V6 by Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine

BR I DE V6

HOW TO ELOPE IN A

National Park REAL WEDDINGS I N S P I R AT I O N & M O R E WHERE TO

Honeymoon IN THE

2021 VOLUME 6

ROCKIES PLUS:

2021 RING GUIDE TRENDING DESIGNERS & THE 411 ON BUYING YOUR BLING

WEDDING DAY GIFTS FOR YOUR VIPS $8.99 U.S. & Canada DISPLAY UNTIL 06.30.21

844.362.3848 limelighthotels.com/ ketchumweddings

Photo courtesy of Jasper K Photography

abovE all, lovE truE to you in thE lanD of EnchantmEnt

VISIT SKITAOS.COM/WEDDINGS FOR MORE INFO Schedule a wedding consultation today | weddings@skitaos.com

TA O S S K I VA L L E Y Hand in hand, surrounded by nature, imagine your special day at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico. In summer, this verdant sanctuary is part playground and all adventure. Whether your inner tomboy seeks a casual mountaintop ceremony or your outer ski bunny desires a classic reception seeped in alpine tradition, Taos Ski Valley looks forward to walking you down the aisle towards your dream wedding.

1.800.776.1111 | SKITAOS.COM

A PICTURE OF PERFECTION P i c t u r e Yo u rs e lf M a r r y i ng Th e L o v e of Yo u r L if e I n Th e M o s t B e a u t if u l L o c a t i o n i n C ol o ra d o Imagine sharing your first moments as a newly married couple against a spectacular backdrop of towering rock spires and lush mountain valleys—a place of almost impossible beauty where every detail adds to the magic of the moment. While you stay focused on the big picture, our culinary and planning teams ensure that your wedding experience is quietly curated, carefully chosen and thoughtfully executed to be everything you always dreamed of. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE A TOUR, EMAIL WEDDINGS@GARDENOFTHEGODSRESORT.COM OR CALL 719 725 6600

3320

Mesa Road

Colorado Springs

80904

gardenofthegodsresort.com

ONE THE HISTORY HISTORY BOOKS BOOKS ONE FOR FOR THE

C O N TA C T U S T O L E A R N M O R E AT S A L E S @ A R M O R Y H O T E L B Z N . C O M O R 4 0 6 . 5 5 1 . 7 7 3 0 C O N TA C T U S T O L E A R N M O R E AT S A L E S @ A R M O R Y H O T E L B Z N . C O M O R 4 0 6 . 5 5 1 . 7 7 3 0

Elegant & Elevated

EVENT LOCATION IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOUNTAIN SETTING

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers a unique event location, the outstanding Rendezvous Lodge located at 9,095 feet at the top of the Bridger Gondola. This venue offers picturesque views coupled with award-winning food and service to provide a truly remarkable experience for any celebration.

FULL-SERVICE WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING: 307.732.3136 | WEDDINGS@JACKSONHOLE.COM

BR I DE V6

graphic designer Jessica Goldy

u.s. editorial

& sales staff

COLORADO & NEW MEXICO Brit Tucker-Kline IDAHO, MONTANA & WYOMING Mackenzie Stevens UTAH Val Rasmussen UTAH SALES Abbey Eddy & Hannah Wollenzien

canadian editorial

& sales staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Celynn Bowman ASSISTANT Carly Cooper & Camille Johns

COPYWRITER Lily Harris

SALES MANAGER Sarah Wood

digital team

DIGITAL EDITOR - Laura Osborn CONTENT CURATOR & COPYWRITER - Savannah Reynolds STYLE & DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS EDITOR - Tasha Tagliani VENDOR COLLECTIVE MANAGER - Heidi Zeh SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER - Bailey Jameson

operations ACCOUNTING Lynn Kieffer PUBLISHED BY RMB Media, LLC

PUBLISHER Erika Oltmann

DISTRIBUTION

SNOWMASS WEDDING TERRACE BOOKINGS | SUMMER 2021 Suzanne Inglis snowmassweddings@limelighthotels.com

866-237-5637

Disticor Magazine Distribution Services Storefronts in the U.S. & Canada or online at shop.rockymountainbride.com

contact INQUIRIES - hello@rockymountainbride.com ADVERTISING - rockymountainbride.com/advertise SUBMISSIONS - rockymountainbride.com/submissions proudly printed in the rockies

Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine is published by RMB Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion may be duplicated, in whole or in part, without the written consent of its publisher. We greatly appreciate those who have contributed to this publication. Contributors’ opinions are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Rocky Mountain Bride. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. The publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy of information or omissions from the material provided. Rocky Mountain Bride cannot be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services rendered by the advertisers published in this magazine. We reserve the right to refuse advertising.

NECKTIES MADE UNIQUE.

208.412.0057 | weddings@2020ties.com | 2020ties.com | @2020.ties

I N S P I R AT I O N 17.

finding the one Ring buying tips & trending designers

39.

wedding day gifting Thank you gifts for your wedding day VIPs

58.

welcome bag essentials The perfect “Welcome to the Rockies” swag bag

62.

welcome party A modern-deco welcome party at Bozeman’s newest hot spot

68.

rise + shine Ideas for the perfect morning with your bridesmaids

72.

girl time Make the most of your wedding day morning

78.

176.

188.

wedded bliss

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Escape to Santa Fe for a classic Southwestern wedding 160.

how to plan your national park elopement A romantic elopement at White Sands National Park

168.

elopement essentials Essentials to pull off your unforgettable elopement

210.

ethereal i do’s Elopement inspiration in Colorado’s stunning Paint Mines

214.

first stop: denver A staycation in one of the best Rocky Mountain towns

H O N E Y M O O N D E S T I N AT I O N S 216.

denver, colorado

218.

telluride, colorado

220.

santa fe, new mexico

222.

jackson hole, wyoming

224.

sun valley, idaho

226.

whitefish, montana

228.

banff, alberta

230.

okanagan, british columbia

232.

tofino, british columbia

234.

coeur d’alene, idaho

236.

park city, utah

238.

moab, utah

clockwise from the top: the drawhorns, the follens photography, cameron and elizabeth photography, autumn cutaia photography and carissa marie photography

160. 172.

39.

TRUE LOVE E L O P I N G I N N AT I O N A L PA R K S

214.

78.

172.

aubrey + jenne - Jasper National Park

176.

kryshun + willie - Arches National Park

180.

kristy + sam - Zion National Park

184.

michelle + derek - Grand Teton National Park

188.

kristen + garrett - Rocky Mountain National Park

192.

sandra + larry - Grand Teton National Park

196.

jess + jared - Pacific Rim National Park

200.

miranda + andrew - Banff National Park

204.

hannah + ben - Glacier National Park

WEDDINGS IN THE ROCKIES

17. 152. 168.

236.

92.

season + elliot - Santa Fe, New Mexico

96.

natalie + caleb - Wilson, Wyoming

100.

nikki + lane - Kimberley, British Columbia

104.

jaclyn + scott - Livingston, Montana

108.

elise + kyle - Salt Lake City, Utah

112.

hannah + chase - Donnelly, Idaho

116.

makinna + tyler - Cochrane, Alberta

120.

isabella + jordan - Aspen, Colorado

124.

lauren + alex - Pender Island, British Columbia

128.

joella + jason - Denver, Colorado

134.

danielle + chester - Gallatin Valley, Montana

138.

holly + codie - Kananaskis, Alberta

142.

krista + ben - Vernon, British Columbia

146.

katie + justin - Meridian, Idaho

150.

stephanie + patrick - Jackson, Wyoming

154.

laura + corey - Park City, Utah

clockwise from the top: dawn and dusk, jac dodge photography, grace gatto, pepper nix and morgan and joel

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

re ntal s fo r you r weddi ng, din n er o r sp ec ial ev e n t .

congrats to our cover winners!

grace gatto

L uxu ry tab leto p

to see more of this styled elopement, visit page 210 photographer: diana coulter dianacoulter.com

to see more of elise & kyle’s wedding, visit page 108 photographer: paige mckenzi photography paigemckenzi.com

• Jack s o n H ol e b as ed • s e r v i n g t h e Ro c k y M o u n ta in s a n d b e yo n d . X o w yo.com i n fo @ x ow yo.com @ x ow yoa n d co B r o ug h t to you b y t h e t e am b e h i n d x o wyo pape r + pr e s s

to see more of holly & codie’s wedding, visit page 138 photographer: katelyn anne photography katelynanne.com

Dearest Reader, 2020 has pushed and pulled us in every direction possible. Yet, the adversity of the year has resulted in unprecedented resilience, unique achievement, and truly inspirational moments. Last year we saw micro-weddings, minimonies and elopements trending more than ever. I commend those of you who had the tenacity to adapt with the restrictions and safely celebrate your love no matter what was thrown your way. You reminded us all that love prevails. For those of you who are starting to plan now and for those that postponed, RMB is here to continue to support your love no matter what that looks like. Flip through these pages to inspire your day, find incredible local vendors and read authentic love stories. Our hope is that 2021 brings more laughter, more love, and more unions. May our world heal and may we find a way to unite again. After all, love truly conquers all.

Erika

Where Memories are Made. Inspired by the cherished moments that make time stand still, Little America is an ideal venue to create lasting memories.

CHEYEN N E. LI TTLEA MER I C A . C O M

beautiful beginnings Surrounded with spectacular scenery, highlighted by the natural beauty of our rustic chic venue, the 320 Guest Ranch can be tailored to your style and vision. Let our dedicated event staff bring your dream to life for your wedding celebration.

320RANCH.COM

406.995.4283

B I G S K Y, M O N TA N A

YOU’VE GOT A LOVE WORTH

C E L E B R AT I N G

PERSONALIZED WEDDING PLANNING sweetheartevents.com

@sweetheartevents

Vancouver, BC

Photo Credit: The Godards Photography

Golden Wedding at Grand Lake

Start your next chapter at the spot where couples have made commitments for over 100 years.

15500 US-34, GRAND LAKE, CO 80447 GRANDLAKELODGE.COM 541.435.4743

Finding the one T R E N D I N G D E S I G N E RS & T I PS FO R BUYING AN ENGAGEMENT RING

Rings (top to bottom): Staghead Designs, Sarah O. Jewelry, The North Way Studio and O.C. Tanner Photographer: Grace Gatto | gracegatto.com Styling Mats: Olive and Oak | oliveandoakmat.com

Sarah O. Casual Meets Couture

Sarah O. Jewelry, located in Denver, Colorado, focuses on a casual meets couture look, priding themselves in providing both traditional and unique designs for any budget. Celebrating all love and welcoming in every person who walks through the doors, Sarah O. is excited to be a part of your ring buying and designing experience. At Sarah O., each and every designer is there to listen to your needs and create your dream piece without being influenced by budget, background, or other industry standards. If you’re looking for something one-of-a-kind, don’t hesitate to look online for her incredible stackable rings! Sarah O. Jewelry sarahojewelry.com @sarahojewelry

Trending

Designers

Yuliya Chorna Jewellery Yuliyachornajewellery.com @yuliyacjewellery Modern • Romantic • Old World

Kate Maller katemaller.com @katemallerjewelry Contemporary • Edgy • Refined

Kellie Stonger kelliestonger.com @kellie_stonger Big-city Glam • Client Focused • Educated Quality

Taylor Custom Rings taylorcustomrings.com @taylorcustomrings Delicate • Versatile • Elegant Leah Hollrock leahhollrock.com @leahhollrockjewelry Handcrafted • Antique Inspired • Bohemian

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Ethical • Vintage Inspired • Alternative

Kristin

Kristin Coffin, based in Denver, Colorado, is an ethical, vintage inspired jewelry designer. Kristin Coffin’s pieces are crafted from sustainable recycled metals and ethical gems creating heirloom quality with a timeless style. If you’re looking for an alternative gemstone option such as a lab-grown diamond, sapphire, or moissanite then Kristin Coffin Jewelry is the designer for you. Kristin encourages couples to shop together, after all, one of you will be wearing it for the rest of your life!

C offin Kristin Coffin kristincoffin.com @kristincoffinjewelry

The

Cut | Clarity | Color | Carat

Diamonds, just like snowflakes and fingerprints, all have their very own distinct characteristics making them completely unique. The characteristics used to assess diamonds are known as the 4C’s: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. When shopping for your dream proposal ring, you’ll want to take into account these four things. Of course, we always recommend that you consult with your jeweler to determine what’s best for your vision and budget.

cut

The cut of a diamond is what impacts the beauty of the stone a.k.a. how much it sparkles and shines! Unlike the clarity, color and carat, the cut is affected by human hands. When shopping for your ideal diamond cut, you’ll be looking at Brilliant Cuts, Step Cuts, and Mixed Cuts. The most popular is the Brilliant Cut which is used for round, cushion, oval, marquise, pear and heart-shaped diamonds.

clarity

A diamond’s clarity is the measure of how rare and pure it is. What can affect this scale? If a stone has any internal flaws or external imperfections, the rating will be impacted. The clarity matters because it directly affects the sparkle of your diamond!

color

The color of a diamond refers to its natural tint. Most stones give off a slightly yellow tint. Diamonds are rated from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). The closer a stone has a rating to D, the rarer it is!

carat

The carat of a diamond refers to its weight. However, this really isn’t the most important of the 4C’s when it comes to buying a diamond. A stone’s carat does not necessarily equate to its size. At the end of the day, you’ll want to take into consideration the cut, clarity and color before the carat because those three characteristics will impact its true beauty.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

the

NorthWay studi o Far, Far Away

The North Way Studio is a small jewelry workshop tucked away in the countryside of Washington. Designer, Maria, finds inspiration in everyday moments; from the novels she reads to the way the light shimmers through her studio. If you’re looking for a piece that is not only unique, but creates a bit of magic when the eyes meet the sparkle, then The North Way Studio has the perfect gem for you. Maria’s advice for those searching for a ring is to, “Listen for the jewel that sings to you. It’ll be what haunts your thoughts, and whispers to you as you go about your day. You’ll sense it as soon as you see it, truly.” The North Way Studio thenorthwaystudio.com @thenorthwaystudio

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

Ring

ips

buyingT

If she’s on Pinterest, there’s a high probability you’ll find her diamond and ring preferences there! You can also phone a friend for some insight.

No matter the route you go, it’s never too soon to start planning. If you or your significant other is traditional, it may be important to factor in the timing of asking a parent’s permission for your love’s hand in marriage.

2. 4.

7. 8.

We don’t recommend polling your Instagram followers. Your significant other will have a style unique to their own. The internet may provide fast answers, but it doesn’t mean they are the right answers.

A better deal in price, doesn’t mean a better deal in quality. Don’t let good marketing or clickbait trick you into buying a poor quality diamond. If you’re worried your significant other won’t like what you picked out, don’t hesitate to ask how your designer would handle such a situation. Most jewelry stores and designers will work with you to ensure your fiancé has the ring they love. Remember, while your jeweler’s opinion is helpful, the most important opinion will come from the person you’re proposing to. Often, this is a very personal choice. Get the insurance as soon as you purchase the ring. We have all heard the stories, rings can be lost for good during an epic proposal…don’t let that person be you. Buy insurance. No ifs, ands or buts. Ask your jeweler for tips on how to discretely determine your significant other’s ring size. Often bringing in a ring they wear regularly can help you get some idea.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Alara

Earth-conscious • Ethical • Evocative Alara Jewelry, based in Bozeman, Montana, is an earth-conscious, ethical, and evocative jewelry store. Lead Designer, Bab’s, best tips for ring shopping is to, “Take a breath. Don’t worry about what you’re ‘supposed’ to have or like. Share your thoughts with a designer who wants to hear your thoughts and be honest about how you live life, so a jewelry professional can guide you towards styles and features that will ‘play nicely’ with you.” For a forever ring that stands out from the crowd, we recommend checking out Alara Jewelry for the “one!” Alara Jewelry | alarajewelry.com | @alarajewelry

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

O.C .

