Koji and Abby wanted their wedding at Pilgrim Cove in McCall Idaho to feel like going to camp again, but the adult version. They used the incredible Pilgrim Cove Camp & Conference Center as their venue which included all the adorable little rustic cabins for their friends & family to spend the entire weekend with them on the lake. I was lucky enough to meet Koji and Abby when Koji was the best man at one of my favorite weddings I shot last May in Sun Valley, which to be honest, is my favorite way to meet people. Although I can’t remember the specifics, I’m positive that one of Abby and my first conversations was on the dance floor at their friends’ wedding and I knew immediately that if she ever got engaged, I wanted to be her photographer for one reason only: she is as obsessed with dachshund dogs as I am. I still remember getting a text from her asking if I was free for their fall wedding on Labor Day Weekend in one of my favorite places in Idaho because I honestly screamed a little bit in the middle of a coffee shop.
The one thing I heard over and over again from Koji and Abby as they began planning their wedding was that they wanted the day to to feel more like a FUN party with a lot of dancing. I honestly think when planning your wedding planning the day around how you want it to FEEL rather than how it LOOKS is crucial to making your wedding feel like you. From weekly dachshund pics of Abby’s dog Stella and my Weiner Sonny to enthusiastic texts reiterating how CHILL Abby wanted the day to be, I pretty much fell in love with every detail of their wedding. They didn’t want a crazy over-planned schedule the day of and they invited me along to all the events of the weekend, which included my own little cabin to share with my assistant and second shooter, Hannah, to call home for the Labor Day weekend. Koji and Abby cared most about their flowers and the dance party and now that it’s been nearly a month, I’m still equally obsessed with their gorgeous florals as I am with their amazing friends’ dance pics. I mean, if you don’t scroll to the bottom to see their dancing photos, you are TRULY missing out.
The most memorable part of the day (except for the dancing)(have you checked out the dancing photos yet???) to me was their private first look. Koji and Abby told me early on that they were private people and wanted a first look separate from the venue, so I took them to a spot in the forest. Koji’s smile STILL to this day melts me and I loved how their boho vibe blended with the forest. Although their fall September wedding in the mountains ended up being over 90 degrees, we got the most incredible sunset and I am OBSESSSSSED with the photos I took of them paddling around in their canoe on Payette Lake.
There are some weddings where I truly feel at home in my career and this was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I can’t thank this couple and their family enough for making me feel like one of the clan.
Vendor List:
Florals: Rust & Thistle
Wedding Dress: BHLDN
Reception Dress: Madewell
Groom’s Suit:
Venue: Pilgrim Cove in McCall, Idaho
Donuts: Guru Donuts
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