Experience the Magic of a Winter Wedding in Victor, Idaho
What the couple said:
“Wow! We were absolutely blown away by our experience using Caleb as our wedding photographer. Caleb was so calm, cool & collected, and put us at ease throughout the whole day. I will also add, that Caleb was such a trooper- we got married outside on a ten degree day, and barely avoided frostbite and he just went with it. When we got our photos back (quicker than expected, too!), our jaws dropped. He made us look like the coolest people in the world. He captured the details, the venue, and all the moments perfectly. Caleb is well worth the investment. Your only problem will be figuring out which of your amazing photos to display in your home”
K + C
Embracing the Beauty of an Idaho Winter Wedding
When most people think of Destination Weddings, I bet an image of a tropical oasis complete with sandy beaches, lots of sun, and palm trees abound. But when Keira and Chris, who are big outdoor people from Salt Lake City, Utah, think of destination wedding, they think of snowy mountain ranches with frozen pines, icy rivers, and lots of snow.
And so they chose to get married up at Moose Creek Ranch in Victor, Idaho on the opposite side of the Tetons and Grand Teton National Park in late February.
As a destination wedding photographer with a hime base in Colorado, and with this wedding being in the middle of winter, I decided it would be best to fly to the destination as many of Keira and Chris’s other guests were doing. I flew in a few days before the event because I always like to give myself a few days of buffer time in case there are cancelations etc. Air travel can be unpredictable at times. Since this was a location I had never been to either, I wanted to make sure I went to the rehearsal dinner to get the lay of the venue and land.
There are multiple steps to the most convenient travel as well. I ended up flying to Idaho Falls, renting a car there, and then driving the hour and a half to Victor where the wedding would take place. We all met up at Moose Creek Ranch on the Friday evening before the wedding to rehearse. The land was already completely snow covered, and it was projected to be the coldest weekend of the year for Victor, with temperatures only reaching highs in the teens on the day of the wedding, which was scheduled to be outdoors!
The next day I woke up and prepared for the day. Multiple warm layers of clothing were put on, as well as hand and toe warmers collected.
Capturing Moments in the Snow
I met up with Keira first at Moose Creek midday. She was getting ready with all of her family and bridesmaids and bridesmen in one of the many rentable cabins you can find on Moose Creek’s property, which is very helpful for out-of-town wedding guests and family. We had her up in the bed room with natural light streaming through the windows as her mom and sister put her dress on.
Meanwhile Chris and his groomsmen all hung out in the main cabin’s saloon and lounge area doing what groomsmen do best - drinking whiskey and playing pool.
After everyone was dressed and ready and the final touches had been made, I took Keira and Chris down to the river to share in their first look, as well as read personal written vows to each other alone. They opted for this route instead of reading them in front of everyone during the ceremony.
After their first look and their emotional vows down by the icy river, we did some very Yellowstone inspired wedding party photos, and, of course, a few portraits of the soon-to-be-newlyweds with their furry family.
Next up was the ceremony. Yes, it was outside and only 19 degrees in late February, but with the late afternoon sun hitting us directly as well as plenty of hand warmers to hand out, everyone was comfortable.
Chris and Keira stood in front of everyone with their furry friends and became the first generation of McBandys - a name combined from both of their previous last names.
A Celebration to Remember
The reception was held shortly after some family portraits in front of another one of the large barns on the venue grounds. One of my favorite moments of the day was when I pitched the idea to K and C and the rest of their wedding party to go back over to the saloon the groomsmen prepared at and do some fun, casual, and creative party photos of the wedding group hanging out together. They had been having lots of fun together all day, and I thought this would be a great way to capture some of their energy. So we walked back over in the dark after the first dances were complete and the toasts were said and let loose. There was more whiskey. There was plenty of laughter and lots fun, and the photos were awesome. We ended the night with the whole crowd dancing the night away in the reception barn complete with ski shots and lots of portable heaters. It was truly a day to remember. I flew home the next day from the same airport and immediately got to working on some sneak peaks for C + K, and they were blown away!
In conclusion, Keira and Chris's winter wedding in Victor, Idaho, was a testament to love's enduring warmth, even in the coldest of seasons. As a destination wedding photographer, it was an honor to capture their unforgettable moments against the backdrop of Idaho's snow-covered splendor.
