Golden Hour in Kyoto

A Soirée for Jackson Hole Wedding Vendors

As I turned the corner onto Center Street and saw the yellow 80s-era Ford F150 overflowing with flowers, I knew I was among my mountain-based tribe. For weeks after receiving the mailed invitation designed by XOWyo Paper + Press, I had been looking forward to “Golden Hour in Kyoto,” a special event for Jackson’s wedding vendors orchestrated by wedding photographers Diana Edlinger and Roslyn Smithers. 

I met my dear friend, magazine sales professional Alyson Smith Klaczkiewicz, streetside, and we hopped into the elevator that took us to The Rooftop @Kampai. Doors opened to an elegant space filled with familiar smiling faces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a lush outdoor patio with built-in gardens overlooking the town. The hillsides had recently come alive with greenery that matched the welcoming vibe as we filled out our nametags and were greeted by our hosts. 

Edlinger and Smithers had been contemplating a wedding vendors-only event for years to give wedding professionals the experience of a party from the guests’ perspective. Edlinger explained that Engage! Wedding Business Summits — networking events for wedding professionals held worldwide in luxury locations such as Puglia, the French Riviera, and Beverly Hills — inspired this soiree. She and Smithers wanted to host a low-key affair that didn’t cost thousands of dollars to attend, but one that elevated the sense of “community” for local vendors at the start of their busy season.   

“We envisioned [Golden Hour in Kyoto] as a way to get Jackson Hole vendors to connect — a way for industry professionals who follow each other on Instagram to now put a face to the name,” says Edlinger.

Leading up to the event, Edlinger and Smithers gathered a team of sponsors and devoted countless hours to planning. Kampai donated the event space and thousands of dollars in food. Edlinger said they chose the space “because it was new and intentionally designed,” with its rooftop venue, location, ambience, and Japanese fare, which provided the intention for the party’s theme.

“Kampai was built from a place of integrity — they care about their service,” she says. “That’s the type of experience luxury [wedding] vendors are putting forth, and so I felt they could provide our community with the same thing in return.” 

From my perspective as a wedding magazine editor, this event offered a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the first-class experiences our local vendors deliver. Every detail was executed with such intention that my thoughts immediately turned to the lucky couples planning a wedding in our area.

Upon entering the space, I was mesmerized by Fleur de Vie’s flower arrangements: elaborate bar-top statement pieces, complete with spiraling foxtail lilies, and dainty California poppy table vases.

Edlinger applauded this effort. “Vanessa [of Fleur De Vie] immediately got the Japanese vibe — earth tones, neutrals, blacks — and she instantly knew she wasn’t designing for a wedding.”

Before taking a comfy seat around an outside fire table, Alyson and I grabbed signature cocktails — an ume summer spritz (made from ume sake, rhubarb, Lillet, gin, blanc vermouth, and prosecco) and a plate full of sushi bites. 

Alyson introduced me to the vivacious Julieta Lyall (Lyall, for short), founder and event planner for Loba Events, and also a sponsor of the party. I was drawn to her camaraderie, as Lyall grabbed other vendors by the arm when they walked by, roping them into our conversation. We talked about our backgrounds, motherhood, and the gratitude everyone felt for this “time out” to relax and connect. 

On the other side of the veranda, Capture the Tetons’ photo booth was the star of the show, with guests taking runway-esque photos with their colleagues. After visiting with several familiar vendors and others we were meeting for the first time — like Kindryn Leiter of Bouquet La Vie, a former police officer/detective turned farmer-florist from Idaho Falls — Alyson and I decided to share a fun photo session (complete with umbrella props), before calling it a night. As we waited our turn, I noticed photographer Jaiden Richan capturing the entire vibe of the evening in stills, while Marcus Honey and Diana Edlinger shot video.

In the back of my mind, I kept thinking about the couples putting their trust into this vibrant cast of characters. The love for what they do, complete with their drive for excellence, had come through in all the conversations I’d had that night. It’s this unparalleled level of commitment that shapes Jackson Hole weddings.

Smithers proudly acknowledges the spirit of collaboration in the local wedding community. It’s this “small town” experience and inclusive community that shines through in the end product — something couples might not find elsewhere, where competition is fierce. 

“Definitely, community over competition is a homerun for us here in Jackson,” says Smithers. “It was really wonderful to host this event at the top of the season, and then go to all the wedding events and recognize faces that I had just met that spring — being able to seal those relationships by seeing them on site.” 

At the end of the evening, Alyson and I made our way back outside to the flower pop-up truck (hosted by Sarah Averill, a local photographer and owner of Butter Blooms) and created our own mementos of the evening. Of course, I grabbed some foxtail lilies, pairing them with poppies and other summery blooms, before stuffing my face into the fragrant bouquet that would spend the week on my family’s dining table. 

The night felt like a cozy hug and a much-deserved “thank you” to our mountain-based wedding industry. According to Edlinger, Golden Hour in Kyoto “celebrated not only the excellence of Jackson’s creative community, but also the powerful role women play in shaping it.” She notes that the local wedding community brings a tremendous amount of money into Jackson, and that it’s women leading this charge.

Smithers adds, “These are all small businesses … We don’t get the ‘work Christmas party’ invite.  … and if we did, in my business, it would be me, myself, and I. So, it was really fun to have a get-together just for us.”

Moving forward, Edlinger aims to make this an annual occurrence and hopes to include more vendors, both in the presentation and on the invite list.

“This is just the beginning of elevated industry events [in Jackson],” Smithers says.

I called my mom as I drove over Teton Pass, recounting the evening and that special feeling you get when your inner circle comes together to produce something great. Thank you, Diana, Roslyn, and all the remarkable Teton-based wedding vendors. I’ve always felt that every Teton-centric wedding was truly one of a kind, and now I know that’s true.

Should you choose to host your wedding in the Tetons, remember, it’s not just about the view, the recreation, or the magnificent National Parks that border our home. It’s always been about the community. And should you connect with one (or more) of our talented wedding vendors, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.