Just the Right Type

Just the Right Type

Beca & Sam

We met in 2015 serving in Southern Iraq at a small camp after the fall of Fallujah and Ramadi to ISIS. Sam was a U.S. Marine Corps combat engineer, advising and assisting the partners and building up the camp, as it was pretty austere, and I was the critical care nurse in the Army Forward Surgical Team (FST).  We soon became friends, as I remembered Sam specifically when I was setting up the walking blood bank, as he was the only AB+ blood type on the camp. We ended up reconnecting later in the states through social media and by being in the right place at the same time. 

Sam’s proposal was pretty amazing. We were visiting my dad for Christmas in Star Valley, Wyoming, and decided to go snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for a couple days, and then take a dog-sledding trip to Granite Hot Springs. It was minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of our dog-sledding trip (I had assured Sam that Wyoming winters weren’t too cold — he’s from Florida. Whoops!). We stopped along the route for a few photos and Sam kept repositioning us. I remember thinking it was so weird. Let’s just take this photo, I said to myself. Anyway, he got down on one knee and proposed while our guide captured it on video. It was perfect and a total surprise! We celebrated once we got to the hot springs on a very cold, but magical and snowy day.

We chose to have our wedding near Jackson because of our special bond to the area. I grew up in Idaho, and once my dad moved to Star Valley, I would visit Jackson and Grand Teton National Park often. It was the perfect location, complete with the beauty of the mountains and the national parks, and also the perks of a town with great food and art. Sam and I visited the park earlier that summer and sat and watched a storm hit the range from the overlook at Signal Mountain. Lightning was striking while the sun was setting and that’s when it really clicked for Sam — he wanted to share the experience of this place with his daughter and family, as well.

We decided to hold our ceremony at Delta Lake, after viewing photos on photographer Jocilyn Bennett’s website. Our planning session on Zoom sealed the deal, as we fell in love with the idea of an adventurous hike on our wedding day. Jocilyn really took the hike seriously. First, she was so passionate about Leave No Trace principals and made our safety top priority. Next, she provided detailed information about the hike, as well as a gear packing list so all our guests would be prepared. (This was so helpful!) We really appreciated her giving us all the information needed to make the hike safe and fun.

We had a welcome party dinner catered by the Bentwood Inn the night before our wedding ceremony. It was delicious! We also provided gift bags for our guests, complete with chocolates, bakery items, honey, candles, and mugs, all from local businesses. A special shoutout to Persephone Bakery, who gave us a tour of their site when we went to pick up the items for our welcome bags. They also sent us home with some extra loaves of fresh bread.

The next day, we ate breakfast with our family members at the Bentwood Inn and then headed off to the trailhead. Jocilyn’s husband, who came along as a hiking guide, was an invaluable asset. We are so thankful that she brought him! A surprise thunderstorm moved in while part of our group was still hiking to the lake. It put us at ease knowing Jocilyn’s husband was with them. Once the storm passed, the sun came out and it was beautiful! 

Sam’s sister married us on a rock at the edge of the lake in front of a stunning background; Sam’s daughter, Addy, joined us after the vows for some private promises and a blessing. That was my favorite part of the day! We all cried and laughed — it was magical. 

After the ceremony, Sam and I took pictures, had a champagne toast, and ate a camp dinner prepared by Jocelyn’s husband. It was cozy and perfect. We hiked down under the stars with headlamps on, though it didn’t get dark until the end of the hike, so we had plenty of light when we crossed the boulder field.

The next day, Sam’s side of the family went whitewater rafting, and I spent time with my family and friends. Then, we both headed to our reception at Dusk at Ringholz Studios, an art gallery on the Town Square. We enjoyed a delicious catered meal, complete with an open bar, a cake, and great photos of our family (not all sweaty from hiking), while surrounded by gorgeous artwork. Ashley at Dusk helped make this all possible by suggesting the caterer, Three Peaks Catering, and designing the tablescape. We also provided take-away gifts of small journals with different works of art featured on the front. This whole experience allowed us some time with our parents and the other guests who weren’t able to complete the hike. It gave us a beautiful and relaxed chance to celebrate with great food in an authentic space.  

After the reception, we grabbed a drink at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and headed back to the Bentwood Inn for music and dancing around a bonfire to cap off our perfect wedding weekend. 

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Advice For Couples 

(From the Bride) Plan well in advance or pick an off-season date. We got lucky with vendor availability because we decided on a mid-summer date, just before the fall busy season. Many of the venues and vendors were fully booked the following month. Still, it worked out perfectly.

(From the Groom) Trust your bride when she pitches a wedding ceremony at a high-altitude glacial lake! I was a bit skeptical about the plan, but it turned out to be the most incredible experience for all of us.