A Year of Creative Weddings
2020. It’s been quite the year. So often my weekends are filled with wedding photography. The big beautiful tents filled with smiling humans, rehearsal dinners, big family photos, wedding parties with friends from far away - everything you think of when you think of your “typical” wedding traditions.
For the most part, that just wasn’t happening this year. But people are resilient, determined, and creative. Surprise weddings on local trails, relaxed elopements, intimate vows - this year of weddings was fun, inventive, and put a whole new spin on what getting married looks like. Below are just a few of them from this past year that I got to take part in!
Intimate Elopement with Emily & Jason
Jason’s family has had a home in the Sun Valley area for years and he’s been coming to the Valley since he was just a kid. He and Emily came up to the family house and we did an engagement session. A couple days later, they called me up and told me “We’re going to elope! Can you take photos of our ceremony too?” I was so excited for them and honored to get to be a part of their intimate elopement.
Jason and Emily initially met at work, though they didn't really get to know one another until after Emily left her job. Months later, they ran into each other on a plane to L.A. and started talking again as friends. One thing led to another, and what started out as a friendship turned into a sweet little love story!
The couple chose Wendy Collins as their minister. Before they had their ceremony the three of them (plus their sweet lab Charlie) sat down in the backyard together to talk about who they are as a couple and their dreams for the future!
Surprise Riverside Wedding with Bergen & Alexis
Alexis and Bergen didn’t want to wait until 2021 to get married. And they wanted to have some fun. They already had had to push back their wedding date, which was originally planned for May. But as it got closer, it looked like the rescheduled date they had picked in August wasn’t going to work for a big wedding either. And so they adjusted their plans yet again. A small ceremony was planned at Bergen’s parents’ house with a little dinner afterwards. But they wanted something a little different. That morning, they told both of their families that they were going out for a morning hike. Everyone piled into some cars and they drove out to the Lake Creek Trailhead, and headed out on the trail. But instead of the long hike that they had planned for, after a few minutes, they came around the corner to a little beach set with chairs and a few flowers, and Bergen and Alexis broke the news to everyone—they were getting married right then and there! After some laughter and some tears, the couple hid behind some trees to change from hiking clothes to wedding attire, and they were married on the banks of the Big Wood River in a sweet, intimate little ceremony.
Sarah & Chad’s Family Ranch Wedding in Rexburg
Although Sarah and Chad had their heart set on a big Sun Valley wedding that was already planned, they were so excited to just be married to each other, that they embraced the idea of celebrating with a small group of family at their ranch in Rexburg.
The sprawling ranch, purchased by Sarah’s grandpa in the 90’s for the family to hunt and fish on, is stunning. Sarah got ready with her girls in one of the hunting cabins, while Chad fished with the boys and his 3-year-old nephew. As everyone prepared for the wedding, the most dramatic storm blew through—the sky opened up, dumping buckets of rain—but slowly it cleared, just in time for the ceremony, creating the most gorgeous light.
Ryan and Kristen’s Small Ketchum Wedding
Ryan and Kristen, like many others, had plans for a larger wedding surrounded by all of their friends and family. However, since the idea of a big wedding anytime in the near future didn’t feel right for them - they decided they wanted to get married anyway and that a small and intimate wedding was the right choice for them! Click here for more photos and their whole story!
Planning on tying the knot? I’d love to work with you! Click here to get in touch or you can reach me at studio@devkhalsaphotography.com. You can check out even more wedding imagery from over the years here.