An Intimate Mountaintop Wedding

Mar 16, 2022

I’ve known Noelle and Joel for a few years now—Noelle was a wrangler with me at the ranch I live on in Wyoming, and Joel worked maintenance. When Noelle asked me to photograph their intimate wedding on a mountain top in the valley we both love so much, I couldn’t say no.

It was a perfect, bluebird June day. The sky couldn’t have been more clear (which, in a place often shrouded with wildfire smoke, was a gift). Noelle and Joel hired a local shuttle service to bring all of their guests from their hotels in Jackson, WY to the ceremony spot, about an hour north. I went ahead with Noelle and her two bridesmaids, hiking up the trail among the wildflowers until we reached the top. We snuck off into the woods (after dousing ourselves in bug spray) to help Noelle change into her dress (which she had custom altered to include her favorite color—a stunning emerald green!) I really felt like she was a woodland princess back there among the ferns and tall trees—definite fairy vibes.

Without a doubt, the best part of the day was the wedding party processional. It started with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, as normal, and then their dog, Rocky, as ring-bearer…but then the ground shook a bit as 8 fellow wranglers came galloping up on horseback. They circled around and then halted at the back, creating a beautiful arc behind the guests. The music changed, and “Here Comes the Sun” played as Noelle herself came galloping up the aisle, her dress flowing behind her. She circled the entire ceremony site, and then dismounted gracefully for her dad to walk her the rest of the way up the aisle to Joel. It was unforgettable and so, so beautiful.

The ceremony itself was simple and sweet, officiated by Noelle’s brother and wrapped up with vows written by the bride and groom. I remember thinking that the vows were PERFECT for them. After the kiss, it was time to get dancing! Noelle and Joel had their first dance (complete with LOTS of spins, dips, and flips—truly impressive), and then a father/daughter and mother/son dance. (This is your reminder that you can include traditional elements into your non-traditional wedding!) The Grand Tetons made the perfect backdrop all afternoon.

After sneaking back into the woods for some portraits, we headed back down the mountain where guests were enjoying “cocktail hour”—aka, lots of coolers filled with cold drinks, lawn chairs sat around truck beds, and some good food.

Speaking of mixing traditional and non-traditional…Noelle had let me in on a little secret regarding the garter toss. With a little hand-off from the Best Man and diverting Joel’s attention for a minute, Noelle strapped a handgun holster to her thigh in lieu of a traditional garter. When Joel found out, he was handed a loaded magazine and on his first shot, got a bullseye on the “I Do” poster stapled to a tree. Everyone loved it (and all laws were followed!)

Guests hopped back into the party bus to head back to Jackson, to a delicious dinner at Stillwest Brewery. Guests mingled, ate, and drank on the deck. The weather was perfect, and the s’mores cake was one of the best I’ve had!

It was truly such a special day for Noelle and Joel, and I couldn’t be happier to call them friends and that they trusted me to document such an important day in their lives. Here’s to forever!