Tanner

O.C. Tanner Jewelers octannerjewelers.com @octannerjewelers Timeless • Bespoke • Exceptional

Metalicious

Metalicious metalicious.com @metaliciousjewelry Vintage • Modern • Heirloom

Shel Couture shelcouture.com @shel_couture Romantic • Goddess • Magical

Advice FROM A

Designer

Young in the Mountains younginthemountains.com @younginthemountains Responsible • Pioneering • Handmade

“Picking a ring can be overwhelming. Between navigating the myriad of options while balancing personal expectations, there’s so much to consider when finding the perfect one. Still, if I could give one piece of advice it would be to focus on finding something that is meaningful instead of worrying about hitting a specific carat, figure, or dollar amount. This symbol should capture something special about your unique relationship. It’s a way to tell your story for generations to come - go on, get creative with it!” - Jenny Norman

Aidah Jewelry aidahjewelry.com @aidahjewelry Vintage Modern • Organic • Chic

Tippy Taste (left and below) tippytaste.com | @tippytaste Classy • Elegant • Vintage Vibe

Jenny Norman jennynorman.com @jennynormannyc Romantic • Detailed • Personal

Berlinger berlingerjewelry.com @berlingerjewelry Unusual • Striking • Nontraditional

Hiddenspace Jewelry hiddenspacejewelry.com @hiddenspacejewelry Architectural • Modern • Unique

Wilson Diamonds wilsondiamonds.com @wilsondiamonds Friendly • Tailor-made • Affordable

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Staghead designs

Custom • Meaningful • Artisan Crafted

Staghead Designs, based in Utah, specializes in handcrafted custom jewelry using unique and wild materials of your choice. If you’re looking for a oneof-a-kind piece in both character and appearance, Staghead Designs will help bring your dream ring to life. By focusing on alternative and meaningful materials to represent your love, Staghead Designs is able to ensure no two rings are exactly alike. To further ensure that your ring is a meaningful symbol of you and your love, they even let clients send in their personal materials to be used in their one of a kind piece. If you want your forever ring to truly represent your personality, passions or history then check out what Staghead Designs can create for you. Staghead Designs stagheaddesigns.com @stagheaddesigns

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

Walters

H ogsett &

Relevant • Authentic • Timeless Walters & Hogsett Jewelers is a family-owned jewelry company based in Boulder, Colorado. This authentic and timeless jewelry brand offers the best in both custom and handmade rings. With over 40 years in the industry, Walters & Hogsett Jewelers is a trustworthy jeweler that will help you find the finest ring and band for your significant other to wear each and every day. Their biggest piece of advice to couples in the process of purchasing a ring is to, “Trust who you are working with, make sure that you feel a connection and feel comfortable. This is a big step and a big purchase, take your time, and enjoy the process.” Walters & Hogsett Jewelers waltersandhogsett.com @waltershogsett

Life

J ewels

Custom • Meaningful • Heirloom

Life & Jewels | lifeandjewels.com | @lifeandjewelsjewelry

Life & Jewels specializes in custom, made-to-order jewelry. Their heirloom pieces are crafted in the United States with an incredibly experienced team of designers, goldsmiths, and artisans. At Life & Jewels, you will be able to work directly with their team to create your dream ring in your budget. They recommend not settling on your ring choice. Take all the elements of your dream ring, then create it using the materials that fit your budget. Your ring becomes even more meaningful when you can tell your friends, “We designed it ourselves!” That answer is priceless.

John

Atencio

Clean • Simple • Bold

John Atencio, based in Denver, Colorado, creates bold statement pieces crafted from the finest materials with impeccable attention to detail. Designing for over 50 years, John Atencio focuses on showcasing his brand’s unique designs with dramatic curves, distinctive shapes, and pristine finishes. His biggest piece of advice to those shopping for their forever ring is, “Don’t follow the crowd. Instead, follow your heart. Buy quality and make a choice that will have longevity. The test of a great design is time.” If you’re looking for a keepsake ring your significant other will cherish forever, John Atencio is the best selection. John Atencio | johnatencio.com | @johnatencio rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

ScenicRoute

Natural • Nostalgic • Exquisite

Scenic Route Jewellery designs are inspired by eternal love, sacred memories, and adventure. Their natural and exquisite pieces are meant to be a constant reminder to love fiercely, seek adventure, and see the beauty in every moment. Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Brittani Buettner handcrafts each and every one of her rings using certified recycled metals and ethically sourced stones. If you’re interested in a custom ring, Brittani suggests reaching out as soon as you know because designing a custom ring takes longer than you think. All Rings: Scenic Route Jewellery scenicroutejewellery.com @scenicrouteco

don’t forget the boys! Traditionally, men do not wear a wedding band until after the wedding. However, it’s becoming more and more common for men to want to display their commitment prior to the big day. If this is the case for your beau, purchase him a silicon wedding band to serve as a placeholder until the big day. It also functions perfectly for outdoor activities and workouts after the I do. We recommend starting to shop for the real wedding band 3-4 months prior to the wedding to ensure you have it in hand the month before. Ask your fiancé if he has any color or material preferences. The options for men’s bands are endless from sterling silver and natural elements to platinum and gold.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

Instagram: Top to bottom, left to right: Shelby Bray Photography, Nomad by NK, @laurenadowney, Haley J Photo, Whitney Marie Photography, Gracie Marie Photo, Kadie Hummel Photography, @lphillipsss, Peter Lobozzo, Ashlee Brooke Photo, Ashlee Brooke Photo and Feather & Folk Photography

Next up..

Call your friends and family to share the exciting news.

Celebrate, and take in the moment. Perhaps an engagement party is in the cards.

Get a manicure, show off that bling with a ring selfie and tag @rockymtnbride on Instagram.

Insure your ring. Start by contacting your homeowner’s insurance about additional coverage you may need in case of loss or theft. Relax. Wedding planning doesn’t have to start immediately. Get away with your fiancé to enjoy this stage of your love story. When you’re ready, start planning your dream I do by heading to rockymountainbride.com.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Leah Hollrock Jewelry

TREASURES HANDCRAFTED IN COLORADO CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN • ENGAGEMENT RINGS • WEDDING BANDS • BRIDAL JEWELRY LEAHHOLLROCK.COM

FOLLOW ALONG @LEAHHOLLROCKJEWELRY

Hair Makeup "Groom"ing Massage Yoga Tanning Lashes Injections

Making your day beautiful. www.hdhairandmakeup.com @hdhairandmakeup

15% off with code RMB15 exp. 12/31/21

WEDDING DAY GIFTING

When planning a wedding, receiving gifts is all a part of the fun, however, giving to those closest to you often will bring you the most joy. From your wedding party and parents to gifts for each other, it is important not to forget to say thank you to those who supported you and your partner on your journey to I do. Hats: Greeley Hat Works | greeleyhatworks.com

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

GIFTS FOR

BFF The morning of your wedding day is the perfect time to say thank you to the ladies standing by your side. Gifts don’t have to be large in order to make a statement. Pamper them with items they can reuse after the weekend is over like a Gemstone Facial Roller from Uncommon Goods and a Desert Lavender Botanical Fragrance Roller from Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm — a perfect scent for your best ladies to rock down the aisle. While getting ready, sip on Lolea Rosé and dance off those pre-wedding jitters in matching Monograph robes. Having your bride tribe by your side is truly the greatest gift of all.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Bandanas from Hemlock Goods are the perfect addition to any bridesmaid thank you box. Choose a bandana that fits each of your gal’s styles and let them decide how they’re gonna sport it. Every time you’re out for Sunday brunch with your BFFs and they’re rocking their bandana, you’ll get a sweet memory of your special day!

Bandanas: Hemlock Goods | hemlockgoods.com Left to Right: No. 049 Asher, No. 045 Nora, No. 34 Sammie B, No. 029 Maude

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

No. 028 Fiona

No. 008 Ocala

No. 042 Pearl

No. 028 Fiona Consider filling your bridesmaids’ gift boxes with other reusable gifts such as hats, accessories and home decor. Hats: Gigi Pip | gigipip.com Print: Bode Goods | bodegoods.com Earrings: Katie Waltman | katiewaltman.com

Orvis Trout Bottle Opener & Handmade Steve Powers Knives: The Broadmoor, Base Camp | broadmoor.com Beer: Coors Banquet | coors.com/heritage Watch: Vincero Watches | vincerowatches.com Bolo Ties: Hells Canyon Bolo Ties | hellscanyonboloco.com Leather Flask: Whiskey Leatherworks | whiskeyleatherworks.com Ice Press: Meltdown Ice | meltdownice.com Whiskey: Distillery 291 | distillery291.com Hatch Decanter & Rocks Glass: Crate & Barrel | crateandbarrel.com

GIFTS FOR

HIM

Start your morning with a classic Coors Banquet cheers and share a bit of you in your thank you gifts to your groomsmen! Opt for authentic western gifts that are not only thoughtful but also masculine and unique. Bolo ties from Hells Canyon are the perfect keepsake from your wedding day and can be worn the day of and long after. Pair the bolo ties with a hat from Greeley Hat Works and your best buds will fit right into your Rocky Mountain I do; Giddy up, cowboys! If you’re looking for a more expensive find for your best man, who loves to enjoy a nice cocktail at the end of an evening, he will cherish the Meltdown Ice Press. Or choose a more classic item such as a bold timepiece from Vincero.

Family Recipe Board: Uncommon Goods | uncommongoods.com Coin Edge Locket: Shinola Detroit | shinola.com Navajo/Pueblo Squash Blossom: Chipeta Trading Company | chipetatrading.com Nyala Foldover Clutch: Parker Clay | parkerclay.com Handkerchiefs: La Gartier | lagartier.com

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

GIFTS FOR

MOM Moms are always suckers for something sentimental. Gift them something that tugs at their heartstrings. While an album of your wedding photos is the perfect item for after your big day, we love the idea of gifting her a personalized family recipe board from Uncommon Goods. Choose a recipe you grew up making together as it will bring up the best memories of her and her little girl. For a keepsake your mom will cherish forever, personalize a timeless locket from Shinola with her initials and fill it with photos of you and your family. If you anticipate waterworks from your mom an embroidered handkerchief from La Gartier is the perfect gift. Or if your mom is a fashionista gift her timeless style pieces like a 1940s Heirloom Squash Blossom or a leather clutch from Parker Clay.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Deerskin Gloves & Watches: Shinola Detroit | shinola.com Leather Padfolio, Wallet & Keychain: Rustico | rustico.com Scotch Infused Toothpicks: Uncommon Goods uncommongoods.com Custom Shaving Kit: Hitching Post Shave Co. | hpshaveco.com

GIFTS FOR

DAD

When we think of gifts for dad, durable, yet practicable items come to mind. Dads will always appreciate something they can use time and time again. If your dad enjoys the simpler things in life, opt for deerskin leather gloves for cold winter days or built-to-last timepieces from Shinola. Looking for more of an every day gift? Leather goods from Rustico make a grand gesture, too. After the big day, dad could use a little self care. How about a custom shaving kit with the right mix of first-class potions and lotions.

Personalized,Compact Swivel Cheese Board with Knives: Uncommon Goods | uncommongoods.com

GIFTS FOR

YOU

Gifts for you and your partner can be big or small. Whether you want to stick to a budget or pick something out together that will remind you of your wedding day, there is no right or wrong. If you love to host, purchase a custom cheese board with your wedding date and initials on it. Each time you host family and friends, this everyday item will be quick to bring a smile to one another’s face.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

TOASTING TO FOREVER

Continue to toast to each other forever by gifting stylish barware that allows you to recreate the signature cocktails from your special day. The Hatch Rock Decanter and Rocks Glasses from Crate & Barrel are the perfect choice for an Old Fashioned lover. For the sparkling wine connoisseur, pick up the Level Champagne Glasses and Bubbly Cocktail book for fun to be had for years to come. Hatch Decanter, Rocks Glass, Level Champagne Glass & Bubbly Cocktail Book: Crate & Barrel | crateandbarrel.com Photographer: Autumn Cutaia Photography | autumncutaia.com Styling Mats: Olive and Oak | oliveandoakmat.com

FINE DINING, LODGING, & EVENTS

www.rainbowranchbigsky.com

(406) 995-4132

42950 Gallatin Rd, Big Sky, MT

Photos by: Lauren Haddow, Merissa Lambert, & Melissa Marshall

A backdrop that’s impossible to forget, for the day you’ll always remember.

Kathy Robertson/treasuresiseek.com

Choose from three outdoor venues offering unmatched Teton views as your backdrop. Featuring specialized menus complemented by a unique wine list, and a professional staff eager to make you smile. For the wedding day you’ve always dreamed of, contact Steve Cole at scole@gtlc.com or 307-733-7787.

www.jhgtc.com

MARRY IN MONTANA PARADISE YOU’VE FOUND THE

one

PA R A D I S E

- NOW FIND YOUR PERFECT

together

Photos by Orange Photographie

Surrounded by the picturesque setting of the Yellowstone River and Paradise Valley’s Emigrant Peak, Sage Lodge offers the ideal landscape for your love story to unfold. Showcasing indoor and outdoor spaces for your ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner, intimate or large parties will feel right at home. Your guests will appreciate staying in our well-appointed Lodge Rooms, while wedding parties and families can take over our Ranch Houses for preparation and celebration throughout your stay in Montana. With multiple dining options, outdoor activities, a spa, and numerous on-site amenities, everything you’ve ever wanted for your big day is waiting here at Sage Lodge. VISIT SAGELODGE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST A PROPOSAL

SA G ELOD G E. C OM | 55 SAG E LODGE DRIV E, P RA Y, M T 5 9065 | 85 5 .4 00.05 05

Photographer: Justine Milton | justinemilton.com Invitations: Windsor Rose | @__windsorrose See more on page 72

Youre ' Invited! D E S T I N AT I O N - ROCKIES

Rugged. Regal. Romantic. Nowhere else in the world can boast exploration and adventure like the Rocky Mountain range can. So, what better way to start a new chapter of your life than saying ‘I do’ in this thrilling landscape. Want to know how to have a high-altitude wedding to remember? Our experts unload the skinny on how to shop, eat, sip, dress and party like a local.

ITINERARY Day 1: Welcome Bag Essentials Welcome Party Day 2: Rise + Shine Girl Time Wedded Bliss

welcome bag essentials Nothing greets out-of-town guests better than a pretty, personalized swag bag welcoming them to their Rocky Mountain destination. Upon arrival to their ski chalet, lake lodge, ranch house or luxury resort, guests will swoon over the well-timed greeting of a goodie bag presented at check in. Directions, a schedule and bottled water provide a good base lineup, but personalization is key. Up the ante with custom labels, bags and tags paying homage to the locale, then shop local for on the go snacks, sips and sweets. Want to achieve all-star host status? Take note from the folks at Noteworthy Paper & Press in Missoula, Montana who rounded up these favorite surprises for this perfectly curated, “Welcome to the Rockies” welcome bag.

- INSPIRATION -

bag it, tag it

direct traffic

Be gone, baskets! This is one gift that won’t go unused. Package goodies inside a lightweight tote, like this one from Noteworthy Paper & Press, that reflects the location, season or wedding theme. Bonus points for accessorizing with a colorful bandana from Hemlock Goods, which can also be used to keep cool during any mountain excursion in the summer.

The vacay digital detox begins now. This pretty and oh, so practical paper momento from Bozeman, Montana’s Ice Pond Press not only showcases your wedding theme and colors, but also this custom map and itinerary combo reveals the when and where for the action-packed weekend ahead.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

sips from the rockies

sprinkle in some snacks

Give guests a preview of the his and hers cocktails you’ve carefully chosen for the reception. Distilleries and brew pubs are popping up all over towns in the Rocky Mountains touting earthy, woodsy, and adventurous flavors. Pint-sized spirits pair perfectly for any après outdoor sesh.

Round out the tote with a selection of sweet, salty, chewy and crunchy treats. Whether it’s a simple bag of trail mix, the couple’s favorite go-to snack or gourmet chocolate like Park City, Utah based Ritual Chocolate, treat guests to a little on the go, high altitude nourishment.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

Welcome Party

- INSPIRATION -

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Pull up a seat at the bar, grab a cocktail and let the wedding weekend begin! Without question, there’s an energy in the air the night before the big day. And while there are no formal rules to hosting a welcome party in the Rocky Mountains, the team at Beautifully Born Events offers their expertise with a lineup of craft cocktails, modern-deco design and an upbeat color scheme. Downtown Bozeman’s luxury Kimpton Armory Hotel sets the stage for a fun-filled fête.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

- INSPIRATION -

SURPRISE AND DELIGHT

Sure, Bozeman has a rugged reputation as the Gateway to Yellowstone National Park, but this soirée style offers contemporary flair. Luxe elements like patterned table linens, gold flatware and custom name cards provide surprise, as well as mirror the Art Deco decor found throughout the hotel. Pint-sized pastries by Sweet and Tarte and a custom cocktail—the hotel’s “Emerald” made with gin, kiwi, ginger, lemon and garnished with a mint leaf—tickle all the taste buds. Architectural centerpieces by Labellum pair frilly roses with sculptural blooms like Birds of Paradise, ferns and palms.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

- INSPIRATION -

FEELING PEACHY

Superb party planning is more than decor. It’s about logistics too. Allow for crowd flow and present plenty of hot spots to gather, like the Armory Hotel’s Etha ballroom does here. Space out “stations” to allow guests to move fluidly from the dinner table to a flower-clad vintage bar cart to cozy conversation seating and to last call for one final “Cheers!”

