caterer: Ivano’s / Hair: Sandpoint Salon

When Boise’s Tana Photography and Soiree‘s names pop up in my email, I do a little happy dance. That combination always is hand in hand with absolute killer wedding inspiration. Seriously, who else can whip up a romantic inspiration shoot and call it both contemporary and whimsical – and make it work? These fantastic ladies put together a bit of inspiration filled with cotton candy, two to-die-for dresses, mercury glass, and, the way to this girls heart, stripes galore. It’s the perfect equation. Brides and Grooms to be – this is for you. So many different flavors of wedding inspiration hitting your computer screen today. Click here for more!

From Brandi of Soiree … For this shoot we really wanted to play on the colors of spring and marry whimsy with contemporary elements. We loved the idea of using peach, shades of pinks, and a soft blue for a romantic, airy feel, while the cobalt blue added a bold pop of color for a modern touch.

The shoot was held in a beautiful white sunroom in a house on Boise’s historic Warm Springs Avenue. The subtle blue stripes on the walls and white painted floors were the first inspiration for the color scheme. We wanted to make sure the color palette and the design didn’t compete with the surroundings.

Everything needed to be light and airy, and the bride’s dress emulated this in every way. Bridal Couture provided the gown; a Jasmine Couture beauty complete with layers of tulle and taffeta and stylish feather flowers all over for a big statement. The dress was the perfect mixture of whimsy and high fashion.

The bride’s hair, styled by Camilla Orosco, was a messy, romantic up-do with a signature blue feather flower, while her makeup by Jamie Verner was romantic and soft. We paired dramatic jewelry and gorgeous shoes provided by Boise’s Piece Unique to finish the contemporary look.

The first step in designing the tables was to choose the linens. Cloth Connection out of New York had the perfect variety of the textured and whimsical styles we were after: a sea breeze crinkle taffeta paired with peach satin napkins for the dinner table, peach floral tinsel for the sweetheart table, and a cobalt blue crinkle taffeta linen for the dessert table.

From there we paired mercury, glass, and mossy elements with beautiful centerpieces by Botanica to run the length of the dinner table; natural chiavari chairs and silver chargers by Brown Party Rental were the perfect finishing touch. All of the stationery and place cards, designed by Ampersand Studios, were inspired by the blue stripes on the wall in the sunroom and also served as the tiny pop of cobalt we needed on the table.

The dessert table was one of our favorite aspects of the shoot; we really wanted this to be whimsical and pulled inspiration from our favorite carnival and circus foods- popcorn and cotton candy. The risers for the cotton candy and cake, which are actually hat box lids, and popcorn boxes were all covered in moss, and we brought the glass elements into this table with more mercury cups and a glass cake stand. The cake by Greg Marsh was gorgeous and the big cobalt flower and texture fit in with the theme perfectly.

Finally, the sweetheart table was outfitted in the stylish floral linen, and we changed the bride into a flirty peach-hued floral dress. We love the trend of an outfit change for the bride, and had this been a real wedding we think it would be the perfect dress to drive off into the sunset with her groom.

This photo shoot was an amazing adventure and we can’t thank all of the vendors enough that worked together to pull it off!

Photography: Tana Photography / Design & Planning: Soiree / Flowers & Mercury Votive Cups: Botanica / Stationery: Ampersand Studios / Linens: Cloth Connection / Cake: Greg Marsh Designer Cakes / Chairs & Chargers: Brown Party Rental / Bridal Gown: Jasmine Couture Style T395, by Bridal Couture / Hair: Camilla Orosco, Breathtaking By Camilla / Makeup: Jamie Jones Verner Makeup Artistry / Shoes: Provided by Piece Unique (Style 1: Report Signature, Style 2-Gold: Fergie, Style 3: Frye Boots) / Jewelry, Get Away Dress: Forever 21 / Feather Flower: Save On Crafts / Glass Candle Holders,Vases, Cake Stand: Hobby Lobby / Gourmet Popcorn: Cracklin Gourmet Popcorn / Cotton Candy Balls, China Plates, Moss: Soiree

