Engaged!
Katie Strachan & Mark Farrish
Meet Katie and Mark. A California couple getting married this summer in the beautiful Sun Valley. Local photographer, Kristin Cheatwood shot some great engagement photos and we chatted with them about their upcoming nuptials, planning a Sun Valley wedding and got both sides of the story about their fairy tale Yosemite National Park proposal.
Hometown:
Katie grew up in Tustin, California. Mark grew up in Ontario, Canada then moved to the U.S. in High School and eventually to Tustin, California.
Why Sun Valley?
Katie and her family have been vacationing in Sun Valley since she was three years old. Sun Valley holds many of Katie’s fondest childhood memories and is her favorite place in the world.
When was the proposal?
May 1st, 2011. On top of Nevada Falls in Yosemite National Park.
Bride’s version of the Proposal:
Mark and I planned to go on a trip before we both moved to North Carolina to start our MBA programs. We planned a trip together through Sequoia, Yosemite and Big Sur National Parks. Going into the trip, I had no idea that Mark was going to propose. Since it was still springtime, the path up to Half Dome wasn’t completely hike-able yet, but we decided we would go as far as we could until the snow made it impassable.
I had packed our lunches and Camelbaks. When I grabbed Mark’s backpack to add one more item, he yanked it away from me saying, “That’s mine! It’s already too heavy!” This was very out of character for Mark so I knew something was up but didn’t think too much about it. Later that day while we were having lunch, he pulled the Camelbak away from me again, then I was sure that there was something in there that he did not want me to know about.
On our way back down the mountain we stopped at the top of Nevada Falls to enjoy the view. Mark seemed to be stalling, then hugged me and wouldn’t let go… I kept thinking “Ok, let’s continue our hike,” until I figured out he was up to something. He must have said “I love you” a dozen times while hugging me. Then he knelt down and held out the ring. I started bawling right away! I couldn’t have asked for a beautiful location, it was a perfect day.
Groom’s version:
I just edited the previous version a bit…hee hee. It was the best trip I’ve ever had. I wasn’t nervous at all until right up before I asked her. I initially wanted to give a stranger my camera before I did it so they could capture the moment but couldn’t get it to someone inconspicuously so I just avoided that. Then, like Katie mentioned, I got pretty nervous and kept telling her how much I loved her. The view was spectacular and it really made one of our favorite places even more memorable. The hike back down was amazing with my new fiancée despite my tired legs.
When is the wedding? Where? Theme?
The wedding is on August 18th, 2012. The ceremony will be held at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, followed by a cocktail hour at Christina’s and then a reception at the Valley Club. Our theme is Mountain Elegance; we are trying to incorporate as many aspects of Sun Valley as we can into our wedding.
A Sun Valley wedding must have?
Local food. Fish, lamb, huckleberries and views of the mountains.
A personal wedding must have?
Bagpipes.
How is the wedding planning going so far?
It has gone pretty well so far. Once I got the big things set like the date, church, and reception site, I was able to concentrate on the smaller details. This part is a little more fun and allows for personal touches.
How difficult is it to plan a Sun Valley wedding from somewhere else?
Many Sun Valley vendors do not have websites or use email regularly. The best way to get ahold of anyone is to just to walk into the hotel, restaurant or storefront while in town.
Any wedding lessons learned?
There are so many amazing options in the Wood River Valley. It is important to decide what aspects of your wedding you care about most when budgeting and planning because eventually you will find it is difficult to do it all.