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

Rise + Shine

It’s rosé o’clock the following day and time to get ready. After a full night of luxurious sleep at the Kimpton Armory Hotel, meet up with your bridal party in the Presidential Suite for hair, makeup and pink Champagne. Leave ample time for gabbing, relaxing, gift giving (matching robes, of course) and photo ops.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

creative team Venue & Caterer: Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman | armoryhotelbzn.com Planning & Design: Beautifully Born Events | beautifullybornevents.com Photographer: Kristiann Photography | kristiann.photography Sweets: Sweet and Tarte | sweetandtarte.com Florist: Labellum | labellumflowers.com Invitations: Ice Pond Press | icepondpress.com Bridal Boutique: Plume Bridal | plumebridal.com Bride’s Top: Jasmine Lilly Bridal | jasminelillybridal.com Bride’s Jewelry, Ring Designer & Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Alara Jewelry | alarajewelry.com Bridesmaids’ Attire: Re-Couture | recoutureboutique.com Groom’s Attire, Groomsmens’ Attire & Accessories: Revolvr Menswear | revolvrmens.com Groom’s Accessories: Target | target.com Beauty: Beauty by M | beauty-by-m.com Rentals: Montana Party Rentals | montanapartyrentals.com Linens & Chargers: Nüage Designs | nuagedesigns.com Specialty Rentals & Custom Decor: Tailored and Tied | tailoredandtied.com Pottery: Lulu Pottery | lulupottery.com Bandanas: Hemlock Goods | hemlockgoods.com Robes: Ines by Ines Di Santo | inesdisanto.com Place Card Stands: Modlode | modlode.com Guest Favors: Noteworthy Paper & Press | noteworthystore.com Guest Favors - Spirits: Bozeman Spirits Distillery | bozemanspirits.com Models: Rachel, Eudora, Sydney, Pat & Chad

Naturally Exquisite Mountain beauty meets St. Regis sophistication. Enjoy picturesque venues, creative cuisine, and signature St. Regis service for a mountain wedding that is exquisitely yours.

The St. Regis Deer Valley 2300 Deer Valley Drive East Park City, UT 84060 t. +1 435 940 5700 marriott.com/slcxr

Photo by: Pepper Nix Floral by: Artisan Bloom

Stay exquisite at more than 40 St. Regis hotels and resorts worldwide. @stregishotels

- INSPIRATION -

Girl Time

Boho bride tribe goals start here. Ethereal gowns, breezy updos, sun-kissed cheeks and soft florals encapsulate Rocky Mountain ease, as designed by Alberta’s Simply T Events. This gal gang arrives early to frolic in the Alberta Foothills at The Ridge Okotoks, a country style private home that is ready to party. Tip your hat to prairie-meets-modern wedding style.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

EASY AND BREEZY

Tablescape inspiration flows naturally from the outdoor surroundings. Organic elements like heavy barnwood and handmade tablewares provide foundation for lighter details like delicate greenery, tapered candles and gold-rimmed goblets. Hints of navy blue modernize an otherwise natural color palette.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Perhaps, the best design surprise of all is a balloon-framed vintage trailer photo booth. The photo booth is perfect for both getting ready candids with your girls and entertainment for your guests during cocktail hour and the reception.

creative team Planning: Simply T Events | simplytevents.com Photographer: Justine Milton | justinemilton.com Caterer: Graze YYC | grazeyyc.com Sweets: The Ridge Okotoks | theridgeokotoks.ca Florist: Creative Edge Flowers | creativeedgeflowers.com Invitations: Windsor Rose | @__windsorrose Bride’s & Bridesmaids’ Attire: Adorn Boutique | adornboutique.ca Bride’s & Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Adorn Boutique | adornboutique.ca + Olive + Piper | oliveandpiper.com Hats: Chapel Hats | chapelhats.com Bridal Hanger: Hang On Bridal Hangers | @hangonbridalhangers Hair: Hair by Paige | @hairbypaige_ Makeup: Janay Ontkean | @jontkean Rentals & Linens: Modern Rentals | modernrentals.ca Candles: Camilia | camiliasupply.com Backdrops & Large Floral Pieces: Bloom Screens | bloomscreens.com Photo Booth: Oh Snap Photo Camper | ohsnapphotocamper.com Balloons: Little Chic Parties | @littlechicparties Models: Vanessa, Grace and Maria

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride regional volume vi

Wedded Bliss

Santa Fe stirs with raw beauty. Gather at 7,200 feet inside New Mexico’s desert highlands at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, Santa Fe’s iconic luxury hotel. Today’s wedding exudes love, laughs and high-altitude style. We take to the foot of the Sangre de Christo Mountains, where planner Molly Donovan highlights the Southwest’s enchanting landscape and Pueblo Revival architecture.

- INSPIRATION -

P E R F E C T PA I R I N G

Donovan and her team set their sites on creating a design that celebrates the city’s rich history and adventurous spirit. Ethereal florals, including baby’s breath and skeleton fern, balance the brawn of adobe architecture, while classic fashion, a tux and strappy gown, provide formality to the rustic environment.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

C O U RT YA R D C L A S S I C S

A soirée utilizing indoor and outdoor spaces is a Rocky Mountain wedding must. From the ceremony and cocktail hour to dinnertime and dancing, a seamless transition from the outdoors in (and vice versa) works magic with crowd flow. Also, weaving in high-desert tones — bone, sage, Ristra Red and espresso — throughout each space is key to bringing the outside indoors and keeping party vibes consistent.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

Design colors compliment the Loretto Chapel of Santa Fe. This Gothic-style chapel was built in 1876 and features 150-year-old stained glass windows, an elaborate Italian altar, vaulted ceilings and an unusual helix-shaped spiral staircase, famously known as the Miraculous Staircase. Graphics of the chapel façade and staircase appear on the invitations that highlight the Santa Fe property as a destination worth visiting.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

- INSPIRATION -

D I N N E R I S S E RV E D

The tablescape incorporates different elements of the landscape, including cholla skeleton and sand dune candle holders, made to mimic New Mexico’s gypsum sand. Pops of espresso and Ristra Red (a nod to the state’s chilis) add depth and richness. Menu cards compliment the invitation suite that boasts hand-pressed paper, clean font, graphic icons, wax seals and natural twine.

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

- INSPIRATION -

creative team Venue: Inn and Spa at Loretto | hotelloretto.com Planning: Details by Molly Donovan | detailsbymollydonovan.com Photographer: Jac Dodge Photography | jacdodgephotography.com Sweets: Figs & Honey Cake Co. | figsandhoneycakeco.com Florist: Manmade & Sage | @manmade_and_sage Invitations: RK Creative Design | @rk_creativedesign Bride’s Attire: a&bé bridal shop | aandbebridalshop.com Bride’s Jewelry & Ring Designer: Patina Gallery: Handcrafted Artisan Rings | patina-gallery.com Groom’s Attire: Generation Tux | generationtux.com Beauty: A. Salon Santa Fe | @a.salonsantafe Rentals: Colorado Party Rentals | cpartyrentals.com Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen | latavolalinen.com Models: Daniel and Milagros

40 west main street bozeman , montana 59715 406.577.2070 | plumebridal . com | ido @ plumebridal . com

gemgallery.com

RMB_Ad2019.indd 2

| 402 East Main, Bozeman MT | (406) 587-9339

7/13/20 4:14 PM

FOLLOW ALONG WITH RMB

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@rockymtnbride

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rocky mountain bride

- REAL WEDDING -

Season + Elliot S A N TA F E , N E W M E X I C O Season and Elliot met in their hometown, Houston, Texas, at a patio bar. They were both there with a group of friends. The two groups united and all went to a country western dance hall and two-stepped for hours. They continued hanging out and after six months of cat and mouse, Elliott asked Season on a date. Fast forward two years, Elliot and Season traveled to Santa Fe and on their trip, after their usual Saturday morning visit to the farmers market, they took a drive up to one of their favorite spots to enjoy the beautiful view and each other’s company. Season remembers, “Elliot quickly got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.” The newly engaged couple celebrated privately, prayed together and soaked up all the excitement that was to come. Afterward, Season and Elliot drove back down to his parent’s house where both their families were waiting to surprise them with champagne. “We all cried happy tears and celebrated with each other the rest of the day.” They planned a New Mexico boho wedding for May 4th.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

- REAL WEDDING -

M A R I A C H I PA R A D E “We had a mariachi band right after the ceremony exit that took all of our guests around the plaza for a mini parade. Everyone had maracas that they grabbed on the way down and we danced around the plaza for about 20 minutes with the mariachi band and everyone on the plaza cheered and took pictures. It was hilarious and so much fun. It also got everyone in the mood to party. As soon as we went back up to the venue, the waitstaff had margaritas on trays for everyone to grab as soon as they walked in instead of all the guests having to rush the bar and wait in a long line. It’s all in the details!”

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “1. If you have a destination wedding, we highly recommend having a 'welcome dinner' the night before instead of just a rehearsal dinner with the wedding party. Especially if your wedding is smaller. This way, you have two nights of celebrating with all your people and you get to talk to more people and say hi to everyone on the first night. Your wedding day goes by so fast and sometimes you don’t even get to talk to some of your guests. If you can’t do a welcome dinner, even just having 'welcome cocktails' the night before at a nearby hotel is a great idea. 2. We did a first look and really thought the day went by so much slower. We were both pretty anxious until our first look. After that, we felt so calm and felt more present for the rest of the day. We didn’t feel rushed or overwhelmed because we got to spend most of the day together! We were also able to take all of our wedding party and family photos beforehand which we could not recommend more. This way, everyone was fresh for photos and our wedding party was able to immediately join the party after the ceremony. Those are definitely the photos you will want the most of. 3. Don’t be afraid to make the day your own, something that is uniquely you, even if it might be a little different or not traditional. People are coming to celebrate you both because of who are you are as a couple. Plus, people always remember the fun and personalized stuff that might be a little funky and different, not the wedding that was exactly like every other wedding they have been to.”

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

-VENDORSVenue, Catering & Lodging La Fonda on the Plaza | lafondasantafe.com Wedding Planner Just Lovely Wedding & Event Planning | justlovelyweddings.com Photographer & Videographer Shutterfreek | shutterfreek.com Sweets Maggie’s Cakes | maggiesweddingcakes.com Tequila Donkey Bear Creek Adventures | bearcreekadventures.com Florist Renegade Floral | renegadefloral.com Invites Minted. | minted.com Bridal Boutique Brickhouse Bridal | brickhousebridal.com Gown Designer Calla Blanche | callablanche.com Bride’s Shoes & Jewelry BHLDN | bhldn.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Show Me Your Mumu | showmeyourmumu.com Bride’s Ring Designer Nancy Norton, family friend Groom’s & Groomsmens’ Attire Jos. A. Bank | josbank.com Groom’s Accessories Worrell Gallery | worrellgallery.com Groom’s Shoes Tony Lama | tonylama.com Beauty Jess Evans at The Beauty Bar | thebeautybarsantafe.com A. Salon Santa Fe | @a.salonsantafe Rentals Darling Details Vintage Decor Rental Co. | darlingdetailsrentals.com Music & Entertainment Diamond Empire Band | diamondempireband.com Absolute Entertainment | musicsantafe.com Welcome Dinner Guitarist Tito Rios Music | FB: TitoRMusic Lodging Hotel St. Francis | hotelstfrancis.com Transportation Road Runner | rideroadrunner.com Officiant De Novo Concierge Pastors | theconciergepastors.com Rehearsal Dinner & Lodging La Posada de Sante Fe | laposadadesantafe.com Minimoon The Inn of the Five Graces | fivegraces.com

- REAL WEDDING -

Natalie + Caleb WILSON, WYOMING

Natalie and Caleb met in Nashville, Tennessee through their mutual friend Gage who was in town visiting and invited Natalie and her friend to join them to go cliff jumping at Percy Priest Lake. They had a wonderful time and when they went on Instagram to follow each other they found out they had another mutual friend. Natalie recalls, “My brain said ‘I am not good enough for this perfect guy,’ so I suggested to Caleb that I set him up with this other friend of ours. At the time, he thought his friend Gage was interested in me, so he said, ‘Sure, why not?’” Planning began for a backyard grill out, during which Natalie planned for the set up to occur. The day was to begin with Natalie and Caleb meeting at a coffee shop to then go grocery shopping for the afternoon’s festivities. On the way to the coffee shop, the friend canceled and Natalie and Caleb ended up spending the rest of the day together. When Caleb realized Gage wasn’t pursuing Natalie, he decided to ask her out. Three years into dating, Natalie and Caleb traveled to Wilson for Caleb’s annual birthday celebration. Natalie was solely focused on Caleb’s birthday plans and trying to surprise him, all the while, he was working on the biggest surprise of all time for her. Caleb got down on one knee in the most beautifully arranged snowy, candlelit proposal with the Tetons perfectly framed behind them. Natalie recalls, “I was stunned. I could not believe it was actually happening. I think I said yes, although it was all such a blur. That place is so special to us, so it was fitting that we would have our first kiss, first ‘I love you,’ and proposal out there.” They returned to the house to find more family had arrived to celebrate. They planned a natural and elegant wedding for July 1st in the same spot where he proposed.

rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

- REAL WEDDING -

FAV O R I T E M O M E N T S

“Caleb and his groomsmen made quite an entrance into the ceremony - on a raft! They rafted down the creek and got out at the altar. I arranged for our dear friend Dave Ellerstein, who is a pro on the river, to accompany them to make sure no one fell out. Our dog, Blue, was a groomsman, ‘Best Dog’ and entered our ceremony in his bow tie. After we kissed, Caleb picked up a frisbee we had our wedding logo printed on, and threw it down the aisle for Blue to run out and exit the ceremony. I will never forget standing up at the altar after my dad walked me down, and looking up at his face, scrunched with happy tears, and then looking just beyond his face at Caleb’s face on his other side, him making the exact same face as my dad.”

rockymountainbride.com / rocky mountain bride volume 6

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Soak in every moment. Don’t stress over the little things, or really any of it at all. It will all be perfect just the way it turns out.”

-VENDORSVenue Private Residence Wedding Planning Team R. Higgins Interiors | rhigginsinteriors.com Bride and friends; Natalie, Erin Oda and Steve Williams Photographer Eden Ingle Photo | edeningle.com Videographer Dallas Wilson Wedding Films | dallaswilsonweddingfilms.com Caterer Maho Catering | mcateringjh.com Sweets Sara Nicholson | @sarachoatenicholson Florist Topknots Florals | topknotsfloral.com Paper & Calligraphy xowyo paper + press | xowyo.com Bridal Boutique, Veil & Gown Designer Elegant Alterations | FB: Elegant Alterations Bride’s & Groom’s Ring Avenue 58 | avenuefiftyeight.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Bella Bridesmaids | bellabridesmaids.com Bridesmaids’ Dress Designer Jenny Yoo | jennyyoo.com Groom’s Attire Jack Victor | jackvictor.com Groom’s Shoes Cole Haan | colehaan.com Groomsmens’ Attire The Black Tux | theblacktux.com Rentals Canvas Unlimited | canvasunlimited.com Wellness Housecall Hydration | housecallhydration.com Music & Entertainment Music Garden Bands - Az-Izz Band | musicgardenbands.com/az-izz.html Officiant Father of the Groom Rehearsal Dinner Nora’s Fish Creek Inn | norasfishcreekinn.com Honeymoon Los Cabos, Mexico Las Ventanas al Paraíso | rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos

- REAL WEDDING -

Nikki + Lane K I M B E R L E Y, B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A Lane planned a trip to San Francisco with the intent to propose at the Golden Gate Bridge to his beautiful girlfriend, Nikki, whom he met when they were thirteen at a school dance. Nikki recounts, “He stopped me and wrapped his arms around me and I could feel his heart beating so hard against me. I instantly began to cry before he said a word because I knew something important was about to happen. He recited a beautiful speech worthy of being on The Bachelor before bending to one knee and said dramatically, ‘With that being said,’ as he opened the ring box, ‘Nikki Collette Trisha Holt, will you marry me?’ I of course, said YES! It was an incredible moment and Lane even hired a photographer to hide out and capture it, as he knew how important photos are to me! The only catch to this perfect proposal is that it turns out the beach we were on, Baker’s Beach, is a nude beach. We had a lot of laughs over that once we visibly realized what was happening.” The duo planned an enchanting, romantic and grand summer wedding for July 13th.

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Listen to your heart while making decisions and planning out your day. The most important focus is that you get to marry the person of your dreams in front of your favourite people, and yes it could very well be the best day of your life.”

