Well as you can see 2020 had its crazy times and with that you would think more time for blogging but unfortunately somehow I did not.
Well here we are and it’s January 2021. We have had a busy last few months of the year with lots of things both exciting and also challenging.
We bought some land to build our forever home back in January of 2020 but wanted to wait before announcing it. Brian & I got married in July out in Wyoming only one of the most beautiful places in the world! I am so happy to have married my best friend!
We knew right off that we wanted to elope out of state and I knew who I wanted to photograph the day. As a photographer yourself who see so many other photographers work you think it would be hard. I had it narrowed down to about 3 photographers all who do destination elopements. After looking at some logistics we decided on my friend Christlyn and her husband Eric with Luna Lee Photography. They are so sweet and are so fun!
I reached out and they told me that they had a couple of dates open in early May for Denver at Loveland Pass and a few days in July in Wyoming at the Grand Tetons.
Although we LOVED the Grand Tetons we decided that Denver was way more in our budget and still pretty. We found a pretty mountain lodge BNB that would still have snow, florist, hair and even planned the full week out there.
Then COVID came and shut some things down and canceled the May weddings that the photographer had out there already.
We talked to them about their July option and was so surprised to see that the flights had dropped so much that there was no way we could not go. Grand Tetons it was and I was beyond excited and nervous at the same time that the flights would get canceled or the state would shut down.
Simi-long story later we made it out to Wyoming! This trip was one that will always be so memorable. We stayed for 8 glorious days.
Day one-
We flew into Salt lake City on only the best airline, Delta and did a quick change to a flight to Jackson Hole Airport. The landing was something out of a movie with the Tetons in all their magical majestic glory being visible from your window just there next to the runway.
When we exited the plane we actually walked out onto the runway straight from the plane. The airport was so clean and nice, small but had the best view of Tetons from the windows.
We grabbed our car rental in no time and enjoyed the amazing glorious view as we drove into town.
Our first night was in Jackson Hole. The town was very cute and just so fresh and clean feeling. The air was just wonderful and refreshing. Jackson Hole is nestled in the basin of mountains and just had a great charm to it.
Day two-
We woke up the next morning and checked out of the Snow King Mountain Lodge and went over to town and had breakfast on the front porch of Cafe Genevieve. The food was good and it was so nice just sitting there taking it all in outdoors.
From there we literally walked down 2 blocks to file for our marriage license.
We then started our drive to the AirBNB we found in Alta WY. We drove out of state into Idaho and stopped in the city of Driggs at MD Nursery to choose the flowers that would be in my bouquet and the local bakery in the grocery store for a cute little wedding cake. Next stop was the house, just 8 minutes away and a loop back into WY just on the other side of the Tetons ….. YES the Tetons were in our back yard!!!
The house looks amazing with the Tetons. I could have just stayed outside the whole time with that view. One thing to note here is that we are from GA where we have hot summers and lots of humidity. In WY most houses don’t have AC….. yes no AC! Now at night it was fine because it would get very cold but parts of the day it would get around 80 degrees outside and warm in the house.
We did hiking trails each day so we did not stay in the house that much.
Day three-
Brian and I drove to the Teton National Park and did a long 6-7 mile hike around lake Jenny and up in the basin of the mountains. It was so amazing! The views, the rivers and waterfalls. The lush green and getting to see Moose and small animals.
Everyone else stared arriving, my niece Lauren & husband Jarod, Brian’s sister Lisa & husband Smith, & my best friend Jennifer and David.
We got to visit with other make some grocery runs and cook dinner.
Day four-
We took a long 7 mile hike up to Delta Lake. It was pretty difficult but oh so worth it!
The views and just mammoth size of the mountain when you look around just keeps you in perspective of how small you really are.
The reward at the top is amazing, getting to see this glacier blue lake at another basin of three of the mountains with the Grand Teton at the center as part of the back drop is just like a painting.
Seeing the snow, and what looks like the tip top of the mount just a couple of football fields away was just surreal.
Back to the amazing house we went to cook dinner with our friends and hang out in the amazing back yard.
Day five-
Brian & I went into Yellow Stone National Park with his family. The park is so big and there was so many places left unturned and unseen by us. What we did get to see was so pretty and interesting. I highly recommend taking a trip here!
Day six-
Wedding Day!! July 10th we woke and just took the day easy. Everyone could break off and go do what they wanted the only request was to be at the ceremony location in time.
I took my time and finished writing my vows into my vow book and Brian did the same.
I had made a hair appointment with Joy Daniels Salon in Victor ID and she did an amazing job! I could not be happier with the way it turned out. I drove to the florist and picked up my bouquet that I had chosen flowers for and again it was perfect! I stopped and picked up our small naked cake and a bottle of Wyoming Whisky to use for our toast during the ceremony.
We are going to make a tradition of every year’s anniversary doing a small toast from the bottle and see how many toast we can get out of it and then continue the tradition.
The spot we chose for the ceremony was perfect. It is so hard to plan and invasion a wedding when you have never seen it, know how to find it, and if it will truly look the way you want.
Our photographers arrived around 2:30 and it was a whirlwind of photos till 8:30pm
We drove from one photo location to another and each time it just looked so different and amazing.
That night was just a simple celebration back at the house with our family & friends. A champagne toast, fire outside, good conversation, and a million stars. You could see the Milky Way!
Day seven-
We all did a after wedding celebration day by going whitewater rafting in Snake River. The water was cold and the trip was fun. It was also the first for a several in the group so that made it also exciting.
We went back into Jackson Hole for the day and had lunch and visited the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and stopped at some local spots to snag some souvenirs.
Day eight-
Sadly we had to come back to GA and leave behind one of the most magical places. BUT we will be back. WY has a special place in my heart and I would love to be back there.