Whose with us when we say, Thank God it’s Monday? Back to our lovely pretty parade of fabulous weddings all week long. And boy do we have a doozy to start with. This stunning Idaho wedding, captured by the FAB Hillary Maybery, featuring purple ‘maids, beer guzzling groomsmen, and a stop-you-in-your-tracks beautiful bride was planned to perfection by one of our favorites, Taylor’d Events. Seriously, this party looks like it was one heck of a good time. Or should I say, two heck’s of a good time – because we don’t just have the wedding, we have the western-themed rehearsal dinner too! So grab your coffee and enjoy the ride – and don’t forget about Taylor’s blog for more!

Before we get to the main event, Hillary has sent over these lovely images from one of the coolest rehearsal dinners we’ve seen. Taylor’d Events was on hand for this party too, and can we just gush a little over the fantastic job she did? We had so much fun just living the event through Hillary’s photos, so we can just imagine the excitement of every guest at this party had to have been through the roof. Check it out yourself!

Don’t forget about the gallery for more of the rehearsal dinner! But now, on to the main event…

We wouldn’t want to stop the party short – so click here for the highlight of the day from Max Monohan!

We met in Sun Valley.  Bray was living there at the time and I had just returned from backpacking in Spain and was just home for Christmas.  One of my best friends was having a dinner party where Bray was cooking dinner.  We had never met before and Bray blew me away with his delicious Lobster bisque.  And the rest is history!

Bray surprised me by taking me on a seaplane ride to Port Ludlow, WA.  He didn’t tell me anything except to pack a weekend bag.  We stayed at Port Ludlow Resort and he proposed while having a picnic on the beach.  It was really romantic!

My favorite flowers are lavender and the combination of lavender flowers with green stems inspired the wedding colors. We knew that we wanted to have a big party!  So for us, the planning was easy.  We wanted a great band, lots of dancing, lots of alcohol and great food, and of course…all of our friends and family to be ther to celebrate with us!

Photography: Hillary Maybery / Cinematography: Max Monahan Productions / Catering: Judith McQueen Entertaining / Flowers: Taylor Sturges, Taylor’d Events / Event Design: Taylor Sturges, Taylor’d Events /  Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Band: Marmalade Hill / Rehearsal Dinner Venue: The Saloon / Rentals: That’s Entertainment

Welcome to another wonderful, wedding Wednesday here at SMP. And boy, do we have quite the line up in store for you. From a fantastic Chicago 1920’s inspired reception to a spectacular outdoor-sy, west coast wedding, we are certainly bringing the beauty today! No doubt you’ll be feverishly checking in with us every 1.5 hours when we unveil the next little bucketful of inspiration.

I don’t know what I love more about this first wedding: the amazing photos from Ampersand Studios or the heartfelt, brings-tears-to-your-eyes type of description from the bride. This wedding is certainly a lesson in how to make each and every detail personal. This cute couple got married in the bride’s childhood chapel, drank communion wine from grapes that her late grandmother grew and crushed, and hosted a reception at an adorable lake lodge where the groom’s grandmother worked back in the 1940’s! The entire day was a perfect union of past, present and future! See all the meaningful, DIY details in the gallery!

Click here for entire image gallery!

