UNUSUAL PLACES to SAY “I DO”
to & Film, LLC Servatius. Photos by Wilds Pho Brides: Racquelle and Laticia
BY: ARIANNA CRETEAU
When getting married in the State of Idaho you can simply visit your county recorder’s office with $30 cash and proof of identity to obtain a marriage license. Where couples say “I do” afterward is entirely up to them. More people find themselves challenging tradition and embracing memorable moments by exchanging vows in unique places. Laticia and Racquelle Servatius had their moment at the top of the Tamarack Express chairlift. “It’s our favorite place,” says Laticia. “I just had the idea and said, ‘What if we got married on the top of the mountain in our dresses and then snowboarded down?’” “It was freezing cold,” says Laticia. About seven degrees in the middle of February. Celebrations kicked off with morning mimosas in a nearby cabin. By noon the brides were strapped into their snowboards and ready in their dresses to catch a chair up the mountain. Mercedee and Logan Wilds, the team behind Wilds Photo and Film, skied alongside the brides, capturing special moments throughout the day. “This was definitely a
“We just wanted to do something that really represented our relationship and we wanted to keep it intimate. more unique wedding, focusing more on them, what they wanted and loved to do together,” Mercedee says. “Incorporating that into their elopement was extra special.” At the top, the brides exchanged vows, took photos, and snowboarded back to their cabin where close family and a handful of friends were waiting to greet the newly married couple. “When we were planning and wondering if we could make it happen we decided to keep it super secret,” says Laticia. According to Mercedee, how people perceive weddings and elopements can be skewed by styled shoots that go viral across social media. One of her goals was to focus less on styling for photos and to emphasize raw feelings in the moment. “This day was truly about the brides. I love getting good photos and preserving memories but it wasn’t a photo op,” Mercedee says. “You don’t really need to spend a lot of money. It comes down to what resonates with the
couple and matters the most to them.” Despite expected delays, low temperatures, sick kids, and a speedy search for vendors, Laticia and Racquelle pulled off one of the most eccentric elopements of the winter this year. Their advice to others looking to do the same? “Dress accordingly under your dress. Or better yet, do it in the summer,” jokes Laticia. Washington locals Rachelle and John Baughman met at their local Eagles club nine years ago. Over the years, visiting the Coeur d’Alene Resort became one of their favorite getaways. Rachelle and John knew once they were engaged that it was where they would have their wedding, a wedding on the lake, a cruise boat to be exact. “We just wanted to do something that really represented our relationship and we wanted to keep it intimate. Not so much about catering to people who are attending the wedding, but more of a memory for ourselves,” says Rachelle.
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