YOUNG LOVE “Because we fell in love so young, we really wanted to make our wedding day a special day to honour our love story and the beginning of our journey as husband and wife. When envisioning our wedding we wanted the day to feel romantic, timeless and enchanting. It was really important to us that the day and into the evening was not only a beautiful celebration but also a lot of fun.”

-VENDORSVenue, Caterer & Lodging Cherry Creek Estate | cherrycreek.ca Wedding Planner Engaged by Darcie | engagedbydarcie.com Photographer Katch Studios | katchstudios.com Videographer Integra Films | integrafilms.net Sweets Safeway Bakery | safeway.ca Florist The Romantiks | theromantiks.com Invites Minted. | minted.com Paper & Calligraphy By Gian Lee | bygianlee.com Bridal Boutique & Veil The Bridal Boutique | thebridalboutique.ca Gown Designer Martina Liana | essensedesigns.com/martina-liana Bride’s Shoes Call It Spring | callitspring.com Bride’s Jewelry Saks Fifth Avenue | saksfifthavenue.com Crowley’s Jewellers & Goldsmiths | crowleysjewellers.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Park & Fifth | parkandfifthco.com Groom’s Attire & Accessories Ed Williams Mens Wear | ewmw.ca Groom’s Shoes Stacy Adams | stacyadams.ca Groomsmens’ Attire & Accessories Milano For Men | milanoformen.com Beauty Bellamore Beauty | bellamorebeauty.ca Rentals Modern Luxe Rentals | luxe.modernrentals.ca Music & Entertainment Dance! Shout! Productions | danceshout.com Officiant Pastor Ron Short | thedwelling.ca Transportation Free Spirit Travel | freespirittravel.ca Honeymoon Motswari Private Game Reserve | newmarkhotels.com “South Africa, We stayed at Motswari Private Game Reserve for an African Safari and then went on to explore Cape Town.”

- REAL WEDDING -

Jaclyn + Scott L I V I N G S T O N , M O N TA N A Jaclyn and Scott officially met while he was playing professional hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks and she was in grad school and a member of the organization’s Ice Crew. Their paths had crossed many times before dating as hockey played a big part in their lives and they had both grown up playing hockey in Chicago. Jaclyn and Scott love to travel together and every summer during his off-season they plan a big international trip. During the summer of 2019 the couple enjoyed a month-long trip to China, South Korea and Japan. On their first day, they flew into Beijing and naturally wanted to see the Great Wall of China right away. They got up before sunrise to beat the crowds. Jaclyn recalls, “For rainy season in Asia, we had the perfect weather. As we were strolling along enjoying the quiet, picturesque views of this ancient marvel, Scott was in the strangest mood. I thought he was upset or jet lagged but it was so bad to the point I said something along the lines of, ‘Are you OK? Why are you ruining this perfect day at the Great Wall of China?’ Little did I know he was just incredibly nervous waiting for the perfect moment and location to propose. After about an hour of walking, we reached a breathtaking part of the Wall with no one around. Scott asked our tour guide to take a photo for us. The next thing I knew he was on one knee. It was the most magical moment and we got to enjoy the rest of the trip celebrating just the two of us.” They planned a moody boho summer wedding for July 19th.

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CHANGING PLANS “When the world began to shut down, like many couples my fiancée Scott and I had to go back to the drawing board for our July 2020 wedding plans. Over many bottles of wine, we considered all of the options. Between Scott being a professional athlete with sports up in the air, and me now working as a nurse during the pandemic, postponing seemed less than ideal. We didn’t want to head down a road of more uncertainties, more rescheduling and more headaches. As the months drew closer to our big day, putting any at-risk family members or vendors in an unsafe situation was off the table for us. We were certain of one thing - that we wanted to get married and we didn’t want to wait. Since I had taken the month off for our original wedding and honeymoon plans, Scott brought up the idea of renting an RV as a safe and socially distant way to get out of the city. Eloping, a word that had come up many times in our relationship but had never seemed practical considering the emotions of our loved ones, now felt right. It felt more than right. It felt like we had the licensing to have the wedding we both truly wanted. Something small, intimate, laid back and in nature. So, we ditched our big Chicago wedding day, rented an RV, drove to the most beautiful place we could think of and did the damn thing. Realizing that some of our closest loved ones would not be there and having to break that news was extremely difficult. I shed lots and lots of tears. I had to keep reminding myself that we were doing our best with the situation we had, and that we could all celebrate together one day. Once we made the decision to elope in Montana, everything came together quickly without any issues. Flowers, rentals, our Airbnb venue - everything was a breeze. We used it as another sign that we made the right decision.”

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “2020-2021 couples navigating this COVID-19 world, we feel for you! Having to change wedding plans just sucks. It’s upsetting, emotional and you are beyond justified in your feelings and frustrations. Our advice is to remember, with restriction comes creativity. If you ever considered something non-traditional, this is your freaking chance! The standard wedding playbook has been throw out the damn window. There is something incredibly special about creating a day based on intention and intimacy, which I promise can still be everything you dreamt of, if not more.”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue & Lodging Airbnb, Livingston, Montana | airbnb.com Getting Ready & First Look Location Erik’s Ranch & Retreats | eriksranch.org Wedding Planner Chicago Vintage Weddings | chicagovintageweddings.com “Kate was our original planner. She did not help plan our elopement, but she helped renegotiate and cancel contracts from our original wedding plans.” Photographer Alisha Tova | alishatova.com Videographer Wild Light Films | wildlight.film Caterer & Sweets Homemade Florist Wild Blume Floral Design | thewildblume.com Invites & Beauty By Bride Bridal Boutique Alice in Ivory | aliceinivory.com Gown Designer Rue de Seine | ruedeseine.com Bride’s Shoes Red Wing Shoes | redwingshoes.com Bride’s Jewelry Lindsay Lewis | lindsay-lewis.com Bride’s Ring Designer Mineralogy | mineralogydesign.com Groom’s Attire Suitsupply | suitsupply.com Rentals Montana Party Rentals | montanapartyrentals.com Honeymoon RV trip to Glacier National Park

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Elise + Kyle S A LT L A K E C I T Y , U T A H Kyle first saw Elise at a party with friends. After seeing her he thought to himself, “Wow, that is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen.” He still to this day remembers exactly what she was wearing. He asked his friends who she was and tried to reach out, but nothing came of it that day. A couple months later, Elise saw Kyle for the first time. She saw him on a friend’s Instagram Story and thought to herself, “Wow that guy looks just like Dev Patel.” She messaged her friend and asked who he was, she replied and connected them. For their first date, they took a motorcycle ride up to Sundance. Because of how easy it was to talk to each other, they went on a second date later that night. Kyle lived in California at the time and Elise lived in Utah. Their great first date didn’t amount to much of anything because of the distance. A couple of years later Kyle moved back to Utah and he invited Elise to go out to lunch. For several months Kyle and Elise were just friends in a group of people. They learned about each other, were kind to each other and helped each other through life and their friendship grew into love. They have been together ever since, continuing to learn what real love is, what commitment means and what their future will look like. To propose, Kyle came up with a plan A, a plan B and then a plan C. Because of all the circumstances from COVID-19 Kyle went with plan C. Kyle had originally wanted to propose to Elise on their trip to Spain and Morocco in May. After flights were canceled, he attempted a trip to California to propose to her on the water, but beach access was closed. Kyle felt defeated and shut down by all his attempts until a simple feeling came to him that he should propose on the coming weekend. Friends were planning to go camping in Lake Powell and he knew this was his chance. He played it by ear and waited for the perfect moment to pop the question. In the late afternoon, they all went for a hike up in the Red Rock Slot Canyon. After finding a perfect spot, Kyle got down on one knee and asked Elise to marry him. Elise was happily caught off guard and said, “Yes!” They planned a traditional wedding and celebration for August 8th. rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

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TRADITIONS “We honored Kyle’s heritage with a traditional Persian ring ceremony the night before our wedding day. We really want to keep those traditions alive in our family. I walked down an aisle with my parents to meet Kyle at an altar. We took part in old traditions and made new ones as we put our rings on our own fingers. We finished the evening with gorgeous Persian food and dancing.”

-VENDORSVenue Private Residence Photographer Paige McKenzi Photography | paigemckenzi.com Sweets LUSTR by Jessica | @lustr.creative_ Bridal Boutique The Perfect Dress | theperfectdress.com Gown Designer Jesus Peiro | jesuspeiro.com Bridesmaids’ Attire ASTR the Label | astrthelabel.com Groom’s Attire Hugo Boss | hugoboss.com

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Remember that the party isn’t your main goal. The COVID-19 rules and lockdown helped us realize this: The main goal is to get married! Make it about you and your spouse, make it about your love, and make sure everything you do serves a purpose. Take out old traditions that you don’t like, honor the traditions you love, and make at least one new tradition together.”

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Hannah + Chase D O N N E L LY , I D A H O Hannah’s brother brought Chase and her together. After a long list of not-approved boyfriends, her brother insisted she meet his friend Chase. Hannah was convinced he was not her type, however after their first meeting it was very clear he was indeed her type. A year and a half after dating, Hannah woke up to a note telling her a time and location of where to be. She was taken to all of her favorite spots in Boise, surprised at each by her loved ones and handed another letter with further instructions from Chase. Finally, the last note led to the Botanical Gardens, where Chase proposed with Redbar Photography capturing the euphoria. Chase still had one more surprise up his sleeve as he took her to dinner, where their families were waiting to celebrate. They planned an earthy modern wedding for August 8th.

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Your day is about your love and that is it. We love our family and friends and wanted to include them in everything, but quickly learned that by trying to appease everyone else, we were losing our voice. We are very nontraditional, and despite the hesitation from everyone else, we chose to do what we wanted and I am so glad we did because our day was everything we wanted it to be and more. The people who love and support you will be there for you regardless, so do what you two want and remember, as long as at the end of the day you get to marry the love of your life, the rest is all just the small stuff, so don’t sweat it.”

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FOREVER HOME “We were married on family property where Chase’s family visited weekly. We wanted our wedding to be personal and couldn’t think of a more special and intimate setting than the family cabin and lake house. It became even more significant to us when Chase’s grandmother very unexpectedly passed away three months before, and with the property being her favorite place to go we knew her presence was definitely felt. It was an honor to have our celebration somewhere with so much love and meaning.”

-VENDORSVenue Private Residence Wedding Planner Emily Aitken Events | emilyaitkenevents.com Photographer Kylie Morgan Photography | kyliemorganphotography.com Videographer Madison P Films | madisonpfilms.com Caterer Thinking Tacos? | @thinking_tacos Florist Two Hands Floral | twohandsfloral.com Paper & Calligraphy Joni Small Hands | @joni_smallhands Bridal Boutique, Veil, Groom’s & Groomsmens’ Attire & Accessories LaNeige Bridal & Tuxedo | laneigebridal.com Gown Designer Martina Liana | essensedesigns.com/martina-liana Bride’s Ring Designer Simmons Fine Jewelry | simmonsfinejewelry.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Petal + Pup | petalandpup.com Beauty TSG Artistry | tsg-artistry.com Rentals Idaho Tents & Events | boisepartyrentals.com Place Settings Flying China | flyingchinaevents.com Music & Entertainment Sound Wave Events | soundwaveevents.com Photo Booth Rad Photobooth Co | radphotobooth.co Officiant Kade Meyerhoeffer Honeymoon The Coeur d’Alene Resort | cdaresort.com “Our original honeymoon was to Sorrento, Italy. However, we had to adjust our plan and instead stayed at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. We still plan on taking our Italy trip as soon as we can.”

Makinna + Tyler C O C H R A N E , A L B E RTA Makinna and Tyler first met at The University of British Columbia Okanangan where Makinna was studying and Tyler was visiting a friend. The next year, Tyler transferred there and ended up in the same program, with the same friend group and in the same apartment building, but on a different floor. Their friendship quickly grew into something more. Four years later on their yearly hike, Tyler planned a surprise proposal. That morning Makinna was recovering from a girlfriend’s bachelorette party and in combination with the pouring rain, she felt slightly less motivated but nonetheless they headed out. As they pulled into the parking lot, the rain parted and they took off for their hike. The two arrived at the first outlook where they sat down on two perfectly placed rocks which Tyler had placed the night before. As it started to rain again, Makinna got up to continue to hike, she recalls, “The next couple seconds were a complete blur as Tyler told me, ‘There is another reason we’re here.’ As he stood me up and placed his hands on my waist, gave me a kiss and said the most amazing words I’ve ever heard. The next thing I knew he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I was so taken aback and excited. I even asked him if this was a joke. The things you say when you are too excited to think. He said no it wasn’t a joke and that some very special people were here to celebrate with me.” She turned around to see their families had flown in from all around British Columbia and Alberta to celebrate with them. A year later they planned a rustic, contemporary wedding for August 10th.

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PLANNING PROCESS

“The planning process was actually really fun for us. Tyler’s low was probably the guest list, as he wished he could have invited every single person we know. My low was just trying to make my vision come to life the way I wanted it to, picturing all the pieces in your head is sometimes so hard. But regardless, we loved planning our wedding. We had so much fun together picking our catering, Tyler building the crazy things I had thought up, talking to vendors, etc. It was so cool to see it all finally come together.”

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “The wedding planning process should always include you both - it’s a shared moment and you want to make sure you both have that lighter-than-air, heart-exploding moment when you see your wedding come together on the big day.”

-VENDORSVenue Private Residence Wedding Planner Smitten & Co. | smittenweddings.com Photographer Mint Photography | mintphoto.ca Caterer Red Seal Dining | redsealdining.com Florist Chickweed Cottage | chickweedcottage.com Table Numbers & Welcome Sign Love Built | @lovebuiltyyc Bride’s Attire Blush & Raven | blushandraven.com Gown Designer Emmy Mae Bridal | emmymaebridal.com Bride’s Veil Made with Love | madewithlovebridal.com Bride’s Shoes Sam Edelman | samedelman.com Bride’s Jewelry Joanna Bisley Designs | joannabisleydesigns.com Bride’s Ring Designer Birks | maisonbirks.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Park & Fifth | parkandfifthco.com Groom’s Attire Harry Rosen | harryrosen.com Groom’s Accessories Nixon | nixon.com Groomsmens’ Attire Moores | mooresclothing.com Beauty Top Knot | topknotbrides.com Rentals Special Event Rentals | specialeventrentals.com Music & Entertainment Local DJ | localdj.ca Officiant Urban Officiant | urbanofficiant.com Honeymoon Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica | secretsresorts.cr

Isabella + Jordan ASPEN, COLORADO Isabella and Jordan met in Orlando, Florida. Isabella was visiting her mother for her birthday when Hurricane Sandy hit which forced her to stay an extra two weeks. During that time, a mutual friend invited her to a concert. She decided to go last minute. That night, she met Jordan and they have been inseparable ever since. Six years of dating later on a trip to Aspen, a place special to the two of them, the two hiked the Maroon Bells. The weather was slightly overcast and drizzling and as they drove into the park, they witnessed a double rainbow and the sun started to come out. Weary of the Colorado weather, they decided to follow one of the easier trails and, sure enough, it started to pour so they took cover under a cluster of trees. Isabella recollects, “I was just taking in the views and when I turned around he took my hands and pulled me in closer as he got down on one knee. It started to hail as we ran back to our car and as we were leaving the park the sun came out again and the rest of the day was total bliss.” They planned an intimate and whimsical western wedding for August 10th.

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Don’t be afraid to do things differently. Our wedding wasn’t entirely unconventional, but we did pass on things that are considered the ‘norm.’ Also, if you have the time, add a personal touch to the wedding by engaging in some DIY projects. For example, I made my own dried flower bundle for each table setting, as well as the menu which I designed on Word. It was truly gratifying to see everything come to fruition.”

GOOD SPIRITS “The views were insane! One of my favorite moments was when the sun began to set. We had the firepit up and running. Everyone was laughing, smiling, and dancing to the music. All of our friends and family were in such good spirits and that moment made it for us. All we wanted was to have our closest friends and family to have a great time with us.”