On September 4, 2010, the old hymn “Come to the Church in the Wildwood” welcomed our guests as they entered the little rustic church of my childhood tucked away in the mountains of Idaho. It was in that very church on those very steps that Jeffrey asked me to marry him and it was to those very steps that we returned to finally fulfill our promise and become Brittany & Jeffrey Deininger! Our ceremony was steeped with the stories and history of this beautiful place and we chose to surround ourselves with the symbolism of where we had come from.  The communion wine was made by my grandmother, who before her passing, grew the grapes and crushed them into wine, tucking the bottles in the basement for safe keeping. The window behind us was from the original church I grew up in listening to my grandfather’s sermons and the same bells he rang each Sunday, rang out during our first kiss. Every detail and word was authored with purpose. While our chapel ceremony brought the outdoors in, our reception brought the elegant indoors out into the rustic beauty of Redfish Lake at the base of the Sawtooth Mountain range in Stanley, Idaho. Chandeliers hung from the white tent at the edge of the lake where my family spent summers fishing, hiking and boating. Jeffrey’s grandmother worked at the lodge in 1941 and spent her summers looking out at that same crisp lake and rugged mountains. Jazz from her era played underneath the laughter and good conversation as our guests were welcomed to dinner with a view of our favorite place on earth. After Idaho Trout, summer greens, loving words and a few dances it was over in a flash. At the end of the evening, we had our guests line the dock and send us off clapping and singing as we boarded a boat and floated off into the sunset, the lakes last gift to us on our wedding day. Much of this wedding was Do It Yourself: We handmade the accordion programs, made the décor and arranged all the flowers, designed and printed our own invitations, and drew the tree guestbook. I even did my own hair and makeup, but no matter how much we did ourselves, this was a community event. Our wedding vow was not something we assumed alone, and that day would not have been complete without the help, and celebration of our community of friends and family who traveled from all over the country into the wilderness to take part in a sacred day in a sacred space.

Wedding Venue: Lowman Community Church / Reception Venue, Rentals and Catering: Redfish Lake Lodge / Photography: Ampersand Studios / Dress: Pronovias / Shoes: Vaneli di note / Ketubah: Matt Terich / Wedding Cake and Cupcakes: Greg Marsh Designer Cakes /  Music: DJ Dave’s Mobile Disc Jockey / Flowers, Décor, Programs, Guestbook: Bride 

On this wonderful wedding Wednesday, we couldn’t be happier to share Carrie and Mike’s wedding at Rocky Mountain Ranch in Idaho. With the help of Hillary Maybery, Taylor’d Events and the folks at Rocky Mountain Ranch ~ it was a day filled to the brim with pristine, natural beauty, inside and out …

See the whole gallery here!

We wanted to create a beautiful, stylish and intimate wedding without a huge price tag and endless planning hassles. We  feel our day couldn’t have been more successful. We knew the breathtaking setting of Stanley, Idaho would weave its magic on our 30 guests and that we didn’t need to add too much more to the natural ambiance. The only decorations we chose were yellow and white wildflower table arrangements in sturdy mason jars, with a just-picked attitude. The Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch hosted our reception and had more than enough western charm- along with gorgeous views of the Sawtooth Range from its porch- to satisfy all. The casual attitude that we insisted upon, together with the laid-back feeling of being in the Idaho wilderness really set our guests at ease. The mood was very playful and relaxed. Everyone truly had a great time and in fact, so did we! Local photographer Hillary Maybery worked her amazing magic and perfectly captured the unpretentious feeling of our day in her photos, which we are so thrilled to have!

Feast your eyes on more of the beauty on Hillary Maybery’s blog!

Photography: Hillary Maybery Photography / Flowers: Taylor’d Events / Event Planning: Bride / Ceremony Location: Stanley Chapel / Reception Location: Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch / Invitations: Jillian Moffett Design, San Francisco / Dress: Custom made by Jinza Couture Bridal, San Francisco / Shoes: Chloe / Jewelry: Kathleen Dughi Jewelers, Mill Valley, CA / Hair Accessory – J. Crew /Rings: Kathleen Dughi Jewelers / Groom’s suit: Barney’s New York / Groom’s Tie: Chavet / Shoes: To Boot NY

We know that many of you have moved on to spring, but as we’ve said, we are still falling in love with just about every single winter wedding we come across. The romance factor is always OFF the charts. This Winter Wonderland photo shoot from an awesome crew of Sun Valley wedding gurus is no exception. How amazing are all the different shades of blue playing against the snow? Hillary Maybery was able to capture all the brilliant colors, and it has totally convinced me that it’s time to make a trip to Sun Valley, Idaho. I mean, the hot springs shots, alone, have me packing my bag. If you’re as winter obsessed as we are, Hillary’s blog has some phenomenal winter weddings on it, right now!

