6 minute read
Unusual Places to "Say I Do"
Brides: Racquelle and Laticia Servatius. Photo by Wilds Photo & Film, LLC
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.
Brides: Racquelle and Laticia Servatius.
Photo by Wilds Photo & Film, LLC
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 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.
Bride and Groom: Rachelle and John Baughman
Photo by Jacie Van B Photography
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.
Four months in the making, Rachelle and John married on top of a Coeur d’Alene Resort cruise boat witnessed by only their two children, an officiant, and the photographer. What they expected to be a cold and snowy day turned out to be exactly the opposite. Guests waited on shore while their private ceremony began. The same officiant’s business from Rachelle’s grandparents’ wedding presided over theirs. “I was very close to my grandparents,” says Rachelle, “so I wanted to remember them in that way. They were married for 62 years.”
Guests joined the newly wedded couple on the boat for refreshments and food. “It was the perfect day. Everything just went so smoothly, and it was easy and enjoyable to spend time with our family and friends,” says Rachelle. “It was relaxing.”
Bride and Groom: Rachelle and John Baughman
Photos by Jacie Van B Photography
“Oh my gosh, it was beautiful. It was minimal, there was no cake cutting or first dance and it was still fun,” says Jacie Van Blaricom, their photographer. Although Jacie had photographed at the resort many times before, she found this wedding to be different. “A lot of people are looking for more unique types of weddings, especially since COVID. People want less stress and less expensive. They are just excited to be married,” says Jacie.
Couples from far and wide have found that Idaho offers unique places to elope, including Tasha and William Williams, who traveled nearly 2,000 miles from Florida to say “I do” in a foot of fresh snow. “When Billy proposed he said, ‘Let’s get married in Idaho,’ so that’s what we did. It wasn’t even a question,” says Tasha. “It felt perfect.”
Bride and Groom: Tasha Williams and William Williams
Photo by Karlie Larson Photography
During their trip, they were accompanied by the groom’s cousin, their two daughters, and their photographer Karlie Larson.“They probably could have said their vows on the side of the road because they were just so ready to be married and excited to be in Idaho,” says Karlie.
Bride and Groom: Tasha Williams and William Williams
Photo by Karlie Larson Photography
Tying the knot at Ponderosa State Park the day after a February snowstorm, the group scouted for the perfect spot near the frozen lake on the day of the ceremony. “It actually didn’t feel as cold asI anticipated. However, wearing a gown in knee-deep snow was a challenge,” says Tasha. Following a small ceremony and photo session, the group ate pizza at a local shop and spent the rest of their trip adventuring around town.
“I think social media has made people think they have to have these large weddings, but really the day is about two people. None of that other stuff matters,” says Tasha.
