Darlin J. Baker & Jan W. Hegewald
June 21st, 2014
Pogorelc Residence
North of Ketchum
This local couple had a beautiful "vintage" and "rustic" themed wedding in the mountains of Sun Valley, seven miles north of Ketchum. With small DIY touches, like old sake bottles for flower vases, wagon wheels and gas station signs, they made this wedding unforgettable with their closest friends and family by their side. Read an interview with these newlyweds, including a local vendor list at the bottom of the article!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?
We live here and love this place. It's our home.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Darlin grew up in Utah, and Jan's from Spokane, Washington. But both of us have been in the Valley off and on for over 20 years. Darlin started performing in the summer ice shows when she was 14, and Jan's parents lived here in the 60s and 70s. He started visiting around 10-years-old, and moved here not long after college for a winter and stayed.
OCCUPATIONS?
Darlin is a professional figure skater and coach. Jan is a realtor with Coldwell Banker, manages the bar at Michel's Christiania, and coaches for Sun Valley CrossFit.
HOW DID YOU MEET?
Jan returned to Ketchum after a winter in Utah, skiing as a member of Alta's pro team. He'd also been interviewing for graduate school in Seattle, but got an offer to bartend at the Cellar for the summer, and decided to stay one more season. On his third shift, Darlin walked in celebrating her birthday with friends. It was a busy night, and Jan almost got fired because he was paying way too much attention to the the pretty blonde, and not enough to the other patrons. But he got her number, so the bosses gave him a pass. Initially Darlin didn't want anything to do with him, but she relented and let Jan take her to dinner at The Christy. The rest is history, as they say.
HOW DID YOU GET ENGAGED?
We dated for a long time. At the time of our engagement, we'd been together for about eight years, so the proposal wasn't a big surprise. Jan took his grandmother's diamond to Leanne Doty at Holli Jewlers and had a setting designed. After that, it was down on one knee with a bottle of champagne on the back porch underneath the May stars. However, Darlin made him re-do it three times. For posterity, you know.
NUMBER OF GUESTS?
120
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING THEME?
Rustic/vintage
SONG THAT YOU WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TO?
Pachelbel's "Canon in D."
SONG FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE?
"You Send Me" by Otis Redding.
HOW DID THE NIGHT END?
At the Casino, of course. Jan got "iced."
WHERE WAS YOUR HONEYMOON?
Our honeymoon will be in Bali.
WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING SO SPECIAL?
Having generations of friends and family from all different periods in our lives come together in one special place to celebrate. Everyone pitched in to make it happen. Getting married at the house that Jan's parents lived in during the 60s was really cool. Without that property none of this would have ever happened. We would have never met.
WHAT WAS THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE MOMENT?
Seeing Jan for the first time while walking down the aisle. He had tears in his eyes.
THE GROOM’S?
When Steph told me to turn around and look as Darlin was walking down the aisle to arbor. It was the most beautiful moment I've ever experienced.
D.I.Y PROJECTS? GUEST FAVORS?
It was all DIY, from floral arrangements to place settings. Jan batched signature cocktails.
We had silverware wrapped in blue bandanas, table runners sewed by Darlin's ice skating dress seamstress and blue and pink sake bottles donated by Nina and Andreas at Rickshaw, for flower vases. We used a bunch of old stuff from the property for on-site decoration like wagon wheels and vintage gas station signs. Plus, Old Blue and Sophie—a 1968 light blue Ford F250 Ranger and Darlin's 1973 sky blue Karmann Ghia convertible.
The guest favors were beer coozies that read "To have and to hold, and to keep your beer cold." Also, probably a few mosquito bites and some epic hangovers.
Also, we built our arbor out of old fence posts and decorated with roses and willow branches.
TIPS FOR SOMEONE PLANNING A SUN VALLEY WEDDING?
Have fun with your setting, and don't be scared to be different.
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VENDOR LIST:
WEDDING PLANNER: Amanda Seaward of Absolute Weddings
FLOWERS: Primavera Flowers
HAIR/MAKEUP: Jennifer Fife of Third Floor Salon
MAKEUP: Noelle Willet
LINENS: Barbara's Rentals
DRESS/SHOES: Oleg Cassini / Ariat
GROOM’S ATTIRE: J. Crew wool suit, vest & pants with Navy VANS
BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Donna Morgan / J. Crew
MUSIC: DJ AlexInc from Los Angeles
FOOD: Apps: il Naso, Sam Turner / Main Courses: Powerhouse, Billy & Tanya Olson, Michels Christiania and Jan's Mom and "The Aunties"
DESSERT: Atkinson's Bakery Dessert Bar
CAKE: Bread Werks, Vinny Carpenter
INVITES: Vista Print
PHOTOGRAPHER: Thia Konig
OFFICIANT: Stephanee Grosscup
