When Rory & Lexie asked me to be a part of their same-sex destination wedding in Sun Valley Idaho, it felt like kismet. These two share such a deep respect, care, and love for another. Right away, they warned me that they both hate being the center of attention and dreamed of a non-traditional wedding. Choosing a non-traditional wedding venue like the Central Idaho 4-H Camp guaranteed a unique experience. Located 20 minutes outside of Ketchum, this camp is remove from cell-service and all modern amenities. However, the reward of such a remote destination is the unreal backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. I loved every moment with this amazing couple and felt so honored they hired me to document their same-sex destination wedding.
Planning a Sun Valley Idaho Destination Wedding
I wrote a full guide about how to elope in Sun Valley Idaho located HERE! Rory and Lexie chose to get married on the first weekend in October. Without a doubt, they got lucky with unbelievable weather on their day. However, hiring a trusted team of Sun Valley wedding vendors for their Central Idaho 4-H Camp wedding helped their day run so smoothly.
Videographer- Olve Films
Florist- Bloom Theory Sun Valley
Venue- Central Idaho 4-H Camp
Photography- Maggie Grace Photography
Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas
Rory and Lexie wanted their wedding to feel less stiff and boring than a lot of weddings they attended. Also, they hate attention and wanted to prioritize having FUN on their same-sex destination wedding day. I met with them several times to discuss how to keep their wedding fun, care-free, and special to them. It can be challenging to go against the grain and stick to what feels right- but they had an AMAZING day full of joy. Their wedding photos show it!
- Save private and personal vows for before or after the ceremony. Rory and Lexie decided to only exchange traditional vows at the wedding ceremony in front of everyone! Instead, they shared their personal vows for when they were alone.
- Wear whatever you want that makes you feel comfortable and empowered in your own skin! If a feminine white wedding dress doesn’t scream “YOU”, wear a suit & blazer. Wear fancy overalls. Try a skirt with a top. A button down and pants. There are endless options.
- Skip having a wedding party. OR, have a wedding party and have them sit during your wedding ceremony. Some couples are choosing to opt for just one designated best person as well.
- Take your couple portraits privately on a different day OR in a private location! I encourage couples who aren’t super comfortable with PDA to leave their venue to spend time alone. Taking couple portraits alone gives you the opportunity to create a memory together where you feel totally comfortable.
- If you don’t love the traditional wedding reception activities such as the garter toss, bouquet toss, first dances, formal speeches- skip it all! There are NO rules that you have to do anything you don’t want to.
- MANY wedding venues only allow you to be on site for 4-7 hours on your wedding day. If you choose a non-traditional wedding venue, you might have the opportunity to party until 3am if that’s your style. OR, better yet for some, you may share lodging and multiple days with your favorite people. Getting married at a ‘camp’ or booking out an entire boutique hotel creates an intimate experience that doesn’t have a time limit. Since Rory and Lexie were sharing their same-sex destination wedding with lots of guests from out of town, spending 3 days with all their favorite people on site was their priority.
If you love their same-sex destination wedding, check out other blogs here!