Classic Wyoming Mountain Wedding

Claire & Jamie had a classic wedding in the mountains with a touch of country as captured by ASHLEY MERRITT PHOTOGRAPHY. Kendra, planner and stylist from SIMPLY GRAND WEDDINGS & EVENTS tells us; ééòWhen Jamie and Claire were packing up their moving truck, getting ready to move to Boston, no ring on her finger, we all knew it was only a matter of time before we got the call. But the call didn’t come. For a while. A long while. But Claire was patient and trusted Jamie knew the right thing to do, make this girl his wife [already]! Finally, one morning in late April, I got the call from both Jamie and Claire who could barely speak they were so excited. They had just taken a walk to the lighthouse where Jamie proposed and they couldn’t wait to start planning their big celebration. It set in quickly that we only had four months to plan the perfect September wedding. We quickly chose the Mead Ranch as the venue. Jamie and Claire fell in love with its wide open green hay fields surrounded by the mountains they had so many adventures in together while living in Jackson. We wanted to capture the couple in every detail of the wedding day. September 6th was blanketed in warm sunlight and framed by dramatic storm clouds exiting above the mountains. Due to a rainy August, the fields were still spring green!ééò

ééòClaire, a classic beauty, wore a lovely lace BHLDN dress with pearl flower earrings and cowboy boots. Her bridesmaids wore light pink lace fit and flare dresses with the same boots as Claire. They carried bouquets made with vibrant pink, white, and green flowers. The groom and his groomsmen wore Jamie’s Jackson staples, Mountain Khakis and cowboy boots paired with crisp blue and white shirts, blue wool vests, and ties. Leisurely waiting for the wedding day to begin, Jamie and his groomsmen hung out in the shade of a vintage Airstream trailer sipping some of the Mead Ranch’s own whiskey, Wyoming Whiskey. The bride arrived at the ceremony in an old turquoise Ford truck with her dad behind the wheel, his eyes a little misty. The truck, a reminder of Jamie’s old, loud, beat up truck that he drove when they first met, later acted as their getaway vehicle. The couple stood under an arch made of old pine fence posts from the ranch adorned with pink and white roses, sweet peas, and hydrangeas creating a sweet femininity.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers in the warm sunlight in the hay field while seated at a remote lounge space. Inside the tent, the tables where adorned with chunky blue and white striped table runners and natural linen napkins that lent an east coast texture to the natural wood farm tables. The vintage mix and match china in turquoise and floral patterns were carefully picked by Claire and her Mom at Flea Markets and Antique shops in Claire’s hometown of Macon, Georgia. Each centerpiece was different from the next with lovely pink and green flowers arranged on vintage found tea cups, brass chalices, cake stands, and amber glass. Aged deer and elk antlers were used throughout giving a nod to Jamie’s love for hunting out west. An old blue writing desk was placed a the tent entrance holding pictures of Jamie and Claire’s parents, grandparents, and siblings on their wedding days as a reminder of the wonderful marriage legacy that led to them.

As the night sky pushed the sun over the Tetons, the bride and groom took a sunset walk on a ridge above the ranch with champagne in hand. An important moment alone before the party really got started. Down below, guests dined in the tent lit by warm candle light, toasting the bride and groom as they entered and intermittently during dinner. Jamie and Claire’s comfort, warmth, and evident joy was echoed by every one of their family and friends. Huge grins, roaring laughter, and happy tears flooded the reception tent throughout the entire night. The party came to a close as Jamie and Claire exited through a glowing tunnel of sparklers held by their cheering friends.ééò

Photography Ashley tells us; ééòClaire & Jamie utilised a friend’s old turquoise truck for their wedding, and Claire surprised Jamie by having her dad drive the truck from the house they were waiting in to the beginning of the aisle. It was a perfect surprise for Jamie and all the guests! At the end of the evening, the plan was for the truck to be the getaway vehicle as well. But as it turns out, the truck died 10 seconds in to their exit! Not to be deterred, Claire and Jamie hopped out of the truck and ran, hand in hand, back to the house where they were changing to really leave.ééò