-VENDORSVenue Lynn Britt Cabin | aspensnowmass.com Wedding Planner Amanda Baumgartner Photographer Elizabeth Wells Photography | elizabethwellsphoto.com Caterer ASC Catering | aspensnowmass.com Florist Susan’s Flowers | susan4flowers.com Invites Minted. | minted.com Bridal Boutique Bride. | bridekc.com Gown Designer Rue De Seine | ruedeseine.com Bride’s Jewelry a.b. Ellie | abellie.com Bride’s Ring Designer Addeo Jewelers | addeojewelers.com Groom’s Attire & Tie Ralph Lauren Double RL | ralphlauren.com Groom’s Shoes Ted Baker | tedbaker.com Beauty Salon Tullio | salontullio.com Rentals Premier Party Rental | premierpartyrental.com Music & Entertainment LAPOMPE | lapompejazz.com Lodging Aspen Square Hotel | aspensquarehotel.com Transportation Smiddy Limo Aspen | smiddylimoaspen.com Rehearsal Dinner Mi Chola | aspenchola.com Honeymoon Horowitz Travel | horowitztravel.com “We went on our honeymoon a couple of months after the wedding to South Africa. I am actually a travel agent and I plan lots of honeymoons and getaways. A lot of my clients who have been to South Africa are extremely well-traveled and always rave about how special a safari is. So naturally, that’s where we decided to go. We started off the first couple of nights in Franschhoek (wine country), followed by four nights in Cape Town prior to the safari portion. We then spent seven nights in the bush in three different parts of Greater Kruger. That entire trip was one of my favorites! My highlight of that trip was on an afternoon game-drive during sunset, when we spent some time with a mama elephant and her little baby.”

Lauren + Alex PENDER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA Lauren and Alex met through mutual friends. For years they had a secret crush on each other, but the timing was never right. Eventually things clicked and after four years of dating during a November long weekend, Alex wanted to go camping. The weather was cold and rainy and the couple ended up car camping. As they were snuggled in, watching a movie and listening to the rain, Alex pulled out a ring. Lauren recalls, “I totally did not expect it. Alex and I can both be awkward when it comes to romantic gestures so I thought it was very cute. We quickly realized how cold and not ideal it was to camp in the rain and packed up and got a nice hotel and celebrated in Whistler.” The two planned a sophisticated modern wedding with a boho upscale touch for August 17th.

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F A M I LY T I E S

“We decided to get married on Pender because of the family ties and connection to the property. We feel very fortunate that Alex’s family has a beautiful piece of property right on the water. Pender is one of our favourite places in the Gulf Islands so it was a no-brainer for us. The planning felt quite seamless considering we had the best planner we could ever ask for. Emma and her team at The Good Party understood our vision and knew all the right people to help execute the wedding of our dreams. It can get overwhelming sometimes but having the right people to help you along the way is priceless.”

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “The wedding comes and goes in a flash. Slow down and enjoy each fleeting moment. Also, make sure you remember to eat!”

-VENDORSVenue Private Residence Wedding Planner & Stationery The Good Party | thegoodparty.ca Photographer The Collective You | thecollectiveyou.com Caterer Toque Catering | toquecatering.com Sweets Ruth & Dean | ruthanddean.com Florist Gossip Floral | gossipfloral.com Bridal Boutique, Designer & Veil Manuel Mendoza Bridal Couture | manuelmendoza.com Bride’s Shoes Prada | prada.com Bride’s Ring Luksus Diamonds | luksusdiamonds.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Fame and Partners | fameandpartners.com Groom’s Attire & Accessories Sandro | us.sandro-paris.com Groomsmens’ Attire J.CREW | jcrew.com Hairstylist Nadia Bullock | nadiabullock.com Makeup Artist Artistry by Alexa | artistrybyalexa.com Rentals Tabletop: Tabletop Curated Rentals | tabletopcuratedrentals.com Decor: Trend Rentals & Design Studio | trenddecorevents.com Tent & Furniture: The Wise Co. Linens: Faire La Fête | fairelafetelinen.com Music & Entertainment Colin Bullock | colinbullock.com Honeymoon DuVine | duvine.com Greece and Italy “We did a five day bike tour with Duvine through Tuscany, wine tasting and learning to make fresh made pasta. We stopped in Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome as well to do some sightseeing and gush over art history.”

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Joella + Jason DENVER, COLORADO It was a computer charger that brought Joella and Jason together at a coffee house in Manhattan, New York. The stowaway plug made its way from New York to Boston, Massachusetts a week prior when Joella’s friend Allie accidentally took it home with her. Back in Boston, Allie met Jason through a mutual friend. Jason was on his way to New York, so Allie convinced Jason to bring the charger back to its rightful owner. Joella cringed upon hearing Allie had given the charger to a complete stranger, but in the end, they hit it off and the rest is history. To propose, Jason used the charger that brought them together six years earlier. He turned it into a ring box and on a twilight walk in Central Park with their dog Chico, he asked Joella to marry him in one of their favorite spots surrounded by lightning bugs. They planned an urban eclectic wedding for August 17th.

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LUCKY TRADITIONS Joella’s mom has Chinese heritage so there was a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in the wedding. The idea is that the bride and groom kneel and serve the parents tea as a gesture of thanks and gratitude. The bride kneels and serves tea for the groom’s parents and the groom kneels and serves tea for the bride’s parents. There was also a broom jump which is an African American wedding tradition.

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Savor every moment - it flies by! Also, make sure someone sets aside some appetizers during cocktail hour. If our wedding planner hadn’t snagged some we would have never tasted the cocktail hour food because we were with our photographer doing portraits.”

-VENDORSVenue blanc | blancdenver.com Wedding Planner & Designer Brindle + Oak | brindleandoak.com Photographer Laurken Kendall | laurkenkendall.com Caterer Occasions Catering | occasionsdenver.com Sweets Sugar Bakeshop | sugar-bakeshop.com Florist Wildwood Floral Co. | wildwoodfloralco.com Invites Paper Culture | paperculture.com Bridal Boutique & Veil Schone Bride | schonebride.com Gown Designer Laudae | laudae.com Bride’s Shoes Stuart Weitzman | stuartweitzman.com Bride’s Jewelry Sézane | sezane.com Bride’s Ring Designer James Allen | jamesallen.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Revolve | revolve.com Groom’s Attire J.CREW | jcrew.com Groomsmens’ Attire The Black Tux | theblacktux.com Hairstylist Misha Belfer | mishabelfer.com Makeup Artist Lindsay Ambrosio | makeupmadame.net Rentals Colorado Party Rental | cpartyrentals.com Candles: Chandlerie | chandlerie.com Music & Entertainment TH Entertainment | th-entertainment.com Lodging & Rehearsal Dinner The Ramble Hotel | theramblehotel.com Officiant Corynne Corbett Honeymoon “Malibu, California for a quick getaway - had the best time. The plan was to go to Italy this summer but plans changed.”

Danielle + Chester G A L L AT I N VA L L E Y, M O N TA N A Danielle and Chester met the classic small town way; at a local bar. Chester was at the bar chatting with a friend of Danielle’s who was motioning Danielle over to get her out of the conversation. Once she approached, she realized he was harmless, that her friend just didn’t want to talk to him and she explained he shouldn’t waste his money buying a girl a drink when she doesn’t appreciate it. Chester proceeded to ask Danielle out to which she kindly declined. A few weeks later, a different friend of Danielle’s was playing matchmaker and wanted her to meet his roommate. She fibbed and said she was seeing someone to avoid being set up. Still the friend brought his roommate around who happened to be the same guy from the bar. The two ended up going on a date and the rest is history! To propose, Chester enlisted help. Friends of theirs asked Danielle, a professional photographer, to take their family Christmas photo. The friend, Chrissie, recommended Chester come along so they too could take a Christmas picture. As the sun was setting, Chrissie said, “Set up your camera and I’ll take some pictures for you.” Danielle remembers, “When we started taking the picture, Chester stood behind me, breathing heavy and acting extra awkward in front of the camera. He then turned me around, dropped to his knee and I completely blacked out! Good thing Chrissie caught it all on camera! After he proposed we agreed to not tell anyone, other than close family, to have a minute to enjoy it! As previously planned, I thought it would be just the four of us going to dinner, but I showed up to the restaurant and lost it when I noticed all of our closest friends were there to celebrate with us.” They planned a wedding inspired by natural, dried elements for August 29th.

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HIGHLIGHTS “The best highlight of the ceremony was seeing Chester’s reaction for the first time. Such a special feeling. That’s also why we decided not to have a first look. We wanted to feel that raw emotion with our closest friends and family. After our ceremony at The Soldiers Chapel, we had an amazing side-by-side car, provided by Tailored and Tied, and we drove that all the way over to the River House in Big sky where we had a drink before the reception.”

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “We did pre-marriage counseling and I will say it was the best experience and really helped us get ready for marriage. Because it’s really not all about the beautiful wedding, it’s about two becoming one and merging two lifestyles into one. This really helped us learn to communicate better with one another.”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue The Soldiers Chapel | visitmt.com Reception Venue Pine Cone Creek Farm | pineconecreekfarm.com Styling a balancing peach | abalancingpeach.com Photographer Rachel Traxler | racheltraxler.com Caterer Blue Smoke - Unique Montana Custom Catering | bluesmokebarbeque.com Alcohol Bridger Brewing | bridgerbrewing.com New Glarus Brewing Co. | newglarusbrewing.com Sweets Sweet and Tarte | sweetandtarte.com Florist Wild Blume Floral Design | thewildblume.com Invites Minted. | minted.com Bridal Boutique Plume Bridal | plumebridal.com Gown Designer Essense of Australia | essensedesigns.com Bride’s Shoes Steve Madden | stevemadden.com Bride’s Ring Designer Jeanne’s | jewelryjeanne.com Bridesmaids’ Jewelry Vancrafted Studio | vancraftedstudio.com Groom’s Attire The Black Tux | theblacktux.com Groom’s Accessories Cannelita | cannelita.com Makeup Artist & Bridesmaids' Hairstylist Ceremony | ceremonybzn.com Bride’s Hairstylist Bryna Barfknecht at Theory | theoryhair.com Rentals Tailored and Tied | tailoredandtied.com Montana Party Rentals | montanapartyrentals.com

Holly + Codie K A N A N A S K I S , A L B E RTA This adventurous couple met at a skydiving facility. Codie, an experienced skydiver with thousands of jumps, offered to coach Holly, a newly licensed jumper. On their first jump together Holly was nervous to be jumping with such a handsome and talented skydiver that she had a clumsy parachute landing into a farmer’s dusty field. Holly was unbearably embarrassed, but Codie just swooped in like a true gentleman, gave her a big smile and brushed the dirt off her jumpsuit. They went on their first date two nights later and have been virtually inseparable ever since. Three years into dating, Codie planned a surprise proposal during a romantic getaway to Maui, Hawaii for Holly’s birthday. Due to flight delays they arrived late. A determined Codie rushed them to the beach in the dark to ensure the proposal happened before midnight. He immediately got down on one knee and asked Holly to marry him. The headlamp he was wearing blinded her from seeing the ring, but as Holly says, “It could have been an onion ring for all I care. It was an undeniable yes!” Holly and Codie planned a romantic and natural fall wedding for September 7th.

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “#1 Designate a shepherd to keep the groom and groomsmen on schedule and in decent condition. #2 Use a photo guestbook with room for notes. We love looking back on all the adorable guest photos, and our guests thought it was so much fun! #3 Hire a day-of coordinator. I loved planning the wedding as a couple, but having a day-of coordinator there to keep things running smoothly took so much pressure off myself, my husband, and the wedding party.”

P E R F E C T LY U N P E R F E C T “Codie and I planned the entire wedding ourselves. Neither of us had any event planning experience, but we thought it would be a fun challenge to take on. We took some risks, like buying a non-returnable wedding dress sight unseen, and we got crafty (hand dyeing yards upon yards of cheesecloth). We managed to find our dream vendors and book them early; but we also left some things to the last minute, panic-printing menus the day before the wedding. In the end, the day was just as we had hoped - perfectly unperfect.”

-VENDORSVenue & Caterer Kananaskis Guest Ranch | kananaskisguestranch.com Day-Of Coordinator Rose Laine Weddings | @roselaineweddings Photographer Katelyn Anne Photography | katelynanne.com Florist Foxglove Studio | foxglovestudio.ca Favors Customized ribbons that skydivers use to pack parachutes Gown Designer Leanne Marshall | leannemarshall.com Bride’s Veil Davie & Chiyo | davieandchiyo.com Groom’s Suit & Groomsmens’ Accessories RW&CO. | rw-co.com Beauty Simply Me Hair + Makeup | simplymecanmore.com Lodging Basecamp Resorts | basecampresorts.com Honeymoon Sparkling Hill Resort | sparklinghill.com Originally planned for Dubai, canceled due to COVID-19. “Turned out to be a blessing in disguise. During all the time at home we became pregnant with our first baby! In lieu of a honeymoon, we enjoyed a relaxing babymoon at the Sparkling Hill Resort near Kelowna, British Columbia.”

- REAL WEDDING -

Krista + Ben VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA Krista and Ben met at a pub in Fort McMurray where Krista was a server. Krista recollects, “If you ask Ben, he will say I was smiling at him, but really I was just wondering why they had no drinks on the table. I stopped at his table and asked if they needed anything, he quickly responded by asking for my phone number. I rolled my eyes and told him he was too young for me. Fast forward three months and he is back at my work sitting in my section. I’m not exactly sure what changed, but I was smiling ear to ear when he asked for my number again. The rest is history.” To propose, Ben played off the fact that Krista had entered a photographer’s contest to win a couple’s sunset photoshoot. They lost the contest but Ben saw an opening and reached out to the photographer to enlist her help. As planned, the photographer called Krista saying she would keep them in mind for a future shoot. A few weeks later the photographer reconnected wanting photos of a couple fishing by the lake. The day came and it was raining. Krista said, “I told Ben who cares we are doing it anyway, so I threw on some cute rubber boots and brought an umbrella, thinking we were the most adventurous couple for still doing this shoot in the rain. I fully had it in my head that I had planned this entire thing!” The two arrived at the beach; Ben with fishing pole in hand. He cast the rod and reeled it in as Krista posed. He reeled the rod in and told her to read the hook. She grabbed the hook to see it engraved with 'You are the biggest catch of my life. Will you marry me?' They planned an intimate and romantic wedding for September 9th.

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Take in every moment, the day goes by so fast and you want to make sure you stop to enjoy it. Also get the video — we didn’t and it is our biggest regret of the day!”

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FIRST DANCE “Our first dance was also something I will never forget. I changed dresses and we made another grand entrance. We sang to each other as we danced for the first time as husband and wife, it was magical. Our dance song was ‘Falling Stars’ by James Arthur.”

-VENDORSVenue & Lodging Durali Villa Wedding Planner & Calligraphy Top Knot Weddings + Events | @topknotweddings Photographer The McLachlans Photo & Film | the-mclachlans.com Caterer & Sweets 1609 Catering Florist Fern and Frond | fernandfrond.com Bridal Boutique The Bridal Boutique | thebridalboutique.ca Gown Designer Pronovias | pronovias.com Bride and Groom’s Shoes Steve Madden | stevemadden.ca Bride’s Ring Designer Prestige Jewellers | prestigejewellers.ca Groom’s Attire Harry Rosen | harryrosen.com Hairstylist The Scarlet Studio & Artisan Market | thescarletstudio.com Makeup Artist Bri Stein Artistry | bristeinartistry.com Music & Entertainment Airwaves Music | airwavesmusic.ca Officiant Barbara Cragg | barbarawithlove.com Transportation A1 Bus Ltd | a1bus.ca Honeymoon Traveled across British Columbia wine tasting

Katie + Justin MERIDIAN, IDAHO Katie and Justin met their freshman year at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. They lived on the same floor and became good friends through intramural sports, Gonzaga basketball games and a mutual love for sweet treats. They had been dating for four years when they went on a trip to Seattle. After a day of exploring the city, Justin popped the question at Discovery Park along the waterfront. He arranged a dinner and an engagement party to celebrate with their closest friends. They planned a modern classic wedding for October 5th.

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Create a list of wedding ceremony and reception priorities. There are a million things you can spend your budget on, so it’s helpful to know what’s going to really make you love and remember the day.”

HOMETOWN LOVE “The Treasure Valley is such a beautiful place and I loved growing up there. Most of our guests had never been and many have told us since how much they love the Boise area.”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue St. Paul’s Catholic Church Reception Venue Scentsy Campus | scentsy.com Wedding Planner & Rentals Ira + Lucy | iraandlucy.com Photographer Simply Splendid | simply-splendid.com Videographer Colby Mesick | colbymesick.myportfolio.com Caterer Open Table Catering | opentableboise.com Sweets Boise Cakery | boisecakery.com Florist Just So. Event Floral | justsoeventfloral.com Paper & Calligraphy Ampersand Studios | ampersand-studios.com Bridal Boutique & Veil BHLDN | bhldn.com Gown Designer Jenny Yoo | jennyyoo.com Bride’s Shoes Ted Baker | tedbaker.com Bride’s Ring Designer Rand Jeweler | randjeweler.com Groom’s and Groomsmens’ Attire & Accessories The Black Tux | theblacktux.com Beauty Shawna Hines Hair + Makeup | shawnahines.com Rentals Idaho Tents & Events | boisepartyrentals.com Music & Entertainment Sound Wave Events | soundwaveevents.com Lodging Inn at 500 Capitol | innat500.com Residence Inn Boise Downtown | marriott.com Transportation Idaho Towncar | idahotowncar.com Officiant Father Caleb Vogel Rehearsal Dinner Barbacoa | barbacoa-boise.com Honeymoon Hotel Alfonso, Seville, Spain | marriott.com La Bandita Townhouse, Pienza, Italy | la-bandita.com

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Stephanie + Patrick JACKSON, WYOMING Stephanie and Patrick met the old-school way; at a bar through mutual friends. Two years into dating, the couple traveled to Sweden for a summer vacation during which they had a layover in Paris. It was just a two-night stay but worth every minute. That night when the two arrived to the Shangri-La Hotel, Stephanie recalls, “Our room had an amazing balcony that overlooked the Eiffel Tower. There was champagne and macaroons waiting for us and it was there he popped the question!” They two planned a bohemian luxury wedding for October 12th.

