Monique Lloyd & Matt Carples
June 5, 2015
Pioneer Park | Stanley, ID
Pioneer Park | Stanley, ID
Idaho native Monique Lloyd and her Minnesota boy Matt Carples said their "I-do's" under the backdrop of the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains. They used natural accents like crystals, antlers and sagebrush to give their wedding an earthly feel, while flowing lace and white flower petals gave the ceremony a romantic touch. Read Sun Valley Magazine's interview with the couple, along with their wedding vendor list at the bottom of the article.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?
It’s where I (Monique) grew up. Idaho is so beautiful, and I wanted to share it with all my family and friends. We decided to do it in Stanley because of its stunning mountains, and it’s also a little off the beaten path.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I grew up in Hailey, and Matt is from Minneapolis. We now live in Denver together.
OCCUPATIONS?
Monique is an Emergency Medicine Resident at Denver Health, and Matt works in IT consulting.
HOW DID YOU MEET?
Interestingly enough, we met online (OkCupid for anyone that is looking!). There is still debate about who contacted who first, but we met up with a group of friends on our first date, went skiing a couple times, and it took off from there.
HOW DID YOU GET ENGAGED?
Matt proposed while we were hanging out together on the couch on a Monday night. Supposedly, he was too excited to wait and do something more special, but it was perfect.
NUMBER OF GUESTS?
150
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING THEME?
Bohemian and ethereal. We went for a natural feel with an antler arbor and fresh cut sagebrush on each place setting.
ANY SPECIAL TRADITIONS?
I was honored to carry a handkerchief around my bouquet that has been in Matt’s family since the late 1800s. My bridesmaids and I have a pretty good pump up dance we do before all the weddings we have been in together as well!
SONG THAT YOU WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TO?
"Coat from the Cold" by Guy Clark, performed by Muzzie Braun.
SONG FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE?
"This Must be the Place" by Talking Heads.
HOW DID THE NIGHT END?
Music and dancing until sunrise… We didn’t want the night to end!
WHERE WAS YOUR HONEYMOON?
Our tickets are booked for Colombia next spring.
WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING SO SPECIAL?
It was amazing to have all of our family and friends in one place, especially in a small town like Stanley. We took over the town, and it was a true family affair – my cousin Tara did the flowers, my other cousin did our hair, and we were married by one of our friends.
WHAT WAS THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE MOMENT?
The ceremony was unreal. The wind was blowing and everyone was watching, but it honestly felt like Matt, Amie (our officiant), and I were the only people there. Obviously, the party afterwards was pretty great, too.
THE GROOM’S?
Seeing Monique in her dress for the first time.
D.I.Y PROJECTS? GUEST FAVORS?
We went to the Gem and Mineral show in Denver and handpicked various rocks and crystals for all of our guests. The day of the wedding I spent a lot of time picking out particular rocks for each person’s name tags, then it turns out the whole table got knocked over by the wind!
TIPS FOR SOMEONE PLANNING A SUN VALLEY WEDDING?
Sun Valley and its surrounding areas are wonderful places to visit, making it very special for guests. The mountains create a beautiful backdrop, so I think less is more as far as decorations. And, there are AMAZING vendors in the valley that do everything they can to make your day extra special!
