Home on the Range
Catherine & Josh
Josh and I first met on his raft, floating the Snake River. We quickly became friends, though we had no idea we would be engaged to each other four months later! Josh is a FedEx courier and bull-riding cowboy from a small town in Georgia, while I am a city girl, runner, and teacher from Texas. We had both been living in Jackson for several years and planned to stick around. Many rodeos and hikes later, Josh and I became best friends and fell in love.
One freezing-cold morning, while I was gripping my warm coffee mug and admiring the glittering air, Josh knelt and proposed. I was so excited to say, “Yes!” We started planning right away. We both have a passion for nature and the peace, awe, and joy it inspires. We wanted to share this with our loved ones, so we chose to have our wedding in the shadow of the Tetons at Snake River Ranch. We chose this site because it is close to where we met on the Snake River, and it provides a private setting for all to admire the beauty of this area.
Our wedding theme mirrored our personalities—simple and rustic. We chose colors that reminded us of the mountains, including slate blue, gray, navy, and rose gold. We had a brand created that reflects Josh’s bull-riding days when we fell in love. We envisioned a simple wooden cross with greenery and a few flowers gracefully wrapped around it for the altar. The most exciting part of the planning for me was the welcome boxes for our out-of-town guests. Each guest received a sturdy box with our brand on it. Inside, they found a guide to the area’s best hikes, trail mix, water, pita chips, sunglasses, an emergency kit, cookies, and more.
When our guests arrived on Wednesday, we met them for a night at the rodeo …
When our guests arrived on Wednesday, we met them for a night at the rodeo, which was very exciting, especially for many of the “city people.” On Thursday night, we had a lively party on the deck at Lift. On Friday, we had a bridal luncheon at Amangani. Our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner took place at Dornan’s. Josh’s mother created rustic flower vases and arrangements to decorate the tables, and we had special items, such as napkins, imprinted with a sketch of Dakota, our St. Bernard. Guests enjoyed a video that showcased our lives before we met, as well as our story as a couple.
Our wedding day was sunny with clear skies. There was a warm wind blowing through the aspen grove that afternoon. The ceremony was both meaningful and memorable. When our pastor invited Josh and me to turn around and look at our loved ones, we were overwhelmed with joy. Looking into the eyes of the people who had guided us and helped us grow throughout our lives and seeing their continued support as we began a new journey together was absolutely breathtaking.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a signature cocktail we named Snake River Sparkler, made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka and fresh berries, as they walked along a winding path beside a babbling creek to get to our reception location. Once inside the reception tent, they enjoyed southern-inspired appetizers and admired the view of the Tetons and Sleeping Indian. At the beginning of our reception, my dad was thrilled to introduce the East Coast Motown band he enjoyed during his college days. Their flight was canceled the night before, so they drove all night to make it to the reception. As the sun was setting, everyone fled the tent to take pictures and marvel at the changing hues of light and color all around. We were overjoyed to see our guests appreciating the place we’d chosen to start our lives together. Each of our guests was invited to be silly in the photobooth and to provide one of the photostrips as well as comments in a wedding book for Josh and me. We laughed hysterically when our friends presented us with the photobooth book, as the pages became progressively more funny and ridiculous.
At the end of our reception, we ran through the radiant sparklers and jumped into my truck, driven by my brother. A few minutes later, we continued the celebration with our guests at the Mangy Moose. It was a night full of wonder, laughter, and love. We feel so much gratitude for my mom, who did so much work planning the wedding, as well as for my wonderfully supportive dad and Josh’s loving parents. We live happily in a cabin in Moran, Wyoming, and look forward to many more years in the valley.
wedding date
22 July 2017
ceremony/reception location
Snake River Ranch
officiant
Rev. Ben Pascal
hair & makeup
Champu Salon
photographer
Taylor Glenn Photography
florist
Lily & Co.
entertainment
Liquid Pleasure
consultant
In Any Event, L.L.C.
caterer
Genevieve Catering
dessert
Everything but the Dress
rental service
Canvas Unlimited
Event Rentals
transportation
Buckboard Transportation Services