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PLANNED TO PERFECTION “When we decided to have a two-part wedding celebration, an intimate elopement weekend in Jackson, Wyoming followed by a large reception in our hometown of St. Louis, Missouri the next weekend, we booked Hillary J. Events as soon as we returned from our surprise engagement trip in Europe. Her knowledge of both the Jackson and St. Louis wedding industries made it possible for us to pull off two wedding celebrations while also moving to a new city and starting new jobs. By working with Hillary, we were able to enjoy the fun parts of planning - creating a very custom dinner menu, attending floral meetings and sipping champagne along the way. Hillary took care of the unexpected challenges like very below average temperatures on the day of our outside wedding ceremony and reception while we enjoyed the wedding weekend with our guests.”

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Do what feels right for you. Everyone is going to have an opinion about your wedding, but at the end of the day, listen to your intuition. It’s your celebration!”

-VENDORSVenue & Lodging Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa | rusticinnatjh.com Wedding Planner Hillary J. Events | hillaryjevents.com Photographer Jessica’s Photography | jessicasphoto.com Caterer Bistro Catering | bistrocateringjacksonhole.com Sweets Jackson Cake Co. | jacksoncakeco.com Florist Flowers by Chloe | flowersbychloejh.com Invites Love Letter Paper Co. | loveletterpaperco.com Paper & Calligraphy The Blonde Scribe | theblondescribe.com Bridal Boutique Honey Bridal | honey-bridal.com Gown Designer Laudae | laudae.com Bride’s Shoes Valentino | valentino.com Bride’s Jewelry Pearl Necklace from Mother of the Groom Bride’s Ring Designer Rafael Diamonds & Design Studio | rafaeldiamonds.net Groom’s Attire Jack Victor | jackvictor.com Groom’s Accessories Rolex | rolex.com Beauty Champu Salon | champusalonjh.com Rentals xowyo paper & events | xowyo.com Canvas Unlimited | canvasunlimited.com Music & Entertainment Sheena Dhamsania & Joe Rudd Officiant Groom’s best friend Rehearsal Dinner Palate at National Museum of Wildlife Art | palatejh.com Morning-of Yoga Neesha Zollinger Yoga | neeshazollingeryoga.com

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Laura + Corey P A R K C I T Y, U TA H Laura and Corey met at a Premier League soccer game in Indianapolis, Indiana. While neither of them lived there, they were both in town visiting friends. Even though both thought each other were pretty cool they didn’t think much of it given their different locations with Corey in New Jersey and Laura in Ohio. A few months after that fateful soccer game, Laura was visiting friends in New York City and invited Corey to join them for dinner. After some confusion on if it was a date or not, they started talking every day and made things official. A year later and a relocation for both to Park City, Laura’s parents were in town visiting to celebrate her and her dad’s back to back birthdays. Two days before her birthday, Corey planned for them to take the Crescent Lift up to the top of Park City Mountain Resort and fooled Laura into thinking his backpack was full of cupcakes for her dad’s birthday. Laura recites, “My mom taught us at a very young age about the importance of always nailing your pose during pictures and asked me to stand on a ridge line for some ‘birthday photos.’ All of a sudden Corey was on one knee and I was in total shock. It was a tall task to surprise me and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.” The two planned a modern alpine October 11th wedding in their new hometown.

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ADVICE FROM THE BRIDE “We’ve said this so many times during and after our wedding weekend. We always thought it was so cliché when friends would tell us their weddings were the best days of their lives. But truly, our wedding was the best day of our lives. Plan your wedding to be the best day ever.”

-VENDORSVenue Private Residence Wedding Planner Canvas Weddings & Events | canvasweddingsandevents.com Photographer Katie Griff Photo | katiegriffphoto.com Videographer Gail Herendeen Photography | gailherendeen.com Caterer, Sweets & Rentals Culinary Crafts | culinarycrafts.com Florist Amber Reverie | amberreverie.com Paper & Calligraphy Mother of the Bride Ameen Glacier Lane Ceramics | glacierlaneceramics.com Bridal Boutique Alta Moda Bridal | altamodabridal.com Gown Designer Made with Love | madewithlovebridal.com Bride’s Veil Toni Federici | tonifederici.com Bride’s Shoes Nicholas Kirkwood | nicholaskirkwood.com Bride’s Ring Designer Engagement - Brilliant Earth | brilliantearth.com Band - Bony Levy | nordstrom.com Bridesmaids’ Attire BHLDN | bhldn.com Bridesmaids’ Jewelry Decadorn | decadorn.com Groom’s and Groomsmens’ Attire The Black Tux | theblacktux.com Groom’s Shoes Saint Laurent | ysl.com Hairstylist Amelia Curtis | @ameliaacurtiss Makeup Artist Bethie Cook | @bethiealicebeauty Music & Entertainment DJ Dizz | @iamdjdizz Saxaphone - Spencer Kellogg | wasatchmusician.com Lighting Moonlight Wedding & Event Lighting | moonlightutah.com Neon Sign Sketch & Etch | sketchandetch.co Officiant Brother of the Bride Rehearsal Dinner High West Distillery | highwest.com Minimoon Jackson Hole, Wyoming

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WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK

how to plan your national park elopement National Parks provide a beautiful backdrop with ample amounts of opportunity to pull in personal touches. From Jasper to White Sands, the vast diversity of the parks make it easy to select the one that best fits your style. Once you make up your mind, it's up to you to pull in the pieces that reflect your personality and the love you two share. Elopements often vary from weddings in size, decor and vendors, however, incorporating traditional wedding details that hold importance to you is a fun way to add a personal touch. Include a first look before the hike, a first dance under the sunset, or consider wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Follow along as we share incredible elopement inspiration and tips to help you plan the ultimate I do with your fiancé.

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- INSPIRATION -

P L A N N I N G A M O D E R N - D AY E L O P E M E N T Portraying a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, like two young lovers running away to spend their lives together was the inspiration for Britt of Britt Jones Co. for this dreamy styled shoot. White Sands National Park in New Mexico was the perfect setting for the neutral palette of whites, creams, mauves, dusty rose, and gold.

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- INSPIRATION -

I T ’ S A L L I N T H E D E TA I L S Just because you elope, doesn’t mean you can’t bring in traditional wedding details. Stunning neutral and romantic paper goods by Pink Umbrella Designs are a beautiful way to announce your nuptials to close family and friends. Whether you commit to an eternity with just the two of you or have a small crowd, nibbles and sips are a must. After reading handwritten vows to one another, celebrate with a charcuterie board, champagne toast, and custom wedding cake. Don’t forget to save a slice for your one year anniversary. Cheers to forever!

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NATIONAL PARK est. 1916

how to elope in a national park

Congratulations! You’ve decided to elope in a National Park. Now what? While elopements tend to be more intimate than a traditional wedding, there are a few items to check off your to-do list to ensure you have a flawless day. Wild places have equally wild unknowns, so get ready for a planning adventure to remember!

CHOOSE THE I DO LOCATION: First things first, determine where you want to elope. Every park offers its own unique geographical majesty, in addition to its own logistical requirements for special events. Take note of restricted areas, seasonal closures and entry requirements. Something that sets National Parks apart from other locations is that permits are required (National Park websites will guide you through the process). It’s not a bad idea to also check peak visiting seasons. If you’re hoping to elope at a popular viewpoint, you may not fancy it with 100 strangers taking selfies around you while you read vows to one another. HAVE A PLAN B: Whether you’re planning an elopement or wedding, a plan B is always necessary. Perhaps the first location you chose is taken or unavailable during the time you want to say I do. Having a backup will make it easier to continue on in your planning process. BREAK OUT THE CALENDAR: The best thing about a Rocky Mountain elopement in the great outdoors may also be the worst thing: the weather. Planning around your own schedule and a four-season weather cycle can be a slippery slope, but a great place to start is to eliminate all the crowded holiday weekends.

START HIRING VENDORS: If you choose to hire a planner, that’s a good place to start. Otherwise, a photographer that specializes in elopements is a must. We recommend choosing a photographer that has experience in the area you’re eloping in. They’ll know where to go, how to obtain permits, how long it will take to get there, how to avoid crowds, and what time of day will produce the best photos. DETERMINE THE GUEST LIST: The best rule about an elopement guest list is there are no rules. It could be just the two of you (with an officiant) or a handful of guests. Keep in mind that guests will have to make the same trek as you.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS: Incorporating some traditional wedding details into your elopement can help make your day feel more complete. Sprinkling in some details from stationery and bouquets to ceremony arches and vows is the perfect way to showcase your personal style and create a theme for your special day. BRAND IT: Play up the National Park location by adding a punchy graphic of the park’s main feature to save-the-date cards, a wedding website, wedding announcements, etc. If you choose not to have guests, this small detail may help family and friends feel connected. PLAN FOR THE AFTER-PARTY: All high altitude excursions—especially heart-thumping elopements—deserve a celebratory meal. Whether it’s just to the two of you or a small crew, make dinner reservations at a hot spot in the nearest town. Or better yet, let your planner work their magic to plan a pretty picnic at a private location. Further, take advantage of the nearby town by booking a honeymoon suite to crash for the night.

CREATE A TIMELINE: With your photographer (and planner if you’ve hired one), map out a timeline of the entire day and be sure to allow for ample magical moments. Box out enough time to get ready, travel to the location, take first look photos and say your vows. MAKE A PACKING LIST: Comfort and ease are key. If you have to hike or walk to your destination, keep it simple. Wear comfortable footwear and pack lightweight layers. Plan ahead on where to get dressed and how to carry everything in and out. Flip to page 170 for a list of elopement essentials.

MAKE IT OFFICIAL: In the excitement of hiking to a peak to proclaim your love, it might be easy to forget the one thing that makes the elopement official: the marriage license. Check with local government on how to obtain a marriage license.

GO WITH THE FLOW: Just like a typical wedding, things can and probably will go amiss. Be okay with a freak end-of-summer snowstorm or record-breaking heat on a spring day. Chat with your planner or photographer ahead of time about situations that may arise and how to move forward. At the end of the day, you’re marrying the love of your life and that’s all that matters.

creative team Venue: White Sands National Park, New Mexico Planning & Design: Britt Jones Co. | brittjonesco.com Photography & Inspiration: Cameron & Elizabeth | cameronandelizabeth.com Videographer: The Powells | thepowellsfilms.com Charcuterie: Fig + Brie | figandbrieboards.com Sweets: Chantilly Cakes | weddingcakeselpaso.com Florist: Calhoun Flower Farm | calhounflowerfarms.com Paper & Calligraphy: Pink Umbrella | pinkumbrelladesigns.com Bride’s Attire: Ella Blu | ellablubridal.com Gown Designer: Martina Liana | essensedesigns.com Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden | stevemadden.com Bride’s Jewelry: Joanna Bisley Designs | joannabisleydesigns.com Engagement Ring: Lee Ann’s Fine Jewelry | leeanns.com Groom’s Attire: Formal Affairs | allformalaffairs.com Beauty: Ember Hairsteam | emberhairstream.com Rentals & Linens: Drunk on Decor | @drunkondecor Candles: Tree Line Candle Co. | treelinecandleco.com Details Dish: Marbella | marbelladish.com Models: Mikayla and Gabriel

- INSPIRATION -

Elopement ESSENTIALS Planning an elopement is not only exciting but can welcome creativity. Morgan + Joel Photo captured an edgy, yet romantic elopement look at the Treehaus to showcase all the essentials you need to pull off an unforgettable look.

We adore the idea of starting your special day at an intimate venue like the Treehaus because it provides you a warm and comfortable space to get ready in. While getting dressed in your car on the top of a mountain is possible, it can be a bit cramped. Select a hair and makeup artist that travels on location like HD Hair and Makeup to doll you up for the day. Be sure to select a hairstyle that will hold if you’re doing any sort of hiking. Once your gown is zipped up, you’re ready to accessorize!

ACCESSORIES 101

Blanket Shoes

Whether it’s winter or springtime, hiking up any sort of elevation can warrant weather that requires a blanket. Plus, it’s always a cute prop for snuggling up with your significant other for photos.

While heels are cute for an indoor wedding ceremony, they’re not really practical for an outdoor elopement. White combat boots from Böhme are the perfect choice. Trendy, yet supportive for any sort of hike you have planned.

Backpack

A backpack is a must. Snag a cute one like this forest green Topo Designs sack for carrying anything you need for the day like your blanket, makeup for touch-ups, water, snacks, and more.

Flowers

Just because you’re eloping, doesn’t mean a bouquet is out the window. A bouquet is a great way to dress up your backpack during action shots as well a great way to bring in traditional wedding details.

Hat

If it gets windy, a hat from Gigi Pip is the perfect way to hide any flyaways. Plus, they’re a super cute accessory.

Jacket

A jacket is a fun way to show off your personality while adding some extra warmth. The options are endless. Choose a sweater or opt for a fun custom designed leather or denim jacket.

Dog

The great thing about eloping is that most likely you’ll be able to include your best furry friend. While some National Parks don’t allow pets outside of the main areas, others do, so be sure to double check first. Dress them up and buy them a coordinating bow tie from The Foggy Dog so they’re ready for your special day.

Jewelry

No matter how big or small your I do day is, you can never have enough sparkle.

creative team Venue: Treehaus | treehauscolorado.com Photographer & Videographer: Morgan + Joel Photo morganandjoel.com Florist: Velvet Armoire Florals | velvetarmoire.com Bridal Boutique: a&bé bridal shop aandbebridalshop.com Bride’s Shoes: Böhme | bohme.com Bride’s Hat: Gigi Pip | gigipip.com Bride’s Jacket: Revolve | revolve.com Jewelry: Sarah O. Jewelry | sarahojewelry.com Beauty: HD Hair and Makeup hdhairandmakeup.com Backpack: Topo Designs | topodesigns.com Blanket: Pendleton | pendleton-usa.com Dog Collar: The Foggy Dog | thefoggydog.com Models: Allec and Louie

JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Aubrey + Jenne “To elope in nature was just the icing on top. We didn’t want to waste money or have the huge stress of a large wedding. Eloping was the only option. We wanted mountains and trees as our background with a bit of snow if we planned it right. We thought about bridges because it indicates walking into something together. We Googled bridges and stumbled upon the Pyramid Lake Bridge. We fell in love with it even though it was in Canada, so we made it happen. We planned on having a reception and celebrating with the family until the recent events. The elopement was very much us. We had been looking forward to it so much that it was like Christmas Day for us. The day before, it was a bunch of running around and not finding what we needed since we were out-oftowners. It was stressful and we stayed up way too late making bouquets and finishing our vows. The morning comes and we’re up before sunrise, making coffee and being so elated about the day. Our photographer comes in to start photographing details and getting ready photos. We are a bit behind, but still find the time to look at each other in our dresses and say ‘Yay we’re doing it.’ We get to the bridge and take some sips of tequila and steal a few kisses. The wind is gusty and the temperature is basically zero. Even though we’re freezing we see the bridge we only dreamed of and everything fell into place. We started our vows on the bridge and the wind stopped, we felt warm and shed a few joyful tears. It was the moment of a lifetime to hear your best friend read what her soul has written. We went with our photographer to the middle of the road in front of a goliath of a mountain and took some more adventurous pics followed by gallivanting in the woods by a partially frozen lake. We helped each other through our chilly hands and finally popped champagne for our last few pictures!”

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M O V I N G M O U N TA I N S

“The future is two people loving and inspiring each other into being better versions of themselves. We look forward to having more inside jokes than we can count and making affection a priority. We both want to roam the earth and make campfire memories. We want to adopt another dog and do a week-long backpacking trip. The future is so bright and we expect to move mountains.”

ADVICE FOR FUTURE COUPLES “Write your own vows. Scary yes, but it is the most meaningful thing you can do. We still read them to each other all the time!”

