Katherine & Gabe Schroder
August 1, 2009
Galena Lodge
Katherine & Gabe are the quintessential Sun Valley couple. With a strong love of the outdoors and active involvement in the community, it only seemed right for them to share their home in the mountains with all of their family and friends on their wedding day. Galena Lodge turned out to be the perfect spot for these two, complete with margaritas, wagons, parasols and a fantastically fun photo booth. The couple also set up a refreshment table at the ceremony site stocked with iced tea, lemonade, bug spray and sunscreen. After the guests grabbed a drink and some protection they could choose from an array of colorful parasols to sit down with. I thought that was such a thoughtful detail for the guests—especially in the August Galena sun. I also loved the photo booth props – what a fun way for the newlyweds to take great pictures with their friends. Both of these details are definitely getting added to my ever-growing wedding binder.
All the photos of this beautiful wedding are courtesy of Stormi Greener.
Where are you from?
Originally I’m from Florida and Gabe is from Colorado, but we have lived in Ketchum for about six years.
Why Sun Valley?
There wasn’t another place that was as special to us as Ketchum and therefore it was an easy decision to get married in Idaho. We also realized that getting married in Ketchum/Sun Valley was our best bet at getting friends and family to come see for themselves why Idaho is so wonderful! (Logistically it was much easier for us to plan a wedding where we lived vs. planning something on the East Coast).
Relationship to Sun Valley
Gabe & I met in Ketchum five years ago and have grown to love the place that we fell in love in. Gabe is an avid skier, I’m more of a summer girl—it’s hard to beat the outdoor activities that Ketchum and Idaho have to offer all seasons of the year.
What made your day so special?
Planning the entire weekend with the help of our parents and then seeing everything come together just as we had imagined was amazing. But really the most special part was being surrounded by family and friends as we recited the vows we had written for each other.
What was your favorite detail?
There were so many, I loved coming in on the horse and wagon with my bridesmaids and my parents. Galena made a ginger margarita as our signature drink that was delicious. My Dad and Gabe’s brother, Max, both made excellent speeches. Our friends Olin & Massey gave us a pair of old skis that everyone signed that we have in the house and enjoy reading everyone’s well wishes. We also had a photo booth with lots of hats, wigs and silly props that the guests took great photos with.
Biggest Challenge?
Our biggest challenge was getting everyone to where they needed to be, when they needed to be there! Without a wedding planner to coordinate transportation etc., I had to plan each detail ahead of time and cross my fingers that it would all work out…it did!
Tips for others planning a Sun Valley Wedding?
Gabe: Tell your close friends and family to stick around for a few days after the wedding to explore the mountains and lakes that make this part of Idaho so awesome. With the stress of the wedding now in the past, it is the perfect time for the bride and groom to enjoy Idaho with their family and friends and not have to worry about a thing.
Katherine: Enjoy the planning process, but try not to stress too much over the tiny details. You will be so overwhelmed with emotion on your wedding day that you hardly notice the small things that you were stressing over. Have fun with it!
BUDGET RANGE:
A) SHOESTRING
B) SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN
C) WHAT BUDGET?
VENDOR LIST:
FLOWERS: Tara Bella Flowers
HAIR/MAKEUP: My aunt Kate did my hair & her daughter (my cousin Kara) did my makeup
DRESS/SHOES: Vera Wang dress, J.Crew shoes
GROOMS ATTIRE: Jos A Bank khaki suits
PARTY RENTALS: Barbara’s Party Rentals
MUSIC: DJ Lenny Joseph
FOOD: Don & the crew from Galena Lodge prepared an awesome dinner and appetizers
CAKE: Patty Cake’s did a small vanilla almond wedding cake for us to cut and then two flavors of cupcakes for the guests (vanilla almond and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting—yum!).
INVITES: Vera Wang Stationary (these were done by a paper shop in Florida where my parents live.)
PROGRAMS: Charlotte Hemmings
PHOTOGRAPHER: Stormi Greener
VIDEOGRAPHER: Chose not to have one
OFFICIANT: Wendy Collins
