Ashley Howe & TJ Lanning
June 28, 2014
Private Residence in Adam’s Gulch
Private Residence in Adam’s Gulch
Local Ashley Howe and the pro-skier-prince of her dreams, TJ Lanning, had a gorgeous summer wedding out Adam's Gulch in Sun Valley. Small touches like D.I.Y. invites, cow bells & cowboy boots, and pheasant-feather boutineers made the occasion a little rustic, a little romantic, and a lot of fun. Read an interview with the bride and groom, including their local wedding vendor list at the bottom of the article!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?
We were only engaged two days, and definitely had not even started to think about planning the wedding, when our friend Kipp Nelson offered his beautiful house for our day. We pretty much decided right then and there. I grew up in Ketchum, and TJ spent years coming here for ski racing. The town is one of our favorite places on earth—it was a no brainer.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I am a Ketchum kid and TJ was born in Montana and grew up in Park City, Utah.
OCCUPATIONS?
I work in marketing at Backcountry.com and TJ is a former US Ski Team Athlete turned US Team Coach after he had a career-ending injury. Google "TJ Lanning crash"… its gnarly!
HOW DID YOU MEET?
TJ grew up ski racing with a ton of my Ketchum friends and had even frequently visited the area, but ironically we had never met. But as the age-old story goes, timing is everything, and we ended up meeting in the summer of 2012 when I had recently moved to Park City from Ketchum (again, at the suggestion of friends). We met at the 4th of July parade on Main St. drinking schooners, and that was that. Hooked!
HOW DID YOU GET ENGAGED?
One morning before we were going to drive up to Idaho to visit my family, TJ was making me breakfast in bed at our home in Park City. He brought me the plate of food and started saying all these sweet things. I didn’t think much of it because he always says cute things, but then he dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We had only been together nine or so months, so I was in total shock. I noticed then that he had placed the ring on top of this burnt piece of sausage patty that he had tried to shape like a heart haha! He later told me that he had planned on proposing at Red Fish Lake but got really excited and nervous and wanted to do it right then and there. I have since learned that he isn’t very good at keeping surprises a secret.
NUMBER OF GUESTS?
200
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING THEME?
Rustic / Romantic
ANY SPECIAL TRADITIONS?
My grandfather walked me down the aisle and my mother gave me away to TJ. Ring bearer pillows were made by my (Ashley's) grandma and great grandma and have been used by everyone in my family. Pheasant feathers in TJ’s and the groomsmen’s boutineers were from a hunting trip that TJ’s grandfather, Jay, takes all his grandsons on every year in South Dakota.
SONG THAT YOU WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TO?
“As Time Goes By” by Blackmill
SONG FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE?
“Wagon Wheel” by Old Crown Medicine Show. When we first met we used to drive through the mountains in Utah and sing it together.
HOW DID THE NIGHT END?
I had planned to go to Whiskeys to continue the party with everyone, but TJ surprised me with a night at the Stonebeck’s out in Board Ranch. We sat in the hot springs, drank champagne recapped the day. It was perfect.
WHERE WAS YOUR HONEYMOON?
We went on a mini-moon to Stanley and Redfish for a few days after the wedding. But we have traveled a lot this year both together and apart (Hawaii, Europe, Canada, Chile) and had some other weddings to attend so we will hold off until later this year to go on our honeymoon adventure.
WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING SO SPECIAL?
Our friends and family. We could have gotten married anywhere and it would have been very special to us, but having our friends and family together to celebrate was the best feeling in the world.
WHAT WAS THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE MOMENT?
First kiss as husband and wife. TJ took me in his arms and picked me up. I felt all the nerves melt away and couldn’t wait to celebrate with everyone and start our life together.
THE GROOM’S?
My absolute favorite part of the wedding was watching Ashley come down the aisle. I have never felt so many emotions in my life… especially on display for all of our guests to see.
I would say that my second most favorite was smooching Ashley as my wife for the first time.
D.I.Y PROJECTS? GUEST FAVORS?
Ashley did all the invites herself, and TJ helped assemble them. Ashley’s uncle and TJ together built the alter and welcome wall together. As guest favors, we had cow bells (ski race bells) to ring as we walked back up the aisle. We also made gift bags with home baked goods from bride’s mom, snacks and party recovery essentials.
TIPS FOR SOMEONE PLANNING A SUN VALLEY WEDDING?
It’s such a special place, you can’t really go wrong. We loved all our wedding vendors and would highly recommend them. Other than that, just try to be as organized as possible before you get to town so you can actually enjoy what the area has to offer with your guests.
VENDOR LIST:
WEDDING COORDINATOR: Krista Detwiler
FLOWERS: Ketchum Flower Company
HAIR: LIT Salon in Park City (owned by Ashley's sister-in-law)
MAKEUP: Ashley Scott (friend, bride’s namesake)
DRESS/SHOES: Wtoo / Old Cowboy Boots
GROOM’S ATTIRE: Elli Ormezzano
BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Anthropologie / Elli Ormezzano
MUSIC: DJ Lenny Joesph
FOOD: Ketchum Grill
DESSERT: Ketchum Grill
INVITES: D.I.Y. (Ashley)
PHOTOGRAPHER: Craig Wolfrom
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mat Gershater & Whitney McNees
OFFICIANT: Kipp Nelson
