Weddings June 6, 2014

The Best of 2014

Top Nine Sun Valley Summer Weddings!

The amazing summers in Sun Valley have made it a world-renowned wedding destination, from classically sophisticated to mountain rustic to western-style fun. Here, we profile some of the best summer weddings in and around Sun Valley to bring you fresh ideas, local vendors and tips from the all-knowing brides. Be sure to check out the entire profile with photos in our online wedding section, Hitched!

 


A Hollywood Daughter and A Hometown Wedding

Emily Dreyfuss & Seth Shipman • July 5, 2013
Galena Lodge

Photo by Kristin Cheatwood.

HOW DID YOU MEET?

We met in a co-ed bathroom at Wesleyan University in 2004. Emily was brushing her teeth. Seth was wandering in from a party. We haven’t been apart in the 11 years since our eyes locked in that filthy mirror.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?

We chose to get married in Sun Valley because it’s the most magical place we could think to share with our loved ones. Emily grew up there, and it’s the aspen trees along the Big Wood River that she pictures when she thinks of home. As soon as Seth drank his first margarita at Desperado’s, after a day of snowboarding in the sunshine, he felt the same way. We knew this was our one chance to get our coastal friends to see what a special place it is.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


A Classic Sun Valley Celebration

Tonya Jacobsen & Casey McDonald • September 22, 2012
Sun Valley Inn & Ballroom

Photo by Dev Khalsa.

WHAT IS YOUR SUN VALLEY STORY?

TONYA: Every year since I can remember my family has taken a camping trip to Redfish Lake, near Stanley, Idaho. My parents were also married there in 1983 (my mom is from Hailey).

GUEST FAVORS?

The favors were picture frames with a collage of Sun Valley art and popular places in the area. I created the design and my mom and brothers assembled them. The back was stamped with the date of the wedding.

TIP FROM THE BRIDE:

I would suggest going with local vendors. They worked together to make the wedding seamless.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


 

A Picturesque Family Ranch

Whitney Crittenden & Alan Weibel • August 3, 2013
Heart Rock Ranch

Photo by Thia Konig.

HOW DID YOU PICK A LOCATION?

WHITNEY: My parents have a ranch outside of Bellevue called Heart Rock Ranch, and we thought it was the best choice because we love to be outdoors, surrounded by all that Mother Nature has to offer.

SONG THAT YOU WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TO?

“Canon in D” played live by the bluegrass band Chicken Dinner Road.

TIP FROM THE BRIDE:

Take advantage of the surrounding beauty! Start planning early with a wedding planner, especially if it’s a destination wedding.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


 

A Sweet and Simple Country Affair

Maggie Johnson & Chad Howard • September 15, 2012
Private Residence in Elkhorn (Twin Creeks)

Photo by Two Bird Studio.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?

Chad was born and raised here, and I wanted the opportunity to show my Southern relatives and friends what this place is all about.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


 

An Elegant, Rustic Mountain Wedding

Lexie Praggastis & John Reuter • August 16, 2013
Bride’s Family Residence

Photo by Kirsten Shultz.

TIP FROM THE BRIDE:

The day is about celebrating your love and being with family and friends—the rest is just details.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


A Western-Style Barn Party

Ginger Tara Bell & Dillon Brower •  September 13, 2013
Vandermeulen Ranch in Bellevue

Photo by Kristin Cheatwood.

TIP FROM THE BRIDE:

For our honeymoon, we hit Miracle Hot Springs, rented the queen-size yurt, had a couples’ massage and swam and ate at the Snake River Grill in Hagerman. It was short but sweet.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


 

A Wedding Under Fire

Alexandra Taft & Dashiell Longe • August 17, 2013
Trail Creek Cabin

Photo by Hillary Maybery.

WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING
SO SPECIAL?

The Beaver Creek Fire was the country’s number one priority wildfire on the day that we got married. It made for an unbelievably stressful week leading up to our big day and a lot of uncertainties about whether it would even happen. However, despite the terrible conditions, it was absolutely amazing how our friends and family members were unrelenting in their support for us. There were countless flights cancelled or delayed, no rental cars available, road closures, and numerous evacuations from homes or the hotels where people were staying. Everyone rallied for us, though.

ANY SPECIAL TRADITIONS?

ALEX: My family has this absolutely stunning veil (see above) that my great-grandfather purchased from Empress Eugenie (who was married to Napoleon, the III) in London in the 1920s. All of the women in my family have worn this veil on their wedding day.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


 

A Destination Wedding by the River

Rebecca Keller & Oliver Jones • August 10, 2013
Trail Creek Pavilion

Photo by Craig Wolfrom.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?

Being from Boise, we wanted to have a “destination wedding” without going too far so that all of our friends and family could make it. Easy access to rivers for the groom to fish, too (which he did the day of the wedding!).

WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING THEME?

Rustic country with an emphasis on
fly fishing.

TIP FROM THE BRIDE:

At the end of the night, we had a candy table and gave everyone a bag to help themselves to a “midnight snack.”

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!


 

A Resort Ceremony with a Vintage Twist

Britanie Poreba & Rex Furey • September 24, 2011
River Run Lodge

Photo by Thia Konig.

FAVORITE MOMENT?

A 1967 ivory and burgundy Rolls Royce drove us back to the Sun Valley Lodge where we were staying in the Honeymoon Suite.

GUEST FAVORS?

Honey jars that read “Rex and Britanie, Meant to Bee” with little bee charms tied around the jars.

>>> To see all the photos and read the entire interview for this wedding, visit Hitched!

This article appears in the Issue of Sun Valley Magazine.