See even more on this cute, cute, cute film from Maximilian Monahan …

Jess + Al Engaged from Hillary Maybery on Vimeo.

Don’t forget about the gallery for more!

For this styled photo shoot we wanted to create the feel and look of a rustic winter wonderland. To accomplish this, we used a combination of white, silver, shades of blue, and loads of cozy textures.  Croney Cove Warm Springs is a hidden, charming cabin chalet set in the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho.  We loved this venue; it was perfect for the feeling we were going for. From the vintage European flair inside the barn to the roaring outdoor fireplaces, it was a blast, and even a little surreal to create this shoot.

Photography: Hillary Maybery Photography / Event Design:  Heather Minor, Elaborate Events / Hair and Makeup: Jamilynn Smith, Vertu Salon / Home Decor: Picket Fence Table / Cake: Amy Anderson, The Sweet Crumb / Solar Lanterns: Allsop Design / Floral: Ketchum Flower Company / Jewelry: Anne Mulick with Stella and Dot Jewelry / Venue: Croney Cove Warm Springs / Cinematography: Maximilian Monahan

We are just now getting the BEST winter weddings and photo shoots in our mailboxes! And although some of you girls who live where it’s STILL snowing might think you want to move on ~ we REALLY don’t. Not just yet. This next week, on The Little Black Book Blog, we have a few more weddings from those brave souls who adore the snow and pray for a bushel of it on their wedding day. How else will they get those winter-wonderland-shots that they’ve always dreamed of? Here’s a peek at what’s in the line-up on The LBB Blog.

A Wonderland Shoot from the awesome Hillary Maybery + a sensational Sun Valley group of wedding afficianados…

A Classic Boston Wedding (from a fabulous team of Little Black Book members) at the Hampshire House (aka CHEERS) …

Plus a wedding planner’s dream wedding ~ One of LOLA’s pro’s ties the knot in the blistering cold Chicago winter. Another lovely, brave soul!

So as you see, we’re not done yet! One more small request … we want to hear from ALL of you winter wedding sweethearts! We want to hear a loud and resounding round of applause for these couples ~ and their wedding vendors who have choreographed the most spectacular weddings during somewhat less-than-predictable circumstances. We want to hear from you this week!

I guess I can’t really say that I have a NEW favorite LBB photographer, because I have SO MANY FAVORITE Little Black Book photographers! But ONE of my NEWEST favorites is definitely Hillary Maybery. Although Hillary is based in Sun Valley, Idaho, there’s definitely travel in her plans … and there isn’t a wedding, engagement, photo shoot, or kid pic on her site that you won’t adore! Seriously adore. So when she teamed up with Taylor Sturges of Taylor’d Events who designed this gorgeous Fall Wedding-Inspired shoot ~ starring newlyweds, Steph & Zac … well, pure and simple LOVE!

See this gorgeous day-after shoot on Taylor’s blog and Hillary’s blog!

Photography: Hillary Maybery / Flowers and Event Design: Taylor Sturges at Taylor’d Events / Event Design: Terry Murphy owner of Bellissimo / Reception Location: Sun Valley / Hair and Makeup : Jamilynn Smith from Vertu / Vintage jewelry and fur : Suzy Hart owner of Deja Vu / Cake by Amy Anderson at The Sweet Crumb / Cinematography: Max Monahan

We have one of Hillary’s weddings coming up later this afternoon. In the meantime, here’s a quick peek at Kristin and Tim’s winter wedding featured on Sun Valley’s “Hitched”!

More on Hillary’s blog here!

