Sunshine Through the Rain

Sunshine Through the Rain

Leylan & David

David and I met in May of 2020 in San Francisco. It was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, so our relationship began with FaceTime dates. Once we were finally able to meet in person, we spent weeks together enjoying home-cooked meals and game nights. David decided to spend the rest of that summer in Jackson Hole (since he had the ability to work remotely) where he could be closer to nature and fly fish, trail run, and hunt in his free time.

As a professional horse back rider, I stayed back in San Francisco but visited David in Jackson twice that summer. This was the place our love story truly started. 

David moved back to San Francisco in November of 2020, and—over the next two years, as the world returned to normal—we made it a point to visit Jackson at least once a summer. We spent our time rock climbing, picnicking in Grand Teton National Park, and enjoying our time with local friends. In August of 2022, on a trip to Jackson, David proposed to me right in front of the Tetons in one of in our favorite fields in the Park.

When we began our wedding planning, we couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate our love than the one that had given us so many amazing memories. Then, we stumbled upon Diamond Cross Ranch during our search for venues and instantly felt a connection—the beautiful scenery and—bonus—the horses! We decided to create a fun, rustic wedding at the ranch, one that let the beauty of Jackson speak for itself. 

Our wedding day was stormy, which made for amazing first-look pictures in the rain in front of the mountain range. Then, we arrived at Diamond Cross Ranch, and, to our surprise, the skies cleared for a sunny outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour. Our friend Poot, and his band, PTO Bluegrass, serenaded the crowd during cocktail hour, while our guests mingled and took pictures. When we went inside for dinner, the rain returned, creating an amazing vibe. 

As a foodie, our dinner, catered by Cafe Genevieve, was a huge highlight for me. I really wanted memorable wedding food, and they surpassed our expectations. After dinner and speeches, everyone hit the dance floor. DJ Steady Jake pumped the tunes, and our family and friends brought the moves, keeping the energy high all night. The day couldn’t have been more perfect, and we are so grateful to everyone that helped make it a success.

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ADVICE FOR COUPLES

It’s hard not to have a good time in Jackson Hole, so take advantage of all the local activities and encourage your friends and family to make a vacation out of it. Our vendors were amazing, and we really trusted them to execute our vision. We couldn’t have been happier with the way everything turned out.