-VENDORSVenue Pyramid Lake Bridge in Jasper National Park Photographer Carissa Marie Photography | carissamarie.ca Bridal Boutique Camille La Vie | camillelavie.com Officiant Bride’s Brother - Brandon Lodging Fairmont Jasper Lodge | fairmont.com - Provided robes, flowers, a piece of cake and champagne

- ELOPEMENT -

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Kryshun + Willie

High school seniors, Kryshun and Willie, met on an online chat group called Tiny Chat after her friend shared a link with her through Facebook. After talking for a few hours, numbers were exchanged and a first date took place a couple days later with dinner and a movie. Kryshun says, “It was only three months of flirtatious behavior before we decided to make it official.” On their ten year anniversary, they were celebrating like they did every year, including brunch at Stanley of New Orleans, massage at The Woodhouse Day Spa and dinner at Meril. Kryshun says, “Before we headed out for dinner I was told to pack a bag for a night out.” After dinner they headed to an apartment Willie had booked for the weekend where all of their close family and friends surprised her. “It was the sweetest surprise when he proposed,” Kryshun says. One year later they eloped in the middle of Arches National Park on March 12th.

JUST THE TWO OF US “Overall, planning the elopement was pretty simple thanks to our photographers. We had multiple calls and were sent tons of information about the whole process. We exchanged our vows in the middle of Arches National Park just the two of us. That’s something we’ll never forget! The location is so breathtaking we both fell in love instantly. Our favorite moment of our elopement would be being able to explore Moab and experience something like that for the first time as one.”

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Have fun planning your special day together, it goes by so fast. Embrace the highs and lows, take it all in. At the end, everything will happen exactly how its supposed to.”

Bride’s Jewelry Cinco | cinco-store.com Groom’s Attire & Shoes Men’s Wearhouse | menswearhouse.com Officiant Jess Drawhorn | thedrawhorns.com Honeymoon “Planning to visit Amalfi Coast or Santorini, Italy once we feel safe enough to travel.”

ZION NATIONAL PARK

Kristy + Sam

Kristy and Sam met through Amazon. Sam had an Amazon package that was delivered to her work by mistake rather than to his apartment. He stopped in to her office one day looking for it and little did she know she was meeting her future husband! Sam said, “I knew immediately that I would marry her!” One year later Sam enlisted their dog Bella’s help. He gave her the ring box and she patiently waited for Kristy to look at what she had. Sam asked Kristy what Bella had in her mouth and when she bent over to see what it was, Sam got on one knee and asker her to marry him. They planned a natural, boho wedding for June 1st.

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CHERISHED MOMENTS

“Our favorite moment together was definitely the first look. We were both so nervous and the moment we laid eyes on each other our nerves went away. Sam hugged me and I felt like I was home and everything was perfect. For me, walking down the aisle during the ceremony at gorgeous Lazalu with my dad was so special. It was pure joy for both of us and one of the most peaceful moments I have ever felt. Knowing the paths that Sam and I had to go through in order to get to that day, made everything even more magical. We had so much support. Forty-two people traveled to Utah to be with us! That was so crazy and surreal. At the end of our reception, I pulled off a little bluegrass dance that Sam had no idea I could do. He still talks about it! Besides that, everything was perfect. The conversation, the decor, the food. Everything was absolutely breathtaking.”

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Enjoy every moment. The best thing that our photographer, Jimmy did for us was let us escape for 45 minutes. We jumped in his car and went down the road to take incredible photos. This time allowed us to take a big deep breath and have some time to be goofy and let it all settle in. Also, just remember it’s your day. Its about you and your spouse. Hiring Laura and her team from Forevermore Events, made it so easy for our family to just focus on having fun and enjoying the day. To see my mom relax and not stressed about planning made it all worth it!”

-VENDORSVenue Lazalu | lazalu.com Wedding Planner Forevermore Events | forevermoreevents.com Photographer Gideon Photography | gideonphoto.com Caterer Riggatti’s Wood Fired Pizza | riggattis.com Sweets Cupcakes! by Julie | cupcakejulie.com Florist By Bloomers | bybloomers.com Gown Designer Etsy - AlexVeil Bridal | etsy.com/shop/Alexveilbridal Bride’s Jewelry Ink + Alloy | inkalloy.com Bride’s Ring Designer Alexis Russell | alexisrussell.com Beauty Makeup & Hair by Tracy | tracymakeup.com Rentals St. George Party Rentals | stgeorgepartyrentals.com Music & Entertainment Red Sands Bluegrass Band Lodging Zion Under Canvas | undercanvas.com Lazalu | lazalu.com Officiant Couple’s Friend, Doug Maybin Rehearsal Dinner Bit & Spur | bitandspur.com Honeymoon “Since we drove to Utah from Wisconsin, we ended up making our road trip home our honeymoon. We traveled through southern Utah, Arizona, we went to Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, all sorts of places that we have never been. We hiked, drank good coffee and then went home to see our dogs and horses.”

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

Michelle + Derek Michelle and Derek met at a bar in Ohio while she was finishing her undergrad at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio and Derek was working in Kent, Ohio. Michelle recalls, “We closed the bar playing pool. Derek seems to remember he won every game but I think he may have had too many shots of whiskey and doesn’t remember that he lost to me all night.” Four and a half years later, they decided together that they wanted to get married, without a formal proposal. After planning their wedding for seven months, Derek surprised Michelle with an engagement ring. She remembers, “He woke up at 6 am and made a breakfast-in-bed spread and brought it to me with a ring. It was everything true to us - intimate, personal, and romantic.” The couple planned a mountain boho elopement for July 12th.

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “A few words of advice for any couple considering a small wedding or eloping: Ask your photographer for suggestions on where to go for your ceremony. In our case, we wanted something with an incredible view, but still very private and away from others in the National Park. Colby and Jess helped us choose the perfect ceremony spot that met all of our needs. You may think that an elopement or a small wedding is great because there is less planning. However, there are still many details that have to be looked over - permits, dinner, cake, timing, etc. Hiring an elopement planner is the best thing I did so I or my few guests didn’t have to worry about anything. If you are having just a few people at your wedding, consider having one of them become ordained to be able to marry you. It makes that moment that much more intimate and special. Finally, I have no regrets about eloping. If a big wedding isn’t for you, don’t feel bad about foregoing big plans for something more intimate. Just because you elope or have a small wedding, doesn’t mean it can’t be elegant or everything you have wanted.”

THE MAJESTY “After I graduated from college, I moved to Denver and made it a point to take small road trips to surrounding areas. My friend Samantha and I went on a camping trip to Wyoming for eight days. When I caught my first glimpse of the Tetons, I was overcome with emotions - awe stricken by the magnitude, the majesty, and their spirit. I knew that this was the place I wanted to get married. From the moment I contacted Tiffany, she was able to guide me through the process of planning an elopement. She made great suggestions and worked well with Colby and Jess to coordinate the details of the day. It was difficult to plan an elopement from across the country, but having an elopement planner who can assist with the small details makes everything easier and less stressful. I loved picking and choosing each detail to tailor the day to our liking; from the flowers, to each course at dinner, to the overall vibe of the day.”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue Grand Teton National Park Reception Venue Jackson Hole Winery | jacksonholewinery.com Wedding Planner Elope Jackson | elopejackson.com Photographer Colby & Jess | colbyandjess.com Caterer Genevieve Catering | genevievecateringjh.com Sweets Buttercream Cake Design Co. | buttercreamdesign.com Florist Historia Florals | historiaflorals.com Bride’s Attire Brides by Young | bridesbyyoung.com Bride’s Shoes Birkenstock | birkenstock.com Bridesmaids’ Attire Azazie | azazie.com Groom’s Attire Jos. A. Bank | josbank.com Beauty Allie Laree Beauty | allielareebeauty.com Honeymoon “We drove south to Utah for three days and spent some quiet time together in the mountains hiking and enjoying each other’s company. My wedding gift to Derek was a fly fishing day trip on the Provo River.”

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Kristen + Garrett Kristen and Garrett were next-door neighbors in their college apartments in Alamosa, Colorado. The first night after moving in, they talked from their balconies for four hours. The next morning they went on a run together. Garrett made them breakfast, and they have been inseparable ever since. Three years later they were married, and ten years later, on their anniversary, they had a vow renewal. Kristen says, “Amidst all the challenges of the year, there was no time like the present to spend an afternoon renewing the joy, hope, and love that we bring into each other’s lives.” They rented a classic ‘66 Ford Mustang convertible and went for a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park to renew their vows on August 18th.

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Lift each other up. Laugh often. Support each other’s dreams. Don’t be afraid of the tough times and embrace the growing pains. And ice cream solves pretty much everything.”

L O C AT I O N , L O C AT I O N , L O C AT I O N “Colorado is our home. We both grew up here, and the mountains have been central to many of our pivotal adventures together. We are always in awe of the fierce beauty of the Colorado Rockies, and most at home any time we can escape to play in the mountains. Rocky Mountain National Park was the perfect location for our vow renewal.”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding Planner Rōz Event Planning | rozevents.com Photographer The Follens Photography | thefollens.com Florist Mandy Grady | @mandymadefloral Bride’s Attire LUV Bridal | luvbridal.com Gown Designer Madi Lane Bridal | madilane.com Jewelry & Ring Designer Daniel Diamonds | danieldiamonds.com Beauty Colorado Bridal Co. | coloradobridalco.com Car Rental DriveShare by Hagerty | driveshare.com

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GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

Sandra + Larry

Sandra and Larry met 20 years ago through work and reconnected through a friend years later after Larry retired. Sandra recalls, “We were out driving and I asked him to help me decide when I should return to my home in Houston, as I was recovering from surgery at his ranch. He said ‘Before I answer that, would you marry me?’ I looked over at him and he seemed serious, so I said ‘Yes’. A week later I asked for confirmation that he did indeed ask me to marry him, then we started planning. With family being so important to us and having lots of kids and grandkids, it soon became evident we couldn’t safely have a ceremony where our large family could be in attendance. So we started looking for a place to elope and quickly realized places outside of the country or certain states were logistically difficult because of quarantining requirements. With Larry and I both outdoors people, an adventurous outdoor elopement seemed perfect.” They planned an intimate elopement for August 19th.

- ELOPEMENT -

FINDING OUR FOREVER “Our photographer, Anna Claire Beasley, recommended Grand Teton National Park when we were trying to come up with a beautiful location outside of the sweltering August heat of Texas. Jackson Hole was a place we both had on our bucket list and neither of us had been before. The stunning pictures of the area and our friends’ experiences from their visits sold us!”

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Get expert assistance from an adventure elopement photographer and elopement planner. They made our preferences become a reality. Stay true to who you are and what you want, but also be open to other ideas. Some of those ideas may make your day so much more special. On the day, try to stay relaxed and just enjoy it. It probably won’t go as perfectly as you planned when weather, animals and other things are involved but those can add to the fun and great memories!”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue Antelope Flats in Grand Teton National Park Reception Venue Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park Wedding Planner Elope Jackson | elopejackson.com Photographer Anna Claire Beasley | annaclairebeasley.com Bride’s Jewelry Caracol | caracolsilver.com Beauty Hair & Makeup by Tanya, LLC | tanyacrocker.com Canoe Rental Dornans | dornans.com Officiant Ben Nardi

- ELOPEMENT -

PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK

Jess + Jared

Jess and Jared met in the last five minutes of a bar closing, exchanged numbers and very quickly became inseparable. Six years and two babies later, Jess recalls, “I always said my dream proposal would be around Christmas time, I had a feeling it was coming but was expecting an intimate proposal alone, at home, with Christmas morning vibes. I was shocked when he got down on one knee, at a local Christmas event, in the icicle lights with our daughter in one hand and a ring in the other.” The couple planned a coastal boho wedding for September 15th.

PERFECT PLACEMENT “We had a very small wedding, 12 people total. Just us, our kids, our parents, siblings and amazing photographer. My favourite moment from our wedding weekend was the night before we all walked the beach to pick out our ceremony location and witnessed the most beautiful cotton candy sunset, it is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life!”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue Pacific Rim National Park Reception Venue Wolf in the Fog | wolfinthefog.com Photographer Jaleesa Matteazzi Photography | jaleesamatteazziphotography.com Florist Wild Bloom Floral Design | wildbloomfloraldesign.com Gown Designer Made With Love | madewithlovebridal.com Bride’s Veil Champagne & Lace | champagneandlace.com Bride’s Ring Designer Peoples | peoplesjewellers.com Groom’s Attire Zara | zara.com Groom’s Accessories MVMT | mvmt.com Groom’s Shoes Call It Spring | callitspring.com Honeymoon “Our honeymoon was at the most epic, wood cabin in Mt. Rainer, Washington.”

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Do your wedding for you! Working in the wedding industry I so often hear how much regret couples have with decisions they made and I can truly say our wedding was everything I dreamt of and more!”

BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Miranda + Andrew Miranda and Andrew met while in college at the University of North Dakota through mutual friends. Four years into dating Andrew proposed at Miranda’s grandparent’s log cabin in the snow-covered season of March. Miranda recalls, “We had just arrived at the cabin where I stayed inside with my grandma to help prepare dinner, and my grandpa had Andrew head up to the field with him to ‘put him to work’, a very normal request. Just as the sun was beginning to set, Andrew came back and asked if I would like to go on a walk with him up to the field, another very normal request. I could see a small glimmer of light farther out in the woods. As we got closer and turned the corner around the tree line there was the most beautiful path of mason jars filled with candles leading to the four torches at the end of the path. I cried the whole way to the end as Andrew spoke, got down on one knee and proposed.” The couple planned a natural wedding for September 20th.

- ELOPEMENT -

SUN SHOWERS

“Every moment during this day we got to spend together was my favorite. I am so thankful we set aside the time we did for hiking and photos together just as a couple. The first look will always stand out in my mind. The anticipation and excitement walking to meet him on the beach of Lake Moraine was truly a dream. Being the first to see the smile on his face as he turned around and saw me for the first time that day will be etched in my memory forever. Just as Andrew and I began to exchange our personal vows, the moment Andrew began reading it started ‘sun showering.’ It felt as though it was only raining directly on us. Sun beaming from all other directions. As soon as I finished my vows the rain stopped. Our photographer Anni said ‘This is like the mountains blessing you’ and we felt she was right. It was otherworldly. Such a beautiful moment.”

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “Do whatever you want to do for this day. If something becomes stressful, ask yourself if this is something you want. It’s ok to be different and plan a unique experience that is authentic to you. This day is about you and your significant other, I think sometimes we can get caught up in making this day about pleasing the guests. When in fact it should be the exact opposite.”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue Banff National Park Wedding Planner Julianne Young Weddings | julianneyoungweddings.com Photographer Anni Graham | annigraham.com Caterer, Sweets & Lodging The Post Hotel & Spa Lake Louise | posthotel.com Florist Fall for Florals | fallforflorals.com Invitations Paper Source - Edina | papersource.com Bride’s Attire a&bé bridal shop | aandbebridalshop.com Gown Designer Rue De Seine | ruedeseine.com Bride’s Veil Sara Gabriel | saragabriel.com Bride’s Shoes Sorel | sorel.com Bride’s Jewelry Larue’s | larues.com Bride’s Rings Band: Tiffany & Co. | tiffany.com Engagement: Scheherazade Jewelers Groom’s Suit & Accessories Men’s Warehouse | menswearhouse.com Groom’s Shoes Cole Haan | colehaan.com Beauty Top Knot | topknotbrides.com Transportation Highland VIP Group | highlandvip.com Officiant Patrick Smiley | patricksmileyweddings.com Honeymoon “We plan on doing a one year anniversary honeymoon.”

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Hannah + Ben Hannah and Ben met unexpectedly through a mutual friend at a Bon Iver concert in Los Angeles, Califorina. Shortly after, Hannah traveled to Austin, Texas for a wedding and Ben drove from Dallas, Texas where he was living to see her. Hannah remembers, “We spent the whole day together and were surprised at how easy it was to be with each other. A few short weeks later, he mailed me a letter on my birthday. It was so sweet that I cried. I flew back to Dallas shortly after to visit my family for Christmas and we decided to date long distance. For six months, we exchanged letters, spent countless hours on the phone, and would visit each other once a month. After six months, he moved to Los Angeles so that we could really give us a fair chance in the same city. The rest is history!” Two years into dating, Hannah and Ben went on a camping trip to Lake Tahoe. They spent the day setting up camp, hiking the Rubicon Trail, and relaxing by the water. Hannah recalls, “That night, we made burgers, ate Spicy Nacho Doritos, and drank Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA, all my favorites, while we sat by the fire. We had lots of campfire talks and laughs and stayed awake until the stars came out. That night he gave me a letter that got me all sorts of weepy, in the good kind of way. He expressed his unconditional love for me and desire to spend the rest of our lives together. He asked me to marry him and I, of course, said ‘Yes!’” They planned a cozy, intimate and simple elopement for September 30th.

