Weddings

Oh, to be wed at Schweitzer

For lots of couples, finding a perfect wedding spot that is meaningful and beautiful leads them to Schweitzer. With the breathtaking view of Lake Pend Oreille from almost any angle, it’s hard not to fall for such timeless beauty as a backdrop. For many brides and grooms to be, that view has permeated countless ski runs, bike rides, chairlift conversations, and unforgettable moments of powdery goodness. It makes sense that this mountain is the choice for such a personal, once -in-a-lifetime moment.

But what if your mom works here? For some, the mountain has been not just a playground but a place of work. In the case of Laura Schuppert, this connection made it even easier for her daughter Alana and fiancé Will to choose their wedding spot. Laura and her husband Dave have been vacationing at Schweitzer for over 10 years and own a condo on the mountain. They lived the Schweitzer experience as frequent visitors until Laura started working in Guest Services and as one of the resort’s seasonal snow reporters for the last three years. No surprise that this close connection enabled Alana to fall in love with so many aspects of Schweitzer – the wildflowers, the huckleberries, the great skiing and outdoor fun.

“We had been vacationing here since she was in middle school and would come every winter, fall, and summer,” explains Laura. “We would see many brides and bridal parties riding up the Great Escape Quad and she would comment about what fun that would be and such a romantic beginning to marriage. It was a no-brainer.”

What was it like for you to have your daughter married on the mountain?

I take a lot of pride in working and living at “our special place” so when my daughter and her then fiancé indicated they would like to get married at Schweitzer, I was very happy. Not only because I knew Schweitzer would put on a fantastic wedding, but I was excited to share our beautiful mountain home with our family and friends.

What is it about Schweitzer that your daughter connected to?

Well, the uniqueness of the location, honestly. Alana did not want to get married in one of the traditional wedding venue areas on the mountain. She wanted somewhere unique and different but with her living in New York City at the time, I was in charge of scouting out “THE space.” Luckily, Cassandra (Group Sales Specialist for Schweitzer) was amazing in letting me search out the spot. We started on the Happy Trails/Enchanted Forest area near the village because my daughter wanted a beautiful tree background. In the end, we decided that it wasn’t super practical due to logistics of getting people there.

Later in the year, I found myself walking off the summit on Stewart’s Loop and stumbled upon what I considered to be the simplest, most beautiful backdrop for the wedding – a little nook with perfect pine trees, rocks, and tree stumps to sit on. I showed my daughter the spot on her next visit, and she loved it. Cassandra was great in supporting our unusual location and helped us make it happen. This was the first wedding Schweitzer’s hosted that was a little bit off the traditional location on the summit, but the entire team went all in to make it work.

What advice can you give to someone considering a destination wedding?

I feel that it is important to have things to do besides attending the wedding events. Our guests traveled a long way and mostly came from Florida, so this was all new to them. We chose the Thursday before Fall Fest so that our guests could enjoy the awesome festival that Schweitzer produces throughout the weekend. Our guests also took advantage of everything from horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, jumping, climbing, and taking in the incredible views, food, and drinks at the Sky House.

How did all this feel for you, as the Mother-of-the-Bride?

It’s hard to put into words my pride and love of Schweitzer – the people and the place. Obviously, Alana and Will felt the same way. Neither of my girls had traditional weddings but maybe that’s because we gave them many opportunities and places to explore so they didn’t feel they needed to comply with what everyone else is doing. That spirit fits with this mountain. Couldn’t ask for better.