Caroline & Phoebe's wonderful Idaho Ranch Wedding!
Phoebe and Caroline had the sweetest wedding in the world at Phoebe’s family’s ranch near Craters of the Moon last weekend. In all my years photographing weddings, I don’t think I have seen two people who were so thoughtful and intentional in the planning of their ceremony and the writing of their vows— it was so wonderful to witness. I definitely shed a few tears— I’ve always said that if I ever stop crying at weddings, it will be time to take a break from documenting them, but that day certainly has not come along yet!
As I always do when I first meet a couple and am trying to get to the heart of who they are together, I asked Phoebe and Caroline how they would describe their relationship and they said, ‘Unwavering, steadfast, playful, adventurous, supportive, passionate, adaptive, balanced, intellectual, and affectionate.’ When I reflect back on their wedding, I think that those words really described their celebration as well. It was intimate and sweet, with every little detail personalized in a way that made it feel really special.
A close friend who owns a brewery brewed them a custom beer for their own wedding, incorporating a piece of Phoebe’s artwork on the can. Their bouquets were made by a friend in Missoula who grows garlic in her backyard and incorporated that into their bouquets. They had their first look by walking up either side of the sheep wagon they often stay in when they visit the Ranch. Christina— a good friend who owns a cocktail company— created cocktails made with apple juice pressed from the apple tree in Caroline and Phoebe’s own backyard, and the list goes on and on.
At the rehearsal dinner, they served tomato soup and grill cheese because it’s a meal that they eat every year on their anniversary. It became special to them early in their relationship, when, after a long hike when they failed to make it back to the lodge for dinner, they had to improvise with whatever they had left in their camping cooler. Sharing that sweet tradition with their friends and family was really important to them.
I could go on and on about how much I loved photographing Phoebe and Caroline’s wedding, but instead I will just share some preview pictures with you and let the images speak for themselves!
Drinks: Christina Giordani of Roadbars, Missoula Wine Merchants, Imagine Nation Brewing and Black Bear Roasting Company | Second Photographer: Christina Carlson | Catering: Cafe Della | Cake: Hank & Sylvie’s | Flowers: Elle from Black Bear Soups | Rentals: That’s Entertainment and Manny’s Party Rentals