It’s hard not to love the fabulous mix of modern and rustic woven throughout this destination wedding in Idaho by O2 Photography. Not to mention the bride is rocking an absolutely stunning, could-not-be-more-perfect-for-the-day short dress because it was the only one that gave her butterflies. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about? For more images that are sure to give you butterflies, don’t forget to check out the gallery.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

McCall has become one of our favorite weekend getaway spots. We spent many weekends up there last summer and fall. One of our favorite things to do is go sit on the dock at ShoreLodge on the lake and watch the wedding receptions at the lakeside pavilion. I love to see the different styles of wedding receptions, dresses, etc. One weekend last fall John and I took a stroll down on the dock and I was completely surprised when he got down on one knee and proposed. I knew from the beginning that McCall was the perfect location for our wedding. With John and I and his family living in Boise and my family living in Lewiston, McCall was a perfect compromise, right in the middle. We drove up to McCall one weekend in late fall and drove around checking out possible venues. I was feeling discouraged a bit until we came upon River Ranch. It is beautiful! It is set out of town a bit with amazing mountain views, ponds, and a beautiful clubhouse.

I did most of the planning myself. I knew that I didn’t want to take away from the scenery that McCall offers, but I wanted to make it all things that we love. I chose greys and pewter with yellows and greens as our colors. We kept the ceremony site very simple as it was set in front of a pond with mountains in the background. We used shepards hooks with small cylinder vases with a variety of yellow and white and green flowers. Flower petals adorned the aisle. The reception was located just behind our ceremony site. River Ranch has a large brick patio just off the clubhouse. We took advantage of the perfect weather (75 and sunny) and hosted the reception outdoors under a tent. Light and dark grey linens covered the tables and the centerpieces were kept simple. I found some fun, modern (for a twist) vases that were the perfect colors for our tables and our flourist kept the flowers simple as the vases made a statement on their own.

I had always thought that I would wear a traditional wedding dress. After trying on 20 or 30 more traditional style dresses I was at a loss. I felt like I was looking at a stranger in the mirror. I took a chance and ordered my dress from Nordstroms online. I ripped into the box the moment it was delivered and instantly had butterflies. It was the only dress I had tried on that made me feel that way. It was perfect. It was uniquely beautiful and comfortable! John was in charge of figuring out the attire for himself and the groomsmen. He didnt want to wear a traditional tux, which I was more than fine with! The mix of modern attire was a nice contrast to the rustic elegance of the site.

Photography: O2 Photography / Cinematography: Chris Worden / Flowers: McCall Weddings / Ceremony Location: River Ranch / Reception Location: River Ranch / Invitations: Angela Sumner, Friend of the bride / Shoes: Nordstroms / Dress: BCBG, Nordstroms

We’ve shared hundreds of weddings with you here on The Little Black Book Blog this year. We want to thank ALL of our amazing wedding vendors and ALL of our delightful couples and most of all … ALL of our readers! We feel very blessed and privileged to share in your wedding planning process and hope that 2011 will be an even bigger and better year for everyone!

And so, hand in hand we’ll lead you into the new year with another stunning Sun Valley Resort wedding from the ever-fabulous  Tana Photography …

From Tana Photography:
This was a stylish and casually elegant wedding that brought friends and family from all over to famous snow ski destination, Sun Valley, Idaho. It’s a gorgeous place to hold a wedding and give guests a true taste of the Pacific Northwest.
Natalie’s an outdoor Idaho girl at heart, who works as a stylist for Ralph Lauren in NYC. Natalie really wanted to bring her NYC businessman fiancé, (whom she met on a blind date) to her home state to share it’s rustic, outdoor beauty at their nuptials.
As the photographer, I was really excited to see how Natalie would combine her designer style with her laid-back outdoorsy attitude for this event. I know she wanted to bring the couple’s personalities together and show their guests an unforgettable time. The night before, the couple hosted a cowboy-themed costume party at the local “saloon” for their guests and on the wedding day, the ceremony gave everyone from NYC to Florida to Boston a breathtaking view of Sun Valley’s famous ski resort mountains.
Natalie’s co-workers custom made her Ralph Lauren wedding shoes, covered in Swarovski crystals, which the bride wore dancing up until the end of the reception. The groom wore a navy RL suit and groomsmen sported navy suits with purple ties. Natalie wanted bright, fun and colorful flowers in the bouquets and decor. She used mock ski-passes, with quirky facts about the couple, hanging from small evergreen trees to guide guests to their tables. Mini vintage SV posters showed the table numbers, and SV chocolate bars with colorful orchids were at each place setting. Local birch trees were placed inside the reception tent to bring the natural beauty indoors.
A sweet gesture (and great idea) came at the end of the evening when Natalie presented her grandmother a special gift bouquet before the official “toss”.

