Ginger Tara Bell and Dillon K. Brower
September 13, 2013
VanderMulen Ranch
Bellevue, Idaho
VanderMulen Ranch
Bellevue, Idaho
While thunder cracked overhead and lightening flashed outside, Tara and Dillon stood together at an alter made of hay, smiling at one another. All of their closest friends and family were huddled together under the barn roof, whooping and yee-hawing and clapping, despite the rainstorm that threatened to pour outside. After the You-Bet-I-Do’s, a few tears and raucous cheers, the bride and groom rode off on a horse-drawn carriage, all the while smiling at each other in the face of such a storm, to celebrate the night away on the VanderMulen Ranch.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?
Funny question—we chose my Dad's place in Fairfield (the father of the bride), until the Beaver Creek Fire burned all the way to the end of his driveway. I didn't want us to wear moon boots and space suits 😉 Dan VanderMulen wrote me and said their ranch was available south of Bellevue. He said, “Let's circle up the wagons and get hitched"—that was 3 weeks before the wedding!
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WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I grew up in Hailey, Idaho, and Dillon is from Clayton, Idaho.
OCCUPATIONS?
Currently, I am a corporate flight attendant and Dillon is a physical therapist.
HOW DID YOU MEET?
We met in Stanley on July 29th, 2011. I was working at a restaurant and he waltzed right in and that was it—we haven't missed a single day.
HOW DID YOU GET ENGAGED?
He told me we had to go up Lake Creek to look at a big buck he saw, so we drove up there and he had “MARRY ME” written in a snow field with branches and covered in rose petals. Kristin Cheatwood, a friend and photographer, was hiding and snapped some amazing-in-the-moment photos.
NUMBER OF GUESTS?
200
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING THEME?
I'd say the theme was… “Grab a pitchfork and lets make this happen!” We had more people pitch in and make this wedding happen than you'd ever believe. It was truly a community effort.
SONG THAT YOU WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TO?
Music by Ann Bradish and Cole Wells.
SONG FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE?
“Oklahoma Sky” by Miranda Lambert
HOW DID THE NIGHT END?
It poured rain at the reception, so we moved the entire party into the mechanic shop. At the very end of the night, we pulled a bunch of friends out to the arena, where we had the original dance floor made out of wood by our friend Casey, then pulled the truck right next to it and had our very own Idaho Honky Tonk.
WHERE WAS YOUR HONEYMOON?
Dillon only had a few days left of vacation time, so we hit Miracle Hot Springs, rented the queen size yurt, had couples massages, and swam and ate at the Snake River Grill in Hagerman. It was short but sweet. We’re planning on a Baja excursion this spring!
WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING SO SPECIAL?
When the rain was pouring down at the reception, I looked up and saw kids, grandparents, friends and family… everyone was laughing and smiling, grabbing a chair, a vase, a table and moved the whole party in the shop. There was heart, love and the kind of support I've never felt—we loved it.
WHAT WAS THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE MOMENT?
I had so many heart-stopping moments, but my favorite was our first dance. We have been through a lot in our short two years of being together, and the words in “Oklahoma Sky” put it perfectly. We were dancing in a mechanic shop, soaking wet… I closed my eyes for the entire dance, everything was perfect, and I was with my man—there’s nothing better than that.
THE GROOM’S?
My favorite moment was throughout the ceremony. At one point, John Caccia asked everyone to show their support for the bride and groom by yelling "yee-ahh.” Standing up on the hay with Tara and hearing everyone yell and whistle their support for us was amazing, emotional and something I will never forget. Hearing Tara say, "You bet I do!" when asked if she would marry me, and finish her amazing vows left me smiling and crying with endless happiness.
TIPS FOR SOMEONE PLANNING A SUN VALLEY WEDDING?
Be prepared for any weather! Work with people that have the same ideas as you (about what fun is), make sure it's your true style, don't take yourself too seriously and always have a blast!
VENDOR LIST:
WEDDING PLANNER: Myself (hehe)
DAY OF WEDDING: Heather Minor of Heather Minor Events and Taylor Sturges of Taylor'd Events
FLOWERS: Lou Fiebranz
HAIR/MAKEUP: Amanda Smirko and Chealsey Beaton
CEREMONY MUSIC: Ann Bradish and Cole Wells
WOODEN DANCE FLOOR: Casey Meggers
DRESS/SHOES: Jasmine, Haute Couture Krista's Dress Shop, Cowboy boots, Ariat from the Boot Barn
GROOMS ATTIRE: Scully Western wear, Wrangler jeans and Boulet Boots from the Boot Barn
BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMENS ATTIRE: Elusive Cowgirl / Wrangler
MUSIC: Old Death Whisper, George DeVoure and Captain Dano

FOOD: Jessica Cortwright, Lou Fiebranz and crew

DESSERT: Pam Street

INVITES: Travis Bartlett

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kristin Cheatwood, Cody Haskell and Kirsti Lambert
VIDEOGRAPHER: Matt Gershater

OFFICIANT: John Caccia
Photo gallery courtesy Kirstie Lambert.
