From the bride: Alex and I grew up five minutes from one another and were high school classmates, but that is not how this story starts. Instead, we came together several years later while living over 9,000 miles apart. Alex was deployed in the mountains of Afghanistan and I was living and working in a small town in Paraguay. After nearly a year of exchanging letters, I flew back to the U.S. for a short trip to visit family. Alex ‘coincidently’ was in town that same weekend. Before we knew it we were logging an unspeakable number of frequent flyer miles to see each other.
When I moved back to the U.S. from Paraguay, Alex and I set off on a road trip through the Mountain West. One highlight from our trip was an unexpected stop in Jackson, Wyoming. Having no luck with local hotel vacancies, we ventured out on our first overnight backpacking trip together. Six months later the adventure continued and Alex dropped down on one knee and proposed to me late one afternoon while in Granada, Spain. We had been enjoying wine on the balcony of our quaint B&B laughing about the day’s adventures and watching the sun set. I know he said a million sweet things, but I honestly do not remember half of the words that came out of his mouth because I was so surprised. I think I said “yes” five or six times.
When we sat down together to plan the wedding, we quickly realized our busy schedules would be a challenge, but we worked together to plan the entire wedding in two months (with a lot of help from my mom!) My parents were married in Rocky Mountain National Park and I remember them telling me, “We wanted to exchange our vows somewhere we could always return to – somewhere that would still be beautiful and preserved seventy years from now.” This sentiment paired with our backpacking trip through the Tetons served as the inspiration to have our wedding in Jackson, WY. Rather than walk down an aisle, I chose to walk down a trail with a stunning view of the Teton Range.
The most important part of the wedding was hosting a small, intimate celebration with our closest friends and immediate family. Inspired by our engagement, elements of bohemian Spain were woven through the modest décor- blue, weathered ceramic vases filled with hydrangea, pomegranates and lemons, and brass candlesticks. The entire weekend was light-hearted as guests spent time hiking and getting to know one another at the local brewery.
Photographer: Hannah Hardaway Photography//Hair Stylist:Four Seasons Jackson Hole//Floral Designer: Lily and Co LLC//Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier//Cake Designer:Persephone Bakery//Event Venue:Spring Creek Ranch//Caterer:The Granary at Spring Creek Ranch//Submitted via Two Bright Lights