From Natalie, the bride:
“East meets the Pacific Northwest”. That would be the perfect description of our wedding. More that half of the wedding guests traveled from the East Coast to celebrate with us on our big day. Growing up in Idaho, I have always loved Sun Valley and for my family, it’s very special. Getting to share this magical place with our closest friends was the best part of our event! Many of our friends are looking to return to Sun Valley again!

Venue: Trail Creek Cabin, Sun Valley Resort / Photography: Tana Photography / Décor: The Sun Valley Company / Coordination: Bliss Events / Accessories: Ralph Lauren / Gown: Angel Sanchez / Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Cake: The Sun Valley Company / Florist: Sue Bridgman / Music: The Big Wow Band / Makeup: Gabrielle Marcantonio for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

There is something about this lovely Sun Valley wedding that embraces the winter in such a beautiful way. It could be the snow boot and jacket clad bride that has our hearts pitter-pattering with delight or maybe it’s the candle filled reception that screams total romance. Whatever the case, Hillary Maybery photographed it to perfection and Taylor’d Events crafted one heck of a cozy winter wonderland and we think it deserves a standing ovation. Bravo Winter Wedding. You are completely delightful from beginning to end. See the rest of the day here.

see the rest of this cozy wedding here!

We did not have a wedding party.  We live in Sun Valley, Idaho which is 2 1/2 hours from the closest airport, and our siblings and friends live all over the country. Everyone coming for our wedding had to travel a long ways to get there. We ultimately decided that it would be less stressful for us and more enjoyable for our friends if they could just sit back and enjoy the weekend- go skiing, snowshoeing, etc. w/o worrying about where they need to be or what time. We had a very formal Catholic ceremony including a full mass. We needed to have witnesses stand next to us as we said our vows and we chose our parents. It was incredibly meaningful to have each set of parents,the people who made us who we are, standing next to us as we said our vows.

For the décor I turned to Taylor’d Events and That’s Entertainment (linens, extra champagne flutes). In addition, I went online to CB2 and Z Gallerie and purchased some of their candlesticks, vases, decorative bowls, etc. and that way Anthony and I could keep some of the decor for our condo when the wedding was over and give some to our parents and siblings. I was able to search and find the exact look I was going for, and we were able to keep everything at the end. Our wedding planner provided additional vases, candles and hundreds of votives.  Anthony and I knew from the start that we wanted to cut out a lot of the things that just weren’t as important to us or that would keep our stress levels down. We also knew we wanted it to be a huge party for our friends and family. Because of the formal nature of the wedding mass, we wanted the reception to be more like a cocktail party than a wedding reception. The result was perfect. We got rid of the cutting of the cake and throwing of the bouquet. My dad and older sister gave very short, but wonderful, speeches. Anthony and I danced (Bob Marley) and my dad and I danced (Louis Armstrong) but we only did 2 minutes of each song.  By doing it that way, we didn’t have any breaks in the continuity of the evening. Then, everybody danced for hours!

Photography: Hillary Maybery /2nd photographer: Kristin Cheatwood / Flowers: Taylor Sturges of Taylor’d Events / Fur Jacket: Milly / Cake baker: Christina’s Restaurant and Bakery / Event Planning: Taylor’d Events / Ceremony Location: Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church / Reception Location: Elkhorn Lodge, Sun Valley, Idaho / Groom’s tux: Hugo Boss Black Label / Shoes: Richard Shah / Wedding favors: In lieu of wedding favors, we sent out welcome packets three weeks before the wedding to all of our guests that had maps, guides, handwarmers, schedule of events, etc. / Wedding bands: Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona / Invitations: Izzy Girl out of Seattle, Washington / Honeymoon location: Cook Islands and Auckland, New Zealand