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- ELOPEMENT -

E N C O M PA S S L O V E “The planning was fairly smooth for the most part. Ben and I decided that we wanted the wedding to encompass all the things we enjoy with the people we love the most. We were really excited to have an unconventional wedding and do what felt right for us. We decided that we wanted to get married on a Monday so that we could spend the weekend with everyone. We invited our immediate families and a few of our best friends to spend the weekend at my parents’ lake house in Polson, Montana before heading into Glacier National Park on Monday for the wedding. It felt like we were planning a weekend vacation with the people we love the most, more than planning wedding. Our photographer, Hailey Pierce, was also super helpful in the planning process. She helped us scout locations within the park and vendors. Most of the wedding was DIY, so I think budgeting and planning for all the little things was probably the most stressful aspect of the process. Everything adds up really quickly, but we kept it really simple, so we didn’t have too much to worry about. There was also a huge snowstorm that came through the area the weekend of our wedding. We were initially expecting the highs to be in the 70s and to spend most of the weekend on the lake. We were definitely thrown for a loop and had to make some adjustments, but we knew that an outdoor wedding in Glacier National Park could be unpredictable. All the vendors we worked with were so accommodating though and willing to be flexible. We actually ended up loving that it snowed! The blanket of snow in the park was beautiful and the sun began to peak out just in time for our wedding.”

- ELOPEMENT -

SUNRISE EXCHANGE “Ben and I decided to do a first look at sunrise and exchange letters. We woke up well before the sun came up, drove into Glacier National Park, changed into our wedding attire in the woods, and saw each other for the first time in our suit and gown as the sun rose over Lake McDonald. We read our hand written letters to each other without the distraction of anyone else in one of the most beautiful places.”

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ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES “This is one of the most special days of your life and you should do exactly what feels right for you and your partner, even if that means eloping in the mountains and being completely unconventional. There is no right or wrong way to do a wedding, so don’t allow the expectations of social media, friends, family, or anything else decide how the two of you choose to celebrate and start your lives together. All that matters is that you both say ‘I do’ in the end, and the rest is up to you!”

-VENDORSCeremony Venue Glacier National Park Reception Venue Private Residence Photographer Hailey Pierce | haileypierce.com Breakfast Caterer Chick-fil-A | chick-fil-a.com Sweets Our friends made homemade cheesecakes, and we got stuff to make s’mores. We also ordered pies from Lake City Bakery & Eatry | FB: lakecitybakeryMT Florist Rose Mountain Floral | rosemountainfloral.com Invitations & Personalized Stamp Zazzle | zazzle.com “We ordered a personalized stamp that we used for our gift boxes we gave to our guests. The stamp was ordered on Etsy- JALPrints | etsy.com/shop/JALPrints” Bride’s Attire Bridal Shop: Glamour Closet | glamourcloset.com Gown Designer: Made With Love | madewithlovebridal.com Alterations: Grace Bridal Couture | gracebridalcouture.com Veil: Etsy - MarryBridalUS | etsy.com/shop/MarryBridalUS Hair Piece: Etsy - BellaViaDesigns | etsy.com/shop/BellaViaDesigns Shoes: Teva | teva.com Bride’s Rings Engagement Ring: Etsy - AuroraDesigner | etsy.com/shop/AuroraDesigner Wedding Band: Esty - StudioUnkiya | etsy.com/shop/StudioUnkiya Groom’s Attire Suit: StudioSuits | studiosuits.com Suspenders: Etsy | etsy.com Groom’s Shoes: Timberland | timberland.com Groom’s Ring Etsy - JJemStory | etsy.com/shop/jjemstory Hairstylist New Image Concepts | FB: newimageconcepts Rentals Barn Door Event Rentals | barndooreventrentals.com Blanket Pendleton | pendleton.com Backpack Urban Dezire | urbandezire.com Lodging Kwataqnuk Resort and Casino | kwataqnuk.com Officiant Couple’s Friend, Tanner Rehearsal Dinner & Caterer Private Residence Porteus BBQ | porteusbbq.com Honeymoon “We went to La Fortuna, Costa Rica and Playa Panama, Costa Rica. We stayed at two Airbnbs.” Airbnb | airbnb.com

- INSPIRATION -

Ethereal I Do’s Planner Candace Elaine Events and photographer Diana Coulter along with Jen of Ruby Jean Patisserie worked together to create an ethereal elopement at the beautiful Paint Mines that featured light blues, blushes, blacks, and creams. The intention of the day was to create a unique and ethereal representation of the beauty of black femininity. The contrast of the couple’s beautiful black skin against the light elements of the Paint Mines is absolutely striking. Coupled with rustic elements like an heirloom wood table that created an interesting juxtaposition against the creamy, white landscape of the Paint Mines.

S I M P L I C I T Y S TA N D S O U T Eloping in one of Colorado’s hidden gem locations calls for minimal, yet striking details! Angelica Glo Beauty created a bold, yet natural look for the stunning bride-to-be while letting her natural hair steal the show. The groom was outfitted in a romantic raspberry suit that tied into the ethereal day while still looking masculine with a bold, dark maroon velvet tie. Florist, MJM Designs, pulled elements in from the pocket square to create a cohesive look for the couple. After dancing around the Paint Mines with the love of your life, celebrate with a perfectly sized two-tier cake by Ruby Jean Patisserie.

creative team Venue: Paint Mines Interpretive Park Planning: Candace Elaine Event Planning | candaceelaineevents.com Photographer: Diana Coulter | dianacoulter.com Sweets: Ruby Jean Patisserie | rubyjeanpatisserie.com Florist: MJM Designs | mjmdesignsllc.com Paper & Calligraphy: Amanda Xiong Designs | @amandaxiongdesigns Bride’s Attire: Felicé Bridal | felicebridal.com Gown Designer: Lea-Ann Belter | lea-annbelter.com Bride’s Jewelry & Ring Designer: Sarah O. Jewelry | sarahojewelry.com Groom’s Attire & Accessories: Men’s Wearhouse | menswearhouse.com Beauty: Angelica Glo Beauty | angelicaglobeauty.com Rentals & Linens: Hazel Grove Rentals | hazelgroverentals.com Models: Sage and Angel

- INSPIRATION -

HONEYMOONING in the ROCKIES

FIRST STOP: Denver Pack your bags for a honeymoon in downtown Denver, Colorado. Begin your journey to the heart of downtown at the 100-year-old historic landmark of Union Station. The train station is home to some of the city’s top local restaurants, bars and shops. Explore the vibrant gathering space before heading to your luxurious hotel stay at Le Méridien Denver Downtown.

- INSPIRATION -

creative team Venues: Union Station | unionstationindenver.com Le Méridien Denver Downtown | marriott.com Photographer: Dawn and Dusk | dawn-and-dusk-photography.showit.site Bride’s Attire: Rooted Boutique | rootedboutique.com Luggage: Dagne Dover | dagnedover.com Luggage Tags: Tailored and Tied | tailoredandtied.com Notebooks: Noteworthy Paper & Press | noteworthystore.com Altitude Kit: Bundles Gift Co. | bundlesgiftco.com Hat: Gigi Pip | gigipip.com Models: Rachel and Jacob

Allison Dobbs Photography Larimer Square

DENVER, CO Located in the heart of Colorado, Denver hosts bustling streets and towering skyscrapers. Enjoy a honeymoon escape drinking craft cocktails, exploring the downtown nightlife and getting pampered in luxurious hotels.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- The Crawford - Le Méridien Denver Downtown - The Ramble Hotel

- Williams & Graham - Death & Co

- Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre - Denver Art Museums - Denver Center for the Performing Arts

To Eat: - Trattoria Stella - The Bindery - Tavernetta

To Do: - Tour all the different breweries - Explore RiNo’s Art District - The Grizzly Rose

Clockwise from the top: Little Man Ice Cream, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, RiNo Art District, Downtown Golden and The Bindery

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TELLURIDE, CO Perfect in any season, Telluride is home to some of the best skiing and golfing in Colorado. Dine among towering mountain peaks, bask in the beauty and enjoy the quaint history of the former mining town.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Madeline Hotel & Residences - Dunton Town House - The Peaks Resort & Spa

- Telluride Brewing Company - Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge

- Alta Lakes - Opera House - Telluride Bluegrass Festival

To Do: To Eat: - The Butcher & The Baker - Allred’s Restaurant - Last Dollar Saloon

- Telluride Gondola - Bridal Veil Falls - Ride a snowcat up to Alpino Vino

Clockwise from the top: Alta Lakes, The Butcher & The Baker, Colorado Avenue and Silver Pick Coffee at The Peaks Resort & Spa Jason & Daris | Photocinema Bridal Veil Falls rocky mountain bride volume 6 / rockymountainbride.com

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SANTA FE, NM Nestled among the Sangre de Cristo foothills, Santa Fe is home to some of New Mexico’s richest history. Relax in the renowned Pueblo-style architecture and venture through the historic streets enjoying the rich cultural heritage and a booming art scene.

To Sleep:

To Do:

- Inn and Spa at Loretto - La Fonda on the Plaza

- Ojo Santa Fe - Antiquing - Meow Wolf

To Eat: - The Shed - Santacafé

To Drink:

To See: - Historic Churches & The Plaza - Santa Fe Railyard - Shiprock Santa Fe

- St. Francis Hotel

JoAnna Robertson Photography

JACKSON HOLE, WY One of the most beautiful destinations in the world, Jackson Hole is situated just south of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The perfect spot for the most adventurous couples, Jackson boasts spectacular views and outdoor activities fit for any season.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Snow King Resort - Anvil Hotel - Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa

- Million Dollar Cowboy Bar - Continuum Bar & Grill

- Grand Teton National Park - National Museum of Wildlife Art - Yellowstone National Park

To Do: To Eat: - Persephone Bakery - Glorietta Trattoria - Roadhouse Brewing Co.

Lindley Rust Photography

- Ski Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - Granite Hot Springs - Wander around Town Square

Clockwise from the top: Town Square, Flat Creek Ranch and Grand Teton National Park

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SUN VALLEY, ID The wildflower-filled meadows and miles of mountain trails await in Sun Valley, Idaho. Plan your Rocky Mountain honeymoon at this Idaho gem for some of the state’s prettiest views and unique downtown experiences.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Knob Hill Inn - Limelight Hotel - Hotel Ketchum

- Warfield Distillery & Brewery - Apple’s Bar & Grill

- Sawtooth Botanical Garden - Sawtooth Scenic Byway

To Do: To Eat: - Enoteca - Sawtooth Club - Ram Restaurant & Brewery

Brie Thomason Photography Adams Gulch Trailhead

- Ski Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain - Ride the Gondola - Sun Valley Museum of Art

Clockwise from the top: Sun Valley Lodge, Trail Creek Cabin, Sun Valley Barn and the Town of Sun Valley

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WHITEFISH, MT The quaint mountain town of Whitefish, Montana serves as the gateway to Glacier National Park. Spend time outdoors exploring the National Park or enjoy the amenities of the Whitefish Mountain Resort. Enjoy the main stretch of downtown Whitefish for luxurious shopping and delicious eats.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- The Firebrand Hotel - The Lodge at Whitefish Lake - Montana Treehouse Retreat

- The Remington Bar & Casino - Abruzzo Italian Kitchen - The Great Northern Bar & Grill

- Glacier National Park - City Beach - Flathead Lake

To Eat:

To Do:

- Whitefish Lake Restaurant - Tupelo Grille - Sweet Peaks Ice Cream

- Shop downtown Whitefish - Ski Whitefish Mountain Resort

Jennifer Mooney Weddings Glacier National Park

Rocky Mountain Photo Co. Moraine Lake

BANFF, AB One of the most picturesque parts of the Rockies, Banff, Alberta, is located within Banff National Park and surrounded by turquoise glacial lakes and scenic Rocky Mountain views. Spend your days cozied up in one of the luxurious mountain resorts or exploring the picture-perfect mountain village.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Buffalo Mountain Lodge - Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

- Park Distillery Restaurant + Bar - The Grizzly Paw Pub & Brewing Company

- Moraine Lake - Bow Falls Viewpoint - Lake Louise - Lake Minnewanka

- Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - Fairmont Banff Springs

- Wild Life Distillery

To Eat:

To Do:

- SALTLIK Banff - BeaverTails - Sky Bistro - änkor

- Banff Gondola - Kananaskis Nordic Spa - Banff Upper Hot Springs - Shop Main Street

Clockwise from the top: Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff Gondola, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Main Street

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OKANAGAN, BC Venture to the Okanagan for the perfect combination of mountain and city views. Home to some of Canada’s most prestigious vineyards, the region is the ultimate destination for couples who enjoy farm-to-table cuisine and rich wines.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Predator Ridge Resort - Sparkling Hill Resort

- Black Box Container Home

- Skinny Duke’s Glorious Emporium - Red Bird Brewing

- Knox Mountain Park - Summerhill Pyramid Winery - The View from the top of Big White Ski Resort

To Eat:

To Do:

- YLW Tacos - Salt & Brick - Waterfront Wines Restaurant

- BNA Brewing Co. - Explore Okanagan Lake - Go Wine Tasting

Jordana Dickson Downtown Kelowna

Clockwise from the top: BNA Brewing Co., Black Box Container Home, Predator Ridge Resort and Sparkling Hill Resort

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Clockwise from the top: Sunset Point, 1909 Kitchen and Amphitrite Point Light House

Love Sea Photography The Shoreline Tofino

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TOFINO, BC Nestled on the west coast of British Columbia, Tofino’s sandy beaches and eclectic wildlife make for a laid-back honeymoon. This Canadian honeymoon spot isn’t for couple’s looking for the electric feeling of downtown bustling streets, but for those who want to find ultimate relaxation in this sleepy town.

To Sleep:

To Eat:

To Do:

- Pacific Sands Beach Resort - WILDPOD - The Shoreline - Ocean Village Resort

- Wolf In The Fog - Tacofino - 1909 Kitchen

- Surf Cox Bay - Go hiking in the Pacific Rim National Park - Take a boat tour to see the local wildlife

To Drink: - Tofino Brewing Co. - The Wickaninnish Inn

To See: - Amphitrite Point Light House - Sunset Point

COEUR D’ALENE, ID Head to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to experience some of the best water sports in Idaho. Stay on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene (CDA), explore the city’s artisan coffee and craft beer scene all while enjoying the best views of the northwest.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- The Coeur d’Alene Resort - Blackwell Hotel

- Social Club

- Tubbs Hill - The Art Spirit Gallery - CDA City Park

To Do: To Eat: - Caramel Kitchen - The Cedars Floating Restaurant - Collective Kitchen

- Spend the day on CDA Lake - Explore downtown CDA - Ski Schweitzer Mountain

A.JO SCOTT Photography

PARK CITY, UT Just east of Salt Lake City, Park City is the prime honeymoon destination for year-round activities. The pristine resorts and thriving downtown scene make for some of the best skiing, hiking and dining in Utah.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Stein Eriksen Lodge - Washington School House - Hotel Park City

- High West Distillery & Saloon - The St. Regis Deer Valley

- Three Banksy murals - Main Street Park City - Scenic Drive up Guardsman Pass

To Do: To Eat: - Blind Dog - Handle - Riverhorse on Main

Pepper Nix Photography

- Ski Park City - Alf Engen Ski Museum - Bobsled at Utah Olympic Park - Flyfish the Provo or Weber River

Clockwise from the top: McPolin Farm, Park City Mountain Resort and High West Distillery & Saloon

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MOAB, UT With stunning scenery and an abundance of National Parks, Moab is one of the most unique places to venture in the Rocky Mountains. Explore the desert landscape and towering red cliffs to enjoy every inch of this Utah gem.

To Sleep:

To Drink:

To See:

- Sorrel River Ranch - Under Canvas Moab - Red Cliffs Lodge

- Castle Creek Winery - Johnny’s American IPA

- Arches National Park - Canyonlands National Park - Klondike Bluffs

To Do: To Eat: - Milt’s Stop & Eat - Moab Garage Co. - Moab Brewery - Thai Bella

- Mountain Biking - Enjoy a private horseback ride through Castle Valley - Float down the Colorado River

Sydnee Rayl Photography

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah lorenbranca.com lorenbranca@gmail.com Instagram: @lorenbphotography

Breathtaking from start to finish.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming bistrocateringjacksonhole.com 307.739.4682

Wedding + Elopement Photographer

hello@gracegatto.com gracegatto.com @_gracegatto

Meredith Soy Photography

Where Tuscan charm meets the Rockies! a wedding & event venue | 303.805.2295 | villaparker.com